Model Glue

If you want something that holds quick, use CA which is also known as Crazy Glue or Cyanoacrylate (sp.). You just need a small amount placed with a pin or needle. It doesn't take much. Don't get any on your fingers though or you might have to surgically remove the part. You can make an applicator by placing a needle into a dowel and then filing the head of the needle so that only half of the eye is left. Place a drop of the CA on a piece of glass then touch the needle to the CA. It will wick into the needle. While holding the two parts to be glued, place the needle where you need it. It only takes a few seconds to set up. It's worked for me for years.

Hope that this helps.

Jim 

As a fellow public safety vehicle  modeler, I recommend Model Master liquid cement in the black container. Some modelers I know prefer Tamiya's extra thin cement.

There is no single type of glue that is best for all modelng tasks. I regularly keep four types of glue on hand, and find I use several types on any given model. I use CA (both thick and thin), transparency cement, epoxy, and a solvent cement.  Each has their uses.

I use mainly Tamiya Extra Fine, but also use Testors liquid cement for some general purpose gluing.

I used to use something called Tenax 7R which is billed as a space age plastic welder. It dries in seconds, sometimes too fast to hold it together tightly; you often need a third hand!

I dislike using CA/superglue/krazy glue except for dissimilar objects like photo etch or resin to plastic.

I've been using CA a lot lately, particularly with fragile parts that don't have a lot of surface area (much like your gearshift or the stick on a model airplane).  I also use a spray accelerator that makes it set up almost instantly once sprayed.

Groot

There is also a very thin liquid cement that dries fairly quickly. It is made by Citadel and it's made buy the same people that make paints for Gaming figures. I just started using it and it works pretty well. It has a very fine metal tube applicator.

Ditto on the Tenax 7R. Sometimes it is dry on the applicator before you can get it near the part.

Jim 

Hi :

   I usually use TESTORS liquid , but I've recently switched to TAMIYA in the green labeled bottle  .I find for things such as you mention , my medium strength CA works . Applied with a toothpick . That way I have a new applicator each time I use it , if I forget to wipe the excess off .