3D printed Post Production prep materials

With the increase in popularity of 3D printing, many people are puzzled with how to finish their prints to a professional standard.

Here is a guide to a selection of products that will help you get your print to the painting stage.

Every kind of 3D print will emerge with some surface defects, whether it is FDM (filament) or SLA/SLS (resin).

Start by removing the supports. Use good side cutters/nippers to cut the supports away from your model. Start from the far end of the support and work your way towards the model. This will reduce the chances of chipping the surface of the model.

Trim the support contacts. After cutting off the supports with the nippers, use a sharp knife to clean up the nubs left behind.

Use good superglue/CA cement to attach or repair parts.

Sand the entire surface of the model to get a smooth surface. If there are significant gaps between layers use a putty (Tamiya putty or Mr Dissolved putty) or thick primer (Mr Surfacer 500 or Tamiya Primer) to fill the gaps. Sand the parts after the putty or primer has set. Repeat the process until the surface is almost flaw free.

Spray the model with a fine primer to prepare for the painting process. Use a finer primer for a smoother finish for glossy finished parts. The surfacer sprays are rated depending on how fine the particles are. 500 is the coarsest and 1200 is fine. The rating is similar to how sandpaper is rated. The higher the number, the smoother the finish.

Give a final sand with fine sand paper to get rid of any fine imperfections. The model is now ready to paint with your choice of paint.