I have decided to start puting my models on display bases and I would like to permanently attach them but not sure what the best option is for that. I will not be displaying them in flight. I am using pine for the bases I make for them. I was thinking elmer’s under the wheels would probably hold them well enough but I could use some others input so I don’t muck it up.
I drill a hole into one of the wheels and insert a small piece of brass rod, then make a hole in the base and glue it into there. For aircraft with nose wheels, especially big ones, i put one in the nose wheel and one in one of the main wheels. Also means i don’t have to worry about nose weights.
I used to just glue them down but the slightest nock and they often came off. Being doing it with the rod for several years now and has now failed me yet.
I use two ‘rods’, actually usually cut from a pin or wire. And, I use CA, not Elmers. CA is brittle, but a lot stronger than white glue. The wire overcomes the brittleness of CA. In order to drill in the right spot for two wheels, I glue the wires into the wheels first, then put a drop of gloss red paint on the tip of the wires and briefly touch the model down onto the base. This leaves two small red dots in the exact place to drill.
Thanks guys I was wondering how they could be attached with more than just glue.
And adding flat spots and a little bonding area for the CA helps.
On my Intruder build that I posted a few days ago, I just used CA glue. A support rod would probably be smart, as that is what I do for my figures, typically.
The intruder had multiple glue points, as I gave it a carrier catapult launch scene, it has all three points of the landing gear, the hold back rod, AND the catapult shuttle connection as glue points…
Definitely use a small piece of wire to pin the model and anchor it to the base, along with an adhesive. Personally, I’d use CA or a 2-part epoxy cement, over using Elmer’s or other white glue.
Also, in larger scales, if the wheels are molded in halves, you could use a fine bolt to anchor the model. Capture the head of the bolt between the halves, and thread it through a hole drilled into the base, and secure it with the nut.
Lot’s of great advice, thanks. They are only going to my shelf and not being toted around anywhere as I don’t do shows, since I’ve yet to see one advertised anywhere close to me. Gun shows are abundant but modelling shows not so much. Model clubs don’t exist here either, but I sure don’t want them falling off when I have to move them to dust so I will be trying some of these suggestions on my next few builds.
I have used fine wire like that found in small electric motors and wrap it around the axels and pull it through a hole in the base and glue it to the bottom of the base with epoxy. The metal rod method described above also works well.
I do exactly what Don does.