Nose weight problem

[van883]

For years I have poured a mix of pva glue and lead shot into the nose of a model and within 24 hours it has set. Strangely 48 hours later the glue in the nose of my Canberra is still runny. AAARGH! what has gone wrong?

Van

[kitnut617]

Probably got a cold  ----         

[sandiego89]

Could be out of date?  Many glues loose their effectivness if they have been opened too long.  Even if it is still comes out of the tube OK it may be bad.  Change in color or smell are good indicators it is time to buy a new tube. 

[PR19_Kit]

Squirt some superglue in on top of the PVA, I've had the same problem a few times and that solution works a treat.

[rickshaw]

Having read the horror stories of super-glue and lead weights, a couple of years ago I adopted the method of first wrapping my lead weights (fishing sinkers) in Tamiya masking tape and then fixing them in place with some more tape and then covering the lot in PVA glue.  It sound more complex than it actually is.   I've never had a the problem of PVA glue remaining "runny" though, unless I've used a _lot_ and then I've just waited a day or so  until it's dry.  I tend to use bar sinkers rather than spherical ones, it makes the wrapping easier.   

[PR19_Kit]

WHAT horror stories? 

I've never heard them, and it sounds as if I should!

[rickshaw]

I've read a couple on other sites.  Here is one, Kit - http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234936857-exploding-nose-weights/

[Weaver]

I use a stuff that the model shop in Macclesfield sells called Fluid Steel. It's basically 2mm steel (NOT lead) balls: like "Liquid Gravity" but coarser and cheaper. I then fit the stuff by either coating it in PVA or pushing it into Blu-tack blobs as appropriate.

[PR19_Kit]

Ahah, thanks for that, but I think I'll be OK. I use that lead substitute that anglers use these days, there being an angling shop about 25 yards away. 

[Librarian]

Squirt some superglue in on top of the PVA, I've had the same problem a few times and that solution works a treat.

I concur...superglue is absolutely tops.

Have you tried the lead strip they sell in Aquaria shops. Fits in the most awkward shapes, holes etc. Follows fuselage curves. Just brilliant.

[Father Ennis]

I used to collect and shoot black powder guns and I still have lots of balls left. I use the balls and the few bullets I have as nose weights. I also have a quantity of shot for sling shots which donkey small. I prefer to use 5-minute epoxy to keep things in place. This keeps me from doing too much cleaning of the shot as well as it makes it a solid mass. Only problem I've ever had was when I used some 54cal. Minnie balls(bullets) to flex the suspension of my Panzer I tank. I used modeling clay to keep them in and over the passage of time they crushed the suspension from overweight.