Howdy all! I received my first Eduard set in the mail yesterday which will be used to upgrade my 1/72 Italeri Mc. 202 Folgore. Small parts… So many small parts… Unfortunately, the set didn’t include the “Film”. It looks like it’s only purpose is for the gun sight. Is the “Film” a clear acetate sheet? If so, does anyone know what thickness? I’ve searched online for this information to no avail. I’d rather look for a suitable equivalent for the gun sight than wait for a replacement part. Thank you in advance for your help!
Can’t address that particular set, but I’ve often found that the Eduard “film” is actually too thin for much of the gunsight glass of the WW2 era. I save the clear collar stiffeners from the packing in dress shirts, and cut my reflectors from those. Works a treat.
Let’s hope it isn’t acetate. Acetate is one of the least durable of materials. Over time it warps, discolors, etc.
When I was working at a maritime museum (many years ago) I discovered a plywood box full of WWII Navy recognition models on 1/500 scale. These weren’t the usual warships, which were cast in a lead alloy (which is bad enough in terms of preservation and conservation); these were representative merchant ships, and they were cast in acetate or something similar. The first thing I noticed when I found the box was that a strange, syrupy yellow material was oozing out of it. When I opened it, I was greeted by a staggering smell of vinegar. The little models looked like bananas; they were warped beyond recognition. We had to give up and throw them out.
There are all sorts of cheap sources of clear plastic. You can buy real luxurious sheets in various thicknesses at a good hobby shop, or salvage a scrap from a clear plastic package of some sort. And I love the shirt collar idea.
Office supply store.
A few years ago, I started noticing a strange smell coming from a corner in the basement and couldn’t pinpoint the origin. A few days later, I was determined to find it, and practically tore the basement apart looking. After a while, I found that the smell was coming from my set of toolboxes, and in particular the screwdriver drawer. The handles of several of them were wet with a foul smelling slimy liquid that smelled a lot like vinegar but more sharp. I tried to clean them up but the smell just wouldn’t go away. I put them out on the back porch for several days to see if that would help, but it didn’t. I eventually threw them away.
Prof. Tilley’s statement above brought this back to mind and made me think that those screwdriver handles were possibly cast of the same stuff. I guess they stopped using it because I have never run into this problem before or since. I thought I might have spilled something in the drawer but couldn’t figure what could have smelled so bad. Thanks for the possible solution Prof. Tilley.
Jim [cptn]
Thank you all for the help! I’ll try the collar idea for sure. The good news is the crisis was averted. I noticed a shiny object hiding in the carpet… I found the film. I guess it slid out upon my opening the package. Thanks again!
You can buy transparency sheets at office supply stores that have a coating that inkjet printers will print on. And it is stiff enough for things like gunsights and other small transparent parts. You can whip up a design in a graphics program and print it. These things are meant for the old Viewgraph machines and may become obsolete in a few years.
The downside is that they sell them in big packages of fifty or a hundred and the price is high. But one package is probably a lifetime supply. They are 8.5 x 11 sheets.
That sounds like another good idea! Thanks for your help.
Far cheaper than OHP film, if you simply want a clear medium, you might also check out clear binding covers. I picked up a packet of 25 A4 size, 200 micron clear cover sheets today for a princely $3.00 (from my local Aldi store). One sheet would be enough for a lifetime of gunsight/HUD glasses.
I suspect the price may be higher from an office supplies store, but it would be far less than it would be for OH projection film.
I’ll check those out too. Thanks!
When I think of a gunsight, I think of small round ring. If that’s what it is, you can make a lens by filling it with Testor’s Clear Part cement, or a drop of Aileen’s tacky glue, or watch crystal cement. They will all dry clear.
Another great idea. Thanks!