One of my many near-future projects is a wood-sheathed tank car. The body is going to be a hunk of PVC pipe, sheathed in scribed siding. What would be the best adhesive to glue the two together? I figure I’m going to have to scuff the PVC fairly well, to get the adhesive to grab.
You might try the new E-6000 glue that’s out. I don’t think CA would work as it gets brittle after a while…unless you just use it to tack everything and the stays will hold it after they are on. I’d give thought to working stays any how.
I’m with Warren on this one–glue is fine to start (I’d use something like Liquid Nails)–but I’d rely on functional bands to keep everything in check. You have a few options here. I’d use concrete rebar tie wire, which is available at Home Depot or Lowes for around $4.00/spool (and a spool will last you a LONG time). It scales to around 1" diameter, but more importantly you can either twist it tight and fold it over to look like a band connector, or you can solder two 3/8" sections of 1/16" ID brass tubing together and make functional band couplers. The wire is the perfect diameter to be threaded to 0-80, so with two nuts, you can tighten the bands down very prototypically. Just put one end through one tube and the other through the other and tighten. Viola!
Here’s some of that wire used as truss rods on my recent wood hopper project. Or, you can model an eastern road that enclosed their water towers and not worry! 
Later, K
Bob,
I would use “Weldbond” adhesive after roughing up the PVC with 80Grit sand paper.
Another technique , if some of the wood sheath is nearly out of sight . is to use mechanical fastening for that wood , then glue the other to it and the plastic with Balsa Wood Cement , or the UHU equivalent if that is available in the USA . I can’t visualise just what you are trying to do . If the tank is to be totally clad , holes drilled into it to allow any glue to leak through and form a sort of rivet head will also do the trick . Balsa cement will do for this , and has the advantage of not causing the wood to warp .
Mike
I meant to say to drill the holes in the tank , to let the glue on the underside of the wood go down the holes and form the liquid rivet , which when dry will hold it all . I use that technique to clad metal carriage sides with planking .
How did the prototype hold those wooden staves together? Why not use something similar? Add a nail or screw up from the bottom to keep it from rotating and you’re set. Then, whatever you put between the wood and the pvc is just extra insurance.
Yes , I can see what Bruce is getting at , perhaps we could see exactly what it is you are trying to do , Bob . There’s enough experience here to suggest half a dozen ways , I’m sure .