The best bonding adhesive?

[athaprime]

In "How to build realistic model scenary" by Dave Frary, the author mentions the use of Acrylic Matte Medium bonding spray as part of his water soluable method of building scenary. Just what the heck is matte medium? I went to my local home centre and couldn't find the stuff. What brand names would "matte medium" be sold under? What exactly is "matte medium"? Could another solution be substituted like a 50/50 mix of white glue and water?

[Anonymous]

Possible two sources.
On this home page click on model trains and scroll all the way down to "What you need to know about adhesives".
Check out MR April 2002 edition,"ABCs of adhesives".

[Anonymous]

Try an artsy-craftsy store rather than a home center. It's used for that kind of stuff, just what I'm not sure. Look around while you're in there, you'll get all kinds of ideas.

[Anonymous]

You can buy acrylic matt medium (flat or glossy) at Michaels and other art/craft supply stores. Many - but not all - WalMarts also carry it in their crafts department.

You can mailorder it from Scenic Express (1-800-234-9995 www.scenicexpress.com). They have it in "ready-to-spray" solutions for $4.98 to $20.98, depending on amount ordered. They also have it in concentrated solutions (needs to be diluted) for $8.98 to $53.98, depending on amount ordered.

For most uses, you will want the flat variety, although the glossy works well when modeling water or touching up/refurbishing modeled streams and ponds.

[snowey]

"Acrlyic matte medium" & "Acrylic gloss medium" are a thick, white substance that's like the paste you used to use in school. It comes in a jar, and is used by artists to mix with paint to spread it further.

[BR60103]

Woodland Scenics sells bottles of Matte Medium through your hobby shop. They also provide a sprayer that screw onto the bottle.
Art supply stores sell it as well, but I only found very small bottles at a hefty price.
(Matte medium is probably used for putting a dull finish on or is used to mix with pigment to make a flat paint. There is also a gloss medium that can be used for wet surfaces.)
Clean the sprayer as soon as possible after you use it or you will never use it again!
--david