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Does anybody know which material the Atlas shells are made from?  I'm doing some kitbashing work on an Atlas mp15dc shell.  I want to add reinforcing to some butt joint splices and want to get the best bond possible.  I have plenty of the white Evergreen styrene that I can use for backing, but will it bond properly if the shell is ABS?  If necessary, I'll get some of the Plastruct ABS instead.

Thanks,

Jim

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Jim:

It should not matter whether the Atlas shell is ABS or Styrene. Both plastics will bond together (ie the plastic will melt using a general purpose glue like Plastruct Plastic Weld). If you are using a glue like Plastruct Bondene then yea it will matter since this type of glue is good for bonding like plastic to each other (ABS to ABS or Styrene to Styrene). Just look at the instructions on your glue bottle to see if unlike plastic can be bonded.

The bigger issue is if the shell is neither styrene nor ABS but some plastic that normal plastic cements don't work on (think Korber models). In this case you will need to use super glue or in the case of some modelers hot glue. The easiest way to tell is to try bonding a small piece of your styrene stock to the shell in an out of the way place using a general purpose glue good for attaching styrene to ABS. If the plastic melts you are good to go. If not then super glue.

Joe

Model Structures posted:

Jim:

It should not matter whether the Atlas shell is ABS or Styrene. Both plastics will bond together (ie the plastic will melt using a general purpose glue like Plastruct Plastic Weld). If you are using a glue like Plastruct Bondene then yea it will matter since this type of glue is good for bonding like plastic to each other (ABS to ABS or Styrene to Styrene). Just look at the instructions on your glue bottle to see if unlike plastic can be bonded.

The bigger issue is if the shell is neither styrene nor ABS but some plastic that normal plastic cements don't work on (think Korber models). In this case you will need to use super glue or in the case of some modelers hot glue. The easiest way to tell is to try bonding a small piece of your styrene stock to the shell in an out of the way place using a general purpose glue good for attaching styrene to ABS. If the plastic melts you are good to go. If not then super glue.

Joe

The shell responds to Bondene.  I took one too many strokes with the saw on one cut and used it to sort of "heal" the gap somewhat.

I have some of the orange label Plastruct cement.  If it truly makes no difference whether I use styrene or ABS for a splice, I can just use that instead of Bondene.

Thanks,

Jim

Jim:

The orange label is Plastic Weld. It will bond Styrene to ABS or Styrene and ABS to each other.

I routinely use both. Where I can, I go with Bondene only because it is a thinner liquid and wicks into the bond joint easier. In storage while Bondene tends to evaporate with exposure to air, Plastic Weld on the other hand tends to thicken. I have not noticed any difference in holding power but like I said above Plastic Weld won't wick into a joint once it thickens.

Good luck

Joe

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