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Epoxy not working

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  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Epoxy not working
Posted by Don Stauffer on Monday, February 9, 2015 9:02 AM

I am working on the new ICM Twin Beech in 1:48.  Most of the transparencies are fine, with nice large flanges.  However, the cockpit side windows are not flanged- they are butt joints along the edges, with thin fuselage sides, so glue bond is critical!  So I have been trying to use epoxy.  But my first attempt was very weak, and the window bond failed.

I thought maybe my epoxy had goon bad, so I bought some new stuff.  I then made two test pieces, gluing two pieces of styrene together.  First piece was with spare sprue pieces from kit, second was with two pieces of styrene from my styrene stock.  I let them set for several hours, far longer than instructions said for complete bond.

Both test pieces failed easily!  I am at a loss now on how to proceed.  And I am wondering why epoxy doesn't work now, when it used to!

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    August 2012
Posted by AndrewW on Monday, February 9, 2015 10:15 AM

Don,

I use a 5 minute two part epoxy for any bond that isn't styrene to styrene (i.e. photo etch, resin) and rarely use cyanoacrylate.  I do my very best to make sure equal amounts of each are added, of course, and mix for at least one minute (I set my wrist watch near where I'm mixing and time myself).  Generally, I get a tough bond with a small amount of flex, which I prefer to a rock hard and brittle bond.  The three thoughts I have are to do with your ratios, the thoroughness of your mix, and mostly whether you've passed that time where the epoxy starts to gel.  I personally find if I've not applied it wet, when it has begun to gel, my bond does not take.  I'm sure you've thought of all of these points, but sometimes it's the basics that get missed or forgotten.

Life is hard, it's even harder when you're stupid - John Wayne.


  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Illinois
Posted by wjbwjb29 on Monday, February 9, 2015 6:35 PM

epoxy doesnt stick to well to plastic.

bill

On the Bench:   Trumperter Tsesarevich on deck Glencoe USS Oregon

  • Member since
    May 2008
  • From: Wyoming Michigan
Posted by ejhammer on Monday, February 9, 2015 7:46 PM

Not all "epoxies" are the same. Not only are cure times different, but the epoxies themselves are of different formulas. Some are designed for specific uses, metals, glass, plastics. Loctite Plastic Bonder has worked well for me on plastics that didn't work at all with CA or 5 min epoxy. Loctite also has a plastic bonding system that appears to be a CA, but claims to bond all plastics including polyethylene and polypropylene. I've not tried that.

EJ

Completed - 1/525 Round Two Lindberg repop of T2A tanker done as USS MATTAPONI, USS ESSEX 1/700 Hasegawa Dec 1942, USS Yorktown 1/700 Trumpeter 1943. In The Yards - USS ESSEX 1/700 Hasegawa 1945, USS ESSEX 1/700 Dragon 1944, USS ESSEX 1/700 Trumpeter 1945, USS ESSEX 1/540 Revell (vintage) 1962, USS ESSEX 1/350 Trumpeter 1942, USS ESSEX LHD-2 as commissioned, converted from USS Wasp kit Gallery Models. Plus 35 other plastic and wood ship kits.

  • Member since
    August 2012
Posted by AndrewW on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 6:58 AM

This is where roughing up the surfaces to be glued a bit, giving them some 'tooth' helps.

Life is hard, it's even harder when you're stupid - John Wayne.


  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 9:30 AM

I still haven't figured it out yet, but for moving along, I am thinking of trying CA.  I have had bad luck with many of the fixes for preventing white frosting of the transparent material.  But I have the windows already masked (and the masking even sealed). I am wondering if the masking will protect the window from the fogging. I think I'll set up a little test.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: UK
Posted by Jon_a_its on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 9:57 AM

Gorrilla Glue, or soms Revel Transparency Glue?

How's the ICM Beech going so far?

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  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Wednesday, February 11, 2015 9:29 AM

I have tried both GG and the Revell stuff and find them not strong enough.  If a window falls into fuselage after joining, it is pretty much a disaster.  And the closing of the fuselage, of course, is done at a fairly early stage, with all the finishing yet to do.  I often had windows pop in during sanding of primer or color coats.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Bethlehem PA
Posted by the Baron on Wednesday, February 11, 2015 11:50 AM

How about white glue?

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  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Thursday, February 12, 2015 8:58 AM

Same as Revell or Testors transparency glues.  My test came out fine.  For some reason there was no frosting, even on unmasked area.  Now I can prime and paint interior :-)

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

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