Working with Photo Etched parts - specifically on the Gallery Models 1/48 H-34

PE is often brass but can be steel as wel. CA is the right type of glue. If you need the fold the PE, first aneal the PE by heating it.

Could you get away with not putting PE parts on your build: NO! JMN's and riviet counters wil come in your house and steal your models....

Sure you can choose to not use PE, remember:

“Build what YOU want, the way YOU want to, and above all, have fun.”

- Al Superczynski

Ah thanks.  I hadn't thought that I might need to heat up the PE parts to bend them, and looking at the kit several of the PE pieces need bending.

Would a cigarette lighter do?  Presumably I don't need to heat it up too much?

Ah, thanks.

My favorite small PE adhesive is clear paint.  I use Model Master gloss clear.  Just put a dab on the place you want to put the part, and then set the PE part on that.  The paint takes a bit longer to set, allowing you to move the part around and get it positioned to your satisfaction, and the small parts won't slide around due to gravity as much as a larger part would.  I also like to use 5-minute epoxy with great success.

To drill holes, especially small ones, you'll want to get a pin-vise kit.  It'll come with a set if very small drill bits and a holder.  You clamp the drill bit in the vise and drill your holes by hand.  You can make a dimple in the plastic with the tip of a sharp No. 11 Exacto blade, or just the tip of a straight pin, depending on how small a drill bit you're using.  

Gene Beaird,

Pearland, Texas

Interesting, thanks.

I've given up on the idea of buying Gallery H-34, mostly it's the PE work that puts me off, as well as the cost of the kit.