Repairing a raised baseplate

[marshall]

I was recently given the baseplate from 6081/6086, but it has a 3-ince crack along the inside of the ramp (the crease between the ramp and the side of the mountain). the crack is very clean, so that when you hold it together you can't even see it. Has anyone had success repairing something like this, without it being too noticeable? I was thinking of using some combination of glue and a flexible backing material on the underside of the baseplate. Any tips would be appreciated.

[naf]

If it's a clean crack, you could probably put some super glue on the crack with a toothpick, smoosh the crack closed, and then wipe the glue off of the visible side of the baseplate. You can put some more glue along the crack on the non-visible side to give it strength. I haven't done this with baseplates, but I have with other models with a similar plastic.

[Faefrost]

The baseplates are made of styrene, So the liquid type model cements that bond Styrene by fusing it, not simply gluing it, will work. Use a miniscule amount on a hobby brush. Line up the crack so it is flush and where you want it, and just touch the brush to one end of the crack and let the glue wick along it via capilary action. Be very very sparring, as it can melt the plastic if you over apply it. It will fuse the styrene back to a solid piece like it had not been broken. Apply it from the bottom side so you don't risk damaging the printing.

[Peppermint_M]

Masking tape also works well to keep the crack together and prevent glue escaping when doing the repairs.

[Bamos]

Styrene bonds well with model railroad cements such as plastruct model cement or some MEK which is the same.Just put the crack together and apply the cement from the back. Dont use tape on the crack as the liquid cement will creep under the tape and damadge the plastic.

Bill