Attaching figures to sidewalks and other finished surfaces - recommendations please.

Plain white Elmers glue has served my people well for years.

For most of the totally smooth surfaces, I have carefully filed the bottoms of their feet so that they will stand by themselves. That trick sometimes also works for rougher surfaces, but when it didn't. I applied a VERY small bit of Walther's Goo, with a toothpick, to the bottoms of their feet.

hot glue gun - use sparingly

Aileen's (sp?) Tacky Glue

Beacon Quick Grip.. This is a fast drying contact cement. It is thick and very tacky I use a toothpick to apply to the feet and it dries clear. If you want to move the people later it will come right off. It is sold at Walmart in the craft section.

I would guess that having a stiff wire or nail drill into the figure and protruding into the layout might work?

I haven't tried it. Just thinking out loud.

The Woodland (Scenics) folks offer this specifically for the task you're enquiring about...

A small dab on the figure bottom, let it dry until it's clear (to achieve its tackiness), place the figure, done.  Figure can be re-located.  Doesn't typically mar surfaces, but when in doubt, try it in an obscure location. 

BTW....works great for other needs....like attaching clear films to the inside of windows on structures.  Same technique....a few dab/dots of glue, let dry to clear, press in place.

FWIW, always...

KD

This also works very affectively for figures you'll be repositioning occasionally.

Bob

Good old Walthers Goo. No need to re-invent the wheel, so to speak.

I bought this Quick-Stick Removable Adhesive Wax from Scenic Express last week at York.  I haven't used it yet, but the display said it doesn't mar the surfaces.

I drill up one leg with a 0.75 mm drill and CA glue in an HO track pin.  A 0.75 mm hole in the layout is unnoticeable if you have to move the figure later.  It also allows some rotation.

I also use Mini-Hold removable wax.  Just put a little on the bottom of each foot (of the figure), then you don't have to worry about filing, or what the texture of the surface is.  And...you can re-position the figures very easily.  It comes right off the surface if you don't want the figure there anymore. 

I second Ailenes tacky glue, have used for years and it works great. 

Dave

Because my grandchildren like to move the people on my layout around, I cut small pieces of clear plastic as stands and glue the figures to the plastic.  I use a small dab of rubber glue that dries clear.

Moon posted:

Because my grandchildren like to move the people on my layout around, I cut small pieces of clear plastic as stands and glue the figures to the plastic.  I use a small dab of rubber glue that dries clear.

I use clear plastic used in a laminating machine and glue them with Harbor Freight super glue.

Mark Boyce posted:

I bought this Quick-Stick Removable Adhesive Wax from Scenic Express last week at York.  I haven't used it yet, but the display said it doesn't mar the surfaces.

Mark, it works great. I’ve been using for years. Good choice. 

I'm glad to hear that, Ed. Thank you,

And yet one more to the many great ideas above... Department 56 Tacky Wax.

flanger posted:

This also works very affectively for figures you'll be repositioning occasionally.

Bob

 

That's all I've ever used. A few other waxes I've tried are too thin. The "acid test" for me is the Arttista man running to catch a train. He only has one foot on the ground, and he hasn't fallen over after 10 years.

Joe, did he ever catch the train  ?

I have had good luck using fun tac. Scotch mounting putty is the latest version.

Museum Wax is yet another alternative.

Rubber cement would be great for an even surface and a plastic figure (a metal one, if uneven, might still slowly fall over). You can remove it pretty easy, especially from plastic bases if you move the figure later.

Frank E. Crawford posted:

Joe, did he ever catch the train  ?

Not sure what he does when I'm not in the room. Other than that, no.

Thanks for all the tips guys. I'll try several of the products mentioned.  Mini-Hold wax sounds very  interesting.  If it can keep an Arttista man in place  running on one leg for 10 years it's got to be pretty good.  I've also ordered Woodland Scenics Accents Glue.   I'm hosting the DC area O scalers group next month and am working 8+ hours a day on the layout to get the Tyrone, PA town scene ready for show time.  Pictures to follow.

Sounds great, Ed!

RTV works well, as does hot glue.

Avanti posted:

RTV works well, as does hot glue.

If you want it to stay there until the end of time, yeah. But that's not what the OP was asking about:

I'd prefer not to glue the people using ACC out of concern it would likely mar the surface should I later decide to move them. 

I like using Detail Tack glue that Micro Mark sells https://www.micromark.com/Deta...oz-Applicator-Bottle.

-Ed Abbot

p51 posted:

Avanti posted:

RTV works well, as does hot glue.

If you want it to stay there until the end of time, yeah. But that's not what the OP was asking about:

I'd prefer not to glue the people using ACC out of concern it would likely mar the surface should I later decide to move them. 

I made these specific recommendations precisely because they are both easily removable from most plastics. RTV especially is virtuous in this regard--it holds quite well but peels off nicely. It is difficult to remove from glass, ceramic and metal, but not (in general) plastic. If you use hot glue on plastic, make sure it is the low temperature variant.