What glues can I use to assemble a Metcalfe Card kit?

There are a number of glue options that are available to a modeller when assembling a Metcalfe Card kit. Each glue has unique characteristics that will make them more suitable to certain projects but less useful for others. One important issue for card kit modellers is that card as a medium is not as strong as other mediums such as styrene, wood or resin and so can be subject to warping by certain glues during the drying/curing process. Ordinary Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA) glues can be slow to dry and can lead to the warping of card models during the drying process. That said there are specialist modellers PVA glues designed specifically for models such as Speed Bond. This dries quickly and clear so there is no visible residue on any joints.

UHU Solvent-free all-purpose adhesive is also another good option for building card model kits. This glue is low-odour and so is ideal for use on large, time-consuming projects. UHU is also relatively fast-drying and is clear. Excess glue can be cleaned up by careful use of acetone.

Another popular adhesive is Roket Card Glue. Of all the options discussed this will offer the quickest drying time. This could be important for modellers who wish to build a model quickly or build a number of models in a short period of time. One other significant advantage of using Roket is that it will enable card to be bonded to a wide variety of other materials including most plastics, balsawood, resin and metal. It is however generally the most expensive option of those discussed.