NittenDormer Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 This sounds like the kind of question the average modeller should already know the answer to, but as yet I have only dabbled with card kits. Iam about to foray into the world of the Wills Vari-Girder bridge. I have PVA, wood glue, superglue and puncture repair 'rubber cement'. (I am guessing I can rule out pritt stick.) Do any of these work on plastic kits? And by 'work', I mean 'stick together'. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bike2steam Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 Depends what kind of plastic it is I use either;- M.E.K., Plastic Weld, or Bison. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
crompton 33 Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 (edited) You will need to use Humbrol Poly Glue on Wills plastic kits . Or plastic weld Edited June 9, 2018 by crompton 33 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium HillsideDepot Posted June 9, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 9, 2018 I use Revell liquid glue for most of my plastic kits (it does depend on what they are made of). It works fine on Wills Scenic kits. The only thing I find with it is that the feed tube, being so narrow, easily clogs. I just keep a piece of firm wire handy to unblock it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steamport Southport Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 I would go with the above. Humbrol Liquid Poly, Revell, Plastic Weld, etc. are designed for building plastic model kits. Anything else either won't stick properly or could even ruin the model. Try to avoid the "squeezy tube" polystyrene cement that people used to use for Airfix kits if possible. It has it's uses, but is too stringy and messy for general use. Some prefer the nozzle type like the Revell version above and others prefer it out of a jar and applied with a brush. It's whatever works best for you. Jason Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pharrc20 Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 I use Revell liquid glue for most of my plastic kits (it does depend on what they are made of). It works fine on Wills Scenic kits. The only thing I find with it is that the feed tube, being so narrow, easily clogs. I just keep a piece of firm wire handy to unblock it. 12685-diverse-revell-contacta-professional-lim-25g.jpg Another vote for Revell Contacta Professional. I am using it right now to make up some Walthers quarry kits and used it on my previous buildings for my Speedlow and imho is the best. Just keep the metal nozzle clear of glue and you will be fine and work in a well ventilated room or outdoors in the shade as it quite pungent! Cheers Paul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravenser Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 This sounds like the kind of question the average modeller should already know the answer to, but as yet I have only dabbled with card kits. Iam about to foray into the world of the Wills Vari-Girder bridge. I have PVA, wood glue, superglue and puncture repair 'rubber cement'. (I am guessing I can rule out pritt stick.) Do any of these work on plastic kits? And by 'work', I mean 'stick together'. Short answer - no You need a polystyrene glue - "polystyrene cement" is a bit thick slow and awkward/messy though Revell Contacta is the high-tech version and useful for larger assemblies. The modern modelling replacement is a solvent, applied by brush . These range from the mildest (Humbrol Liquid Poly , and limonene) through Plastic Weld (needed for ABS) to the most aggressive and volatile, which is butanone. Keep a window open when using Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Dave John Posted June 9, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 9, 2018 I have also found that the revell contacta is good for laminating styrene sheet. I keep a 2 inch bit of 11 thou wire down the tube . A pattern of tiny dots of it across the surface, dries slowly compared to the liquid solvents and if the assembly is held flat with weights it doesn't warp. Oddly too it does smell sweet and lemony, I do wonder if it is limonene in a gel ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcm@gwr Posted June 10, 2018 Share Posted June 10, 2018 Tamiya do Extra Thin cement, it seems similar to Humbrol Liquid Poly, but with a much finer brush, I use both. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted June 10, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 10, 2018 (edited) I generally use Butanone when working with polystyrene or ABS sheet and the fairly thick Wills Scenic sheets, Limonene for very thin polystyrene sheet (10 or 5 thou. and for laminating thicker sheet - patience required as it takes a while to set when used for that. For wagon kits etc. I have settled on Deluxe Materials Plastic Magic. This seems to be a half-way house between a liquid adhesive and a pure solvent. It gives a little extra time to ensure a properly aligned joint but forms an extremely strong bond once it goes off. All applied by brush or the Deluxe Materials "Pin Flow Applicator" where very small quantities need to be delivered with precision. Definitely nothing that needs to be squeezed. John Edited June 10, 2018 by Dunsignalling Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Smith Posted June 10, 2018 Share Posted June 10, 2018 MEK is undoubtedly the best for all styrene based models. It is very thin and evaporates almost instantly. You do not apply to the surfaces before putting together but rather dry-fit the parts and run a MEK-filled brush along the joint to allow the solvent be carried into the joint by capillary action. The rapid evaporation means that the surface outside the joint is not generally marred by the solvent. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
clecklewyke Posted June 10, 2018 Share Posted June 10, 2018 Butanone is the modern name for Methyl Ethyl Ketone, which was the solvent used by George Slater, and which he sold as MEKpak for use with his Slater's Plasticard. Plasticard and most plastic kits (Fallers, Wills etc) are made of polystyrene, so Butanone works well with them. I endorse the advice of applying with a small paint brush, using capillary action to make it flow between the mated surfaces. Butanone can be bought in small doses under various trade marks but it is much cheaper to buy a 500ml bottle from Amazon which will probably out-live me, especially if I smoke and use it in an un-ventilated space like George did when he was demonstrating it! I decant small amounts of it into a small bottle which I hold in a simple wood and card structure to prevent it spilling. Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NittenDormer Posted June 11, 2020 Author Share Posted June 11, 2020 To demonstrate the speed of my modelling. 2 years ago I asked this question. Today I finally open the vari-girder packet. Don't think my spans are going to win prizes for length. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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