Getting my model ready for clear coat. It’s the first coat prior to decal application. My question is should I attach and glue: gear, wheels, gear doors, pylons/rails, and ordnance and clear coat these all as one piece? I ask because when I weather the aircraft, Tamiya F15C, I’d like to use different techniques and patterns, for example on the center line tank and the missiles. Thank you.
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I personally wait until the very last step to install all those items. They get painted, clearcoated, weathered, etc. separately and then superglued on as the final part of the build.
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I’m using “green cap” Tamiya glue. Should I go with a super glue for that final step?
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It’s up to you. The Tamiya Extra thin needs to contact bare plastic to work, so if the parts are painted or clearcoated, then you’ll have to scrape or dissolve the paint off those to-be-glued surfaces.
Superglue doesn’t care about the paint. The joints won’t be as strong, but these little fiddly bits are so delicate that, to me, they don’t need to be attached that securely.
I would suggest getting a bottle of good superglue (I like the “Stick Fast CA Thick”) and some of those tiny tube applicator tips, and do some practicing. I like the thick CA because it sets up a little more slowly, giving you time to position the piece just so.
One last note, just in case – neither Tamiya cement nor superglue are appropriate for the clear canopy parts. They will craze and fog the part. For that, plain old white glue, like Elmer’s, aka PVA glue, works best.
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Thank you so much. Your a wealth of great knowledge and you give an individual who has been out of the hobby for decades and was a little hesitant to get back in, a great more bit of enthusiasm to partake in such a fun endeavor. Thank you kindly my friend.
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That’s the way of it brother. We are all learning here……just at different levels. The whole mindset behind communities like this is to be encouraging and promote the hobby while making friendships along the way.
I usually attach all of the delicate stuff at the end like Tom was saying.
Joe
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many thank yous. Digging this forum a lot!
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I do not add those things till the end,less chance of knocking those things off during the process.
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I agree with the other responses of leaving those items off and clear coating them separately and then attaching them.
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