Fitting resin exhaust cans to styrene - which glue?

[BD757]

Hi everyone,

 

I apologise if this query is in the wrong section (mods feel free to move and admonish!).

 

I am using some resin exhaust cans for a Eurofighter Typhoon build and this is my first use of a large piece of resin in any build. I have looked through the forum and see different recommendations for bonding different materials. When using CA previously with PE, I over applied and melted the styrene which has put me off using it but PVA / ammo ultra glue seems a little, well, lightweight for what will need to be a strong bond.

 

Should I stick to CA and apply conservatively, use Ammo Ultra Glue or is there something else more appropriate that I am missing?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Neill. 

[Pin]

5 minutes ago, BD757 said:

I over applied and melted the styrene

 

CA is the way to go, just don't over apply.  It seems like you have not just "overapplied" but "overapplied big time". CA is known to get hot when cured but in order to melt styrene there must be some colossal amount of CA. 

PS: let me guess, you used activator, right? 

[ckw]

My alternative to super glue is 2 part epoxy. I sometimes use this with large pieces partly for strength but also as it gives you some working time for alignment. That said, in most case I use CA

 

Cheers

 

Colin

[PatG]

Another vote for 2-part expoxy as it sets rock hard but gives you plenty of time to fiddle with the pieces involved to get the correct fit or alignment. With CA if you get the parts in the wrong place or position you have very little if any time to adjust before it sets.

 

Another benefit is that it doesn't cloud clear parts so can be used to fix landing lights and other clear parts too.

 

I always use it for fixing u/c legs in place for the reasons mentioned as it will also bond painted surfaces together perfectly, so removing the need to try and sand or scrape any excess or slight over-paint in small recesses where u/c legs and other parts have to be located once the main build and paint job are done.

 

HTH.

 

Pat.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 19 by PatG
typo

[ckw]

13 hours ago, PatG said:

I always use it for fixing u/c legs in place for the reasons mentioned as it will also bond painted surfaces together perfectly

I may well be wrong, but my understanding is that the problem with gluing painted surfaces together is that the bond will only ever be as strong as the bond between the paint and the underlying surface - i.e. the glue is sticking to a skin of paint, not the surface itself. Or does the epoxy eat through the paint?

 

Cheers

 

Colin

[PatG]

Not an expert on how glues bond or react but suspect it isn't eating through the paint.

 

I just know that every time I've used it for fixing u/c legs in place the result is rock solid and stays that way, so for what ever reason it works really well.

 

Pat.