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Can a DCC ready engine be used on analogue?
Posted in: Model Railway, Power and control
3rd December 2020
DCC ready engines will work perfectly normal on an analogue model railway. In fact, DCC ready locomotives are just...
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Should I use a brush to apply varnish?
Posted in: Painting
12th January 2022
When applying varnish to protect a model's paintwork, you should aim for a finish that exhibits the least amount of...
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What is a roundhouse?
Posted in: Model Railway
21st October 2024
A roundhouse refers to a specialised building, typically found in larger rail depots, designed for housing and...
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How do I attach trees to a layout?
Posted in: Design and Planning, Assembling and gluing, Scenery, Best practices
22nd October 2019
How you attach trees really depends on the type of trees you are using. Many trees have wire forming the body of the...
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Will my model aircraft kit fly?
Posted in: Kit building
11th July 2021
From the perspective of someone choosing a model aircraft for the first time, there can sometimes be some confusion...
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What is epoxy resin?

The chances are that if you have ever tried to research what an epoxy resin is, you were bombarded with phrases like monomelic or oligomeric. Equally, the chances are that if you knew what monomelic or oligomeric meant, then you would know what an epoxy resin is, which leaves us mere mortals back at square one!

Simply put, an epoxy resin is one of the strongest adhesives available. It comes as two separate substances that require mixing together. Once mixed, it will set in a fairly quick time and produce a material not too dissimilar to plastic that is extremely durable, hardwearing and waterproof. If you have ever seen tree sap that has set then you will understand what kind of substance to expect from epoxy resin. The fact is, the two substances have a lot in common.

Because of its strength and plastic qualities, epoxy resin has many uses in our modelling world. Modellers use it not only as an adhesive but also in moulds to fashion anything from buildings to girders.

Epoxy resins are often clear so can also be used to model excellent water features such as rivers, waterfalls, lakes, rivers, ponds or even the sea. Colour can be added at the mixing stage to produce murky or blue tints and ripples or waves can also be added as the substance sets.

There are many different kinds of epoxy resins for many different modelling uses. So before you rush out to buy some and start mixing, it is important to talk to your local model shop or fellow modellers to take advice on which type to use as well as the techniques that should be applied.

Posted in: Kit building

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