Tamiya 87038 Extra Thin Cement Glue Fine Tip 40ml Review (2026)

Who This Cement Is For

This cement is built for builders assembling styrene plastic kits, from Gunpla to scale cars and aircraft, who want seams that disappear rather than glue lines that show under paint. Because the formula is extra thin rather than a thicker tube cement, it rewards builders who already understand basic seam work and want a cleaner result, rather than beginners who may prefer a thicker, more forgiving cement while they learn to control glue placement. The 40ml bottle size suits anyone building multiple kits a year rather than a single one-off project, since the bottle lasts through many builds if the cap is kept snug between sessions. Builders working only with resin or metal parts should look elsewhere, since this formula is designed specifically for polystyrene plastic.

How The Fine Tip Applicator Works

The bottle includes a brush built into the cap with a pointed, fine tip designed for precise placement along a seam rather than broad coverage. Because the cement itself is extra thin, it flows into the gap between two fitted plastic parts through capillary action once the parts are held together, pulling glue into the joint from the outside rather than requiring it to be brushed onto both mating surfaces beforehand. This is different from a standard tube cement, which sits on the surface and needs to be spread before parts are pressed together. The technique takes some practice, since parts must be aligned and held in place first, then touched with the tip of the brush along the seam to let capillary action do the rest of the work.

Living With The Bottle Day To Day

In practice, the cement sets to the touch within five to ten minutes, which is fast enough to move on to the next assembly step without long waits, though full curing takes up to 24 hours before the joint reaches its full strength. Because the formula is thin and evaporates quickly, leaving the cap off or loose for even a short time can thicken the remaining cement or let it dry out faster than expected, so builders who use it regularly get the most consistent results by recapping immediately after each application. The pointed brush tip also needs periodic wiping to keep it from clogging with dried residue, especially during long sessions where the bottle is opened and closed many times.

Where It Falls Short And How It Compares

Because the cement is so thin, it cannot fill gaps between poorly fitting parts the way a thicker cement or dedicated putty can, so builders working with kits that have visible fit issues still need a separate gap filling product. Against thicker options like Mr. Cement S from GSI Creos, this Tamiya formula trades gap filling ability for faster capillary action and a less visible glue line on tight seams. Against quick setting variants such as Tamiya's own Extra Thin Cement Quick Setting version, this standard formula gives a slightly longer working window to reposition parts before the bond sets, which suits builders who want a moment to check alignment before the glue grabs.

Verdict And When To Choose Something Else

This cement supports our score of 9.1 out of 10 by doing exactly what an extra thin formula should: wicking into tight seams for a clean, nearly invisible bond without adding bulk. It belongs on the bench of any regular styrene kit builder, especially anyone assembling Gunpla or scale kits where visible seams are a common complaint. Builders working with poorly fitting kits, resin garage kits, or metal parts should pair it with a gap filling product or choose a different adhesive entirely, since this formula is not designed to bridge gaps. For anyone building clean, well fitting styrene kits, this remains a dependable first cement to keep on the shelf.

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