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I am putting together some Wraiths and doing some customizing with them so they look more unique and stuff. Any tips or advice on how to glue together metal models metal to metal? I have heard if pinning but I dont think it will be really possible with how thing some of the links in between Wraith joints are near the end (tail) part...

When i glue metal models i use tissue paper between the joints which makes it stick faster and stronger .hope that helps.

foor301 wrote:When i glue metal models i use tissue paper between the joints which makes it stick faster and stronger .hope that helps.

Really? I must say that's something I have never heard of.

You really should pin. Even really small joints can be pinned if you get a fine enough drill bit and thin pins.

It is a PITA to drill and pin really small parts, however if they are that small they probably aren't heavy enough to need pinning.

What matters is how liable the parts are to get snagged when handling the model.

I would use epoxy cement rather than super glue. Epoxy has a bit of give in the bond so it can withstand a bit of pressure while super glue will just snap off.

Depends really, something like an arm or a wing might have a really small joint but then have a lot of weight behind it but yeah you're right, pinning isn't always strictly necessary...

I use a gel based super glue, and always rub the areas that need bonding with a small file or sand paper. Never had to pin anything yet. If you have the Loctite brand over the pond that works best.

Pin
Cross hatch with knife
Small blob of green stuff

It depends on a lot of things: How much surface area there is between the two parts, and how much is actually in contact with each other, how much weight or stress that particular joint will have on it, the quality/type of glue you use. If I have two parts with a nice large contact area(you'd be surprised how often you have to parts with a large conection area, but due to bad molding/modeling, the actual contact area is very small), you can usually get by with just putting a thin coating over the entire area and the bond will last forever. With a smaller area under stress, pinning, or sometimes a small amount of tissue paper is required to get a bond strong enough to last. I usually hold or rubber band the parts together for a good 5 minutes before giving them another 30 mins or so to set before I mess with them again.

A few ideas;


1: Pinning is easily the best method.
Pretty much every metal model can be pinned.
With small parts like weapons and hands this is impossible at times though. (nightbringers scythe)

2: Cross hatching the metal.
This is simple.
Simply score a cross hatch into both parts of the metal.
This will give it a surface to stick to. (best for the smaller parts)

3: GS.
Simply use a small blob along with super glue for a strong bond (try to keep the GS around the edges and the glue in the middle)
This also works well with cross hatching.

4: Epoxy glue.
Glues like araldite work very well.
They have a long cure time, but it gives a great bond.
Generally you will need to use a rubber band or prop the sections together as its curing.


Hope some of that helps.

Hmm..with the tiny models I am using and how small the joins I am planning to do I think I would rather stay away from pinning.

However that cross hatching sounds awesome. As well as the GS.

What does tissue paper do to help the models stick together better though...o_O?? Seems weird lol