Styrene to bondo?

[Vintage AMT]

What is going to be my best bet for an adhesive to stick that grille surround to the front? Or, should I try to pin it? Thanks

[Ace-Garageguy]

I typically use a slow curing epoxy (30 minutes minimum, though what I use takes 24 hours to full room-temp cure) plus cotton-flock to adhere dissimilar materials. 

Lotsa people think my approach is overkill, but my stuff never cracks and falls off...or cracks during sanding, polishing, etc.

[Rick L]

Agree with Ace. It may also help to sand the mating side of the styrene with a coarse grit sandpaper. 

[Plowboy]

I use crazy glue. If you're cutting an opening for the surround to fit into, you can still use regular glue from the backside. You'll still have a styrene to styrene joint.

[Vintage AMT]

17 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

I typically use a slow curing epoxy (30 minutes minimum, though what I use takes 24 hours to full room-temp cure) plus cotton-flock to adhere dissimilar materials. 

Lotsa people think my approach is overkill, but my stuff never cracks and falls off...or cracks during sanding, polishing, etc.

Thank you Bill.

 

[jaymcminn]

23 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

I typically use a slow curing epoxy (30 minutes minimum, though what I use takes 24 hours to full room-temp cure) plus cotton-flock to adhere dissimilar materials. 

Lotsa people think my approach is overkill, but my stuff never cracks and falls off...or cracks during sanding, polishing, etc.

Interesting. Never heard of this technique, but I'm gonna have to try it. Does the cotton flock allow the epoxy to be sanded like filler?

[Ace-Garageguy]

37 minutes ago, jaymcminn said:

Interesting. Never heard of this technique, but I'm gonna have to try it. Does the cotton flock allow the epoxy to be sanded like filler?

Yes...but it cures much harder than the surrounding material, so something like a Dremel has to be used to rough-shape it.

Here's an application similar to what the OP is asking about. The blue hood surround section was bonded in with epoxy/flock, shaped, then the grille section was put in, and more epoxy/flock used to form the fender cheeks below the headlight sugar-scoops.

Edited May 1, 2022 by Ace-Garageguy

[NOBLNG]

30 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Yes...but it cures much harder than the surrounding material, so something like a Dremel has to be used to rough-shape it.

Here's an application similar to what the OP is asking about. The blue hood surround section was bonded in with epoxy/flock, shaped, then the grille section was put in, and more epoxy/flock used to form the fender cheeks below the headlight sugar-scoops.

Geez Bill….you’ve got some really interesting and awesome builds going on.?? Would you please?finish some so we can get the full effect!? Or….box em up and send them to me to finish…...you’ve done all the hard work already. ?

Edited May 1, 2022 by NOBLNG