How To Remove Mold Lines from Plastic Miniatures

Whether it's a plastic Warhammer soldier or a fine plastic plane model, most plastic or molded miniatures will have mold lines from when they were molded. They form a small ridge where the miniature's two mold casts meet. If you want to make a realistic and professional miniature, you'll need to know how to remove these mold lines. If you know how to remove them properly then all your models will look spectacular.

Step 1  

Locate the mold line on the model or miniature. It will run in a continuous ridge around the model and is usually easy to find. Additionally, if you cut the plastic model from a sprue (a plastic frame which plastic models can be attached to for easier shipping), then you may want to identify the areas on the plastic where you clipped the model from.

Step 2  

Gather all the equipment you will need to complete the task, including a craft knife or similar blade, a brush and a sheet or tray to catch any bits of falling plastic you may drop. Additionally, you may wish to use a magnifying glass to better see the model.

Step 3  

Hold the miniature in one hand and with the other, extend the craft knife's blade to a suitable length and bring it to the model.

Step 4  

Place the blade on the mold line you wish to remove at about a 45 degree angle facing away from you. The sharp end of the blade should be pointing away from you - the idea is to shave the mold line off, not cut into it and risk damaging the model.

Step 5  

Draw the blade towards you with enough pressure to shave the ridge off. Because you are not cutting into the mold line, it may take a few tries, so repeat until the mold line is removed.

Step 6  

Follow the mold line around the miniature, taking bits of it off as you go. Some parts of the model may be more delicate than others, so take care and adjust the pressure you are placing on the blade. Remember, the mold line goes the whole way around the model and links back up to where you started, so the mold line will only be removed when you reach the part of the model where you began the process.

Step 7  

Brush off any loose bits of shaved plastic that are still on the model or your fingers into the tray or sheet you have set up - then throw this excess plastic in the bin.

Tips

• In multi-part models and miniatures, it is easier if you remove the mold lines before gluing the pieces together. The pressure can sometimes break the glue's hold on the model and some parts are just easier to get to when the miniature is not completely built.
• Some models don't need to have their mold lines removed if they are not noticeable. It does take some time to remove all mold lines, so if you are not trying to get a perfect finish or win a competition, then you might consider simply keeping the mold lines.

Warnings

• Blades and knives can be dangerous and deadly when misused. If you feel uncomfortable using one, get someone who is skilled in using them to assist you, such as a parent, teacher or fellow model collector.
• Never use a metal file to remove mold lines from plastic miniatures unless it is your only option. Whilst excellent for removing mold lines from metal miniatures, a metal file will ruin and scuff the surface of your plastic miniature, making it harder to get a good paint finish on it. This can be fixed by going over it with a blade or craft knife, but this is time-consuming.

Things You'll Need

• A plastic model in need of having its mold lines removed.
• A sharp knife or blade. A file is not recommended.
• A small brush.
• A tray or sheet of some sort to catch the falling plastic.
• Magnifying glass if you want.