What is the glue for assembling plastic models. Review of the best types of glue for plastic models

Glue for assembling models is produced as a specially developed means of the initial stage of the work of fans of a world-wide popular hobby, which can captivate both a child and an adult.

Means for gluing prefabricated models are divided into several types, differing in chemical and physical properties.

The most famous and familiar, basic, or universal, glue with a jelly-like consistency has been widely used by lovers of this hobby for many decades. This composition has a paired effect of two chemically active substances - butyl acetate and polystyrene. In short, the first substance melts the top layer of the part's surface, and the second strengthens the molecular bonds, helping to create a single whole from the parts. When using such a tool, it is applied to the surfaces of both parts to be joined before joining.

Experienced connoisseurs recommend not immediately connecting the parts with the applied product - it is better to wait 1-2 minutes for the surfaces to partially dissolve. Then you need to dock and press the elements together, and the excess plastic, which may leak out a little, later, when it hardens, remove with a special knife.

Many seasoned pros use a liquid or superfluid product. As a rule, it is produced together with a synthetic brush, as it is applied to the joining point of already connected parts. It is necessary to get used to such a composition, since it is a little more difficult to use it - there is a risk of spilling it on the model. However, when dry, it does not leave significant marks that could interfere with priming and painting. Its so-called capillary action, that is, independent and rapid penetration directly into the joint, occurs instantly.

For gluing transparent parts, of course, a third type of means is needed - the so-called invisible composition. It has a transparent appearance and has no less powerful fixing properties. However, unlike a universal product, this type does not make a welding effect, it simply solidifies and turns into a transparent base. When using it, you need to apply the composition to both parts, and then press them together.

You can buy glue for assembling models, modern, suitable and effective, in the online store website at a low favorable price with the possibility of delivery in Moscow, St. Petersburg and all regions of Russia!

It is very difficult to find a good quality glue that would bond two plastic surfaces very quickly and last for a long time. In order not to look for a reliable manufacturer and not throw money on various brands of glue, make the glue yourself.

We invite you to watch a video of how glue is made for making plastic parts on your own at home, using scrap materials.

To make glue for plastic, we need:
- technical acetone;
- Styrofoam;
- a small glass vial;
- insulating tape;
- polystyrene shavings.

Pour acetone into a bottle. We need to fill in the third part of the bubble.

Add some Styrofoam to the acetone bottle. The foam can not be crumbled into small pieces, it will dissolve on its own under the influence of acetone. A piece that will be the size of our little finger is enough for us.

We cut several such pieces of their foam with scissors and dissolve them in a vial in acetone. No matter how much foam you add there, it will dissolve, and the liquid inside the jar will have a cloudy color.

After you have dissolved everything, the jar must be sealed hermetically. To do this, we attach the lid to the jar with electrical tape.

Next, you need to make additives from polystyrene. As an example, the photo shows you a glue made of acetone, foam and polystyrene.

We return again to our not yet ready glue. It remains for us to add a little shavings to it, which was taken from a bush of plastic polystyrene.

We fill a jar with acetone and foam with shavings and let it dissolve. Do not forget to make the jar airtight and again wrap everything with electrical tape.

Assembling plastic models is an exciting hobby that brings together several generations in one business. Even in our age of computer technology and three-dimensional printers, many people devote all their free time to creating large-scale models. But it is not enough to collect all the parts in the correct order; they must be reliably glued together. We will try to figure out which glue to use for plastic models in this article.

There are many types of adhesives on the market today that are designed only for plastic elements. We will look at the most common and popular ones.

Varieties of glue for plastic

Specialist stores are now ready to offer a wide variety of adhesives for plastic models. It can be very difficult for a novice modeller to choose the option that suits him best.

For plastic models, it is important to use only special adhesives, since not every composition will firmly adhere to smooth surfaces. But even with special adhesives, when connecting parts, you must be as careful as possible, because even the smallest part, glued incorrectly, can greatly spoil the entire appearance of the model.

The glue can be both Russian and imported. The most popular in our country is the Star glue for plastic models. This adhesive has many advantages, but is not suitable for all materials.

Often materials are combined and add to the plastic parts:

Depending on the properties of the material and purpose, all fasteners can be divided into several types:

1. Based on epoxy resin;
2. Water-based;
3. Polystyrene, when working with which the product melts;
4. Cyanoacrylic.

How to choose the right adhesive?

All types of fasteners for plastic are similar in their properties, they are divided according to their density into three groups:

1. Liquid consistency. For ease of use, they are sold in plastic bottles and have a special applicator.
2. Medium consistency. They are usually produced in glass jars with a plastic lid, on which there is a special brush for application.
3. Thick. They are sold in tubes. Unlike other types, these dry for a long time, which is very convenient when not speed is taken into account, but accuracy.

Polystyrene or all-purpose adhesive

This glue has been widely used by modelers since the Soviet era. It is preferred by both amateur beginners and professional modelers.

This glue contains two main substances: butyl acetate and polystyrene. Fastening occurs as a result of the melting of the plastic. Under the influence of active substances, the upper layer of plastic becomes liquid and when the parts are connected, the elements are reliably "welded" to each other. After that, the polystyrene additionally holds the parts together, forming strong molecular bonds between them.

To glue the plastic parts with polystyrene glue, you need to apply it to both surfaces and wait a little. When it is noticeable that the top of the parts has melted, you need to firmly connect them together. Some of the liquid plastic may leak out if the parts are strongly squeezed, but it can be easily removed.

Transparent glue for models

Model elements often have transparent details. In order to gently glue them together, you need to use a special glue that remains invisible during use. This glue does not melt the plastic, but the fastening occurs due to substances that penetrate the structure of the elements and thereby connect the parts to each other. After drying, the glue becomes transparent and invisible.

Cyanoacrylate based adhesive

This glue is widely known to consumers as "Super Glue". Its main advantage - to reliably glue different materials together - has long been known to almost every layman.

It also enjoys great success among modelers for its quick drying and reliable fastening of parts. But you need to use it very carefully, since an inaccurately glued part will stick very quickly and it will be impossible to correct it. And when glue gets on other elements, it leaves traces.

It is believed that a hobby is needed not only for the full development of a child. Even an adult needs some kind of joy, a change of scenery, a field of activity. Someone likes to collect stamps, someone prefers to spend their leisure time on a bicycle, and someone loves to collect models. Typically, the latter hobby is suitable for both adults and children.

Like any activity, assembling models requires certain knowledge and experience. In particular, it is not always easy to choose an adhesive for bonding plastic parts. Moreover, the market today is quite saturated with various models that have different properties.

The purpose

To hold the plastic elements of the models together, you need glue. It allows you to assemble one complete product from a set of different parts. For a high-quality assembly of models, you need to be careful, neat and consistent. Any mistake, for example, if it is wrong to dilute mixtures or connect parts, can lead to a violation of stability, a defect in appearance.

Kinds

If the parts are purchased, but the glue is not, you need to think about which mixture is more suitable. It is known that the majority of craftsmen prefer domestic producers. A good option is the Star, used for assembling models.

However, this does not mean that you need to immediately run to buy just such a glue. First you need to determine the material from which the model will be made:

• paper;
• plastic;
• resin;
• metal.

• epoxy resin products;
• cyanoacrylic;
• water based;
• polystyrene.

Let's understand a little in the principle of the operation of polystyrene glue. It is based on melting the surface of polystyrene, which is glued to a similar surface. When the parts come into contact, the coatings melt together, the agent penetrates into the structure from one product to another.

When the mixture evaporates, the molten zones solidify. The product will be ready for use in a few hours. However, the manufacturer is still recommended to squeeze out a day. In addition, the drying time of the glue is determined by the thickness of the glue layer. After the product is ready, high bond strength is ensured.

It should be noted that a good adhesive connection will not work if it is not polystyrene that is connected. In this case, it is better to use dichloroethane. It is a caustic substance that requires careful handling. With it, the glue provides a good bond. For these purposes, Star glue is used.

Another group is cyanoacrylates. A fast and strong connection is ensured. However, shear strength is not very good. If there is high humidity, such glue hardens quickly and is poorly stored. Therefore, we need a low level of humidity and a small temperature corridor - from plus 5 to plus 10 degrees. At home, you can use a household refrigerator for storage.

If during installation the part needs to be moved, to correct the position, then it is worth choosing a gel. There are also retarders or activators to help craftsmen, respectively, slowing down or speeding up the process of gluing products. When working with such a mixture, the vapors given off by the substance should be avoided. Therefore, you should try not to inhale air while working with this glue. You can get irritation of the mucous membrane if the composition gets on the skin - an allergic reaction.

The principle of action of epoxy mixtures is based on interaction with a hardener. In this case, the resin hardens, a strong contact of the surfaces is obtained. This type of glue is used for gluing parts of radio-controlled models.

There are epoxy resins that make it possible to create entire models or clone parts. Such a composition cannot be used for gluing plastic parts. The resin will not stick to the plastic.

Fiberglass, resins, wood - this is what epoxy adhesives bond well. Metal parts can also adhere to these materials. The composition can dry from 1 to 24 hours. To shorten the time, you can apply heat.

Note that all the options presented are toxic, so you can work with them only in a well-ventilated room, or better - outdoors. The mixture should not get on the skin, eyes, mouth. Otherwise, you need to promptly flush the organ with water, it is recommended to consult a doctor.

Polystyrene

Such adhesives can have different densities:

• Thick. Produced in small tubes. It dries for a relatively long time, but you can calmly do the work without thinking that the glue mixture can set ahead of time.
• Medium density. Supplied in glass bubbles. The cork is provided with an applicator brush.
• Liquid. They are sold, as a rule, in polyethylene bottles with an applicator. These include just the Star glue.

Star

This composition is very popular and belongs to the polystyrene group. It has three important characteristics for this:

• glues surfaces with high quality;
• available in most fashion stores;
• is inexpensive.

However, there are also some disadvantages. For example, users complain about the bottle shape, which has a low level of stability, with the result that the formulation is often spilled. In addition, there are no additional tools in the kit to facilitate the use of the glue.

The Star glue penetrates into the surfaces to be glued, hardens, interlocking the parts. The initial use of the model is possible in an hour, however, it is recommended to wait a day for the connection to acquire the proper characteristics.

Outcomes

Zvezda is truly an affordable leader for bonding plastic parts. However, sometimes there is no way to purchase it, what should I do? There is a way out. Some users recommend mixing solvent with foam. This composition can replace the Star glue for gluing plastic surfaces. If it turns out to be thick, you can thin it a little with a solvent.

In addition, you can watch the video about the use of glue.

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It is impossible to make an aircraft model with your own hands without glue. But not every glue is suitable for aircraft modeling. Especially when working with foam and ceiling tiles.

I prefer to make aircraft models from foam and ceiling tiles (ceilings), at first I used only glue for ceiling tiles - "Titan". But modeling is not limited to this glue.

In this article, I will cover the following adhesives and their use in aeromodelling:

Titanium

Various varieties of Titan glue are sold in hardware stores and construction markets, but as practice has shown, there are practically no special differences between Titan glue and TITAN SM or TITAN S.

They polymerize in the same way. Form an equally hard, transparent mass.

If there is a difference, then it is impossible to see it with the naked eye.

After drying, the glue seam of Titanium turns out to be much stronger than foam and ceilings. In case of rupture, it does not come off along the seam, but together with the upper layer of the ceiling. Despite the strong seam, Titanium is elastic enough so that when gluing long parts it can bend and not break.

When gluing wood: after drying (at least 24 hours) it is not inferior to epoxy glue in terms of tensile strength, i.e. an effort of about 150-200 kg is required.

When trying to bend two wooden rulers glued together by Titanium, it was not possible to break along the glue seam - the rulers burst.

Technique for using titanium glue: before gluing, be sure to clean the surfaces to be glued with sandpaper. Especially when gluing ceiling tiles.

"Gloss" on the ceiling does not adhere well to Titanium, and if glued without stripping the "gloss", then Titanium can easily bounce off at the most inopportune moment - for example, in flight.

Titanium is applied in a thin layer on both sides of the parts to be bonded. It is enough to drop a drop of Titanium and smear it with a piece of ceiling or a flat piece of plastic. Wait a little (2-3 minutes), connect the parts to be glued, press down and fix for 30-40 minutes. After that, you can continue to work on the manufacture of the aircraft model. But it is better to leave it fixed for 24 hours.

I did not notice much difference between a thick and a thin layer of Titan glue after gluing. The only thing is that a thick layer of glue dries much longer, up to several days and weighs much more.

And since in aircraft modeling the less the weight of the aircraft model, the better, it is advisable to make the seams as thin as possible.

If Titanium has thickened, then it can be diluted with alcohol or denatured alcohol. In a highly liquid state, Titanium adheres poorly, but it is excellent for priming surfaces. Titanium ceiling primer imparts a last tough crust that works well at breaking and compressing. I always primed the forehead of the wing of an aircraft model with Titanium before covering it.

Titanium has an analogue - Master glue. To be honest, the Master is not very glue. It dries longer and after drying does not have a clear fixation of the seam, and the glue seam itself has a much lower strength. It is better to use Titanium, especially since their price is about the same.

After polymerization, the seam cannot be sanded. The foam is sanded around the glue. Therefore, if it is necessary to process the parts to be glued after gluing, then it is better to do this 40 minutes after connecting the parts. Or use a mini-drill or dremel sanding attachment on the boss. Titanium is easy to machine at high RPMs.