help: model glue

[Quarter Tilt]

I just completed my Alicia White Pearl model kit, and have zero previous experience with model kits; regardless, I need to glue several pieces together to prevent the model from falling apart. I have no glue suitable for this job and have heard that model glue is not universal; that the wrong glue can actually melt the plastic or lose it's hold later on. Any advice for what kind of glue I should use to finish the model?

[Fox]

Plastic glue, also known as model cement, butanone or plastic cement, is not really a glue, despite what the name says. It's actually a solvent that will melt the surface of most plastics that it touches, thus effectively turning two halves into one solid piece. Cyanoacrylate glues or superglue, as it's more commonly known, will create a crystalline bond between two surfaces once it dries.

It's best to use the right glue for a specific job. If you need to secure two plastic surfaces together permanently, it's best to use plastic cement to weld them. If it's just for a temporary fix or if you're working with multiple types of material (i.e resin, plastic and steel), go for superglue.

Also, don't go overboard when applying whichever glue you're using. In the case of plastic cement, a very thin film along just one surface will generally suffice in mating the two halves together. Just press or clamp them together for a couple of hours or leave it overnight. You can then sand or trim off the remainder in the morning. For superglue, one small drop per square inch of material will be enough. Again, it's best to apply pressure to the pieces after joining them.

[Serene]

I just use cheap superglue. The problem is control since usually, the muzzles are poorly molded.