Am I the only one that doesn’t particularly like photoetch? I’m building classic airframes’ fokker D.XXI and the whole freakin’ cockpit is photoetch, the framing, the seat, the panel, the radios, the throttles, handles, everything except the control stick and what I think might be a fire extingisher, and it struck me how little I like photoetch. I see how it’s good for seat belts and such, but I find it gets used for alot of things were it’s not all that well suited, like the antennas and throttles on FM’s Halifax, I find it’s too 2 dimensional. Maybe I’ll like it more one I get this cockpit done, I guess this is what you get for wanting to build a 1:48 D.XXI
I don’t like it that much either. I admit6, sometimes the results can be fantastic, but I just suck so bad at using it that I try to avoid it.
It can be over done, but it’s like any tool or technique, the more you do it the better you get. Some of it comes down to folding and other times it’s being able to control the amount of glue and locating it. Personally I love the stuff!
I have to jump in on the side of “could do without it”. I build almost strictly in 1/72 and any PE for cockpits is a waste of time. I am in the midst of a P47 superdetail of sorts and there was a fret of about 40 pieces. To be completely frank I will use only perhaps a half to three quarters of them.
It’s more like a love hate relationship you either love it or hate it. Thats why i work with mostly 1/32 scale due to may hand conrol issues that and i can atleast see the part with out a magnifier. I’ll use it on sertain things lever’s mostly cockpit stuff. But i can see for you guys building that 1/72 stuff it can be a real pain.
The detail is great , but it can be a real pain to work with .
I am one too that will avoid using PE but if I have no choice or want to add a lil more detail only advice I can give toward using PE is take your time and do little by little. Do not try to get alot done all at one time. To prevent dropping PE parts when handling wrap fingers with double stick tape, do the same on workbench… tape a strip of double stick tape to bench surface out of the way to hold parts until ready to use. Use hemostats to hold parts when glueing onto model.
Air Master
I don’t care for it, except for instrument panels, belts, and seats.
I DO like Slurpees, though. I was adopted by one of my cats at a 7-11 going home one night. He had been dumped there, was scared silly, and trying to get into peoples cars to go home with them. I took him home, though, he’s sweetest cat ever. So what do you name a cat you find at 7-11? He’s named Slurpee, of course…
Sorry about digressing from the thread topic - you can return to talking about photo-etch now… 
Slurpeeboy…are you the only one who doesn’t like PE?
Probably not.
I actually rather like the stuff - when it’s well rendered and in the right spot - but some PE makers make EVERY detail out of PE…and it’s been said before that it’s extremely 2-dimensional.
The wrong bits in PE can make a model suck - and the right bits can really enhance a good model.
But I’ll keep buying it - and using it.
I like the idea of of P/E, and I like how it looks when done well by people who know how to handle it.
Unfortunately, I am too ham fisted to handle it, and my eyesight isn’t that good, even with reading glasses.
The one PE thing I decided to do ended up with me having throttle levers glued to my fingers, some little wheel stuck to my forehead, and it generally was a mess.
Now, I LOVE PE belts- they look great, and I can handle them OK. I still glue a belt or two onto my fingers occassionally, but I’ve learned to live life with PE belts on my fingers. Good back scratchers.
So I leave the PE for other folks who have the ability to not glue things to themselves. [;)]
Jwb, have you tried looking into getting a jewelers visor? I use one for all my model builds, especially for painting and working with PE. I picked one up online for $5.00 a few years ago. I know some hobby shops sell them also.
Air Master
No, you are not alone. I hate it. But that maybe, because Ib am not good enough to use it. Half of the fun forme is making the box cockpit look nice, but then I suck at that to.
I don’t have much experience in handling PE parts but what I’ve done so far was hard to do but rewarding. You’re right about 2 dimensional aspect of some of them. Sometimes, plastic parts are better than PE.
I’m in the ole Catch 22: I don’t use PE much because I’m not very good with it, but to get good I need to use it. Jon put it nicely: I love to see results when done up right…unfortunately I can’t create those results yet. Hopefully the key word is “yet”
Spare a thought for us ship modellers with the size of the photo etch sheets for a 1/350th scale ship, eh
A neccessary evil, but you do get better with time.
I love it for instrument panels, seat belts, engine wiring & air intake screens. I less than love it for levers, switches & other small details that are fiddly to assemble & are 2D in PE.
Regards, Rick
I love it- it’s the level of detail I dreamed of as a kid back in the 70’s. For the stuff like tubing looms it at the very least makes an excellent pattern to build your own from scratch. long live the PE!
I agree, those visors are worth their weight in gold, for all modeling, not just p.e. As has been said several times above, I end up using about half (or less) of a P.E. kit, simply because they go too far with it. The replacement wheel wheel wells, flaps and cockpit stuff is great, except for the TINY details like flap wheel and levers. For me, it’s a love/hate relationship with P.E. Maybe some day, I’ll get as good as Pix and Swanny with the stuff…[:I]
Brian [C):-)]
For me, PE came be a little excessive. A lot of what I build is armor, which PE can be really good in 1:35, but all too often I find that the pieces are very little improvement over the plastic moldings the kit came with. For aircraft cockpits, alot of PE is over-kill. Much of the switchs, etc… may not even be seen. I must agree with the 2-d criticism. I’d sure hate for it no longer be available, it’s useful, I just end up using half of the parts.
Summation: It’s nice, but not necessary.
Hadn’t thought of that. I got a light with a magnifying glass on it, which helps. I may have to try that out. If nothing else, I’ll look really cool. Maybe paint it up like a Rebel X-Wing pilot… hmmmmmm… use the Force on PE parts… hmmmmmmm…
[:)]