Damn it all

[topher5150]

So I'm playing my guitar and I turn around and look at my "Big T", the one that I brought back from the dead, and noticed that almost all the repairs that I did on the rear suspension have come un-done. Basically the mounts on the coil overs broke off again. What's a good way to get these to stay together. I'll try to get pics tonight.

[Don Garrett]

Kris...need to see the pics...but if you're depending on adhesives to hold bits together, that's your downfall. If there's any sort of load on a butt joint etc............PIN IT!!!

[topher5150]

I think I used just regular testros modle glue. It is the coil springs, the pieces of plastic made to look like (four of them in the back)

[Don Garrett]

Pal, the commercially available tube cement is (in my opinion) the poorest adhesive currently available for plastic model construction. I usually use solvent which actually flows into the joints & melts the plastic parts together or CA which doesn't dissolve the plastic but provides an incredibly strong bond between two flat surfaces. When I said pin them, what I meant was to drill a small hole thru the parts to be joined and insert a plastic or metal pin with CA.

[hot ford coupe]

Don's absolutely right 1000%. Were there any chrome parts that you didn't scrape down to the plastic/ The adhesive won't penetrate the coat of chrome on the parts.

Also, one thing to remember about large scale models is that they're naturally heavier than the 1/24 scale models and that means a difference to our disadvantage in the ratio of strength of the joint vs. the weight we ask it to support. As a result, a delicate joint that may be adequate on a small model is way too weak for the weight of a large model. That's why pinning becomes necessary. This is one lesson I had to learn the hard way. Now, when I have to use a butt joint, I often add a reinforcing piece of plastic so I have a greater surface area to glue.

Another thing is that a joint where the adhesive layer is thick is a weak joint. Whatever glue you use has very little strength by itself. The adhesive layer must be as thin as possible for the most strength. Always make sure your mating surfaces fit closely.

I hope I've been some help to you.

[spinellid82]

Pinning is the large scale modelers best defense against those darn weak joints. I don't think the model manufacturers take into much consideration the difference in weight between 1:24 scale and larger scales and therefore many factory joints just aren't sufficient.

Get yourself a pinvise, drill bits and pin material (about the diameter of a straightpin). You might want to practice on some svrap material first. Also, just like you read before, be sure to scrape any chrome plating off of any glue joints and don't waste your time with that tube glue. Solvent in an aplicator syringe or CA is the only way to fly if you want it to last.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out!