What is the idea glue for mock-ups?

[Milo]

What can I use to piece parts together, yet still have them separable for mockups?

[dragstk]

I use regular white glue, sometimes called PVA glue. Ive been using it for years

[Milo]

Elmers?

[dragstk]

Thats the stuff.?

[bobss396]

I use white glue, pulls apart easily enough. I have used 2-sided tape too.

[Ace-Garageguy]

For quick fits I'll be taking apart shortly, I use a small drop or 2 of liquid cement. Adhesion is instant, I can see what I need to see (like making sure an intake manifold will correctly fit a pair of cylinder heads after they're hard-glued...and then taking it all apart), and disassemble whatever it is with very minimal damage.

BUT...recently I wanted to take several in-progress models to a show, and for that, I stuck everything together with trusty old Elmers. Came home, everything came back apart after several days with no damage.

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

I use Blu-tack https://diy.bostik.com/en-PH/products/stationery-craft/blu-tack all the time to hold parts together during mock-up. It's a reusable putty that doesn't leave any residue. Indispensable. not being glue, you don't have to wait for it to dry unlike white glue (which I do use sometimes). -RRR

[Straightliner59]

I like Alene's Tacky Glue. And pins. Drilling and pinning is not only good for temporary assembly, I also makes for a sturdier final product.

[Jon Haigwood]

I use Canopy Cement probably the same stuff as Elmers 

[Bugatti Fan]

Good old PVA. Doesn't matter who makes this general wood glue, it's all much the same but some manufacturers product viscosity is a bit thicker than others. Ideal for mock ups in plastic or resin as it can be peeled off cleanly afterwards when set, unlike wood that it is designed to penetrate.

PVA adhesive was originally developed for the book printing industry. 'Not a lot of people know that!' As Michae! Cane would say.

 

Edited December 9, 2023 by Bugatti Fan

[Ace-Garageguy]

10 hours ago, Bugatti Fan said:

Good old PVA. Doesn't matter who makes this general wood glue, it's all much the same but some manufacturers product viscosity is a bit thicker than others. Ideal for mock ups in plastic or resin as it can be peeled off cleanly afterwards when set, unlike wood that it is designed to penetrate.

PVA adhesive was originally developed for the book printing industry. 'Not a lot of people know that!' As Michae! Cane would say.

And PVA (polyvinyl acetate) is essentially "white glue" like Elmers, the Testors canopy stuff, wood glue, MicroMark's Krystal Klear, etc.

Not a lot of people know that either.   

[Bugatti Fan]

Absolutely right Bill!

[bluestringer]

Is this the Elmers School glue you guys are talking about or the multi purpose Elmers. Are they the same?

[Ace-Garageguy]

1 hour ago, bluestringer said:

Is this the Elmers School glue you guys are talking about or the multi purpose Elmers. Are they the same?

They're similar, but the "multi purpose" stuff, regular old Elmers, is thicker and easier to use on models.

The kiddie stuff is formulated to wash out of clothes easier.

Edited December 10, 2023 by Ace-Garageguy

[Oldriginal86]

I use the Elmers carpenter glue. It has a yellow tint and as Bill said, is thick and stays where you put it. I’ve used the Testors canopy glue and had a difficult time removing it. Seemed to almost have a rubbery quality.

[Straightliner59]

17 hours ago, Oldriginal86 said:

Seemed to almost have a rubbery quality.

It's interesting how we all approach this stuff differently. I use Alene's Tacky Glue, for that very reason!?If it's very difficult to remove, I just use a little water.

[R. Thorne]

I sometimes use Aleene’s tacky glue, but most of the time use just a very small amount of either Tamiya’s extra thin cement or CA glue.  I guess I don’t have the patience to wait on PVA to dry as I want to build right then.  

[Skip]

Elmer's School Glue or Alene's Tacky Glue both are PVA glues they set and hold without penetrating the styrene, then easily pulled apart, scrape off when finished looking over the Mockup.