Short Track Models

SOCIAL HALL...NON Model Car related discussions. => Social Hall...NON MODEL CAR related discussion => Topic started by: john2 on April 19, 2021, 04:37:41 PM

Title: Plastic to Balsa
Post by: john2 on April 19, 2021, 04:37:41 PM

Does anyone  know ( Marty Warner might ) what to use  to glue styrene plastic to balsa ?

I am building 2 Guillow flying model ( only not to fly ) airplanes  for static display.  A Piper Super Cub, and an L-19 Bird Dog.  To fly, they must be extremely light, so they give you very thin wire to use for the landing gear. 

I am trying to scratch out much stronger and more scale like struts and axles, that will hold wheel pants,  for my birds.  My thinking is to use a combo of both materials. 

Any knowledge, ideas, or thoughts would be appreciated. 

Thanks, John 2

Title: Re: Plastic to Balsa
Post by: David Bogard on April 19, 2021, 05:05:54 PM

John- Thick(er) CA works well for me (not the thin runny stuff). If it will never see any stress at all, white glue would probably also work. However, as you stated, Marty would be more knowledgeable about all of this.

Title: Re: Plastic to Balsa
Post by: Brian Conn on April 19, 2021, 10:17:46 PM

  I would use CA .... I have used it to bond resin to styrene, brass to resin, brass to styrene.....if I'm not mistaken, I believe it was created to bond different porous materials together. 

Title: Re: Plastic to Balsa
Post by: David Bogard on April 19, 2021, 11:00:27 PM

Oddly enough, CA was invented back at the start of WWII for gunsights and other things but it failed so it was shelved. Later it was found to be an extremely good adhesive and then gained much prominence in 1964 and following when it was used to seal wounds. CA is credited for saving many, many lives in Vietnam when a spray was developed that was used to stop bleeding, allowing severely wounded to get life-saving medical help. Pretty cool!!

Title: Re: Plastic to Balsa
Post by: john2 on April 20, 2021, 07:45:44 PM

Thanks guys.  I appreciate the info.

I do tend to stick my fingers together with the CA.  I avoid it if possible.  But --  things will work out.

Title: Re: Plastic to Balsa
Post by: David Bogard on April 20, 2021, 07:58:42 PM

Another reason to use the thick CA.

Title: Re: Plastic to Balsa
Post by: Marty W on April 21, 2021, 03:38:41 AM

I agree. Thick to medium CA. The only drawback is that the thicker the CA is, the longer it takes to set, unless you use the spray accelerator.

Title: Re: Plastic to Balsa
Post by: john2 on April 21, 2021, 05:53:45 AM

Thanks Marty.  I will keep all this in mind.

Wishing everyone building success.