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Why do I need different shades of green foliage for my trees?
Posted in: Scenery
12th December 2019
Using several shades will add more realism to your layout and create depth. This is how trees are in real life: when...
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How do you create snow on a layout?
Posted in: Model Railway, Scenery
7th December 2020
Creating a snowy scene on your layout is unfortunately not as simple as scattering some scenic snow on your tracks....
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Is modelling in N gauge cheaper than OO gauge?
Posted in: Model Railway, Rolling stock, Scenery
27th May 2020
Although N gauge is very popular (and for good reason), it can't be denied that the most popular gauge on the UK...
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How long does foam underlay last on average and is there any way to increase its longevity?
Posted in: Model Railway
9th May 2023
The longevity of foam underlay can vary depending on a number of factors such as the quality of the foam, the...
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Can I undercoat in black if I am going to paint white?
Posted in: Painting
10th January 2020
Yes, you can use a black undercoat if you are painting something white but ideally you should look at using a white...
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Christmas and New Year

We are dispatching orders every weekday apart from Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

If you select next day delivery at checkout, please note deliveries are not made on public holidays or Sundays.

The shop in Sandown is open 23rd and 24th December, then closed from 25th December, reopening on 30th December.

Why super glue sticks everything apart from what it's supposed to!

Any modeller who claims they have never accidentally stuck their fingers together should hang their head in shame and promise to stop telling fibs. But why do fingers stick so easily and some model parts don't?

It may be the case that the model's parts simply aren't suitable for a cyanoacrylate (super glue), the product is good, not magic. So do a little research to see if cyanoacrylate is the best adhesive for the materials being used. However, most of the time cyanoacrylate doesn't measure up is for one of two reasons, either it is a cheap version, or it's being used incorrectly.

The former is a big grumble for many modellers. The £1 price tag may seem attractive when you're in the discount store, but it's really only ever meant to sit in the drawer at home for the occasional broken TV remote or picture frame, modelling is definitely not its forte and should be avoided. There are many cyanoacrylates available for specific modelling jobs that will make your life far less frustrating, just take a look at Deluxe Materials' substantial range and you'll soon get the idea.

The second reason for cyanoacrylate failure is how the adhesive works. It requires moisture to activate, and that's why it never sets in the bottle, however, the skin of your fingers is excellent at facilitating the instant setting of the glue (and the instant panic of said modeller!).

If you are having trouble getting your model's parts to stick together, check if the joining surfaces are smooth and tesselate well. If they are not, air will get in and the glue will struggle to set.

With the right cyanoacrylate for the right job and an airtight connection between surfaces to be glued, your project will definitely get stuck, but in a good way!

Posted in: Assembling and gluing

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