Assembling artillery pieces

[alanl]

Help needed.  I have a fair pile of pieces to put together for my Boer War forces.

I have found it necessary to drill out some of the wheel hubs, but am having difficulty in getting the wheels to attach.  Superglue just doesn't seem to give a strong enough bond due to the small area of contact (or perhaps my Zap-A-Gap is going off?).

My other thought is to use an epoxy glue and use blu-tak to hold the pieces in position while it hardens, but this could take an enternity to do all the pieces.

Any other suggestions?

[fsn]

I dip the axle in baking powder before putting on the wheel.

Works a treat.

A tip I learned from this forum.

[Shedman]

I use a big block of Plasticine to hold bits in place whilst gluing

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Can't be as bad as MM chariots! Average 15mm a chariot to assemble, then another 15 to reassemble...  

[Leon]

Sometimes the hub needs a quick drill or the axles need a snip to remove any flash.  I place the gun on blu-tac or plasticine to hold the wheels in place while the glue dries, like the guys above.

[Ithoriel]

A few granules of bicarb of soda will cause superglue to set almost instantly. I find that helps with things that otherwise need held, supported or clamped.

[alanl]

Many thanks.  Time to raid the baking cupboard!

[FierceKitty]

In such cases I use superglue, then add a dab or two of epoxy when it's assembled.

[Matt J]

Yep, baking powder and bit of super glue gel to 'weld' the joint after. When glued to a base they don't go anywhere.

[alanl]

OK, going to go for the superglue and baking soda formula.  What type of glue is best suited: thin or a medium gel?

[Womble67]

I'll have to try the baking soda trick

Take care

Andy

[fsn]

Be careful.

I told Techno about baking soda and superglue and he spent three days stuck to a Victoria sponge.


It does work rather well. Can't remember who it was put it on the Forum first, but thanks to them.

[Womble67]

Be careful.

I told Techno about baking soda and superglue and he spent three days stuck to a Victoria sponge.


It does work rather well. Can't remember who it was put it on the Forum first, but thanks to them.

I'm rather partial to Victoria sponge, so that wouldn't be too much of a hardship but I keep your warning in mind thanks

Take care

Andy

[Techno]

I had to use a pumice stone to get rid of the final bits of 'stuff'.

Still hasn't healed properly.

Cheers - Mr Sore Fingers

[Norm]

For artillery, I find that I have to glue the wheels to the base at the same time as the gun carriage is glued, this gives the extra stability for the few seconds needed to get everything going off, but also needs tweezers to ensure that everything is straight while it does go off, otherwise you end up with wonky wheels.

[paulr]

I've just tried the Baking Soda and superglue approach as described above for the first time

Absolutely brilliant, I've completely assembled 9 guns in the time it would have taken me to get the wheels on 2-3 with my old epoxy and blu-tac approach

I put the superglue in the hub of the wheel and as suggested by FSN above dipped the axle in baking soda before putting it in the wheel 

I used a similar approach for the guns, super glue where the trunnions go, dipped the barrel in baking soda

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Might have to try that

[Leman]

Are we talking Baking Soda or Baking Powder? Or are they one and the same? (Not a fan of the Great British F*** Off)

[Ithoriel]

Baking Powder is made from bicarbonate of soda and cream of tartar plus a filler like cornflower.

I use Bicarbonate of Soda, which seems to work pretty well, but given it's an ingredient of baking powder that should work OK too.

[Maenoferren]

Chassis on blu tack and then baking soda and superglue to make an instant bond, then get them glued straight onto the base to make everything secure.