So I got my Rebel Aces this afternoon and my son promptly bent one of the guns on the B-wing. It did not break off but I can tell that it is barely hanging on. I have the same issue with a CR-90 gun but I didn't worry too much about that one because it does not get used often.

I don't have any modeling experience so I am unsure what the best way to go about trying to fix it. Is there something I can put around the crack to reinforce it? Break it off and reattach it? What type of glue?

Anyway, any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

I'd try a dab of superglue on the end of a cocktail stick if it was mine- but I've not had reasons to need to fix anything yet so maybe others have better advice

I think they are plastic so you want a type of glue called polycement, it melted and bonds plastic together.

However if they are resin you'd want superglue which will seep in to the material and form a strong bond.

We need the input of a converter.

^ Seconded. I believe they're regular plastic, so I'd go with the first option. I strongly recommend Testors model cement. I've been using it for over two decades, and it's never done me wrong.

Thanks for the suggestions. I completely forgot about plastic cement. I haven't built a model since grade school.

Will the polycement wreck the paint? It is a secondary concern but I'd like to avoid that if at all possible.

B-Wing funeral pire time

Seriously though, you'd be best to cut of the gun with a pair of side cutters then glue it back on.

Less glue the better.

Cut it off though. Don't pull it off as you could tear the plastic.

If you use too much glue it will bulge, don't let it dry like that, wipe the excess of with a paper towel or tissue.

Hope that helps some

Thanks for the suggestions. I completely forgot about plastic cement. I haven't built a model since grade school.

Will the polycement wreck the paint? It is a secondary concern but I'd like to avoid that if at all possible.

Shouldn't be a problem if you use it sparingly. A little goes a long way. I'd suggest using a toothpick to apply it, especially if you whittle it down to a point first.

Seriously though, you'd be best to cut of the gun with a pair of side cutters then glue it back on.

Less glue the better.

Cut it off though. Don't pull it off as you could tear the plastic.

If you use too much glue it will bulge, don't let it dry like that, wipe the excess of with a paper towel or tissue.

Hope that helps some

I am no expert, but cutting it with sidecutters seems like a bad idea. I feel like it is pretty likely to just pinch the plastic and make it really hard to glue. Exacto knife sure, but sidecutters seems risky.

What I do know is that with extremely small parts such as this, I've always found the bond to be worse gluing 2 parts together than when I just apply glue where I am able and push the loosely connected part back into place until it bonds.

I've been painting a B and I literally drop the model every 16th minute of painting, I've broken both side guns at different points and superglue has worked on both with no issues. There was no clumping or discoloration, even with semi wet paint on each side. I use the loctite with the blue cap.

Most types of glue for plastics should be fine. I'd suggest making a clean cut with an Xacto and sanding down points of contact to allow for the glue to get a better hold.

The first thing I did when I bought my B-Wing was break the curved piece of the stand ... I used a pin vice and BSI's Instacure cyanoacrylate, ie: plastic superglue. No discolouration or wacky reactions with the plastic.

I would recommend a pin vice, but as you say you're an inexperienced modeler there's no reason for you to run out and get one.

I would echo some of the comments so far..

Just be careful and slowly bend it back straight, if it breaks use some super glue it will work fine. if it doesn't break, still use a little and apply with a toothpick or similar small item and apply to the bent area it will strengthen it.

Any plastic parts that are bent will probably bend back fairly well, you just have to be patient and do it slowly.

if you do have to cut it.. say it breaks and the bend is on the one side or the other. Cut with an xacto knife beyond the bend and then clean up the other side as well then score those ends a little to let the glue have a place to really grab on to. then apply the glue let it get tacky then press them together. this should create a good bondsmooth out the sides as needed. Use a toothpick or flat tool.

hope that helps some

I didn't get a chance to post yesterday but I wanted to thank everybody for their help.

I didn't cut it off though. Given my experience and the suggestions here, I went the simpler route. I just used some superglue around the bend/crack. I have to say it worked very well. It seems to stiffer than I thought it would be.

Thanks again and this thread can sink back into the abyss.