Hello,
I am an armor model in trouble with what may be a routine task when working on big planes (e.g. B-17, Catalina, B24, etc.).
I am having problems putting together the typical two halves of a plane body or wings: due to their size, often it takes some time to put the glue on the entire border, and when I finish the first glue placed is already dried.
Putting more glue does not help, obviously, but I always end up with the most important pieces poorly fixed.
Try something like Tenax 7R or Ambroid ProWeld. Clamp the two pieces together (rubber bands, tape, spring clamps, whatever you need), and then go down the joint with the glue. Avoid getting it on the plastic outside the joint or it will melt it! I use a hypodermic needle. It will pull down into the joint and weld the plastic together. Also, if you squeeze the joint a bit a little bit of plastic will ooze out. Sand this down and the joint will be pretty much invisible.
The only thing I can add to MusicCity’s method is go slow! Work an inch or so at a time. Also, watch for warping or bowing. I’ve built three B-24’s. I’ve had to clamp the fuselage halfs together to get the interior bulk heads to line up.
Music City hit it right on the button. However, you may also run into problems attaching wings to fuselage If that is the case try getting some Plastistruct or brass ($$$!) tubes. One set larger than the others. glue them to one of the wing halves, preferably the upper so as to avoid wheel wells etc.
Do this for both wings. Close up the wing halves and when it comes time to join the wing to fuselage there will be a stronger support.
The stronger support at or near the joint allows for more freedon of movement. Obviously not of the wing itself, but of the model in your hand, vise on the bench etc. This may also involve some minor surgery to the fuselage. Those tabs never seem to do the job real well.
I watched a friend working on the old Monogram B17 do this. With the supports in there he had plenty of time to work around all of the seem edges. Lining things up and cleaning up glue seeps and so on. He also used thick/slow set CA.
Jeff -
I always try to glue the fuselage halves on a big model (like the 1/48 Catalina I built - that was big!!) in several sections during several sittings - this gives you time to adjust just that one section - makes it easier to keep the whole thing aligned.
Just glue several inches at a time, using a good liquid glue - one that can be aggressive but flashes off quickly. Make sure it’s aligned correctly and set it aside for a while - you HAVE to learn patience when you model.
I often use Ethyl Methyl Ketone (a rather nasty chemical - use adequate ventilation!) - it really melts the styrene quickly to create a fantastic welded bond, yet evaporates quickly enough to not damage the parts being glued. The stuff is cheap and can be found at the hardware store. WAAAAAAAAY cheaper than Humbrol Liquid Poly -
…
Oooops…Vance just pointed out that I got it wrong - it’s Methyl Ethyl Ketone (or MEK)…the stuff I bought I got from the hardware store - plumbers use it as a priming fluid when they’re assembling PVC pipework during house construction.
There you go.
And thanks, Vance.
Thanks everybody for your prompt reply! It was my first post and I am suprised by the level of feedbacks.
I really understand what you say:
I had so much troubles yesterday night putting together the two halves of a 1/72 Catalina - they were damn big!
From your comments I understand is a delicate affair, I will be more prepared next time.
Cheers, Jefff
I find a good way to get a strong bond on the fuselage is to add a few strips in the middle which can’t be seen this gives the joints extra space to bond and significantly increases the strength of the bond ! I’ve use this method with excellent results on an old Airfix sunderland and thats a big aircraft even in 1/72 !!!
good suggestions all around. something i will add. when working on larger a/c i will glue the wings on this way. taking the upper half i will use super glue like a spot weld. with the super glue keeping the wing somewhat in place i use tamiya extra thin or ambroid to melt the edges of the seam. this gets rid of the seam. when the entire seam is done and dry i will use super glue on the underside of the upper wing section where it meets the fuse. this will help to stregthen the joint.