This is a blog around using plastic cement products. It is written by a person who uses the products, and who has been writing about model kits since 1998.**

It is not endorsed or supported by any manufacturer. I have no corporate affiliation with any of the companies mentioned on this site.**

The opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone, and do not represent the opinions of anybody else, including other writers for modeling magazines.**

I welcome feedback from readers, and if you have something to say about this blog, submit it as a comment to one of the posts. For other types of feedback, including errors in fact or technique, send an email to: Brian@plasticcement.com**

Thanks for reading!

Plastic cement is the most common adhesive used in model building. There are lots of different brands, and the only way to find out which one works best for you is to try them. But before you get started, here are some tips for using plastic cement that will help you get the best results.

1. Use a good quality plastic cement. This is not always the same as the most expensive cement on the market. Inexpensive cements often work just as well as more expensive ones. Read reviews and talk to other modelers if you need some help choosing which brand to use first.

2. Use cement sparingly. Only apply a thin layer of cement to both parts of the joint being glued together, and don’t overdo it with large amounts of cement on either surface. Too much glue can cause the plastic parts to warp or melt, instead of fusing properly together when they’re held in place while drying. Applying too much glue can also make it difficult to clean off any excess glue after it’s dried.

3. Don’t forget that less is more when it comes to applying plastic cement!*

Plastic cement isn’t quite the same as glue or adhesives. It’s a solvent that softens and melts any plastic that it touches. It’s a common material used in model building, but you don’t have to be a hobbyist to use it; you may need to use it around the house should you get any cracks in your plastic parts. It’s also a common material used in arts and crafts, so if you’re looking to mend some of your old toys or decorations, this could be the product for you.

Do:

Use it sparingly. The solvent can damage some plastics, so make sure you don’t use too much. Also, apply it carefully so that it doesn’t spread too far.

Plastic cement is a type of glue specially made for joining plastic parts. It comes in a small tube and is applied with a brush or applicator just like model glue.

There are several different plastic cements, each with its own special characteristics. The most common types are listed below:

Tamiya Extra Thin: This is the most commonly used plastic cement in the modeling hobby. It dries quickly and works well on both polystyrene and ABS plastics. It also has very little odor, which makes it more pleasing to use than other glues. However, it is not very strong, so if you are going to be joining large parts together you may want to consider some of the other options below.

Tenax 7R: This product works well on both polystyrene and ABS plastics (although it does not work as well on ABS as Tamiya Extra Thin does) but it has a few advantages over Tamiya Extra Thin as well. First of all, Tenax 7R will hold better than Tamiya Extra Thin – this is especially important when joining larger parts together. Second of all, Tenax 7R will give a clear joint between the two pieces being joined together – this is especially handy when joining clear pieces together so that you don’t have

If you are using a plastic cement, the first thing you need to realize is that it is not ‘cement’. It is more like a glue. When you think of glue, you know that it will have some limitations (like not drying as fast as ‘cement’ or not being able to bind two dissimilar materials together). The next thing you need to do is read the instructions on the bottle. You may be surprised at what they say and what they don’t say.

In my experience, most ‘plastic cements’ on the market today are formulated from polystyrene. This is probably because polystyrene is a fairly forgiving material so it can be bonded with a wide variety of solvents without damaging its surface.

Polystyrene cements are generally used for joining polystyrene plastic parts together. I would recommend using one of these products when building models or anything else made of polystyrene.

A word of caution: some plastics can be damaged by contact with certain solvents so if you have any doubts about what type of plastic your model or project is made from, I would recommend testing the solvent on a scrap piece first.

Another boring post? Well, yes, but I think it’s important.

I’ve noticed a tendency for many modellers to use their plastic cement (or super glue) as if it was a hammer – “it fixes all my problems”. And that is ultimately what will get you into trouble. If you overuse it and put it in the wrong places you’ll never fix those problems.

What’s the most important tool in your modelling arsenal? No, not the X-acto knife, not the pin vise, not even your favourite paint brush. The most useful tool of all is the one that goes between your ears! That’s right, your brain. If you don’t use it properly (and I’m not suggesting you should eat it), then you’ll never achieve good results with any other tools.

The word plastic is a generic term for a large family of synthetic (man-made) materials of which vinyl, polystyrene and polyethylene are the most common. In model making a few of these materials are commonly used:

Vinyl – This material has been around for quite a while now and is probably one of the most used synthetic materials in model kits. It was originally produced in several hardnesses ranging from quite soft to very hard, but today most model manufacturers use the harder vinyl to produce their kits. Vinyl is usually used by injection molding it into the molds. The resulting models typically have hollow sections and parts like figures often have hollow holes where the air escapes when pouring the liquid vinyl into the mold cavities.

Polystyrene – This material is produced as both clear and colored sheets or rods, which makes it ideal for scratch building models or parts thereof. It is also used by injection molding it into molds, but due to its low melting point this cannot be done with high pressure like with vinyl and ABS. As a result polystyrene has to be melted at relatively high temperatures which puts limits on what kind of details can be molded in the material.

Polyethylene – This material can be found in several densities ranging