Activity › Forums › Community Support for Troubleshooting Model Trains › Repairing Models | Techniques for Restoring Model Trains › Restoring Cracked Shells & Brittle Plastics, Your Go-To Fixes? › Reply To: Restoring Cracked Shells & Brittle Plastics, Your Go-To Fixes?
Restoring old models can be just as satisfying as building new ones!
I recently brought back a cracked Athearn Blue Box F7 shell that had seen better days. The plastic was brittle, and one of the side panels had a full split. What saved it? Plastruct Plastic Weld—it chemically bonds styrene parts, so the fix was clean and strong. I backed the inside with a thin piece of styrene sheet for extra strength and sanded it down smooth.
For missing or chipped detail, Tamiya epoxy putty has been a lifesaver. It’s moldable, easy to sand once cured, and takes paint well.
One trick I picked up from another modeler: use UV resin (like the kind for 3D prints or nail art) to reinforce inside corners or tabs. Cures instantly with a UV light and adds surprising durability.
As for paint touch-ups on old shells, I try to match weathering rather than a pristine finish—it helps hide imperfections and tells a more authentic story.
Would love to hear others’ go-to glues and patch-up methods. Let’s bring those beauties back to life!