Best glue for plastic kits?
Discussion
I guess there is no "one size fits all" answer, but thought I'd ask anyway....is there a "best glue" to use for model kits?
I think I've read Tamiya Extra Thin Cement is good stuff.
I also have some quite small repairs to do that would be tricky to support whilst drying - can superglue be used for this?
I think I've read Tamiya Extra Thin Cement is good stuff.
I also have some quite small repairs to do that would be tricky to support whilst drying - can superglue be used for this?
Most plastic kits are made from polystyrene so the correct "glue" to use is "polystyrene cement". This is technically not a glue but a solvent which melts the mated surfaces together to form a fused bond. It comes in various guises - tube, liquid with a brush and liquid with an applicator.
Most of us of a certain age will remember with less than fondness using tube cement. These days, I almost exclusively use liquid cements of various sorts, either with an applicator or a brush. On rare occasions I might still use tube glue.
If you are mating items made from dissimilar materials, such as plastic to etched brass, or plastic to white metal, then I will use a "superglue" *(cyanocrylate) . For attaching clear parts, such as canopies or lights, I generally use white PVA glue. Superglue can also be used for this but it can fog canopies so I don't use it. The one thing I never do is try to attach a canopy using any sort of polystyrene cement.
Most of us of a certain age will remember with less than fondness using tube cement. These days, I almost exclusively use liquid cements of various sorts, either with an applicator or a brush. On rare occasions I might still use tube glue.
If you are mating items made from dissimilar materials, such as plastic to etched brass, or plastic to white metal, then I will use a "superglue" *(cyanocrylate) . For attaching clear parts, such as canopies or lights, I generally use white PVA glue. Superglue can also be used for this but it can fog canopies so I don't use it. The one thing I never do is try to attach a canopy using any sort of polystyrene cement.
Revell contacta professional with the needle applicator is a good one to have especially for sticking big areas where the Tamiya Extra Thin can flash off a bit
In addition I’d go with what has been said above.
MEK is another solvent but it makes Tamiya extra thin seem like water. Spill it on your cutting mat and it’s a bit like the China Syndrome…
In addition I’d go with what has been said above.
MEK is another solvent but it makes Tamiya extra thin seem like water. Spill it on your cutting mat and it’s a bit like the China Syndrome…
Edited by r159 on Wednesday 29th September 21:32
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