Jump to content

How do you glue on those small parts at the end of a build?


Recommended Posts

Hi everyone

 

I'm at the stage of finishing my 1/48 Su-33.  Painted and final assembly.  Those L shaped probes around the cockpit, I'm not sure how to best glue these in place.  CA isn't tacky enough to allow me final angel adjustments and the part is slightly too heavy for Gator Grip glue.  Looking for tips on how you glue these parts on?   I'm thinking a very tacky glue that is not quick drying like CA.  See below image of the probes for which I am referring.

 

Thank you!

 

32889957616_1edabe5055_b.jpg

Link to post
Share on other sites

One of the members in IPMSOC swears by Gator Grip Glue or Formula 560 Canopy Glue for attaching sticking-out bits of his armor models. He ensures there's a mechanical bond, e.g., drill a small hole for something like an antenna or that pitot or a slot for a wing fence, and then uses Gator Grip to secure the part. As primary benefits he cites water clean-up while not yet cured and flexibility as it will elastically bend under stress.

 

I use acrylic glues for canopies because they don't cause any clouding and give you ample set-up time. I also use them for sheet PE laying against plastic to deal with the different expansion rates of plastic and brass. The glue's flexibility easily absorbs the expansions. CA forms a strong but brittle bond with a low shear strength that will break under the expansions.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Mostly agree with dnl42  and some of the other comments.  Gel CA gives you sticking power but also adjustment time. I use Gator Gel, but be careful as it seems to have an abundance of fumes. 

 

I do like Formula 560 but be aware that it is VERY sticky which is an advantage to attaching small parts - you might need thin it just a little bit (water) so you don't get the inevitable strings.  I have also found with Formula 560 that if I screwed something up, I can 'break' off the part and reattach.  One big advantage is that it dries clear.


Good luck and happy building!

Chris

Link to post
Share on other sites

Acrylic glues like Gator Grip and Formula 560, do suffer from evaporation, becoming more paste-like. I tried once to add water, but wasn't happy with the result. I do try to make sure the bottles are well packed, but at some point, I just suck it up and buy a new bottle.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you for all the great replies.  I'll be gluing the probes in a couple days.  I have never used Gorilla glue gel before.  Looks like CA gel.  When extra thin CA starts to turn bad, it seems like more gel like, but not tacky.  Is CA gel and Gorilla glue gel both tacky enough.


I have shaky hands.  I can put the part where I want to but cant hold my hands still long enough for glue to set.  So needs to be tacky enough to stay put once placed, then the glue needs some time to set as I need to be able to adjust.  Are these gel glues also tacky?

 

I also liked the idea of drilling a hole and then using a fine dowel.  Would provide strength and time to adjust position.

 

I have gator grip glue and it's fantastic for certain things, but I know the probes would be too heavy to tack into place and adjust.

Edited by Jonathan S
Link to post
Share on other sites
8 minutes ago, Jonathan S said:

Thank you for all the great replies.  I'll be gluing the probes in a couple days.  I have never used Gorilla glue gel before.  Looks like CA gel.  When extra thin CA starts to turn bad, it seems like more gel like, but not tacky.  Is CA gel and Gorilla glue gel both tacky enough.


I have shaky hands.  I can put the part where I want to but cant hold my hands still long enough for glue to set.  So needs to be tacky enough to stay put once placed, then the glue needs some time to set as I need to be able to adjust.  Are these gel glues also tacky?

 

I also liked the idea of drilling a hole and then using a fine dowel.  Would provide strength and time to adjust position.

 

I have gator grip glue and it's fantastic for certain things, but I know the probes would be too heavy to tack into place and adjust.

I've used the gorilla glue gel on 3 or 4 of my last planes.  It will hold the piece exactly where you put it long enough to make Minor adjustments before drying.  It's thick enough and very tacky, so issues with parts tipping over and falling off aren't a problem.  

Link to post
Share on other sites
5 minutes ago, Napalmakita said:

I've used the gorilla glue gel on 3 or 4 of my last planes.  It will hold the piece exactly where you put it long enough to make Minor adjustments before drying.  It's thick enough and very tacky, so issues with parts tipping over and falling off aren't a problem.  

 

Thanks... I'll be going out and buying some :-)

Link to post
Share on other sites
30 minutes ago, Jonathan S said:

 

Thanks... I'll be going out and buying some 🙂

Just drop a chocolate chip size drop onto a metallic surface, like foil or a tin paint cup, and you can dip and place your parts from there. 👍

Edited by Napalmakita
Link to post
Share on other sites
8 minutes ago, Napalmakita said:

Just drop a chocolate chip size drop onto a metallic surface, like foil or a tin paint cup, and you can dip and place your parts from there. 👍

 

I'll post photos when I get it done.  It's been a fun build.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Brian is the smart one here and is doing it the right way - that also helps keep things from breaking off.  I just never do it unless I've really screwed something up. 🙂  I FINALLY bought a new set of drill bits so now I know the sizes.  After all these years my previous set was spilled and I never could see which bit was which.

Link to post
Share on other sites

If you're using CA, do you have to worry about scraping paint away from a painted surface?  I'll be honest with you...it's not uncommon for me to leave off sensors from the side of a fuselage because I just can't stand trying to deal with them.  If I need to scrape some paint off an area that's the same size as the dot over the "i", I'd rather not deal with it.  If you check out some of my F-14 builds, you won't find any of those pointy little sensors on the fuselage sides because of my distaste at dealing with such things.

 

Eric

Link to post
Share on other sites
3 minutes ago, echolmberg said:

If you're using CA, do you have to worry about scraping paint away from a painted surface?  I'll be honest with you...it's not uncommon for me to leave off sensors from the side of a fuselage because I just can't stand trying to deal with them.  If I need to scrape some paint off an area that's the same size as the dot over the "i", I'd rather not deal with it.  If you check out some of my F-14 builds, you won't find any of those pointy little sensors on the fuselage sides because of my distaste at dealing with such things.

 

Eric

 

Eric:  Well, yes and no.  You are SUPPOSED to scrape off the paint, but if you don't, as long as you don't bump the part it seems to stay on, in my own experience.  I did that with the drop tank on my P-39.  I scrapped off the paint on the brace faces, but not the tank itself.  It does stay on, but I would not handle it very much or I know it will come off.


Good luck!

Chris

 

Link to post
Share on other sites
14 minutes ago, echolmberg said:

If you're using CA, do you have to worry about scraping paint away from a painted surface?  I'll be honest with you...it's not uncommon for me to leave off sensors from the side of a fuselage because I just can't stand trying to deal with them.  If I need to scrape some paint off an area that's the same size as the dot over the "i", I'd rather not deal with it.  If you check out some of my F-14 builds, you won't find any of those pointy little sensors on the fuselage sides because of my distaste at dealing with such things.

 

Eric

I haven't had any such issues...other then my fumbling mitts on occasion

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...
10 hours ago, Jonathan S said:

Okay, pinning it worked very well.  Thanks for  your help guys.  Looking back it's one of those, jeepers, why didn't I think of this obvious solution before.

Su-33_2.jpg.6e04587a22eb97aee04fb25c08131b80.jpg

 

Hey, Jonathan S, got any more pics of your Su-33? It looks great and I'm working on one too (for the last century it seems), same airframe, Bort Red 80.

Link to post
Share on other sites
On ‎1‎/‎15‎/‎2019 at 7:30 PM, Mstor said:

 

Hey, Jonathan S, got any more pics of your Su-33? It looks great and I'm working on one too (for the last century it seems), same airframe, Bort Red 80.

 

Learn from my mistakes and success.  It's a great kit, lots of fun to build.  Not an easy kit to build due to the complexity of the real thing.

 

Failures and tips:

1) I used MiG paint set which I feel was way off.  The grey you use on the belly is Mission Model paint  is not correct (not their fault) and wished I used a different color.  Something with more blue in it.  Recommend the AKAN set.  I regret not going that route.

2) Use new and improved instructions you can download on-line from Kinetics web site.  Newer issues of the kit may already have updated instructions in the box.

3) Use your reference material for everything. If you need a good walk around.  Let me know.

4) Decals that come with the kit are fine, just as good as any aftermarket, but not as complete as they should be for stencils.  Recommend Begemont decals.   I used the kit decals.

5) The inner turkey feathers for the exhaust stick way too far out.  So recommend removing about 3mm's worth of plastic from the inner tubes that hold the turkey feathers. (see photo below).  This allows the inner exhaust piece to be pushed into the aircraft further.

6) The PE strakes that fit behind the main gear fit incredibly well.  I'd recommend adding before painting.   But do not push them in as far as they can go.  adjust them so you can still fit the nose gear wheels.  I cut away some of the plastic stubs that hold the wheels so that I could slide them in last and after the gear was largely painted/assembled.

 

Have fun

 

Camera warped some of the parts in this image:

 

50332475_760577314308249_729841447986633

49947733_760577510974896_819725045659074

50008841_760577447641569_877260702434197

50330810_760577524308228_400076197609445

50100608_760577577641556_41354930600605150022210_760577567641557_601342805237196

Edited by Jonathan S
Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...