Need glue advice

Callandor · Post by **Callandor** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 10:30 am

What is a strong, fast drying type of glue for styrene? I am working on a 1/144 shuttle launch tower and there are several parts that can't really be clamped. I have tried Super Glue which holds pretty well, but it still seems rather brittle. Regular plastic cement takes far too long to dry. Suggestions?

Rocketeer · Post by **Rocketeer** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 10:39 am

Tenax 7-R dries quick.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 10:53 am

Tenax, Ambroid Pro-Weld, or Tamiya Thin should all work fast enough.

Beaveranger · Post by **Beaveranger** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 11:57 am

I like Plastruct plastic solvent. Sets in about 20 secs. Cures overnight.

here

Callandor · Post by **Callandor** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 12:23 pm

Do these bond strong pretty fast? The model is old and a lot of the parts are warped so they want to pul apart or not line up. I need something that will bond fast and strong enough to keep them from pulling apart.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 12:30 pm

How warped are they?

Callandor · Post by **Callandor** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 3:35 pm

They are not obscenely warped, but enough that they don't fit together properly. Most of the pieces are for the scaffolding framework on the launch pad, so clamping them would not work. Super glue has worked pretty well so far, but there are some areas that will take more stress and I am afraid the super glue won't cut it. If I used regular plastic cement, I would have to hold each piece for an hour to get it secure.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 4:19 pm

My preference is Tenax. Thin, set quickly and forms a pretty strong bond.

Brad would say the same about Ambroid Pro-Weld.

naoto · Post by **naoto** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 4:55 pm

Callandor wrote:They are not obscenely warped, but enough that they don't fit together properly. Most of the pieces are for the scaffolding framework on the launch pad, so clamping them would not work. Super glue has worked pretty well so far, but there are some areas that will take more stress and I am afraid the super glue won't cut it. If I used regular plastic cement, I would have to hold each piece for an hour to get it secure.

Have you tried wrapping assembly with string to hold it together while the glue dries? If distortion is going to be a problem, perhaps you can use a jig to help keep everything square ?

Callandor · Post by **Callandor** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 5:13 pm

An additional wrench in the works is that I only have one hand, so using string is pretty much out of the question since I can't really tie it. I have been able to use weights, bottles, etc. to get some of the pieces into a stable position for glueing, but some of them are just too awkward.

naoto · Post by **naoto** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 5:36 pm

Callandor wrote:An additional wrench in the works is that I only have one hand, so using string is pretty much out of the question since I can't really tie it. I have been able to use weights, bottles, etc. to get some of the pieces into a stable position for glueing, but some of them are just too awkward.

What about masking tape? Even that cheapo yellowish-brown paper masking tape from the hardware store should work. Just need to remember to not leave it too long or you'll get sticky residue.

Rocketeer · Post by **Rocketeer** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 4:01 pm

Callandor wrote:An additional wrench in the works is that I only have one hand...

You just keep making it tougher and tougher; next you'll be wanting to do it underwater!

Can you call in your wife or kid to daub glue on things while you hold them? Sometimes I have to do that.

Callandor · Post by **Callandor** » Thu Aug 19, 2010 9:14 am

I don't really have a problem glueing stuff in place. The problem I ran into w/ the launch tower is that the pieces are very awkward to try clamping (and fragile as well) and I don't want to have to hold a part in place for an hour while the glue sets. That is why I was looking for a less brittle alternative to super glue.

raser13 · Post by **raser13** » Fri Aug 20, 2010 2:44 pm

when i do gluing that i know that i'm gong to have to hold on to for a while i pring the piece that i'm going to work on and the glue into the living room and turn on a show. makes the time go by so much faster.

btw i admire your resolve in not letting the missing limb hold you back from what you like to do. i myself can barely do my models with both hands!! i can't imagine the complexities it adds to the hobby only having one hand. just holding a piece and then work on it would require a jig of some sort i would assume.

mind sharing some of the creative ways you have used to overcome this issue?? might even help some of us lesser modelers. i say lesser because we have to use two hands to your one. kind of a build model ships compared to those that model ships in a bottle kind of thing.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Fri Aug 20, 2010 2:53 pm

You may also find a nice heavy right angle block would help you out.

Callandor · Post by **Callandor** » Fri Aug 20, 2010 9:19 pm

raser13 wrote: btw i admire your resolve in not letting the missing limb hold you back from what you like to do. i myself can barely do my models with both hands!! i can't imagine the complexities it adds to the hobby only having one hand. just holding a piece and then work on it would require a jig of some sort i would assume.

mind sharing some of the creative ways you have used to overcome this issue?? might even help some of us lesser modelers. i say lesser because we have to use two hands to your one. kind of a build model ships compared to those that model ships in a bottle kind of thing.

For the most part, I try to paint as much of the model on the sprue or unassembled as possible. That way I can lay it flat on the table to paint. I also have some clamps attached to rods that I use to hold parts in the air if need be. Trimming with my exacto is the trickiest part. I just try to brace the part as best as possible and try not to slice myself (although that was a risk when I had TWO hands

) Luckily, I only lost my hand below the wrist so I have enough of a stump that I can hold things in place with my bad arm. It certainly took a lot of adjustment, but modeling is a continual learning process, so I figure I will keep improving by practice.