Resin kits must be
assembled using Super Glues (ACC) such as Zap-a-Gap, H&D's Own, Super-Jet,
Pacer's Hot Stuff, etc., or 5 Minute Epoxy. Solvent glues that are for
bonding styrene (Testor's Liquid Cement, Tenax, Plastruct, etc.) will not
bond resin parts together.
The most common mistake many modelers make with super glues is using
too much glue. Less is best!
Do not apply glue to kit pieces directly from the bottle; instead,
pour out a tiny "puddle" f glue on a scarp piece of styrene and use an
applicator (toothpick, dental tool ,wire) to pick up a drop of glue from the puddle, and
apply to the kit piece.
Use one tiny drop about every half inch to an inch along a long joint
(such as a structure's wall, or car frame to body). Once this has set you may
reinforce this joint with additional glue along the inside of the joint.
There are different thickness' of super glues, the most commonly used
are the thinnest (fastest setting), and the medium (a littler slower setting). There
are also thick glue for filling larger areas.
The thin is excellent to use on a good fitting joint. Hold the
two pieces to be glued in position, and place a drop of thin super glue on the inside of
the joint. Capillary action will draw the glue along the joint.
The medium glue is good for the joints that may not fit as well.
This type of glue is often referred to as "gap filling". Place required
drops along the joint edge of only one of the two pieces to be joined. Do
not put glue on both pieces. Place the two pieces together, and hold for a
few seconds. The joint may then be reinforced on the inside if necessary.
If you are unsatisfied with the resulting glue joint, it may be
easily broken by using a debonding agent. These are available at hobby
shops in the same department the glues are sold in.
We have also found that Testor's Liquid styrene cement is an excellent
debonder; it will not affect the resin pieces, and effectively softens the glue. The
joint may then be separated by carefully using a single edge razor blade, or exacto blade
as necessary.
After you have separated the two parts, you will need to sand or scrape
all traces of the first application of glue from the parts. Super glue does not
adhere to itself, and if you do not remove the glue, the new joint will be weak or not set
at all.
Super glues also have a short shelf life; if glue is not bonding well,
it is time to discard it and buy a new bottle.