Review of Mr.Cement S - A new way of applying glue

When gluing two plastic parts together, I had always followed what I presumed to be an infallible and sacrosanct way which involved placing glue on one part, followed by pressing both parts together until the glue took hold. Simple right? Other than adding baking soda to the mix for an extra strong bond, I didn't realise there was any other method of applying glue until now. For all you experienced modellers out there this glue wouldn't exactly be breaking news. But if like me you have been stuck in a rut with same old, same old ways of doing things, this will be a welcome breath of fresh air. 

Mr. Cement S, an extra thin glue from Mr. Hobby

So just what is this new way of applying glue? Well, the science behind this method is capillary action which is the ability of a liquid to flow in narrow spaces without the assistance of or even in opposition to gravity. Used for plastic models, the Mr. Cement S is an extremely thin glue whose viscosity allows it to seep into small openings in between parts that are already assembled. It's also dilute enough that it evaporates quickly and without trace, provided you apply a thin enough layer in the first place. This glue is from the Japanese company GSI Creos under its Mr. Hobby product line.

A natural slit occurring after two parts are assembled, in this case snap-fitted together

Mr. Hobby's glue applicator conveniently attached to the cover. It allows for the application of thin layers of glue on the surface of a plastic part. A word of caution! In hot weather conditions (coupled with the ceiling fan blowing at high speeds), the glue tends to evaporate quickly from the bottle if the cover is left open too long. Keep that in mind when working with the Mr. Cement S.

Cover contains a fine brush applicator for the thin glue

Use the applicator to brush on a thin layer of glue along the slit/crack/small opening between parts that you want glued. As mentioned earlier, if you apply a thin enough layer of glue some will enter the small openings to bind the parts together while the rest will evaporate from the surface without much of a trace. This glue is especially appropriate for use on snap-fit plastic model kits. My personal preferred way of working is to first assemble a particular section of a model; look for areas where there are cracks/slits showing or look for areas which may need strengthening after assembly; and then apply the glue. The order goes something like this - assemble one section; glue; assemble another section; glue some more; repeat until the whole model is complete.    

When dry, the slit is glued together with no traces of the glue on the surface

Below is a YouTube video of the actual process of using the extra thin Mr Cement S plastic glue. Please remember to select the HD option for the best possible view of the video.

This glue has become a firm favourite in my arsenal of hobby accessories. If you can't find this brand in your local stores, an alternative would be the Tamiya Extra Thin Cement. And due to its quick evaporating characteristics, please stay safe and work in a well ventilated area. We wouldn't want to get high from sniffing glue now would we. Working with models is all the high we need. Right?