Best Tamiya-Style Cements: Extra Thin and Brush-Applied Solvent Glues
Updated How we research
Tamiya 87038 Extra Thin Cement Glue Fine Tip 40ml
Tamiya 87038 Extra Thin Cement with fine tip brush, 40ml, a watery glue that wicks into joints by capillary action.
TAMIYA Extra-Thin Cement 40ml Quick-Setting TAM87182
TAMIYA Extra-Thin Cement 40ml Quick-Setting TAM87182, a faster curing version of Tamiya's popular thin glue.
The little square bottle with a brush in the cap changed how most people build plastic kits. Tamiya Extra Thin popularized the workflow of holding two parts together and touching the seam with a loaded brush, letting capillary action pull solvent through the entire joint for a clean, weld-strength bond with no squeeze-out. Today, several companies make cements in the same style, and they are not interchangeable: solvent blends differ in aggressiveness and evaporation speed, brushes differ in fineness, and some formulas suit quick tacking while others allow longer working time. This guide compares Tamiya's own cements with rival brush-in-cap options, so you know which bottle to reach for on delicate parts, long seams, and everything in between.
The short version
We compared 7 picks. Our scores range from 7.3 to 9.1 out of 10.
- Best overall:Tamiya 87038 Extra Thin Cement Glue Fine Tip 40ml. Highest overall score in this guide at 9.1/10.
- Also great value:TAMIYA Extra-Thin Cement 40ml Quick-Setting TAM87182. Value score of 8/10, overall 8.9/10.
- Solid build:Mr. Hobby Mr. Cement SP Super Power Plastic Cement. Build and materials score of 8/10, overall 8.4/10.
- Feature-rich:Plastruct Plastic Weld with Applicator 2oz Bottle. Features score of 8/10, overall 8.4/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
- 1.Tamiya 87038 Extra Thin Cement Glue Fine Tip 40ml9.1/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 2.TAMIYA Extra-Thin Cement 40ml Quick-Setting TAM871828.9/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 3.Mr. Hobby Mr. Cement SP Super Power Plastic Cement8.4/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 4.Plastruct Plastic Weld with Applicator 2oz Bottle8.4/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 5.GSI Creos MC129 Mr. Cement S, Mr. Hobby8.1/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 6.Tamiya TAM87012 Plastic Cement 20ml7.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 7.Testors Plastic Cement Liquid 1 Oz7.3/10See on AmazonCheck price
| # | Product | Our score | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tamiya 87038 Extra Thin Cement Glue Fine Tip 40ml | 9.1/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 2 | TAMIYA Extra-Thin Cement 40ml Quick-Setting TAM87182 | 8.9/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 3 | Mr. Hobby Mr. Cement SP Super Power Plastic Cement | 8.4/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 4 | Plastruct Plastic Weld with Applicator 2oz Bottle | 8.4/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 5 | GSI Creos MC129 Mr. Cement S, Mr. Hobby | 8.1/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 6 | Tamiya TAM87012 Plastic Cement 20ml | 7.8/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 7 | Testors Plastic Cement Liquid 1 Oz | 7.3/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
#1Tamiya 87038 Extra Thin Cement with fine tip brush, 40ml, a watery glue that wicks into joints by capillary action.
Fit for the job 10/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 9/10
- + Extra thin formula flows into seams for nearly invisible bonds
- + Brush in the cap applies glue precisely along joints
- + 40ml bottle lasts through many kit builds
- - Evaporates quickly if the cap is left off
- - Too thin for filling gaps between poorly fitting parts
#2TAMIYA Extra-Thin Cement 40ml Quick-Setting TAM87182, a faster curing version of Tamiya's popular thin glue.
Fit for the job 10/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 8/10
- + Quick-setting formula lets you handle parts sooner
- + Extra-thin consistency wicks into tight joints easily
- + Ideal for small parts that are awkward to hold in place
- - Shorter working time than the standard extra thin cement
- - Strong solvent odor requires ventilation
#3Mr. Hobby Mr. Cement SP Super Power Plastic Cement, a very fast and strong thin glue for plastic model joints.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Super Power formula bonds very quickly for fast assembly
- + Thin consistency flows along seams like extra thin cements
- + Great for holding stubborn parts that spring apart
- - Very fast set gives almost no time for adjustment
- - Aggressive formula can mark plastic if you over-apply
#4Plastruct Plastic Weld with applicator in a 2oz bottle, a strong solvent cement for styrene, ABS and scratch-building.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Powerful solvent welds styrene and ABS for tough joints
- + Applicator helps place glue accurately on small parts
- + Popular with scratch-builders and model railroaders
- - Strong fumes require good ventilation during use
- - Aggressive solvent can mar surfaces if spilled
#5GSI Creos MC129 Mr. Cement S from Mr. Hobby, a fast-evaporating thin cement for precise seam bonding.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Thin, fast-setting formula bonds seams quickly and neatly
- + Japanese Mr. Hobby quality favored by many scale modelers
- + Minimal residue keeps joints tidy for painting
- - Fast evaporation leaves little time to reposition parts
- - Can be harder to find in general US craft stores
#6Tamiya TAM87012 Plastic Cement 20ml, a thicker plastic glue for larger joints and parts that need time to position.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Thicker body gives more working time to align parts
- + Good for structural joints like wings and hull halves
- + Brush cap spreads glue evenly across contact surfaces
- - Can ooze from seams if too much is applied
- - 20ml bottle is smaller than the extra thin version
#7Testors Plastic Cement Liquid 1 Oz, a classic American liquid glue for bonding styrene model parts.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Widely stocked in US hobby and craft stores
- + Liquid formula welds styrene for a strong, clean joint
- + Affordable choice for casual and younger builders
- - Applicator may be less precise than fine brush caps
- - Solvent odor means you should work with good airflow
Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged
No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.
- Evaporates quickly if the cap is left off (Tamiya 87038 Extra Thin Cement Glue Fine Tip...)
- Shorter working time than the standard extra thin cement (TAMIYA Extra-Thin Cement 40ml Quick-Setting...)
- Very fast set gives almost no time for adjustment (Mr. Hobby Mr. Cement SP Super Power Plastic...)
- Strong fumes require good ventilation during use (Plastruct Plastic Weld with Applicator 2oz...)
- Fast evaporation leaves little time to reposition parts (GSI Creos MC129 Mr. Cement S, Mr. Hobby)
- Can ooze from seams if too much is applied (Tamiya TAM87012 Plastic Cement 20ml)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among tamiya-style cements: extra thin and brush-applied solvent glues?
Tamiya 87038 Extra Thin Cement Glue Fine Tip 40ml is our top overall pick. Tamiya 87038 Extra Thin Cement with fine tip brush, 40ml, a watery glue that wicks into joints by capillary action. It earns our score of 9.1/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
TAMIYA Extra-Thin Cement 40ml Quick-Setting TAM87182 is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. TAMIYA Extra-Thin Cement 40ml Quick-Setting TAM87182, a faster curing version of Tamiya's popular thin glue.
›How much should I expect to spend?
Picks in this guide span See on Amazon price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.
›How were these products chosen?
We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.
Model Build Lab independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.
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