ok guys this is the frist time i have used photo etched. and i must say i am hooked on it now. my question is do you paint some of the parts or do you leave it bare metal? i went ahead and painted the side panels for the cockpit of my F-18 F and it turned out pretty good. still got a long ways to go.[:D][:D]
I don’t recall ever leaving PE parts unpainted, because they just don’t look real left bare. Seems like it’s a contradiction in terms, that real metal duplicating a metal part doesn’t look real, but it’s just too shiny. I have, on some small parts, used only a wash to flatten and dirty it up, and you can do this in certain cases. Otherwise, paint. And if you want it to stick, rought it up and prime it lightly.
And one other thing: This has nothing to do with paint, but if you are new to PE, one of the first things you want to do with your frets is aneal them. Run a match or lighter under the parts for just a few seconds. You’ll be amazed at how much more flexible they become, and just generally more easy to form into the proper shapes. But remember we’re dealing with mostly brass here, and you can heat it too much until it distorts, so when I say a few seconds, that means less than ten.
I just discovered do it yourself photoech. I’m making a P-47 with the cowling off and wanted to make the metal bands around the engine the cowling attaches to and I have a can of ice tea sitting there, and hey, it works pretty well (and it only cost me 5 cents)
The Eduard Company from Chekoslovakia make some Photo-etched sets that are pre-painted and are really nice.
Im using a set for a 1/72 F16 that Im making and I`m really pleased with the content.
The set I`m using has 3 trees of parts,the main one for the cockpit has all the painted stuff while the other 2 are details for Landing gear bays and engine parts
Some stuff is REALLY (and I emphasise REALLY) small,and It pays to work in a Dark contrasted area,(And wear Dark colored Pajamas[:D]) while working with them as its really hard to locate a lost part if you drop it.
I`m finding it hard to contmplate building a kit without the stuff
Have fun with your project
Phil/Rt4957
Thanks sharkskin! [bow] I am new to working with PE too and annealing the parts is something I never heard of.
Cheers,
Eric
You’ll need to get yourself a folding tool as well if you want to get crisp lines on folds. I’ve got the Etch-Mate, which is quite expensive, but does a fantastic job. Also invest in the longer folding blades, which are great for BIG folds.
Annealing’s a good idea too, although I’ve not yet tried it, being fairly new to etch myself.
has anyone tried this photoetched saw blade set from eduard or something?
is it good?
Yeah, I have, and they BEND very easily. They’re also a bit of a dodgy fit with the handle I use (the recommended one!), so I’d be wary of getting them. They’re very sharp & leave a tiny cut, so if you’re careful you should be ok. The super-long one is pretty useless, for obvious reasons. Too damn flexible!
I don’t know about you guys, but I really struggle with PE parts. I pull those little beauty’s out of the package, and it goes down hill from there. It’s amazing… I can actually hear a tiny buckle zing off my pc screen 10 feet away. Just when I think I have a seatbelt assembled, I go to bend it in to position and,Wiiiiiinnng, it flies apart! It’s curious to me that sometimes CA glue is so strong, then other times I may as well use spit. I mean, come on, how do you handle a teeensy little seat belt lever that’s only a 64th of an inch! My tweezers look like salad spoons compared to those microscopic pieces of total frustration. I’m sure my neighbors know when I get out the Eduard goodies. LOL. Next time I’ll close the windows.LOL.
Seriously, I am getting more patient with these things, and I guess that’s what it takes…
Also on anealing, surely you don’t heat pre-painted parts. Wouldn’t that cook the paint off? Sounds like something I’d do .
Out’
dragonfly
but then again you would be amazed at how many little dodads found inside a cockpit can be reproduced in a PE set in fact the 1/48 scale F-105D has a part for the trigger on the control stick now thats amazing.
Yeah, but then how do you install it?
dragonfly
PE sets are great for young folks with good eyesight and steady hands. Those of us in the O.F. category have a difficult time with that stuff. I pretty much cannnot use it at all because I have developed a severe allergy to the CA glue. A word to the wise for those that use CA glue. USE ADEQUATE VENTILATION, like the instructions say. You don’t want to be breathing much of that stuff. It is accumulatory in your system.
Darwin, O.F. [alien]
Thanks for the heads- up Darwin. Lots-o-toxic stuff in this hobby.
dragonfly
Very careful appplication of a medium viscosity glue with a sharpened toothpick and LOTS of patience is my preferred route. You can also hold the bigger bits steady with a piece of masking tape while you fiddle the other parts onto them. A quick lick of another sharpened cocktail stick will often hold tiny bits to it for long enough to be attached.
Do your work in the middle of the table though, or the carpet monster will have them!
Darwin its a wonder your not anything like Cheech and Chong these days.[:D]
you do know I’m just funnin ya right Darwin. Besides you also should keep fingers noses and hair away from any parts that have CA on them because they tend to stick to you.