Does anybody have a recommendation for a cement that will stay tacky after it “dries”? I want to use it to apply to the bottom of the feet of figures, and other things, so that I can move them around and place them, without struggling to keep them upright…
TIA,
Woodland Scenic’s A198 Accent Glue does that. It stays sticky for a long time and you can do some limited repositioning depending on what it was first glued to.
Not a cement, but Pritt Glue Stick from Henkel is a soft glue in a tube rather like ChapStick and a small amount on the feet of figures seems to hold them in place assuming a good flat surface. It does tend to leave a little reminder behind that I scrape off. It is probably meant for paper but it works. I have found it at craft as well as hardware stores, and perhaps at a place that sells school supplies, if such a place exists any more
Ambroid Tac N Place is intended for just this purpose – tacky, sticky, but items can be moved around repeatedly. I assume Woodland Scenics Hob e Tac is about the same stuff since they make simialr claims. I have only used the Ambroid.
Dave Nelson
I use Aleene’s Tacky Glue for that and holding down other details that you don’t want to “ping” off when bumped. I use it for all sorts of things - gluing down track, sheet plastic for streets, signs into structure windows, etc. Best of all, it’s inexpensive and you can find it just about everywhere craft supplies are sold. I get mine at Walmart in their craft section. I sure think it’s much easier to use than a tube of latex caulking.
Jim
Aleene’s may be tacky when wet, but when dry, it’s just good ol’ white glue. Tried it. Thanks, though.
Thanks for the suggestions, Mike & Dave. I’ll try the WS and the Ambroid products as soon as I can get them. I’ll let you know what I thinlk…
I’ve used the WS when it was called Hob-e-Tac and still do. I have a few Brakeman figures on the steps and railings of some of my engines, been six years now, havn’t fallen off yet and can still reposition them.
Or you can use what I recommended to my friend Richhotrain a year ago when he asked, ‘‘fly paper’’. [:D]
Frank
Have found that W/S is somewhat lacking in adhesion unless a fair gob is applied.
I believe that has a lot to do with what you are using it for, works great on figures feet, to non-porous materials.
Frank
Yup, and sticks their bums to the cab seats, too. [swg]
Wayne
I have used Hob-I-Tack. It works OK in normal temperatures, but if your layout is in a hot place, it softens and the figures fall over.
Well I guess if Your layout is in that hot of a place, You better believe, you won’t find me in there either and I could care less what happens to the Hob-e-Tac. [:D]
Frank
The layout I am referring to is the model RR exhibit at Boothbay Railway Village. When the building is closed during the summer it can get very hot inside. Even when the building is open, there is not much in the design for cross ventillation. I often check for figures that are taking a “nap”. When I find one, I glue them back in place with Ailenes Tacky Glue.
I think that to be rather unfair to judge the product on it’s capabilities for everyone’s use based on that incident. How about the other thousands of layouts in Modelers homes. That is sort of how rumors are started. Then again, how hot is hot? I live in Alaska, mine freezes, rock hard. No I don’t live in Alaska, ‘‘Chiberia’’ close enough.[:D]
Take Care!
BTW; Hob-e-Tac is not a glue, it is an Adhesive, there is a differance.
Frank
[}:)] sez: “Drat, I was gonna get me some of that bad stuff. It won’t help me a bit.”
Hob-E-Tack, for when you need a snowball’s chance in Heck of making it Stick.[;)]
No, but sounds like interesting stuff. Maybe a little too tacky or hard to get it into small enough quantities to work well for model applications. I was looking at the Realted Products list and that was what occured to me about it, without any experience with it, though.
It did bring to mind other stuff that’s around all the time. That’s the stuff they use to stick things like credit/debit cards to the paperwork in the envelope. It’s easy to peel off, but is tacky. Best of all, it’s free. But I haven’t tried it on HO scale feet. Need to save some when I get a chance, but has anyone else tried that stuff for sticking down figures, etc?
Since this thread was merely resting, not pining for the fjords, I have revived it with new info.
Reading the latest (early Fall 2014) Micro Mark catalog while in the…reading room, and reviewing the marvelous things MM offers in order to part you from your money (some things are worth parting, many are not), I came across a product which I hadn’t noticed before, and which (as you may guess) is applicable to this thread.
MM is selling something called Detail Tack (Micro Mark brand), a “repositionable glue for model figures and details”. “Special formula dries clear, but remains tacky so figures and details can be easily respositioned”, illustrated with some random O-gauge (I guess) figures in front of an old-fashioned diner. Oh, and an image of the 2oz squeeze bottle of DETAIL TACK, retailing for only 7.95.
So, what is this cement rebranded from? Is it really a Micro Mark exclusive, or watered down Aileen’s Tacky Glue, or what? Has anyone used it?
Well, the properties sound like Woodland Scenics’ Accent Glue, but not the packaging. I use the WS product and it does what it says: clear, re-usable, easily removed when required, and otherwise long lasting.
Wayne
Well, that is half true. Actually Ailene’s is a mixture of white glue and either rubber cement or contact cement.