help w/ 1/700 PE radars

winstonshu · Post by **winstonshu** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 8:51 pm

hey all -

having a bear of a time trying to put together this 1/700 SPS-49.

anyone have any tips?

i've tried applying CA to one part and then the other all at once; i've tried gluing down the center part of it before trying to glue the sides down - nothing's worked.

any help appreciated.

-winston

Rick_H · Post by **Rick_H** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 12:57 am

In my experience, it works best to shape first, then glue.

I rolled the compound curve with the back of a fat paint brush handle and the soft fleshy part of my finger.

Good luck,
Rick

winstonshu · Post by **winstonshu** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 1:01 am

hey rick,

thanks for the advice. i've actually been shaping things beforehand, and everything looks like it'll work out fine.

where i'm running into trouble is the actual gluing part of the deal. do you have any suggestions on this?

i've tried using slower-set gel type CA (dabbing tiny droplets onto the projected contact points as well as smearing it and running the strut contact points through it) and thin (and unfortunately insta-set) CA, both without much success.

thanks

Post by **Timmy C** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 1:05 am

You can try having the joints touching first, then put on the insta-set thin CA.

winstonshu · Post by **winstonshu** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 1:47 am

what do you use as an applicator?

when i try doing that, i tend to flood the area with glue --> clogged details --> much profanity

Post by **Timmy C** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 2:12 am

My CA comes with a little "poker" thing, to ensure that the nozzle doesn't clog. But you can probably use a pin or sewing needle (there's that tip with the needle, where you cut the 'eye' in half, so you get a set of small prongs, which holds the CA nicely), or toothpick.

Rick_H · Post by **Rick_H** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 3:40 am

For an applicator for thin CA, I use the nub end of stretched sprue run.

The little chunk of sprue makes a nice handle, and if I start out with ~1" of stretched sprue, I can snip off the end as it gets clunky.

Therefore, I have leftover stubs of sprue all over the workbench, along with all the other crap.

Rick

winstonshu · Post by **winstonshu** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 10:25 am

thanks for the tips guys. will try and see how they work out.

been using a straightened toothpick, i guess that's too large for fine application of glue.

Sten Ekedahl · Post by **Sten Ekedahl** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 10:31 am

winstonshu wrote:thanks for the tips guys. will try and see how they work out.

been using a straightened toothpick, i guess that's too large for fine application of glue.

Somewhere here in this Tips and Tricks section is a thread about making a CA applicator. It is made of a sewing needle where you cut of the top of the eye to make it look like a small two pronged fork. I have used this gadget very successfully for a long time. Suggest you can try this.

winstonshu · Post by **winstonshu** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 10:46 am

i meant paperclip.

what the hell is wrong with me...??

winstonshu · Post by **winstonshu** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 12:56 pm

thanks for the advice guys.

this is what it looks like.

ended up using the tips of a pair of calipers that i have laying around.

Sten Ekedahl · Post by **Sten Ekedahl** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 3:51 pm

Wow! From seeing your results it looks as you've had no problems at all!