Models Without Locator/Alignment Pins/Holes

[Joe]

Gents!

I recently received 2 models that were not manufactured with locator pins/holes. I am wondering how to deal with this. How can can someone glue two fusalge halves together accurately without them? I can see myself trying to align the front and back trying to get that perfect fit all the while getting glue all over the plastic parts.

Any advice on how to deal with this?

Thanks guys!
Joe

[MarkVerploeg]

I tend to line them up by eye
you could use some styrene and glue it in one of the parts in several places to make it line up
i did that with some Miniart buildings and it works
but both sides have to be equally thick for that to work

If you do it by eye make sure you use a slow drying glue/cement so you have enough time to get the parts in their place and make any corrections if needed

[Stokesy44]

Sometimes you're better off without them as they don't always line up properly and can be a real PITA!

[Backfire22]

A few kits are this way, MPM HE-177 for example. I cut rectangles of plastic card stock and glue to one side, let dry and when I am ready, glue the other half together to the first half.

[wookiee76]

I use tape to hold fuselage halves in place before gluing them.

[galileo1]

I actually prefer them without locator pins. They make it a nightmare at times to get everything lined up properly. I remove them from pretty much every kit I build. I then use TET to glue one small bit at a time. Works good for me.

[Joe]

Thanks guys- Using your advise I got the forward fuselage glued together quite well. Hopefully the rear will go just as well. I might post pictures if I actually pull this off!

Thanks again!

Joe

[Stokesy44]

Sometimes you're better off without them as they don't always line up properly and can be a real PITA!

Completely agree. They also sometimes create gaps as well as being badly placed! Mark 1 eyeball much better