Videos & Photos Videos Beginners Basic Training: Adhesives and Glues

Basic Training: Adhesives and Glues

By Angela Cotey | March 19, 2014

| Last updated on February 11, 2021


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With such a wide array of materials used in model railroading today, it can be challenging to figure out which glues and adhesives you’ll want to have on hand. Kent Johnson of MR Video Plus takes a quick look at some of the most commonly used glues and adhesives in the workshop, and explains their practical uses.

12 thoughts on “Basic Training: Adhesives and Glues

  1. I’m glad to see Walthers Goo. I don’t see it in many videos. When that came out in the ’60s my dad used it for everything.

  2. The six types of glue to use for a model railroad are: Elmers White Glue and Elmer Wood Glue for roadbed and scenery DON’T USE GORILLA! or you will have the problem Cody had when Winter Hill was built they used Gorilla to lay the roadbed and Cody had to use a chisel to remove it. Testers Plastic Cement and Canary Glue in the Blue Tubes DON’T USE TESTERS PLASTIC WELD! which comes in a red tube it will eat the plastic. The last glue to use is DAP 230 and Liquid Nails again DON’T USE GORILLA OR LOCKTIGHT they can’t be removed once the track is down.

  3. Hi Kent, great stuff about adhesives but I got question. are AC glues considered Haz-Mat material needing special storage ? I was told these glues can 'flash' and cause fires, any truth? just so I can keep from burning down my shop

  4. good tips Kent also note once a strong glue like Gorilla is down you can't remove it. if you need to replace your work use Elmers White for wood ans scenery and Testers plastic cement in the Blue Tube to place your models Don't use the Red Tube it will dissolve the plastic

  5. Believe it or not, I not only use many of these adhesives in my model building, but I still use many tubes of the old fashioned model cement, like Duco and Ambroid, although sometimes it seems the EPA influence has them somewhat of lower strength than I remember from 40 or 50 years ago.
    BTW, the first mention I remember of CA glues was an MR article on Kodak 910 slide mount adhesive from maybe the late 1950s.

  6. Good video. MRVP staff. Why when working with micro LEDs (smd LEDS) CA will not cute and bond. Even when using a small drop of accelerator the bond is still not strong enough. What do u suggest when mounting these LEDs for ditch lights, marker lights on N scale models?

  7. Good job on the types of adhesives I would like to let you know that contact cement is now available in a latex base which makes clean up easier and you can apply it with a foam or carpet roller. It also has very little odor and applied the same way regular contact cement.

  8. Thanks Kent
    I have worked with about half of these adhesives and your video was very informative with those I have never used.
    Keep up the good work.

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