Has anyone produced a sheet of photoetched strips of various widths for detailing and scratchbuilding? I think this would be a very useful item, but I have never seen one.
John
Savannah, Georgia
Personally I just use the frets from left over PE. I can usually get a pretty big range of widths and thicknesses.
Ian’s right. I never throw out used-up photoetch frets. How long were you thinking? Aber makes some sets termed as “construction”, long sheets for angle iron.
Steve
Ian and Steve,
I do the same thing. I never throw anything away, but I would love to have a 4x6 or 4x8 sheet of stips that could be trimmed for various purposes, such as fuselage stringers. A couple of sheets would be a lifetime supply for me. I stretch sprue, but I still buy styrene rods for convenience and uniformity.
John
Savannah, Georgia
Have you ever considered doing the photo etch process yourself? You should, becuase then you could tell me how to do it.[(-D]
Steve
See an article on the subject at SteelNavy
http://www.steelnavy.com/etching.htm
I’ve gotten Ferric Chloride at the local RadioShack. I used rub-on transfers on one side of some sheet brass. I used the hobby electronics printed circuit board solder pads and circuit traces. These are strips about 1/16 inch wide. You may also find a resist pen, but likes are not thin & uniform. Paint the opposite side with a couple of good thick coats of an enamel paint – thick, color doesn’t matter. This is the back-side resist. Spray primer is good. Soak it in the Ferric Chloride. It will take several hours to go through 20thou brass. Monitor your progress, rince occasionally to remove accumulated crud. Don’t leave it unattended overnight because it will etch faster than you intend and you will be left with a puddle of black liquid & no brass. When etching is complete a bath in lacquer thinner dissolves the back paint/resist.
Typical precautions apply. Eye & skin protection. This stuff stains skin & clothes. It also stains concrete & wooden kitchen tables. It reacts violently with aluminum. Use caution
That’s very interesting. I hope that I don’t etch a hole to China. I will give this a shot sometime when the wife is out of town[}:)]