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It really pisses me off. Plastic glue melt-fuses the parts together, making it impossible to even consider a different pose etc. in the future. Sucks when you buy stuff from ebay and then realize the idiot has used plastic glue on the most unnecessary of stuff like gluing rhino doors shut or preventing the exhausts of a devilfish from swiveling.

Superglue on the other hand, can have its bonds broken by freezing or just good old appliance of force, but nevertheless it holds things perfectly well for everyday use.

I always use superglue and my models very rarely come apart - only times they do is if I drop them onto the floor.

Plastic glue has a better bond for those of us who never intend to disassemble their models.

Also, it has a longer working time so you can adjust poses on the fly. Superglue is either set or not, there is no adjusting.

Another reason for plastic glue is on clear plastic like aircraft windows. Superglue can create a white residue

Because when you want models permanently joined together you use plastic glue.

That would be the reason.

It's cheaper, easier to use, doesn't glue random stuff together. + the above.

No harm in using a little dab so the bond can be broken too.

But if you will buy stuff on ebay, you can't blame others for your own issues.

 Sir Arun wrote:
on the most unnecessary of stuff like gluing rhino doors shut

I think this is the nub of your point. I tend to use superglue for most things, but I do find plastic glue useful on occasion precisely because of it's fusing bond. Small/thin/delicate points of contact usually require it.

3 reasons.

Stronger bond...

Easier to position parts...

Not caring what people who buy your junk off ebay feel...


I don't think "gee, I wonder if I should use superglue on these models that I'll be selling in a few months for half of what I paid for them so that the person I sell them to has an easier time pulling them apart" is a thought that enters peoples' minds when they are assembling models.

I find plastic glue very useful when putting some minis together especially when trying to get things like Space Marine arms holding a bolter to line up properly (due to the drying time).
It also gives me time to refine the model's pose.
Sometimes when I drop a head in the neck hole (& similar) it drops to one side looking really daft - the plastic glue allows me to correct it.
I much, much prefer working with plastic over resin / metal for this reason. I think that's why I'm taking so long to put my Heresy Death Guard together (FW resin).


Automatically Appended Next Post:
You can always ask the seller how the models have been put together before bidding too....

PalmerC wrote:
Another reason for plastic glue is on clear plastic like aircraft windows. Superglue can create a white residue

I use PVA on clear plastic, glue fumes can destroy them. I never use plastic glue it's rubbish.

also superglue doesnt last forever.. it holds only a few years

 Sir Arun wrote:
Sucks when you buy stuff from ebay

It can, and that is the reason why I don't buy things off of eBay unless it is bits or models that are NOS or NIB.

Personally, I use plastic cement on anything that is plastic and super glue on metal/resin for all the same reasons that a bunch of other people have said.

PVA glue works well on clear plastic and so does a something called Micro Kristal Klear, which is what I use for canopies and anything else clear.

Given how many second-hand models I've bought that looked like they had been glued together by dunking them in a pot of super-glue, I wish more people used plastic glue.

Slicing apart a plastic joint really isn't that hard.

 winterwind85 wrote:
also superglue doesnt last forever.. it holds only a few years

I'm not sure where you get that. I have models made 20+ years ago that were superglued, and that remain well-bonded, both plastic and metal.

to the OP's question: plastic cement welds 2 pieces together (melts two plastic surfaces and fuses them), whereas cyanoacrylate is an acrylic resin that bonds on both surfaces, holding them together. You could ask the same question of metal. Why do people use epoxy instead of superglue? Neither product is superior, just different. Personally, I think superglue is more generally useful.

Regarding cleaning up old models off of ebay -- it's so hard to get a really good deal off of ebay models, that I don't think it's worth the effort. If I'm going to get old models, I'd rather buy them through people I know in local gaming groups, and that sort of thing.. at least, then, I can assess the models first. BNIB, of course, is different, but most people on ebay want as much for their BNIB used stuff as it costs to buy it at an FLGS with some kind of discount.

A chap from FW told me that gloss varnish is great for gluing in clear canopies. Probably best for display models only.

I quite enjoy the smell of plastic glue. Mmmmmm... brain damage.

 insaniak wrote:
Given how many second-hand models I've bought that looked like they had been glued together by dunking them in a pot of super-glue, I wish more people used plastic glue.

Slicing apart a plastic joint really isn't that hard.

This. It requires a bit more skill than just snapping a super glue piece off, but it is most certainly possible to disassembled plastic glued parts with minimum to zero damage.

Also, with plastic glue, if you did everything right and took care of your models, they will be the same in ten years as they are the day you varnish them.

^^ Ha ha! Parents always complain about the smell in my room where I model!

I have used plastic glue since i started in hobby for plasltic and super glue for resin and metal. I now sometimes will use super glue for weapons and what not if i am not sure i might not want to change it out, but for main construction if plastic i prefer plastic glue.

You can drop a model with plastic glue and it will not blow apart in pieces like ones i have done with super glue. This can slow down a game if you have droped a model and repairing the whole thing and trying to find parts off floor etc.... least in my experience .

Another good thing about plastic glue is that the bloody thing won't break in two seconds flat...

Although no matter the glue the damn pieces always seem to camo into the carpet...

EDIT: God Dammit! Again? Really?!

Just maneuver some flush cut clippers in there and you will be all set

I super glue my models so my mongo friends dont break my models when they pick them up.

i only use plastic glue on models or parts that will never be swaped, IF i want the part to swivel or be interchangeble, I use magnets, but plastic glue gives a better bond and is easier to use then super glue.

Oh and you don't glue your fingers together while trying to glue something else! Haha

 insaniak wrote:
Given how many second-hand models I've bought that looked like they had been glued together by dunking them in a pot of super-glue, I wish more people used plastic glue.

Slicing apart a plastic joint really isn't that hard.

If there's still a joint left over. Sloppy super glue work can be pried apart, and the glue can be flaked off. Sloppy plastic glue permanently damages the model. There is nothing you can do to fix it.

Sir Arun wrote:Why do people use plastic glue?

Because they haven't graduated to super glue yet.

Longer working times, and fewer bonding errors are only useful to people who are still new at the hobby, and need a much more forgiving adhesive. Once you've been working with minis for awhile, these things shouldn't be a problem at all.

Once you can do this, then plastic glue provides no benefits, while having the disadvantage of not working at all with plasticard or greenstuff, and destroying what little second-hand value the models have by requiring you to hack away at plastic, rather than relatively easily snapping the pieces apart. Plastic glued models are only slightly more workable than metal ones.

The only time I've seen a legitimate use for plastic glue over superglue is re-connecting flying bases that were foolishly glued down and had the pins on the end break off in the model. Even then, though, the joint is still pretty weak, even if it is technically stronger.

 Ailaros wrote:

 insaniak wrote:
Given how many second-hand models I've bought that looked like they had been glued together by dunking them in a pot of super-glue, I wish more people used plastic glue.

Slicing apart a plastic joint really isn't that hard.

If there's still a joint left over. Sloppy super glue work can be pried apart, and the glue can be flaked off. Sloppy plastic glue permanently damages the model. There is nothing you can do to fix it.

Sir Arun wrote:Why do people use plastic glue?

Because they haven't graduated to super glue yet.

Longer working times, and fewer bonding errors are only useful to people who are still new at the hobby, and need a much more forgiving adhesive. Once you've been working with minis for awhile, these things shouldn't be a problem at all.

Once you can do this, then plastic glue provides no benefits, while having the disadvantage of not working at all with plasticard or greenstuff, and destroying what little second-hand value the models have by requiring you to hack away at plastic, rather than relatively easily snapping the pieces apart. Plastic glued models are only slightly more workable than metal ones.

The only time I've seen a legitimate use for plastic glue over superglue is re-connecting flying bases that were foolishly glued down and had the pins on the end break off in the model. Even then, though, the joint is still pretty weak, even if it is technically stronger.

I dont agree with your observation on it being for rookies to the hobby. I also dont agree on the part of plastic glue having no benefits as you say. I think they all have benefits. It just depends on what you are looking to do with your figures and learning the properties of each type of glue and what you want to do with the figure.

 Ailaros wrote:

 insaniak wrote:
Given how many second-hand models I've bought that looked like they had been glued together by dunking them in a pot of super-glue, I wish more people used plastic glue.

Slicing apart a plastic joint really isn't that hard.

If there's still a joint left over. Sloppy super glue work can be pried apart, and the glue can be flaked off. Sloppy plastic glue permanently damages the model. There is nothing you can do to fix it.

Sir Arun wrote:Why do people use plastic glue?

Because they haven't graduated to super glue yet.

Longer working times, and fewer bonding errors are only useful to people who are still new at the hobby, and need a much more forgiving adhesive. Once you've been working with minis for awhile, these things shouldn't be a problem at all.

Once you can do this, then plastic glue provides no benefits, while having the disadvantage of not working at all with plasticard or greenstuff, and destroying what little second-hand value the models have by requiring you to hack away at plastic, rather than relatively easily snapping the pieces apart. Plastic glued models are only slightly more workable than metal ones.

The only time I've seen a legitimate use for plastic glue over superglue is re-connecting flying bases that were foolishly glued down and had the pins on the end break off in the model. Even then, though, the joint is still pretty weak, even if it is technically stronger.

Once you graduate from "superglue roks, it's so good because now my 2nd hand models are worth 36% of their original value instead of 35%" you'll realise that the benefits of plastic glue and benefits for experienced modellers as well.

Parts that don't quite fit right. Parts with large gaps. Parts for which the positioning is dependant on the previous part. Parts where you want to fine tune the posing. Parts that are painted and so you want to avoid frosting.

There's actually many FW resin models where I use the superglue/greenstuff/superglue method largely because it gives a similar result to plastic glue (stronger bond and more working time to position components, very useful for DKOK arms).

"Graduating" to super glue is hilarious. Use the glue that works best for what you want, sometimes that is super glue, sometimes it isn't.

If I intend to take a model apart, I magnetise it - I have a few old AOBR marines that are fully magnetised so I can strip and repaint them with ease to test out other colour schemes.

If you regularly break a model's joints to repose them, you either need to plan ahead better or stop being such a tightarse and buy another model.

If you are buying ultra cheap, pre-painted models from ebay, you get what you pay for - complain to the seller and try to get your $3 back.

 Ailaros wrote:

Sir Arun wrote:Why do people use plastic glue?

Because they haven't graduated to super glue yet.

Yeah quite right, only rookies like me use plastic glue.
But I've been doing this for a quarter of a century - how long do I have left 'til graduation?

 Sir Arun wrote:


I always use superglue and my models very rarely come apart - only times they do is if I drop them onto the floor.

I use plastic glue (on plastic models) and my models never come apart - even when dropped on the floor.....and that's why I use plastic glue.

 Ailaros wrote:

 insaniak wrote:
Given how many second-hand models I've bought that looked like they had been glued together by dunking them in a pot of super-glue, I wish more people used plastic glue.

Slicing apart a plastic joint really isn't that hard.

If there's still a joint left over. Sloppy super glue work can be pried apart, and the glue can be flaked off. Sloppy plastic glue permanently damages the model. There is nothing you can do to fix it.

Sir Arun wrote:Why do people use plastic glue?

Because they haven't graduated to super glue yet.

Longer working times, and fewer bonding errors are only useful to people who are still new at the hobby, and need a much more forgiving adhesive. Once you've been working with minis for awhile, these things shouldn't be a problem at all.

Once you can do this, then plastic glue provides no benefits, while having the disadvantage of not working at all with plasticard or greenstuff, and destroying what little second-hand value the models have by requiring you to hack away at plastic, rather than relatively easily snapping the pieces apart. Plastic glued models are only slightly more workable than metal ones.

The only time I've seen a legitimate use for plastic glue over superglue is re-connecting flying bases that were foolishly glued down and had the pins on the end break off in the model. Even then, though, the joint is still pretty weak, even if it is technically stronger.

I'm insulted by this. I find the extra time useful, particularly when working with MEQs as it allows me to adjust the pose to the Nth degree to get to just right, or give me the few seconds I need to get both hands on the weapon.
Also be aware that some people actually enjoy the models and aesthetic they have and feel no need to add cheap bits of plastic or greenstuff to make the model look different. Many people buy models they like the look of.
And also keep in mind that not everyone sells off their minis and don't give a monkey's backside about what people on ebay want.