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The small plastic step ladder on the left edge was bent and cracked.  It easily slid out from the specially made slit between the frame and body corner.  I ordered the part from Lionel and have slid it into place but it needs some glue to hold.  Keep in mind the ladder is unpainted plastic but it makes contact with the inside edge of the painted body.  Best glue to use?

Lionel 85346 Penn Central #5267 RPO [5)

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  • Lionel 85346 Penn Central #5267 RPO (5)
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I am interested to learn as well...it seems whatever glue I buy either is too messy or doesn't work as advertised. I've used Super Glue Gel with mixed results on both plastic and metal. I like the fine-point applicator but it does create a "cloud" of white residue around the area glued (not from spilling the glue though) which then necessitates painting.

The best glue for these plastics is, still, plastic cement. That's what they are for. Plastic cement is actually a solvent, so the parts become one. Any decent brand will do. I use Testors; keeps forever, too. You can buy a boutique brand if you like, but it's all plastic cement.

The paint would probably not be a problem for the bond, but if you can scrape it off with a sharp knife without damaging other areas, it couldn't hurt.

(The best cure for this problem is the use of metal steps; MTH used to do this a lot. The reason I quit buying Atlas rolling stock was the plastic steps, many of which still decorate my right-of-way. But, I think most use the plastic, now. D**n silly practice. How much more could the metal steps and installation increase the cost....on an expensive model...?) 

rrgeorge posted:

The step is painted metal.  I would use a liquid CA type.  Put some on a piece of scrap material and use the sharp end of a rounded toothpick to apply a small amount to the body and reattach the step.

The steps are plastic.  Have a bag of them in my hand right now from Lionel.  Same material as the steps on the new scale Northeastern Style Cabooses.

My Lionel heavyweight cars all have metal steps I wonder if the metal steps that were used several years ago are available they were held on with a screw.  Many different glues will hold that plastic step on to the bottom of the car end.  However something to consider is if you break the new step you don't want it glued on so well that you cannot get the remaining part off. Plastic model cement and CA, (superglue ) will work fine  however they may make it difficult to get the remaining part off the plastic end of the car should you break the step again. Perhaps the tiniest spot of either one will hold the step securly.   Urethane glue (Gorilla Glue)  is not a solvent and will not actually fuse with the plastic like CA and plastic cement will. The problem is it foams up as it cures and will push the parts apart if you do not clamp them together during the curing process. Contact cement like Weldwood makes will not foam up and yet if you break your step it is easy enough to get a sharp blade under the edge and pry the remaining part off.  You paint both the part and the place you wish to attach it with a thin coat of the contact cement let it air dry for a couple minutes then press the parts together. While not tenacious like the the CA and plastic cement it will hold this tiny part securly but allow the prospect of removal if need be.     I don't use much contact cement less than half of what I use CA for but in this application its merits are worth considering.         j            

 

If Lionel is using plastic for these steps it may be Delrin or a similar plastic. Stryene would break way too easily. If it is Delrin solvent cement won't work. Put a drop on it to make sure. If its Delrin the solvent will just evaporate off without melting the plastic.

In that case CA, super glue, is likely the best choice. Contact cement like Goo or Plyobond will work too.

Pete

Norton posted:

If Lionel is using plastic for these steps it may be Delrin or a similar plastic. Stryene would break way too easily. If it is Delrin solvent cement won't work. Put a drop on it to make sure. If its Delrin the solvent will just evaporate off without melting the plastic.

In that case CA, super glue, is likely the best choice. Contact cement like Goo or Plyobond will work too.

 

Really does depend on what plastic the parts are made from - steps and where they attach. If styrene then a solvent cement specific to styrene would work. Same if both are ABS. But Delrin is another beast and solvent cements generally fail.  CA sort of works for Delrin particularly if you can rough up the surface to give it some tooth for the CA to grab into. Otherwise, a contact cement such as Goo or Pliobond will be a better choice for attaching such parts. Another reason for using the latter 2 is that the bond remains somewhat flexible and these parts tend to take a bit of knocking about over time and that flex tends to tolerate that handling.  Using CA and solvent cements are oft times unforgiving.

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