Gluing styrene sheet to plastic model?

[Philhelm]

Maybe this is a stupid question, but will sheet styrene glue to a plastic miniature with normal liquid cement used for plastic models?  Or will I need to use superglue?

[Connectamabob]

Most model kits and plastic gaming figures (like GW stuff, for example) are made of polystyrene also. That's why hobby plastic sheet and stock (apart from the clear stuff sold for RC guys) is polystyrene: it's just a good plastic for that, and ensures max compatibility for exactly this sort of thing. So yes, your regular hobby liquid cement will work on the polystyrene sheet. It's literally the same type of plastic as the kits, i.e. the exact type of plastic those cements are designed for.

However, some plastic gaming minis these days are made of other plastics like vinyl or polyethylene, which don't react to the same solvents, so regular hobby solvent glues & cements don't work on them. Reaper Bones for example are some kind of vinyl. Also most prepainted figures as well.

In other words, if the two don't adhere, it'll be the figure's fault, not the sheet stock's. If you already know the cement works with your figures, then you're all good to go.

[6milPhil]

Test with with a bit of scrap sheet and some sprue.

[Philhelm]

Most model kits and plastic gaming figures (like GW stuff, for example) are made of polystyrene also. That's why hobby plastic sheet and stock (apart from the clear stuff sold for RC guys) is polystyrene: it's just a good plastic for that, and ensures max compatibility for exactly this sort of thing. So yes, your regular hobby liquid cement will work on the polystyrene sheet. It's literally the same type of plastic as the kits, i.e. the exact type of plastic those cements are designed for.

However, some plastic gaming minis these days are made of other plastics like vinyl or polyethylene, which don't react to the same solvents, so regular hobby solvent glues & cements don't work on them. Reaper Bones for example are some kind of vinyl. Also most prepainted figures as well.

In other words, if the two don't adhere, it'll be the figure's fault, not the sheet stock's. If you already know the cement works with your figures, then you're all good to go.

Thank you, that was informative.

[Billchuck]

It depends on where you got. The sheet. A lot of people use cheap "for sale" signs from diy stores, but sometimes those are vinyl instead of styrene.

The easy test is to put a drop of plastic glue on a scrap of each plastic. If the plastic gets soft and gloopy, then you're good to go. If one of them is unaffected, use superglue instead.