zaro12 Posted November 30, 2009 Report Share Posted November 30, 2009 Hi, I'm starting an aquarium shortly. As I'm an aircraft model builder by trade, I was hoping to put an old scale aircraft wreck in the bottom of the tank, however i'm pretty certain the products I use currently will be sure to leak toxic product into the tank. Is there any plastics that I should stick away from? I'm hoping to use styrene plastic, like used in plastic model aircraft. As far as glues go, I'm guessing to stick away from the plastic cements like styrene solvent, and ethyl cyanoacrylate super glues. I've heard there are tank safe epoxys. Can you please tell me what brand to use and where I can get it from in Auckland. I'm also hoping to use a paint on the finished model. Once again I'm guessing lacqers and enamels are out of the question due to fumes given off by these products. Is there a brand of tank safe paints which I can use. Or as another option, can you buy a clear or sealer coat, so i can use the model paints, then seal the colour in with a tank safe clear coat of paint. Once again, what brand are these paints and where can I get these from in Auckland. Thanks for taking the time to look at this, and please forgive me for what I'm sure are basic questions in your field. Hopefully one day soon, I can show you the finished product. Kind regards, Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted November 30, 2009 Report Share Posted November 30, 2009 Just coat the finished plane in something like polyurethane and it will be fine. Any kind of epoxy resin should also be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
si_sphinx Posted November 30, 2009 Report Share Posted November 30, 2009 Yea what Ira said. you could use any paint as long as you cover everything in a clear epoxy resin to seal it in and be sure to wash it good and proper before adding the fish. I'm sure its going to look awesome. I'm an aircraft model builder by trade That would be an awesome job maybe in the future. except Rc models would be better. do you make them too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted November 30, 2009 Report Share Posted November 30, 2009 ethyl cyanoacrylate super glues are fine to use, in marine tanks we use them to glue corals in place. Most of your plastics and enamals should also be fine, once they have cured they don't give off fumes, if they did we would all be in trouble since our houses are covered in them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zaro12 Posted November 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2009 Thanks for the responses everyone. Ira, great news for me about Polyurethane, that is a product I often finish the models in, as the matt coat is very good. Does the Polyurethane over time wear thin with water corrosion, and eventually come off? si_sphinx, good to hear any type of paint is fine, so long as it's sealed in. The epoxy resin you're talking about, are you able to get it really thin, or does it have a tendancy to be quite thick, and cover up any detail that I might have added? In regard to building models for a job, I've got heaps of work to supply me a weeks income (infact i've got a $4000 backlog), whilst I finish off my flying instructors rating. I used to be into R/C, when I managed a hobby shop. Part of the job was to build them every now and then, and demo them for customers, but thought I'd give the real thing a go, which I have no crashes with... but costs heaps more! Ha :-) suphew, are you suggesting if I were to glue the model together with CA, and use enamel paints without sealing the model it will be fine? This would be fantastic news. Just one final question, do you think there would be a market for good quality wreck models, rather than the nasty looking ones that you often see at pet stores? I'm thinking 1/32 scale models about 40cm long, with panels missing and framing showing, large enough for 5cm-ish fish to hide in. I think I could build them for around $350-$400. Or is that a bit over the top for you kind of hobby? Thanks again for all your help. I'll be sure to post a link of the finished product as soon as I've finished it. Cheers, Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted November 30, 2009 Report Share Posted November 30, 2009 Thanks for the responses everyone. Ira, great news for me about Polyurethane, that is a product I often finish the models in, as the matt coat is very good. Does the Polyurethane over time wear thin with water corrosion, and eventually come off? Water won't effect the polyurethane. Plecos might, but they won't wear it off at a great enough rate to be a big problem. Just put a couple thick coats on it, it will be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
si_sphinx Posted November 30, 2009 Report Share Posted November 30, 2009 si_sphinx, good to hear any type of paint is fine, so long as it's sealed in. The epoxy resin you're talking about, are you able to get it really thin, or does it have a tendancy to be quite thick, and cover up any detail that I might have added? In regard to building models for a job, I've got heaps of work to supply me a weeks income (infact i've got a $4000 backlog), whilst I finish off my flying instructors rating. I used to be into R/C, when I managed a hobby shop. Part of the job was to build them every now and then, and demo them for customers, but thought I'd give the real thing a go, which I have no crashes with... but costs heaps more! Ha :-) Just one final question, do you think there would be a market for good quality wreck models, rather than the nasty looking ones that you often see at pet stores? I'm thinking 1/32 scale models about 40cm long, with panels missing and framing showing, large enough for 5cm-ish fish to hide in. I think I could build them for around $350-$400. Or is that a bit over the top for you kind of hobby? You can thin it down with thinners, i forget the name and number at the moment but can be thinned down easily. It needs to be thinned down when i use it on my models too, to keep them lite I think $350-$400 is quite a bit when you can spend $50-$100 on a resin sunken airplane aquarium ornament(mustang i think it is) im sure some people have seen the one im thinking about. and i think its a little over 40cm. JMHO. But i guess you pay more for the great looking details if you want your tank to look good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlos & Siran Posted December 1, 2009 Report Share Posted December 1, 2009 The epoxy won't distort the paint on the model though will it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
si_sphinx Posted December 1, 2009 Report Share Posted December 1, 2009 The epoxy won't distort the paint on the model though will it? Shouldn't do, i've epoxied over acrylic and enamel and it has been fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted December 1, 2009 Report Share Posted December 1, 2009 Shouldn't do, i've epoxied over acrylic and enamel and it has been fine. It can't distort the paint. It would have to have some kind of solvent in it, which it doesn't. Water is probably more likely to effect the paint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AquaVitamins Posted December 17, 2009 Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 I cant wait to see this model!! what a cool job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamkerrnz Posted February 2, 2010 Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 Hi Alan, I think you would want to recreate the great mustang crash of ardmore airfield. I can supply you the kit. Regards, Adam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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