Model Train Scenery Building: Tips for Easy CA and Epoxy

As modelers, we use a lot of cyanoacrylate glue that's otherwise known as CA or sometimes ACC. We also use a lot of two-part epoxy. I've got a couple of tips here that'll make working with CA and eproxy just a little bit easier. Now, normally, if you're gonna apply CA to your model, the last thing you wanna do is apply it directly from the bottle. Because of course, you may get a giant drip coming out of that bottle and it could ruin your model.

So, at that point, it's time to turn to Pringles. And I'm not talking about eating them. I'm talking about using the lid from Pringles. Pringles lids are great because they're flexible plastic. What you can do is simply put that down.

Put a drop or two of your CA into your Pringles lid. And then use something like a toothpick or something to get just exactly the right amount of CA that you want to put it onto your model. Spread it on your model that way. This way you don't have to worry about a great big drip of CA coming out and ruining things. In addition, you can use these same kind of lids to mix your two-part epoxy.

Just put your equal parts of your two-part epoxy into your Pringles lid. Mix it up with a toothpick or a Popsicle stick or something. And you've got a great place to dispense your epoxy from. And again, you can use a toothpick to get exactly the amount that you need onto your model. What's wonderful about these types of Pringles lids are once you have used them, and they're full of dried glue, it's easy enough to just pick off all of that dried glue and wind up by reusing these again and again and again.

So you're being a bit of a environmentally responsible by repurposing your Pringles lid. And again, it doesn't have to be Pringles. If you're a coffee drinker, you can use lids from a coffee can or something like that. As long as it's this flexible plastic. Now, we were talking a second ago about using toothpicks.

As you probably know, micro brushes are great for applying both CA and epoxy to your model. The problem is once you've used them for CA or epoxy and that epoxy or CA is hardened on the tip, you might as well throw them away because they're useless. Well, actually, they're not. Because all you have to do is just take the tip of them. Hold onto the tip and twist the tip right off of the micro brush.

And what you've got left is a nice toothpick size glue applicator that you can use to put your CA or your epoxy onto your model. What's nice about these is that you can use an exacto knife or a hobby knife to pair down the shape of these micro brushes and get them very, very thin, if you just need to apply a teeny bit of glue to an area. Plus once the CA or epoxy hardens on the end of these micro brushes, it's easy enough to either a pick it off or just scrape it off with a hobby knife. Another great way of working with CA or epoxy is by using these coffee creamers that you often get when you go to Caribou or Starbucks or any other coffee place like that. Be sure to save these.

Not only are they handy for CA and epoxy as you'll see in a minute. But they're wonderful for mixing small batches of paint in. Just put your paint in there, dilute it. Mix your colors in there, mix it up with a Popsicle stick again or a toothpick or a micro brush or repurposed micro brush. And they're a great place for paint.

But you can use them, obviously for two-part epoxy, putting both of your parts of your epoxy into the little creamer, mixing it up in there. And again, using your repurposed micro brush to dispense exactly the amount of epoxy that you need. However, you can also use them for CA. And it's as easy as literally turning them over and putting a few drops of your CA on the bottom of the creamer. Bottom of the creamer here is a little bit convex.

And then using your toothpick or your repurposed micro brush and applying exactly the amount of CA that you need to your model. Last and certainly not least, as a tried and true method of applying CA and that's to use a shot glass. You don't put the CA in the shot glass. What you do is you turn the shot glass over. And put your drop of CA on the top of it.

Like so, and then use your repurpose micro brush to apply exactly the amount of CA that you need. And again, because the bottom of the shot glass is a bit convex or concave, I mean, you have a real nice little well for your CA. So, those are some ways that you can work with CA or epoxy that make it a bit easier and make you more environmentally responsible. Because you're repurposing materials that you'd otherwise throw away.