Anyone use PVC pipe in scratchbuilding?

Modeling Subjects Scratchbuilding
1

I’m wondering how well it takes paint and CA glue. I know there are glues made just for PVC, but I would prefer CA. I need to machine two pieces of PVC and glue them together. I’d rather not mess with the two-part, messy pipe cement.

Thanks, Lee

2

I use PVC and CPVC a lot for scratchbuilding and I use CA and two part epoxy.

3

Thanks. I’ll try it out over the weekend.

4

I recently used a piece of PVC pipe to replace the main tankage structure on the Explorer launch vehicle (the kit body was very much oval shaped rather than circular). CA glue worked fine re-attaching details from the kit, plus gluing on nose and engine section. I prime with Krylon primer and it held (and subsequently coats of color enamel held) fine.

5

Thanks, Don. That’s good info. I’m making a German 60cm searchlight and PVC pipe is a dirt-cheap source of material for it. Just take a few thousandths off the O.D. and there’s the main body of it.

6

Share some pictures so we know how it turns out. [;)]

7

I’m having trouble getting glue to stick. I’m going to try pipe cement on it. It’s being machined anyway so I can just take off the excess with the lathe.

I work 60+ hours a week so modeling time is hard to come by. So far I only have the main body of the search light.

8

Hi LEE; I have used PVC for the pressure hulls on subs.I don,t understand what you are referring to when you say two part cement. I always just use the clear PVC cement and it works fine for me. I would say though , I do apply it with a very fine brush . I put it lightly on both surfaces and wait about ten seconds and stick the parts together. It works like a charm. TANKERBUILDER

9

I just recently used 1" PVC pipe to simulate the stack on a steam powered fisherman. I’m going to insert a pircr of 1/2" copper pipe concentrically and install a smoke generator in that. The PVC took Testor’s acryllic with no problem. I glued it on with 2 part epoxy. Through sad experience I for one will never again use CA for anything other than to temporarly hold parts while waiting for some other glue to set. I have 30+ year old models that are falling apart because of the brittleness of CA joints. While the only problem I’ve ever had with epoxy is when I’ve attempted to use it over a painted surface.