discussion Glue?

[simontie]

Hi all
For a long time i have been using revel contacta and Tamiya extra thin, my revel contactra is running out and was looking to see if there are any others i should be thinking about i like the pin point dispenser on the revel although some times it can flow quite quickly but there is such a big choice to choose from or do i stick with what i know or do you have any recommendations?
simon

 

[Tim Marlow]

I’ve stuck with them for years (sorry, couldn’t resist)……EVA is a good replacement for Tamiya extra thin if you need one, but don’t think there’s much around to replace the gap filling qualities of Contacta. If it ain’t broke, why fix it……

 

[Dave Ward]

Simon,
tried various other glues, but I always come back to TET & Contacta - I don't get any shortcomings when I use them '
Dave

 

[Nicko]

I also find a use for Humbrol Liquid Poly when I need something that falls between the two favourites already mentioned...

Nick

 

[zuludog]

OK, here are my comments on the glue that I use --

Tube glue, the polystyrene cement that's been around for decades
Not as popular as it was, but I still prefer it for large joints like wing-to-fuselage, though as I use other types I don't use as much as I did, and a tube from an Airfix starter kit lasts me for ages.

Glue dispensers such as Revell Contacta
I've tried a couple but I don't like them as I can't seem to control the flow properly and they block up

Liquid glue
I use Tamiya or Mr Hobby as the bottles are squat, the brushes are fine, and they don't have those fiddly & frustrating tamper proof caps
I use it for very small parts and flowing onto joints, often to reinforce the previous gluing

My own mixture --
This is a bottle of liquid glue into which I've dissolved a few pieces of clear sprue
This makes it slightly thicker but not as thick as tube glue. I use it for most smallish & medium parts
Just make it up as you go along, remembering, of course, that you can add sprue but you can't take it out again.

I top up the bottles with whichever bulk liquid glue I have at the time
All these glues are intermiscible, and I have topped up bottles by emptying a Contacta dispenser after I'd cut it open, and squeezing out the dregs of a manky, leaking tube of glue

For canopies I use Kristal Kleer.

 

[simontie]

Well thank you for that happy to STICK!! with what i have your right if it ant broke …..i have some liquid poly but find it non user friendly that and the aplication brush falls out of the cap everytime iv tried using it
i use Kristal klear on screens and the like also i find it good on painted parts like seats on my bikes so there's no damage to the paint work
simon

 

[zuludog]

Well thank you for that happy to STICK!! with what i have your right if it ant broke …..i have some liquid poly but find it non user friendly that and the aplication brush falls out of the cap everytime iv tried using it
i use Kristal klear on screens and the like also i find it good on painted parts like seats on my bikes so there's no damage to the paint work
simon

I've used a few types of liquid glue in the past, mostly Humbrol, and yes, the cap brush often comes loose

However, I've been using Mr Hobby/ Mr Cement and Tamiya Extra Thin for several years, and I've never had any problems, the cap brushes are very secure; they're also finer than Humbrol.
If you try one of those, you can always top it up from your bottle with the problematic cap.

 

[simontie]

I've used a few types of liquid glue in the past, mostly Humbrol, and yes, the cap brush often comes loose

However, I've been using Mr Hobby/ Mr Cement and Tamiya Extra Thin for several years, and I've never had any problems, the cap brushes are very secure; they're also finer than Humbrol.
If you try one of those, you can always top it up from your bottle with the problematic cap.

Thank you i will keep an eye out for them
sim9n

 

[PaulTRose]

i must be the weird one............probably 98% of my glueing is done with CA!

quick to set so you can get on with it, mix with talc for a quick drying hard but sandable filler, even use it on 'glass' if you know the trick so it dosnt fog.......i buy it in the thick form for about 3 quid a bottle which last at least 6/7 kits of 1/35 size

the other 2% i have a bottle of tamiya extra thin which will probably go off before i get half way down it......and pva which has some uses

 

[Ian M]

i have a bottle of tamiya extra thin which will probably go off before i get half way down it..

Say what? Go off. Mine if anything evaporate quicker than I can use them. Even with the lid on when not in use!

My own mixture --
This is a bottle of liquid glue into which I've dissolved a few pieces of clear sprue
This makes it slightly thicker but not as thick as tube glue. I use it for most smallish & medium parts

Oh nice one. I'm so trying that one. I find sometimes the thin is too thin but the regular Tamiya goop to thick.
Thinking out loud here: Does this mean you can make 'clear' filler...?

Glue dispensers such as Revell Contacta
I've tried a couple but I don't like them as I can't seem to control the flow properly and they block up

Pull the needle out and give it a flame from a lighter. Job done. put back in and carry on. (the truth version is you dont have to take it out the bottle. unless you squeeze and release while putting it in the flame, but I think we are all 'fairly' sensible in here. LOL

My go to glue's at the moment
Humbrol precision, the one with the needle thing.
trying out AK extra thin. seams not to evaporate as quick as Tamiya.
Tamiya regular and Extra thin.
Micro scale kristal klear for and good old Gorilla grip glue for clear parts and Photo etch
CA for anything that needs sticking to my finger/nose/desk/tweezers and one in a while the model.

 

[simontie]

Say what? Go off. Mine if anything evaporate quicker than I can use them. Even with the lid on when not in use!

Oh nice one. I'm so trying that one. I find sometimes the thin is too thin but the regular Tamiya goop to thick.
Thinking out loud here: Does this mean you can make 'clear' filler...?

Pull the needle out and give it a flame from a lighter. Job done. put back in and carry on. (the truth version is you dont have to take it out the bottle. unless you squeeze and release while putting it in the flame, but I think we are all 'fairly' sensible in here. LOL

My go to glue's at the moment
Humbrol precision, the one with the needle thing.
trying out AK extra thin. seams not to evaporate as quick as Tamiya.
Tamiya regular and Extra thin.
Micro scale kristal klear for and good old Gorilla grip glue for clear parts and Photo etch
CA for anything that needs sticking to my finger/nose/desk/tweezers and one in a while the model.

Also those freezer tie’s the twisted wires in plastic are the same diameter as the bore on the glue dispenser… Also good for make shift repairs as a dowel if you ever brake a small part gives it an extra bit of strength

 

[zuludog]

Oh nice one. I'm so trying that one. I find sometimes the thin is too thin but the regular Tamiya goop to thick.
Thinking out loud here: Does this mean you can make 'clear' filler...?

I started in the 1960s when the only glue available was polystyrene cement in a tube that you pierced & sealed with a drawing pin
AFAIK it's just a solvent with clear polystyrene dissolved in it

Later came liquid glue, which is just the solvent, in bottles with brush caps or bulk in plain bottles
I started with Humbrol, then tried Tamya and Mr Hobby/Mr Cement, which I prefer as the bottles are better

However I find that sometimes liquid glue flows around too much, so I added a few pieces of clear sprue to the Mr Cement; no special reason, it was a 50;50 choice between that and Tamiya
This makes it slightly thicker so it doesn't flow over small parts, but nowhere near as thick as tube glue
You add a few pieces at a time, till you get the viscosity that suits you.
I use the thin for flowing into joints and the thickened 'my mixture' is applied to joint surfaces before the parts are quickly pressed together
Experience will show how much to use, if you get it right there's nothing squeezed out.

I've had both of those bottles for a while, and I prefer Mr Cement as the cap is longer than the Tamiya and easier to hold, so motivated by this Thread I've ordered some more Mr Cement -

As we know, Mr Hobby has loads of products, and their website explains them www.mr-hobby.com
I've ordered -

Mr Cement S : code MC129, standard thin liquid glue
Mr Cement Deluxe : code MC 127 slightly thicker, stronger bond. It's thickened by adding plastic & resin, so it's nice to see that Mr Hobby agrees with me!

I've ordered them from www.modeldisplayproducts.co.uk and I'll see how I get on with them

As you might have gathered, I'm not really bothered about any particular solvent, as long as it does its job; aficionados might have their preferences but as far as I'm concerned they're all much of a muchness
I have emptied a Revell Contacta dispenser, various bulk liquid glues, and a manky old tube of glue into bottles of liquid glue and it still works
Yes, the viscosity might change but you can adjust that by adding sprue or solvent as required

As my new bottles of Mr Cement get used up I'll top them up with my existing plain or thickened glue, and bulk liquid

I've heard of making liquid polystyrene filler & seen videos about it, but I've never used it myself; perhaps one day soon.
There are also several videos about choice of glue