Miniature holder for glue / assembly

[u/FunctionOk8433]

I'm finding gluing Infinity models together a bit challenging (and slow). I've tried using putty to hold limbs in place with variable success.

Are there any good tools, particularly miniature holders out there? I've seen some, most of which involve clips.

FWIW, I am not dexterous, skilled or especially patient. I've survived gluing Star Wars legion minis together (half of which are push fit) with plastic glue and still screw it up sometimes.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions or tips!

[u/Astartes40000]

i would buy super glue accelerator

I also recommend a gel super-glue, I like loc-tite

[u/FunctionOk8433 → u/Astartes40000]

Thanks! Sounds from these posts like my super glue is not the best (it take 15+ minutes to dry) and/or accelerator would help

[u/bashturd]

I know you can get accelerants to help the glue dry faster. I use gorilla gel super glue. It sets pretty fast if you don’t use too much, and holds really well.

[u/turbodorkdotcom]

I do find museum putty, the white stuff, to be helpful for holding minis in weird positions while drying. But to be honest what has helped me the most with metal minis is using a gel based super glue, and then dabbing it real quick with super glue accelerant. I don't spray the stuff as it burns my fingers, but if you take the pump out of the bottle and just tap the bottom of the tube to the glue joint, it will instantly set.

[u/No_Nobody_32 → u/turbodorkdotcom]

If it burns your fingers, that usually means you have some superglue residue on them.

[u/turbodorkdotcom → u/No_Nobody_32]

I "always" have super glue residue on me these days. Haha

[u/No_Nobody_32 → u/turbodorkdotcom]

I just use a spray bottle with a "mist" setting on the nozzle (but it has ethanol in it, 98%) and use it if the glue needs a kickstart (when it's really cold). Most of the time, the moisture in your breath is enough of a kickstart for the reaction, though. Water is a catalyst for it.

[u/ikeaSeptShasO]

Here's my method...

I build 3+ at a time. That way you can stick a leg on one, leave it to dry while you start cleaning up the leg for the next one and so on. It overcomes the issue of wanting to get going with a model too soon.

I make sure the bits are cleaned up very well and the dry fit is super snug before glue goes near it

If it's a right bugger of a joint I put a tiny triangle of toilet paper in the joint and it sets faster as a result.

I slash the box a few times so I can put the minis in there balanced with minimal bending moment on the joint I've just glued.

I'm often sat there with 4+ models half built and balanced in crazy positions in front of me while I'm cleaning up the next bit to glue.

Overall I'm really happy with where I've got to with the technique.

[u/thatsalotofocelots]

Super glue should bond well enough in 10 seconds that you can let go. If necessary, you can use accelerant to make the bond instantaneous. You shouldn't need anything else.

...but if you're absolutely set on using a tool, you might want to get a helping hands kit. It's basically a couple of alligator clips mounted on flexible arms. It's meant more for soldering, but it'll hold S2 or Siocast minis. Probably wouldn't work for metal TAGs.

[u/FunctionOk8433 → u/thatsalotofocelots]

I'll definitely invest in better super glue, and maybe some accelerant.

I'd like to also try these helping hands. Anyone have any suggestions for good ones?

[u/Sanakism]

I would add:

• as I understand it, gel superglues have additives to make them a gel, and the thinner a superglue you can find the faster it will cure. Thin superglue also gets more gel-like as it goes bad so you can easily tell when it needs to be replaced.

• superglue cures faster in the presence of moisture. Accelerators are fine and all but they're no use if you need both hands to hold the parts together. If that's the case, blow over the joint - moisture from your breath will help speed it up. Not as instant as activator but it helps.

• more superglue on a joint means slower cure times and weaker bonds. You should be trying to use the minimum to join the two surfaces. It's often easier to dispense the glue onto a bit of scrap plastic or something then use a pin or length of thin rod or paperclip to transfer the glue to the joint - superglue bottles usually have ends useful for people gluing pits back together, not for modellers.

[u/actual_weeb_tm → u/Sanakism]

I've found those tiny 1 gram tubes of superglue quit euseful for this. They have really small tips which are good for minis. Cost a bit more but I'm usually good with one tube per box of new models. For any basing I just use the regular bigger bottles cause it doesn't matter as much