Repairing vacuum formed plastics (WH20, IJ etc)

[ktm450]

Thought I'd move this here so it doesn't get lost in my restoration as it can be used on games other than Whitewater, such as repairing the ruins on Indiana Jones.

I had a few cracked off pieces of plastic on the left hand set of mountains that sit under the insanity falls ramp, I decided to use two methods to repair then touched up paint.

Before:

[ktm450]

The first method was on the top where the flasher for lost mine kickout mounts to.  This area is supposed to be slightly translucent so I used araldite to repair this area.  It is clear when set and once painted gives a result close to original.

I also used this method to fix the cracking on the right hand side of the 'before' photo.


Firstly scuff up the plastic with some sand paper, then I used some tape over the area to be built up.  I then mixed up the epoxy and applied to the back of the tape.  When almost set remove the tape and wait 5 min for the epoxy to set.  Then you can build up the area by applying more araldite to make the area stronger.

Once set hard, allow 24 hours, clean up the repair with a dremel ready for paint

[ktm450]

While I had the araldite out I reinforced several areas where the plastic is very thin

[ktm450]

The second method I used was in the areas where translucency did not matter down the bottom to the boulders.  I used an epoxy putty such as 'knead it'

Again scuff up the area, mix up the expoys putty form to shape push into repair area.
Allow 24 hours then dremel into shape drill holes ready for touch up

[ktm450]

Now for the fun part touch up paint  

Here is the finished result:

[ktm450]

Here is a pic of the repairs all lit up:

[Ford Fairlane]

wow thats a seemless job!!! well done!! 

[Pintoxicated]

Great stuff.  What paint did you use? (I was too lazy to actually read everything).   

[pinball god]

Great work Matt, it so professional looking I'm thinking you switched the old boulder plastic for a brand new and just said you fixed it    Well done. Another KTM450 tip filed away for future reference

BTW you do own a KTM I'm figuring??? My nephew is big into trail ride weekends with his KTM and his mates from Werribee.

[Strangeways]

Great work Matt !

 

[ddstoys]

Glad you moved these Matt as they deserve there own section Great work

[ktm450]

Great stuff.  What paint did you use? (I was too lazy to actually read everything).   

I use small tubes of artists acrylic paint. I'll take a pic and post it.

[ktm450]

BTW you do own a KTM I'm figuring??? My nephew is big into trail ride weekends with his KTM and his mates from Werribee.

Yeah, I do a lot of riding, every second weekend I try to get out and muddy.  Destresses me from work and kids 

[ktm450]

Great stuff.  What paint did you use? (I was too lazy to actually read everything).   

These are the paints I use, they cost less than $20 for the set.  They are a water based acrylic, the range is big enough that you can mix any colour you like, just remember the finished colour comes out a little darker after drying.
I usually mix up the colour then test a small amount on the end of icypole stick use a hair dryer to speed up drying time then compare to original colour you are looking for.  Then add more white or colour depending on the shade you are after.
Buy some quality brushes, I have a super fine brush which has bristles thinner than half a match stick, it gets the most use. 
If you get stuck looking for them Spotlight has a good selection of artists brushes