If you've never worked with resin before, here are some tips.

• Always wash the pieces with warm, soapy water to remove any excess mold release that will prevent paint or glue from sticking later. Allow the washed pieces to dry thoroughly.

• Use cyanoacrylate glue (such as Crazy Glue or Super Glue). You might want to check at your hobby shop for a "kicker" product, such as Zap Kicker, which will speed up drying time for cyanoacrylate glues, however kicker can compromise the strength of the glue.

• Before painting, primer the model. You can find inexpensive primers in the spray paint department at stores like Walmart. Look for a sandable primer in case you need to do touch-ups.

• You can use Bondo Spot and Glazing Putty to fill seams. It's available in small tubes in the auto department at stores like Walmart for less than $2.00 for a 3.5 ounce tube. This will work on any model, too, not just resin. For larger models or repairs, Auto Body Filler, such as Bondo or 3M brands, will patch the areas and won't shrink like most putties.

• Acrylic paints work really well on resin (and I use them for my plastic models as well, unless I want a very shiny finish). You can buy cheap acrylic paints in the craft section of stores like Michael's Crafts. A 2oz bottle usually runs less than a dollar (compared to two or three times that for a 1/4 oz bottle of Testors Model Paint).