Super Fine Flexi Sander Set x2

The step the final sheen rests on

Coarse files and papers do ninety percent of the work, but that last tenth decides how a model will look once varnished. It is precisely there that this pair belongs: it holds the grades 2000 and 3000, that is the band in which material is no longer being removed but the traces of previous sanding are being smoothed away. Glossy paint and a metallic shade will emphasize every such groove, whereas a matte finish hides it, which is why the finest grades pay off most with cars, aircraft and everything meant to gleam at the end.

Where flexibility comes in useful

A rigid sanding block always finds an edge on a curved surface and wears it away before the surroundings. A yielding sponge, by contrast, adapts to the shape, so it passes over the transition from fuselage to wing, a curved hood and the concave surface of a fender without turning it into a facet. It also serves well for cleaning up the seam left by gluing two halves together and for evening out the place where a sprue gate has been sanded off.

Recommended use

• Sand wet; the dust settles and the grit does not clog as much.
• Work from the coarser grade to the finer; skipping one shows under varnish.
• Rinse the sponge out after work and let it dry freely; it will then last more cycles.
• On transparent parts follow up with polishing compound; sanding alone will not return their clarity.

The package holds two pieces and is part of a wider line of sanding aids from the same manufacturer, in which coarser grades and rigid blocks intended for flat surfaces and edges can be bought in addition.