Inviting knowledge from the hive mind...

My stepson has inherited this model of the Supermarine seaplane:



Unfortunately, the float strut has become detached from the fuselage:



I have rashly said I will try to repair it, but how? The model is made of metal, not sure what sort. It doesn't feel heavy enough for white metal. I would like to try and mend it as unobtrusively as possible, so my cackhandedness where soldering is concerned rules that out, even if I could guarantee the metal would take solder. So that really leaves glue. Epoxy would look awful and I don't think superglue would be man enough for it. There must be something out there that sticks metal and looks like metal.

All suggestions gratefully received.

Cheers,

Chris

Has that whole right wing been broken off at the root and soldered back in place?  Does the other side look the same? Seems odd to have a gap between the strut and the fusilage, can it be bent back in to place before gluing?

I would use epoxy, but really that gap needs closing up first.  Try and apply the epoxy so that the bulk of any excess is below and behind where less visible.

Another possibility might be repair putty which I'm sure I've seen in grey, possibly even with a slightly metallic look.

This kind off stuff (shop around, there are several types available)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Weld-8267-SteelStik-Reinforced-Stick-2/dp/B00RN7CT2U/ref=asc_df_B00RN7CT2U

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll probably go for something like that.

The join between wing and fuselage is the same the other side. I can't tell if it is soldered or a weld. The strut will go back in place easily - the other one is slightly loose and the float can be rotated a few mm. It's not obvious how the broken strut was originally fixed.

Cheers,

Chris

Let's know how you go!

Quote from: Papyrus on Yesterday at 09:05:07 PMThe join between wing and fuselage is the same the other side. I can't tell if it is soldered or a weld.

If it's pewter then silver soldering is somewhere between the two - bit like brazing. You can fix up pewter a bit but it's not easy. The joints are ok - you can simply add solder (silver solder) with a low temperature iron and then spend ages sanding and wirewooling it down smooth but dents are another matter alas.

Chris

Looks like there a few great glues around for your job. Personally, I'd have a go with the thick, slower setting, gap filling grade of superglue if you have any sitting around. As for paint, it looks like the colour of Humbrol #11 enamel which is a dull metallic grey.

Webbo 

Ah yes, thank you @EtchedPixels , it probably is pewter, I hadn't considered that. I'm not going to start learning silver soldering now, especially on a family heirloom, so I'll try various glues on some scrap metal to start with.

Cheers,

Chris

Quote from: Papyrus on Today at 08:12:43 AMAh yes, thank you @EtchedPixels , it probably is pewter, I hadn't considered that. I'm not going to start learning silver soldering now, especially on a family heirloom, so I'll try various glues on some scrap metal to start with.

Cheers,

Chris

There are people in the jewellery trade who will be able to do it for you depending upon how much you want it done properly.

Quote from: EtchedPixels on Yesterday at 10:16:44 PMIf it's pewter then silver soldering is somewhere between the two - bit like brazing.

Ahem. Melting point of pewter - 170-230°C. Melting point of silver solder - 600-700°C.

Quote from: Jim Easterbrook on Today at 02:17:26 PM

Quote from: EtchedPixels on Yesterday at 10:16:44 PMIf it's pewter then silver soldering is somewhere between the two - bit like brazing.

Ahem. Melting point of pewter - 170-230°C. Melting point of silver solder - 600-700°C.

Fair point. It seems to get called silver soldering even though it's not actually silver solder

That settles it. I'm not going anywhere near soldering!

Apart from anything else, stepson #2 is a notorious tightwad who would never cough up for a professional repair. I'll be lucky if he buys the glue.

Cheers,

Chris