Michigan Toy Soldier Tricky Stick A Review collectors have been hearing about this new product. It solves the problem of bonding soft plastic. Bill Nevins decide to try it and gives us a report
Michigan Toy Soldier Tricky Stick A Review Bill’s Review
Curiosity got the better of me and I broke down and ordered the new Michigan Toy Soldier product, Tricky Stick. This is the liquid that allows soft plastic to be bonded by super glue. It’s expensive. A small bottle was 13.99 plus 6.80 to ship.
Michigan Toy Soldier Tricky Stick A Review the Results
So how did it work?
Well, I followed the directions and applied the product to both the bodies and heads, on the figures pictured below. AIP figures were used because of the slick surface of the plastic used to make these figures. I wanted to make some solid color British Legion AWI Cavalry Dragoons. The AIP Loyalists were used because green was the British Legion uniform color. I cut the heads off of some AIP Kings Legion Artillery crews from the Nap Wars period. It’s the same headgear. Perfect, except for the blue color.
As an aside, Al Striano and I begged Tony to use plug in heads for his AWI cavalry. But that’s a story for another time.
Back to the subject at hand.
I let it dry, which happens in seconds, and then applied a second, coat just to be sure. I’ve been fooled before by products claiming to bond soft plastic.
I picked up one rider and placed a drop of super glue on his neck. I took the blue head and held it to the green neck of the figure. You don’t have much set up time, here. I kept the pressure on for about a minute and then let go.
For now, it was holding fine. There was no pinning involved.
I repeated the process on the remaining riders and put them down to dry.
About an hour later, I tested the joints and was pleasantly surprised to find that there was a nice secure bond on every figure.
The stuff really works!!!
This is a convertors dream glue prep!
A few points.
This isn’t a glue.
What it does is enhance Super Glue.
So, if you use cheapo, 3 for a buck, tube super glue from the Dollar Store, don’t expect good solid joints.
Use Loctite Professional Super Glue or an equivalent. It makes all the difference. Use the cheap stuff on hard plastics and metals.
Michigan Toy Soldier Tricky Stick A Review Final Comments
Even after this experiment, I will still continue to pin parts.
Why?
Because It just makes a stronger joint.
I use my figures and they get tossed around a bit.
I don’t want to have to repair a figure everytime I drop it.
However, you don’t need to use anything heavy. A paper clip is fine.
In fact, you don’t NEED to pin. For me, it’s double protection against breakage.
Use of a pin also helps guide you to the spot where you want the join to be.
As I mentioned, you don’t get a lot of set up time. A pin is handy, here.
Here’s a few more examples.
ACW PIC/SHOPKEEPER PIC
7 th CavalrymenPIC
OK, that’s my review. I’m SOLD.Your mileage may vary…….
Interesting and informative – thanks. There seem to be products like this coming onto the market now, making various claims as to what they will do – nice to see one which works. Are you OK if I mention this review in my Plastic News column in Toy Soldier Collector – credited to you and Paul’s Blog of course?
I use ordinary superglue, usually with an accelerator because I am impatient, and I too always pin, using 40 thou brass wire. I pre-drill, after experiencing some splitting problems with figures were I had just forced the wire into the plastic.
I have found a useful superglue product here in the UK which I will send details of to Paul to publish if he wishes, which serves the extra purpose of filling as well as glueing.
Mike fine with me, but see what Paul wants to do first.
Thanks Bill, will do.
Mike, I would not use an accelerator with this until I tried it a few times. The product claims to enhance superglue. And as I mentioned, you don’t get much set up time.
The accelerator may interfere with the product. Just a thought.
Thanks for the warning Bill – I don’t want an explosion! I will try to get some of this from MTS (p&p permitting) to review for TSC.
I used to use nail glue (for fake finger nails), it works really good on soft plastic. Not to mention it is dirt cheap. I have repaired numerous figures with it. It also works on metal figures. I repaired a Marx Matt Dillon figure with it. You can’t tell the figure was repaired. It looks brand new. I bought the figure and when I got in the mail, it was fine, I took it out, and started to inspect it, and it snapped on the left calf of the figure. I could have sent the figure back, but it was a clean break, I put a little nail glue on the bottom portion of the break, and joined the separated parts together, you couldn’t see the join. I looked with a magnifying glass of at least 4x’s power. You may want to give it a try, could save you a lot of money.
Gorilla glue for plastic, with a lock tight pre glue wiper pen, very solid on just about any plastic. Gorilla glue 15g, $2.50 ish, locktight glue & pen about the same and the pen will last out about three bottles of glue. Sometimes I put a small plastic peg in, but never really had a problem.