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Soften cement
PanzerKarl
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Posted: Monday, March 16, 2015 - 05:27 PM UTC
Anybody know how to soften Tamiya's glue?
I glued the loaders hatch on my tiger and now I want to open it up but without trying to damage it.I tried some heat from a hair dryer but no luck.

I used Tamiya extra thin cement.

Thanks in advance
Karl
SgtRam
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Posted: Monday, March 16, 2015 - 05:36 PM UTC
Not that easy, as Tamiya glue melts the plastic to form the bond. Best suggestion would be to use a small razor saw and/or hobby knife.

varanusk
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Posted: Monday, March 16, 2015 - 05:54 PM UTC
Kevin is right, modelling glue melts the styrene so it's quite hard to remove it.

For me easiest way is a clean cut, although in case of a closed hatch if you glued it all around... not sure if it will be worth the work to restore the area
PanzerKarl
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Posted: Monday, March 16, 2015 - 06:00 PM UTC
Thanks guys
Anyway I got it off using some white spirit, I just applied some on the top and inside the turret let if soak for a few minutes and pushed it out.

Just a little corner piece was damaged but the kit has a few spare.

Cheers
Karl
SgtRam
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Posted: Monday, March 16, 2015 - 06:52 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Thanks guys
Anyway I got it off using some white spirit, I just applied some on the top and inside the turret let if soak for a few minutes and pushed it out.

Just a little corner piece was damaged but the kit has a few spare.

Cheers
Karl


This goes to show the effect of White Spirits on plastic. While the glue does "melt" the plastic to form the bond, I would presume the resulting bond is a less resilient plastic once dried. Then once White Spirit is applied, it will attack the weaker plastic at the bond.

Thus a warning when using White Spirit when weathering, use sparingly.

PanzerKarl
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Posted: Monday, March 16, 2015 - 07:25 PM UTC

Quoted Text

This goes to show the effect of White Spirits on plastic. While the glue does "melt" the plastic to form the bond, I would presume the resulting bond is a less resilient plastic once dried. Then once White Spirit is applied, it will attack the weaker plastic at the bond.

Thus a warning when using White Spirit when weathering, use sparingly.


It might of been a bit harder if I had of painted and gloss coated it but lucky enough I have not started the painting yet.

I was in two minds when I was building it to leave the hatch open as I usually have the hatches open just in case I need to add some figures.
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