What glue do you use on your plastic model building. I vaguely remember watching a short clip using airbrush solvent as a cheaper method of melting parts together.
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Hi there! Most plastic model kits will have you using polystyrene cement. There are a variety of brands out there but some of the preferred are Revell’s Contacta Professional and Tamiya’s Extra Thin Cement.
The most important thing to understand about these glues is that they’re not adhesives like super glue or araldite, rather they dissolve the opposing contact surfaces into a liquid that ultimately leaves the two parts welded together once everything cures
Can’t say I’m familiar with airbrush solvent being used in that application. It sounds a bit counter-intuitive, since you generally don’t want your model to melt during the painting process.
Of all the consumables we use in the hobby, glue ranks pretty low on the cost scale so it’s probably not an area I’d suggest economising on. Provided you store your polystyrene cements in a cool dry place (I actually store mine in the fridge) and are not losing massive amounts of glue to wastage, one vial or tube will probably last you half a dozen kits each at least
Best of luck with whatever you’re working on!
I use a variety depending on application. Instant super glue, time control super glue, gel super glue, Tamiya extra thin, Mr Cement, and AK crystal magic. As mentioned previously, glue is relatively inexpensive, so I stock up!
I use Tamiya extra thin green cap
Gorilla Glue as a CA type glue
Elmers type glue for canopies
I keep it simple Tamiya thin, gorilla super glue.
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Just ordered 2 bottles of Tamiya extra thin.
Thanks, all that replied. I have just started a B-25j Revell bomber kit. Thanks all.
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Tamiya’s large plastic bottles of “Airbrush Cleaner” – with a pink cap – is, reportedly, almost identical stuff to their Extra Thin Cement. It’s a little cheaper per ml than the “real stuff” in green-cap bottles, so some people will refill those with the Airbrush Cleaner.
It has a slightly different aroma, so it can’t be EXACTLY identical; I have used it and it seems to work the same, but I guess just for peace of mind, I generally use the official green-cap cement for any critical assemblies.
I just use plain super glue, not exactly what professianal but it gets the job done.
For styrene to styrene bonds, I use styrene cement. Whether it’s liquid cement, like Tamiya Extra Thin, Testor’s, Plastruct’s Weldene and Bondene, something similar; or good ol’ Testor’s tube cement, which has its uses. I want the weld join that a cement made for styrene gives you, with styrene.
For unlike materials, it’s CA glue, 2-part epoxy, or white glue (for clear parts, or PE ship railings),
Best regards,
Brad