Seems like as soon as the air gets frosty it's time for me to think about modeling. I spent some quality time working on the railroad as of late and getting back into building a futuristic semi-scratch built layout/set and remembered what killed it last time. I started a scratch build project last year thinking low-temp hot glue would be the miracle adhesive and It surely wasn't. Sadly Duct tape has limited use in minature work. So duh It occured to me that there is a wealth of knowledge and wisdom on this board and that I should ask my questions here, so here goes:
What glues/adhesives are best for joining dissimilar materials in minature work?
For example:
Brass Rod to Wood
Brass Rod to Plastic (styrene)
Wood to Plastic (styrene)
Nylon to Styrene
PVC to Nylon
PVC to Styrene
PVC to Wood
etc.
Other than that I got a new dremel-type wannabe tool and have been enjoying hacking into a cheapo lifelike UP engine to mod it for a future train. This time I got a cheapo dremel type thing with a cord because the cordless one never held a charge long enough to finish a job. It was a big waste of money except for that I can use all the tools I never used with this one which also has all the tools I never use. I do break those sanding/cuting disks a plenty though. Maybe I'll have to get some pics of of what I'm doing eh. Then you all can badger me into maybe even finishing something ;p
Scratch building is almost all I do and the three most common adhesives I use are thin & thick CA and two part epoxie. I use other glues too but those three get 90% of the work done.
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" I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail
fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones
If you glue any clear plastic parts such as windows, the best so far is Microscale Kristal Klear. It doesn't glaze the clear plastic, and the residues can be rubbed off. For really small window openings, it is a very good substitute for the plastic part. You fill in the opening with that stuff using a tooth pick. It is white at first, but when drying up, it becomes crystal clear as the name suggests.