Glue Help On Small Parts

have you tried tamiya extra thin glue , you can hold the pieces together before you glue , brush on some extra thin and capilliary action does the rest . hope this helps.

steve

Welcome back to the hobby.

First, your picture didn't come through so I can't help you with with the gunner station.

One option is Tamiya extra thin as Steve mentioned. This kind of glue is just a solvent, it dissolves the plastic and welds the parts together. It evaporates very quickly. I use this kind of "cement" whenever I want a seam to disappear (such as fuselage halves).

Another option I like is to use is Testors cement that comes in a black bottle with a needle applicator. This kind of glue has solvent but also has some adhesive in it. It gives me extra working time before it starts setting up. But it tends to ooze out of joints if you use too much. Just apply to the parts and then join them (no need to wait 30 seconds). I use this stuff when the extra working time is critical or when the joint is hidden  (such as attaching a cockpit seat). It gives a surprisingly strong bond.

If you want to use CA glue, I suggest you use a thicker glue. The medium and thick viscosity CA glues give you extra working time before curing. You can use accelerator once the parts are assembled. Again, no need to wait 30 seconds before joining the parts. If you can handle the brief working time that thin CA gives you, then go ahead and use it. I'm not good enough to get the parts aligned in that short time frame.

I would definitely go with the gel CA glue, because if its slower setting time.  This gives you more time for accurate positioning, in cases like you describe.  Once it is in place, to prevent needing to hold it for a couple of minutes, you can apply CA accelerator, which sets the glue immediately on contact.  The accelerator comes in a spray bottle, which isn't the best for application.

I made an application tool from a large sewing needle.  I ground away part of the eye to make a fork. I shoved the point of the needle into a length of dowel for a handle (drilling a small hole in the end of the dowel to make it easier).  I hold the fork area in front of the nozzle on the spray bottle while I make a quick spray, and that loads up the fork with the accelerator.  You can also remove the spray mechanism and just dip the fork into the solution.

I like Steve5s advice. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement works really well in most circumstances. I love the stuff. Having said that though, there are different glues for different purposes. I use all three of the glues already mentioned, and in some cases, I add epoxy to the list. If your pictures came through we might be able to get a better idea.