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Athearn Genesis F3 Radiator Grill Fix

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  • Member since
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Athearn Genesis F3 Radiator Grill Fix
Posted by ATSFGuy on Thursday, August 2, 2018 6:20 PM

I have an ATHG Santa Fe F3 Freight Diesel in the Blue/Yellow Cigar Band Scheme. Runs great, but on the engineer's side the grill is starting to come off towards the cab entry door.

 

Can it go back on? If yes then what type of glue should I use to fix it with? Any of you had this problem before?

 

Thanks for your help

 

 

 

  • Member since
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  • From: Shenandoah Valley
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Posted by BigDaddy on Thursday, August 2, 2018 6:52 PM

If the grills are metal, CA, if styrene, one of your favorite styrene cements, I'm a bondene guy.

Don't make a mess with too much cement.  Use a little bit on a microbrush or a straight pin or toothpick.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
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Posted by gmpullman on Thursday, August 2, 2018 7:09 PM

Hi,

Manufacturers have been challenged trying to keep these thin, etched metal parts from coming "unstuck" like yours has. They expand and contract at different rates than the plastic and become detached or they buckle when the bond does not "give".

I have had success with Formula 560 Canopy Cement. It dries clear and stays flexible. As Henry noted above, use a pin or very sharp tooth pick and only apply tiny dabs.

https://www.horizonhobby.com/zap-formula-560-canopy-glue-paapt56

Lately I've been using this tacky cement for things like this as well.

http://www.loctiteproducts.com/p/go2_glue/overview/Go2-Glue.htm

Loctite GO2 Glue.

In my experience, trying to use ACC type cement can be frustrating and sometimes will leave a fogged finish on the painted surface. Styrene cement won't hold the etched steel very well.

Good luck, Ed

Moderator
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  • From: Northeast OH
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Posted by tstage on Thursday, August 2, 2018 10:05 PM

Thanks for the above suggestions and links, Ed. Yes

I recently installed some KV Models etched-metal detail parts on a Stewart VO-660 switcher.  I tried CA but it didn't hold particularly well, as the grill popped back off with only slight pressure from the inside of the shell - even after 24 hours.  I then tried Gorilla 2-part 5-min. epoxy with much better success.

Course it will dry more rigid than the canopy cement.  It's also a little more challenging to apply evenly so that you don't add either too little (and not get enough surface adhesion)...or too much (and have epoxy ooze onto the paint surface.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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  • From: Canada, eh?
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Posted by doctorwayne on Friday, August 3, 2018 1:38 AM

Contact cement, applied sparingly  and following the manufacturer's directions, works well, and stands up to handling and temperature variations...

Wayne

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Posted by ATSFGuy on Friday, August 3, 2018 2:49 PM

So Formula 560 Canopy Cement is my best bet then?

 

After applying the glue in small amounts where it's needed, shall I lay the locomotive on it's side so the cement can dry?

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Posted by mlehman on Sunday, August 5, 2018 1:24 PM

I'm with Wayne on sparingly using contact cement. In fact, I've made this very repair on a few of mine with it.

The question you ask is the difference. You can let the 560 dry some and it will act a little like contact, but it will need to be held in position until set. That's rather more hard with a piece of screen wire

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

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    November 2015
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Posted by ATSFGuy on Sunday, August 5, 2018 1:47 PM

Testors Glue would not hold in a sreen in too well?   A 1.05 tube of Contact Cement is the one to use?

 

 

 

 

 

 

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