Instant gel glue (20g)

Most super glues are runny and a bit temperamental to work with. Not this one. The gel is thick enough to stay where you put it, which makes it forgiving when your surfaces don't quite meet flush. A little goes a long way, and you get time to nudge things into place before it sets.

This product is a cyanoacrylate adhesive (CA glue, or super glue as most people call it) in gel form. The liquid version wicks into the joint on its own and suits parts that fit tightly together. The gel does the opposite: it doesn't run, but fills small gaps and uneven joins. It works especially well on resin, cork, wood and other porous materials, though it bites just as happily into plastic and metal. Working time (the window in which you can still adjust the parts after applying) is roughly 5–10 seconds, depending on the material.

A good all-rounder, in other words, whether you're building dioramas, assembling miniatures or fixing something that's broken at home. It's the glue we reach for first ourselves. A bottle lasts surprisingly long. Several of us have had the same one going for months without the nozzle clogging up.

Note: avoid using super glue to fix clear plastic that will be on show, for example when fitting plastic-film "window panes" to a diorama or model house. It bonds well enough, but it can leave the plastic looking fogged (yep, we at Hobnobbit have been caught out by this ourselves!).

Making the bottle last

CA glue is sensitive to moisture and heat. Wipe the tip after every use and screw the cap on properly. Store the bottle somewhere cool.

A quick word on safety

Cyanoacrylate gives off fumes as it cures and bonds to skin in an instant. Work in a well-ventilated area, avoid contact with skin and eyes, and keep the glue out of reach of children. Once cured, it can be sanded with fine-grit sandpaper, which is handy for tidying up excess from a visible join.

Contents: 20 g CA glue (gel).