I came across this in the local model shop in Cardiff, and it looked to be just the thing for ABS spats. Using regular polystyrene cement on ABS usually leads to disappointment, as the cement is a solution of polystyrene in solvents, which doesn't bond well to ABS. This glue has a different solvent mix, which will bond to the ABS, leading to a more secure joint. This also provides a superior bond to cyano, for the same reasons.

This well used tube of shoe repair paste from the Bison stable is actually a silicone sealant, but instead of using an acetic acid base, it has a solvent base. I bought it when I was building a US Aircore plane, to seal the joints between the different panels. This sealant has good adhesive properties, and has held up well for sealing jobs, particularly fuel lines through firewalls. I have also successfully used it as an exhaust gasket on 2 stroke engines! An alternative which also has good adhesive properties is Dow Corning Aquarium sealant.

Yes, of course. Good old Evo-Stick. I like using this for joining fuselage doublers to the sides. Used with care, you can get accurate alignment of sides and doublers before pressing down for a permanent lightweight bond. However, the use which makes Evo-Stick Impact invaluable to me is when using self adhesive pads and tapes, such as Velcro and servo tape. I apply a film of Impact adhesive to the balsa or ply surface, and let it dry. The self-adhesive pad or tape is then stuck to the adhesive layer. I have found the wood will come off before the tape!

Not strictly a glue, but again, this is one of my favourites. The lightweight fillers sold for model planes seem to take ages to dry in my workshop, and even then won't sand well. On the other hand, this filler is 2-part polyester based, like car body filler, but the filler powder is much lighter. This means that you can mix enough for the job in hand, apply it, and have a job which is ready to sand smooth in less than 30 minutes. The only disadvantage is the hardener, which changed from being white to red. This means that the filler cures slightly pink, and over time this has bled through when used under white and beige covering films. It's not that noticeable, and the advantages well outweight this slight drawback.

This is a very new addition to my collection. I bought it on a recent business trip to the US. I have been looking for ages for a low solvent contact adhesive other than Copydex to glue the leading and trailing edges onto veneered foam wings. I have found that when using PVA, the water in the glue causes the balsa to swell, and it lifts away from the foam at the edges, leaving a gap to be filled. Initial trials with this glue have successfully joined balsa to white polystyrene foam with an extremely strong bond. I think Evo Stik 2 is a very similar glue, but you try finding some.

Not just any old PVA, R/C Modellers glue from Deluxe Materials is just excellent. When set, it has a rubbery consistency, which means that the joints are slightly flexible. In practice, if you have a slight whoopsy, such as one of my typical landings, the airframe will give without cracking or breaking, which gives a more durable plane. Brittle joints are one of the main weaknesses of cyano, which I'm starting to think outweighs the advantage of quick assembly. If you've never tried this glue, give it a go.

This page was last updated on 21/02/04

Copyright Jonathan Mead 2002