Simple question? If someone (who, me?) knocks his brand new locomotive on to the floor and a small piece breaks off, what is the best thing to use to glue that little sucker back where it belongs. I am talking about what looks like a small lantern type item that is on the front end of my 4-4-0. There are a pair, one on each side and one is now laying on my workbench. I believe it is plastic.
thanks
wdcrvr
I would use a gap filling type of CA applied very sparingly with a toothpick.
This is unfortunate, but even worse is looking at a hasty repair and saying to yourself, “Shucks…”
Don’t ask me how I know and I won’t have to lie to you.
I also like gel CA. Locktite makes a small plastic triangular shaped gray and blue vial available at all hardware stores. You squeeze the stiff blue serrated ‘wings’ at the sides with the nozzle pointed right at the item’s receptacle and when you see a little gob of the gel issue from the thin tip, you dab it against the receptacle. No need to panic or hurry. Recap the vial, set it out of the way, get hold of the item needing replacement, and press it home with care and no haste. The gel is very patient, and it sets the same way as the liquid CA.
If that doesn’t quite turn your crank, you have options. If the shell and item are plastic, Testor’s model paint or equivalent will work, as will Ambroid glue. There is a lot to be said for contact cement and two-part epoxies, but they’re a bit of a bother, particularly the latter. But there’s nothing better than the epoxy.
Crandell
Definitely super glue (CA) gel. You can apply a small drop and it will stay where you put it instead of trying to leach into everything around it.
To fix it properly, drill a small-diameter hole (#79) in the centre of the area of the break on the part, and a corresponding hole in the area where it’s to be affixed to the loco. Cut a short length of .012" wire (brass will work, but stainless steel or music wire is even better) and insert it into the hole in the lamp. Next, insert the other end of the wire partially into the hole in the loco, apply a little ca (not the gel-type) to the exposed wire and press the part home. The ca will flow into the joints between the wire and both parts and also into the joint between the parts themselves. Chances are, on the next trip to the floor, this will not be the part that breaks off. [swg]
Wayne
I use 3 types of glue. Each can be used for the same situation you are facing. Gap filling CA glue is good, MEK applied with a needle bottle, (Methyl Ethyl Ketone which can be purchased in a pint or gallon container from lowes or home depot which also is enough glue to last 5-10 years,) and finally, a very small dab of Walthers Goo works well…chuck