• Ships of Scale has incorportated an extra level of security when you log In. Please follow on-screen prompts to acknowledge that you are not a robot via a "Check Box" or a "Pictorial Check Box Puzzle". This is needed due to higher level of AI Activity Security.
  • SUBSCRIBE TO SHIPS IN SCALE TODAY!

    The beloved Ships in Scale Magazine is back and charting a new course for 2026!
    Discover new skills, new techniques, and new inspirations in every issue.

    NOTE THAT OUR NEXT ISSUE WILL BE July/August 2026
  • Win a Free Custom Engraved Brass Coin!!!
    As a way to introduce our brass coins to the community, we will raffle off a free coin during the month of August. Follow link ABOVE for instructions for entering.

Adhesive question?

The Professor

The Professor

Joined
Oct 13, 2025
Messages
3
Points
10
Location
Grass Valley California
I’m currently working on the Ulises tugboat. Since the hull is going to be waterproof for RC use, I will give it 2-3 coats of epoxy, then primer and paint. I would prefer gluing the rubbing strips on at the end in order to eliminate the tedious masking if I glue them on first to the raw wood hull. My question is..will CA glue adhere well enough or do I need to nail them on?
I am a detail nut and hate sloppy paint jobs, I prefer painting parts first. The rubbing strips are going to be stained and varnished first.
Thanks
 
I have not tried the technique but a friend reports that he successfully attached painted rub rails to a painted hull with CA glue. That was a display model. I would be a bit nervous on a boat that will be in the water because a wooden strip, even if well-sealed, will expand and contract with internal changes in moisture content and may loosen the glue joint. You could consider using plastic for the strips to eliminate that issue. Naturally, any hardware fastenings would help. Fair winds!
 
AndyA said:
I have not tried the technique but a friend reports that he successfully attached painted rub rails to a painted hull with CA glue. That was a display model. I would be a bit nervous on a boat that will be in the water because a wooden strip, even if well-sealed, will expand and contract with internal changes in moisture content and may loosen the glue joint. You could consider using plastic for the strips to eliminate that issue. Naturally, any hardware fastenings would help. Fair winds!
Click to expand...
 
Thank you for your advice. The RC part is new to me as I just built static models.
You brought up a good point. I’m going to glue it to the wood frame and then epoxy over it with three coats. It’s not going anywhere after that.
Cheers!
 
Gluing anything to a coat of paint is always a recipe for disaster, because the bond is only as good as the paint adhesion, regardless of the adhesive used.

Since you will be coating the entire thing with epoxy now, you can pre-stain the rub rail, but I wouldn't varnish it. Varnish serves only to protect the wood, and the epoxy will take care of that for you.

While the Ulises is a fictional representation of a 1960's ocean going tug, Occre shows the rub rails bright (varnished). Tugs were working boats whose job is to get up close and personal with other vessels, so I don't imagine many would have afforded the time to maintain brightwork. Some might actually paint the rub rail a contrasting color, but many just painted it the same color as the hull.

That said, unless you choose the last option, you will need to mask the rail. There are ways to do that with good results. Use a narrow automotive striping tape because it is flexible and has good tack. I assume you will be spraying color on her, so choose a clear coat that is compatible with the paint you will be using (acrylic for acrylic, lacquer for lacquer, etc.) and spray a couple of light coats along the edges of the masking to seal them so that your color doesn't bleed through.

Best of luck and please post some images - we'd love to see her.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top