The purpose of this section is to acquaint the non-modeller with scale modeling and to further the skills of us already familiar with scale modeling. If you would like to contribute articles please email me. This section is supported by you. I will do articles but I also need you to submit some.
What are Scale Models?
A scale model is simply a three dimensional, proportional replica of a physical object. The "scale" of a model usually is expressed as a fraction of its full-size counterpart. For example, a 1/6 scale figure of a 6' person would be 1' tall. And the proportions of that subject would be reproduced faithfully, head to foot. Put in the reverse, it would take 72 1/72 scale F-16 Falcons end-to-end to equal the length of the real thing.
What are Some of the Different Types of Glue?
Three principle types of glue will hold together most of the plastic models you're likely to build.
The first is the "tube" glue familiar to many who learned modeling a couple of decades ago. The second is liquid glue. Both work by melting the mating surfaces of the plastic parts.
Tube glue is simply liquid glue with familiar agents added to make it easier to apply and slower to set up so you can reposition parts. However, tube glue becomes stringy as it dries, and all the time that it's drying, it's eating away at your plastic, leaving familiar seems.
Liquid cement usually is applied with a brush or toothpick; it sets faster, bonds better, and is less messy.
On your first few kits, you may need more time to position pieces, so the longer setting time of tube glue may be desirable. Even better would be a slow-setting liquid cement, which combines the advantages of liquid cement with slower drying of tube glue to allow repositioning of parts.
Cyanoacrylate adhesive, often called super glue adheres to plastic without melting it and cures chemically rather than drying through evaporation of solvents.
Many modellers think of super glue as the specialist. It works on dissimilar materials and it's a must for gluing cast-resin kits and parts.
Experienced builders also like super glue for fine styrene parts that might be marred of deformed by even a light application of liquid cement. But it takes careful handling, and yes, you can glue your fingers together with it.
