I'mback from holiday and jumping in with both feet again.
Plastic cases, the 'Perspex' (ICI trade name) or more correctly ACRYLIC type materials look good when new but do scratch easily and yellow with age due to UV discolouration and are glued together with a 'TENSOL' (trade name ) type of adhesive which very effectively bonds the surfaces together.Before the easy availability of this type of glue we used to use CHLOROFORM to stick it together. Oh the Elfin's would have a Field day. 'LEXAN' (think it's a GE trade name,Alzheimer's memory) or POLYCARBONATE sheet, is relatively more expensive but does not mark as easily, but can still be SCRATCHED,- look at the 'Vandalproof' bus shelters. Glued with polyurethane type adhesives. Another material on sale in B&Q type outlets is clear High Impact Styrene sheets - cheap greenhouse glazing material, cheap and hopeless for display cases,BUT the thinner sheets are ideal for window glazing on our toy boats.
All three materials can be cut with steady strokes of a fine saw blade, but both perspex and styrene can 'crack' if you try too hard, polycarb is 'softer' and more forgiving. for best gluing, like other plastics, clean square edges. For longevity and clarity it's got to be glass, just make sure visiting anklebiters are kept on a short CHOKER chain, s4d 'He only wants to look'.
regards Ian
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