Does anybody use superglue (CA) for major assemblies?
- DavidWomby
- Modelling Gent and Scholar
- Posts: 11767
- Joined: May 1st, 2011, 8:09 pm
- Location: Florida, USA
Does anybody use superglue (CA) for major assemblies?
I use liquid cement or even tube polystyrene cement for large assembles - joining fuselage halves, wing halves, wings to fuselage, etc.. However, I just watched a promo video of Squadron's new line of superglues and the guy used thin superglue to join fuselage halves. I would have thought that it would be a weaker joint than polystyrene cement.
Does anybody use superglue for large joints and have any view on the pros and cons?
David
Does anybody use superglue for large joints and have any view on the pros and cons?
David
- JamesPerrin
- Looks like his avatar
- Posts: 13696
- Joined: April 5th, 2011, 8:09 pm
- Location: W. Yorkshire
- Contact:
Re: Does anybody use superglue (CA) for major assemblies?
I see no reason to use it on plastic kits in general. It only has uses as a occasional gap filler.
Classic British Kits SIG Leader Better to fettle than to fill
(2024 A:B 5:2) (2023 13:8:7) (2022 21:11) (2021 15:8) (2020 8:4:4)
(2024 A:B 5:2) (2023 13:8:7) (2022 21:11) (2021 15:8) (2020 8:4:4)
- AndrewR
- In the basement lab
- Posts: 24123
- Joined: April 5th, 2011, 4:13 pm
- Location: Ottawa, Ontario, The Great White North
- Contact:
Re: Does anybody use superglue (CA) for major assemblies?
I use it all the time, for pretty much everything.
Up in the Great White North
- JohnRatzenberger
- Why is he so confused ?
- Posts: 15740
- Joined: April 5th, 2011, 3:42 pm
- Location: Living on a sandbar - Nags Head, NC.
Re: Does anybody use superglue (CA) for major assemblies?
Superglue is strong enough to bond two pieces of any size, but weak in shear.
I prefer a hot glue like Tenax for styrene and save superglue for resins, metals, multi-media, and maybe quick repairs for "broke in transit".
I prefer a hot glue like Tenax for styrene and save superglue for resins, metals, multi-media, and maybe quick repairs for "broke in transit".
John Ratzenberger
It's my model and I'll do what I want with it.
It's my model and I'll do what I want with it.
Re: Does anybody use superglue (CA) for major assemblies?
When I build models with my kid, we use superglue for everything. He has asthma and the solvents of model cement would bother him. Plus superglue gives an instant bond, unlike say, the non-toxic Testors citrus stuff in the tube, so we can have a whole Spitfire ready to paint in an hour or so from starting. That's important with the modern juvenile attention span.
I just used superglue for the fuselage joins on my Rareplanes Stinson L-5. The fuselage is made of clear acetate, so model cement won't work on it.
Yes, it is a weaker bond than a cement that actually melts the parts into a single piece, but how much stress do you subject your models to? I guess larger models might pull themselves apart with their own weight, but it isn't an issue with a 1/72 fighter.
August
I just used superglue for the fuselage joins on my Rareplanes Stinson L-5. The fuselage is made of clear acetate, so model cement won't work on it.
Yes, it is a weaker bond than a cement that actually melts the parts into a single piece, but how much stress do you subject your models to? I guess larger models might pull themselves apart with their own weight, but it isn't an issue with a 1/72 fighter.
August
A good model is any model you can walk away from.
- fredk
- Modelling Gent and Scholar
- Posts: 6196
- Joined: May 1st, 2012, 6:25 am
- Location: Donaghadee, N'rn Ir'n
Re: Does anybody use superglue (CA) for major assemblies?
Same; I use Revell glue for kits. Only use superglue as main/only glue on resin or white-metal kits.jRatz wrote:I prefer a hot glue like Tenax for styrene and save superglue for resins, metals, multi-media, and maybe quick repairs for "broke in transit".
Al speling misteaks aer all mi own werk..
Its not just how good your painting is, its how good the touch-ups are too.
Its not just how good your painting is, its how good the touch-ups are too.
- AndrewR
- In the basement lab
- Posts: 24123
- Joined: April 5th, 2011, 4:13 pm
- Location: Ottawa, Ontario, The Great White North
- Contact:
Re: Does anybody use superglue (CA) for major assemblies?
Apart from canopies of course. I have Glue'n'glaze PVA for that.AndrewR wrote:I use it all the time, for pretty much everything.
Up in the Great White North
- JohnRatzenberger
- Why is he so confused ?
- Posts: 15740
- Joined: April 5th, 2011, 3:42 pm
- Location: Living on a sandbar - Nags Head, NC.
Re: Does anybody use superglue (CA) for major assemblies?
I agree, but if you superglue a part on top another and it sticks up, then it is likely to shear off if you bump it. Seams are a different issue. I have same problem with CA & Photoetch which is why I use a PVA (Gators Grip) glue; the part might separate a bit, but not completely.K5083 wrote:Yes, it is a weaker bond than a cement that actually melts the parts into a single piece, but how much stress do you subject your models to? I guess larger models might pull themselves apart with their own weight, but it isn't an issue with a 1/72 fighter.
It probably is 90% personal preference ....
John Ratzenberger
It's my model and I'll do what I want with it.
It's my model and I'll do what I want with it.
- Dazzled
- Modelling Gent and Scholar
- Posts: 9592
- Joined: October 1st, 2011, 11:08 pm
- Location: Mid Glamorgan, South Wales
- Contact:
Re: Does anybody use superglue (CA) for major assemblies?
I use Zap-a-Gap cyano for most things but prefer Liquid Poly for larger assemblies. That's not a hard and fast rule though and sometimes the Zap-a-Gap gets used for wings, fuselages, hulls etc. It has quite a bit of setting time for a cyano glue so a fair bit of playing about is possible and strength wise I've yet to have any issues with it. As for canopies, it's a toss up between Clearfix or, if I'm feeling brave, Loctite Superglue. It doesn't fog clean canopies with a coat of Klear.
However, as John points out, it's all a matter of preference. It is great though that we can share opinions like this and perhaps modify our preferences
However, as John points out, it's all a matter of preference. It is great though that we can share opinions like this and perhaps modify our preferences
COLD WAR S.I.G. LEADER
Wherever there's danger, wherever there's trouble, wherever there's important work to be done....I'll be somewhere else building a model!
Wherever there's danger, wherever there's trouble, wherever there's important work to be done....I'll be somewhere else building a model!
- fredk
- Modelling Gent and Scholar
- Posts: 6196
- Joined: May 1st, 2012, 6:25 am
- Location: Donaghadee, N'rn Ir'n
Re: Does anybody use superglue (CA) for major assemblies?
And that shear property has been useful when some of my models have been broken in transit to/from shows. The superglued part broke away at the glued joint, whereas on a similar model the same part, glued on with regular poly glue, broke off through the plastic part. The fractured part was harder to mend.jRatz wrote:I agree, but if you superglue a part on top another and it sticks up, then it is likely to shear off if you bump it. ....K5083 wrote:Yes, it is a weaker bond than a cement that actually melts the parts into a single piece, but how much stress do you subject your models to? ...
Al speling misteaks aer all mi own werk..
Its not just how good your painting is, its how good the touch-ups are too.
Its not just how good your painting is, its how good the touch-ups are too.
Re: Does anybody use superglue (CA) for major assemblies?
I used to use it for gluing the road wheels onto Armour kits, the instant set helped to make sure the wheels remained straight, did use it a couple of times for the drive and idler wheel, but when using vinyl tracks I found it tended to give way under the tension whilst fitting them, always used the Gel type more then the liquid - that stuff just got everywhere!!
-
- Modelling Gent and Scholar
- Posts: 3325
- Joined: November 4th, 2012, 11:28 am
- Location: The Netherlands
- Contact:
Re: Does anybody use superglue (CA) for major assemblies?
I'm sure you know best what works in your case, but the vapours coming off CA have been know to drive me from the room at times. I was really pouring it on at that time of course, but still...K5083 wrote:He has asthma and the solvents of model cement would bother him.