Hands On With Adhesives From Microscale    

PERRY LAMBERT

The Weathering Shop

Modified Atlas GP38 deck showing the construction of the step wells. The right hand step well top plate was tacked into place using the Micro Weld for adjustment to make sure it was square. This also shows the styrene used to plug the coupler box on the pilot to use a Details West buffer plate.

Usually I am not the type to run out and buy new products when they are released by manufacturers because I have my own way of building models. However, when I first learned of the new line of adhesive's Microscale had released, I was very excited and eager to try them.

I have been working on a Santa Fe GP38 and I figured I could use some of Microscale's new adhesives to try out their new products. One of the most distinctive features on Santa Fe's GP38's were the "switchman" style steps. I had retrieved prototype data and realized I would have to scratchbuild these unique style of step wells. Based on my measurements, I decided to go with .020" styrene sheet so the steps were a little more robust and able to be handled. Usually for sheet styrene I would normally use a liquid type cement as I like the working time associated with these types of adhesives. I used Microscale's Micro Weld to attach the inside step well to the existing deck and because these would have to be built on the model, gave me the benefit of extra working time. What I also enjoy is the Micro Weld softened the styrene enough to melt to the walkway filling the gap between the styrene and deck.

Final scratchbuilt step well. Note on the front pilot styrene rod was used to fill factory square MU hose plugs. The Micro Weld was aggressive enough to melt the rod and fill the square holes. The styrene pieces used to fill the coupler plate was inserted and glued with the Thick Micro Bond and also filled the gaps around the styrene pieces.

On the bottom rear kick plate, there were four bolt heads on the prototype so I needed a way to replicate these. I drilled four .015" holes and inserted .015" diameter rod and secured the rod by using the Micro Weld. Even though the holes were a little larger than the rod, the Micro Weld is aggressive enough to melt the rod and filled the gap around the rod. I trimmed the rod down and successfully replicated the prototype bolt heads. The other benefit of the Micro Weld is the ability to hide itself once painted. Using the Thin Micro Bond, I was able to let the capillary action fill small voids and significantly strengthened the styrene step wells to the deck.   

Assembled Cannon and Company Cab and sub-base. Beneath the right window you can see the louvers will filled with Medium Micro Bond and sanded down. The cab and sub base was glued togther using Micro Weld.

With the success I was having with the Micro Weld, I was very anxious to use the other types of adhesives. After completing all fours step wells, I needed to construct the cab and sub base. On the particular style GP38, I needed to fill the louvers on the engineer side of the cab. Using the Medium Micro Bond, I filled these louvers using a piece of wire. Once the Medium Micro Bond was dry, I carefully sanded down the glue and was very pleased with the results as the glue essentially turned into plastic. Once painted, there will be no evidence of the louvers. The Thick Micro Bond was used on the pilot face for securing two pieces of styrene to install a new buffer plate. When I glued the styrene pieces in the existing pilot, enough adhesive leaked onto the front of the pilot filling all the gaps and making the styrene appear as it was the factory pilot. In using the new line of Microscale Adhesive's, I will no longer have to purchase several different types of adhesive's as Microscale has released everything I'll ever need.