Tested in 2020: Kayte's Favorite Things!

Modelmaker, fabricator, and host of our Model Behavior series Kayte shares a few of her favorite things from the year, including a few materials for modelmaking projects, a satirical tabletop card game, and a way to support local bookstores and maker spaces from home!

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Shot and edited by Norman Chan

Tested is:

Intro bumper by Abe Dieckman

Thanks for watching!

#favoritethings

[PRO]

It’s a comment on 2020 when shellac makes a “best things of the year” list.

[ryanf]

Not going to lie, this is the favorite things video I’ve been looking forward to.

[Warshipmodelsunderway]

Expanding on the use of Bondo spot putty, you can thin it with lacquer thinner and paint it on with a brush, which is nice way to apply it.

Also, Bondo makes another product, 801, which is a catalyzed putty that is for finer work than regular auto filler. It feathers nicely, and cures in minutes, hard enough to drill . Catalyzed putties also have an intermediate curing stage where it can be easily carved with a hobby knife, which makes shaping quite easy.

[CyberdyneSystemsSkynet]

TIL: Shellac is not vegan, it's a secretion that a bug leaves on trees in India and due to the harvesting process a certain percentage of it is just...ground up dead bugs. Since the solvent should be just alcohol and maybe a retarding agent the sweet smell would be the shellac itself. However that does probably mean of the available options it's going to be the least bad to inhale.

[fjvarro]

You are 100% on point about the smell of Shellac.

[dauenti]

When I did conservation work a Colleague said shellac sticks to everything and everything sticks to shellac. While not as durable as modern finishes, its much more versatile.

[michaelwojcik]

I recommend the spray shellac from Zinser, really quick to dry and apply multiple coats in an hour or so. I had a can sitting around and just tried to use it this year and really liked how easy it was and the results looked nice. It is expensive but nice to have around for small products. Also for Kayte, interesting sweet smell. I have moved away from the premixed cans and started mixing my own from flakes. I get much nicer results from the flakes but I primarily use it for woodworking projects and do French polishing sometimes.

[andrewdeboer]

Thank you, Kayte! Your contributions on Tested and the multipart interview on the “Scale Model Podcast” were highlights of this dumpster fire of a year. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

...I might enjoy the smell of Tamiya acrylic paint from time to time...

[astromechmunich]

I love the “my favorite bookshop” idea. But it becomes a bit ironic when the other things are Amazone affiliate links.

[MianCowell]

Holy hell, that hair is red-carpet worthy! wow

[federicoperez-frugalscalem]

Very nice selection, looking forward to your Tested proyects in 2021. A nice all around and in more detail video and explanation of the magnificent Blade Runner "blimp" would be great, that is a masterpiece!!!

[marktaylor]

Side effects sounds very fun. If only i had some friends. Lol

[nudlZz]

how is there no hair product in this list? :-D the perfect hair doesn't look like there is no effort put into it^^

[GrimReaper-ovrs]

I just want the card that says you're having an episode lol

[markopolo]

One of my favorite things of 2020...your hair! So beautiful...anyways...cool tips and interesting items on your list

[nathansossai]

That side effects game sounds awesome.

[goodmanmodels]

Kayte, what do you think about using a bit of vaseline on the threads of the putty tube so that the cap may give a better long-term seal?

[angst_]

Shellac is made from the secretion of bugs and a lot of shellac is non-toxic after it dries! It's my go-to sealer for anything that's going to be in chewing distance of pets. It's not perfectly water-proof, but it holds up decent and can turn a piece of wood into a safe piece of wood that can be easily wiped clean! It can be thinned with alcohol; which can help application if things get a little too think (denatured alcohol or 90%+ isopropyl alcohol, just avoid the watered down versions.)

[townesfan]

you really have to see Shellac live to get the full experience

[Dantheman]

I can't tell if that is the RX-78 or the Turn A next to the Solo blaster