Adhesive Types
A guide to common adhesives used in model making
General Purpose
Latex Adhesive
Flexible rubber-based adhesive. Ideal for materials that need to flex. Foam-safe. Can be peeled off for repositioning. Not suitable for structural or high-strength joints.
A natural rubber-based adhesive that dries to a flexible film. Unlike most glues, the bond remains elastic after curing, which makes it the right choice for materials that need to flex or move. It’s also repositionable while wet — you can peel it apart and try again.
In model making, latex adhesive has a long history in aircraft modelling for attaching tissue and fabric coverings to frames, where the covering needs to stretch without cracking the bond. It’s also useful for bonding leather, rubber, and foam where flexibility matters. It’s foam-safe, which makes it a good option for EPS and XPS work. Bond strength is lower than most rigid adhesives, so it’s not suitable for structural joints.