Fixing Broken Models

[bakejobb_23]

Hello all,

Ive recently acquired a Gemini A320 from an Ebay seller and it arrived with a wing detached from the fuselage (poor shipping unfortunately). It fit back in okay but I wanted to put a small dab of glue to lock it in place. As soon as I put the glue the wing did not want to go back where it should anymore and now I am stuck with a model that is technically broken. Im trying to scrape away at old glue inside the fuselage section with a sharp razor blade to try again but don't want to force anything or damage the model more than it is. Does anyone else have experience fixing up broken models such as this? what are my best options?

Thanks

 

[LeoMuse747]

Please share some pics, so I can have a better look of the situation.

 

[bakejobb_23]

The problem child in question. Trying to not ruin any more paint than already has been. Scraping with a razor blade seems to be doing the best job but the gap is naturally so tiny it’s hard to get any of my small poker tools in there.

Worst comes to worst, another one will pop up on ebay down the line and I at least have it catalogued for my collection but still a bummer. Who send single models wrapped tightly in the smallest box they can find and only one thin layer of bubble wrap???

 

[LeoMuse747]

So basically there's glue inside the hole in the fuselage and you can't attach the wing anymore, right?
I'd try to sand down the wing attachment part using some kind of sandpaper and see if it can fit nicely in the hole.
You'll have to end up using more glue anyway, to keep that wing firmly placed.
Try scraping the glue with a razor blade seems to be a good idea but I don't know how thick/hard that glue is.

 

[ghqv2988]

Hello all,

Ive recently acquired a Gemini A320 from an Ebay seller and it arrived with a wing detached from the fuselage (poor shipping unfortunately). It fit back in okay but I wanted to put a small dab of glue to lock it in place. As soon as I put the glue the wing did not want to go back where it should anymore and now I am stuck with a model that is technically broken. Im trying to scrape away at old glue inside the fuselage section with a sharp razor blade to try again but don't want to force anything or damage the model more than it is. Does anyone else have experience fixing up broken models such as this? what are my best options?

Thanks

That's happened to a model of mine once. Actually, it was a broken Gemini Jets model I sold on Ebay for cheap (was advertised as broken but fixed). My plan was to fix the detached wing after it sold. Well, that didn't go well...the wing wouldn't fit inside the slot anymore due to the hardened glue, which dried faster than I expected and is nearly impossible to remove. Ended up shipping a brand-new version of the model to the buyer. He was happy!

I would try a different type of super glue in the future. In my experience, gels take longer to harden than liquids. Gels also offer more precision when applying. The liquid super glue will spread upon application leading to potential messes and paint smears.

 

[Jazajia]

I have had to remove a suborn chunk of superglue from a nose gear slot in a similar situation. An Exacto knife did the trick for me. Be careful as the blade tip can snap (wear eye protection). I had to try for about three days about 15 minutes at a time until the chunks started to come out, allowing the gear to go back in place. The reason I did it in intervals instead of 45 minutes in one day is because you get tired, and then you risk scratching adjacent areas with your tool of choice.

 

[LorenzoLommus]

Sometimes fixing won't do any good. Of course a drop of glue will do the trick but what sucks is the detached piece moves around inside and scratches all over the other areas of the model