Bondo Alternatives

Hey everyone right now i'm gathering supplies as i get ready to get started on my Galactic Marine armor. I plan to use Aqua Resin however i was looking at some pictures and i saw that sometimes after the Aqua-Resin is applied sometimes it doesn't have a smooth finish, i've heard to fix this ppl use bondo but i'd prefer not use Bondo does anyone know what i can do if it is the case that Aqua-Resin doesn't have a smooth finish? And not have to use bondo.

Bondo brand sucks. Get some decent glazing putty from an autobody supply store. The cheaper ones will take a bit longer and initially be more gummy than the more expensive ones. Some are thinner in consistency than others. The more expensive ones will get you a smooth finish faster with less elbow grease. Cheaper ones can get the result with more work. Also get some decent spot putty. Anything with the bondo brand name on it sucks. I had several auto body stores in my area I never knew were there and prices on good stuff was a couple dollars, literally, more than the bondo crap.

Bondo is a decent filler & if you use it in small batches, get the right mix with the hardener it works well. Getting it applied smoothly has to do with how fast you work with it & get it applied. But there are other brands that would work just as well.

Lacquer spot putty works well but need to be wary due to being lacquer based & not enamel it will interact differently with most primers. This works well for small spots & areas but not good for filling larger areas.

Another low cost method that has worked well for me is to use Spackle & add Elmers white glue to it. Both being water based they mix well. I usually mix till I have a smooth consistency, don't really have a ratio per say. By adding the Elmers white glue to the Spackle this acts like a hardener & firms up the Spackle when it dries. Very easy to sand & isn't as powdery, I have used this on sorts of things from helmets to armor & it has held up very well.

You can try Durham's Water Putty but I have had mixed results with this cause it is powder & you have to mix it, sometimes doesn't come out the same. But if you work with it & come up with proper ratios for the mix it can work. Have also added the Elmers glue to this as an extra binder that seemed to help when I have used it.

I have found that not one thing is good for everything so sometime you have to use different filler depending on what you are doing.