"White Glue to fill seams?" Topic

Can you use white glue (PVA) to fill small seams in an otherwise solidly constructed model.

I used a regular plastic glue to adhere the plastic parts (Citadel Wood trunks/branches here), then filled the gaps with ZapaGap a few days later. The ZapaGap is expensive and didn't fill in adequately. I don't want to take another pass with it but wonder if PVA would work here. I'd rather create a small ridge than leave these shallow cuts visible. These trees will later be primed and painted.

I think it would contract too much.

A cheap wall plaster/filler found at Home Depot type stores would work.

Milliput.

I've used Tacky glue successfully. Use just a dab more than you think you need. It should shrink-back just a smidgen and be level with the surface area.

I have tried ready mixed joint compound on a few figures and it seems to work well. Fill space in, let dry and sand or file it to shape.

Automotive glazing compound works well, it is a thin orange/red putty that comes in several sized tubes at auto parts stores. Be sure to shake up, as it settles out if on the shelf a long time. Shrinks slightly, figure on two applications sands readily and evenly with styrene plastic.

PVA is ok to use but before you fill pour some out let it dry out for an hou or two to get tacky

PVA (or white glue if you prefer) can be used as a gap filler.

Two main problems:
1) Shrinkage, as the glue looses water and cures, the volume of the glue is greatly reduced. One can add a filler to bulk up the glue, this will also make it stiffer and perhaps more controllable. I suggest talcum power, but other fine powders that do not dissolve in water will work.

2) PVA does not stick well to plastic. Now if the plastic is painter with a matte finish, that will help.

But since you have tried AC (your Zap-A-Gap), I suggest this:
Fill the gap with baking soda and then fix with the AC.
Or put in some AC and then pack in some baking soda as shown in this video:
YouTube link
About minute 5

I may still have to do a batch with talc too. This all makes for good blog material and so you have an idea of what I'm working with:

link

Maybe Acrylic Modelling Gel. It is a very useful product for all sorts of things.

That would be a Milliput or green stuff job in my mind.

Vallejo Plastic Putty.

PVA works, but if you have excess and scrape some away, you may end up removing the entire piece.

I frequently use PVA for basing, assembly, and holding the model to bottles for painting, but prefer putty and epoxy as fillers.