Model Repair Tips

[Vectra]

How about a thread with tips on how to repair various little bits of damage that happen on models that get damaged accidently or are bought with minor damage ?


I'll start :

I bought a 1:18 Brock/Sampson SLR that had a few marks on the roof and the windscreen wiper had scratched up the windscreen a bit.

For the windscreen I used liquid Brasso (Not the paste)...make sure you shake it well then apply some to a some cotton rag (Very soft, micro fibre is good too) then start rubbing till it turns powdery looking...wipe it off with another rag and keep repeating the process till you get the screen how you want it.

Even though the deeper marks are still there, ther are very hard to see even under lights....was really happy with the result as when it was under lights before it looked terrible on one side, almost opaque...wouldn't even notice now.

Brasso was also good for the roof marks, alll gone and wouldn't know they had been there.

Brasso is good as it's a very mild abrasive and won't hurt much of anything although I'd watch it on secondary stripes and lines on the car and have used it very gently on them with good results too.

[XR8]

Good thread this one.
I just received my John Goss XY, and the drivers door handle has fallen out.
What type of glue would people recommend to fix this?
I also have to glue in the screen on my Steve Masterton XE as well.

I was thinking super glue, but I'm worried about the vapours and the white staining that you can get from it.

Thanks, Ed :)

[stephenhrt]

It doesn't stain or melt but it sets extremely quickly. A little bit goes along way. Also not cheap to boot

Loctite 401.

It has fixed a few models of mine, and i can't see the damage

[bazzel]

hi guys if worse comes to worse use araldite , when that sets you would have to break it to get it off , and you can buy model super glue that stuff does not leave the mist but sticks thye same .

cheers baz.

[Brock 05]

I have used Meguires on some of my models with great results.

[Oh Five]

I have to do a couple of repairs to my 1:18 thanks so much to the sorting guys at australia Post. They just love testing how fragile parcels with "fragile stickers" on them really are :mad:

Any further suggestions on glue ??, I mainly have to replace bonnet pins,and under bonnet parts.

[BILLFORD1]

Depending on the part being fixed and the stress or lack of, I tend to mainly use 5 min 2 part epoxy for most jobs. Just mix a tiny amount & apply with a toothpick. For clear/coloured plastic I generally use either a tiny amount of same epoxy, but have also used watered down PVA, (woodwork glue diluted 50/50 with water), & even a minute dab of clear silicone sometimes. For body mods etc to bare metal I exlusively use Quik Steel, which can be shaped, filed, sanded, used as a gap filler etc. On plastic Kit models, have used 1:1 Body Putty for building up wheel flairs etc with great success & a bit of work. Perhaps it's just me but I tend to bypass the Superglue stuff....99.7% I have ever purchased over the years, I was not overly impressed with for a variety of reasons, although consistent/ professional users of it recon it's 'the ducks guts' ??? :D

[minh427]

I have to do a couple of repairs to my 1:18 thanks so much to the sorting guys at australia Post. They just love testing how fragile parcels with "fragile stickers" on them really are :mad:

Any further suggestions on glue ??, I mainly have to replace bonnet pins,and under bonnet parts.

Plastic kit cement should work.

[malscar]

So Bill, how is that blue nascar going?

[sleepy]

I use loctite 406 will stick almost anything in seconds even metals have used it on cylinder liner orings and when you test them they will actually break in a different spot then the join. Its really a high quality superglue that works as well as the original 1 was advertised not like the rubbish from china they sell in the shops now. Usually found in shops that specialise in engineering supplies but i think i saw loctite in supercheep or repco somwhere lately not cheap around $25 a bottle but the stuff is so good you will never use it all anyway.

[grease]

I have used Meguires on some of my models with great results.

I have used Fire Glaze, same sort of thing as Meguires and they look great.

Superglue
To make it last a bit langer in the bottle keep the remainder in the fridge as the cool slows the cemical reaction thus making it last (in storage) longer.

[brad]

if you ever snap off a windscreen wiper while dusting, a very small dab of supa glue fixes it... make sure its good for plastic though so it doesn't go white. To look at it now you wouldn't know that it was ever damaged :)

[HDT337]

PVA glue is good for bits that need to be glued near windows, dries clear and doesnt vapour.

HDT337

[BAWITHLOT]

It doesn't stain or melt but it sets extremely quickly. A little bit goes along way. Also not cheap to boot

Loctite 401.

It has fixed a few models of mine, and i can't see the damage
401 may not stain but it leaves a whitish mark like some super glues.