Photoetch detail for Armour

QUOTE: Originally posted by phroosh Here's an open invitation for everyone's 2 cents. What are your thoughts on PE detail sets? I am thinking about trying some in the near future, but have always been reluctant to because of price. I have always detailed with strip styrene etc, instead. So is it... More/less fun?

I'm having fun with it. My scratch building isn't that brilliant yet, so this is a very good alternative..

QUOTE: Good/bad value?

Oh, I'd say so. I'm using everything on the frets so far.. And it all looks very satisfactory.

QUOTE: Worth the stress?

I'd say so. In most cases.. The biggest stress is actually trying to keep the bits from flying around the room.

QUOTE: And so on, I'd like any input, good bad, philosophical or miscellaneous. I am a true fence sitter on this one! I'd really appreciate everyone's opinions. Matt P.S. How do I get one of those wicked little tracks over propellers pictures? Is it a secret club? Can I join?

I must be honest. This is actually the first time I've ever chucked this much cash at a kit. I got the Aber detail and fender sets for Italeri's Tiger E/H1 and I'm glad I did, to be honest. The kits details pale in comparison to the details I'm adding, but I'm afraid that I won't be able to go back to 'plain' kit after this. Granted, the kit cost, what, 20 bucks? The PE cost me 35 bucks. The J.R: barrel cost another 8 bucks.. But in the end I'm going to have a very nice looking Tiger, providing I don't screw up the paint job..

Matt, got the Aber Kit for my 1/16 Tiger I for 180 $. This is cheap for a German, this kit is about 220 EURO in Germany. But after looking through the instruction book and all the stuff inside I would pay 220 - 250 EURO. It's very detailed, well designed and allows you to get the best look to your Tiger. Although there is a big potential to make you crazy it's that what I want: build my model and avoid to be ready with it to fast. ( the way is the goal). I think it will be worth the stress.

And if it's getting to hard and you will go grazy, look to this forum and you will get new power :)

Bye from Germany

I'm working with my first PE set right now (Eduard's Sherman Detail set for Tamiya's M4). I think the added detail adds a bit more character, and the little metal parts aren't that hard to deal with. Just don't drop anything. I have to be honest, there are some PE parts that I don't think I will install, because they look like a pain in the... neck. I paid $20 w/ shipping, and I think it's well worth it.

J-Hulk sez:

More fun!
Good value!
Worth the stress!

For J-Hulk, anyway!

Phroosh,
first the answer to the question no one has answered:
you can link to Dwight's image, i believe he gave permission when Armor
passed Aircraft for most posts.
if you add
[ img ]http://www.info.com.ph/~tdwight/Threadhead3.jpg[ /img ]
to your signature after you take out the extra space after the '[' and before the ']'
it should appear, as if by magic. :-)

like so:


on the PE front, i have done very little w/ armor PE, just some grilles that are so
simple to put on, they hardly count (but worth every penny for the improvement).
but i have done the Eduard PE set for the 1/32 Hasegawa Me-163.
it can be trying, but the detail improvement is considerable.

i would recommend starting w/ a small (part count, not scale!)
set for the first time, and seeing how you like it.
the tools (hold and fold or etch-mate) are not cheap, and by the look
of the forum, as many swear AT them as BY them!
i got by w/ a sheet of glass and two utility razor blades for my Komet pieces,
but i think almost all of the 1/16 Tiger crew opted for one of the tools.
you might want to skim that group build thread for comments.

i do recall that people often (but not always!) say w/ the Aber set:
"i am only going to use about half of this stuff"
so, as i said, you might want to start modestly.

good luck, and keep us posted.

ed.

PE sets definately add to the look of an armor kit.

One of the more basic parts in PE sets, are the engine screens. Once installed, your kits won't look right without them. I do find some parts that I don't use (it varies on how detailed the kit I'm building is)

I would say it's worth the time to add them and they can run anywhere between $10.00 and $25.00. I use Aber, Eduard and Lion Roar and would recommend any of them.

Using PE from Eduard on my T-55a. Using it to mod the kit to make the tank from the movie The Beast. The parts are more to scale. Some plastic parts are not quite scale and the PE parts detial is near what the real part would look like. All I can say is take your time. Pe parts are easy to destroy and lose on the floor.

I agree with all that's been said above. Once you start with PE, you will never be able to go back to oob. You might be able to go back to using the strip styrene for some of it, but PE will get you hooked!

Aber's sets are more extensive and complete than Eduard's. And they have a much higher frustration level. I've never used Lion Roar, and the only Parts set I've used has been 1/72. All have been very high quality. But be warned, from what I've seen and what others have said on this forum, none of the manufacturers do their instructions very well. I think Eduard's are the best of the ones I've seen and they aren't perfect, by any means. You can go to Eduards site, look up a pe set and view the instruction sheet on your pc. (You can also print it if you want to.) That will give you an idea of what you're up against.

I think most of the sets are a good value. But some parts seem to be redundant over what comes in the kit. Some of todays kit parts just don't need to be replaced. Those kind of things are too much a matter of individual taste.

The frustration level, especially with Aber, has been very high for me. I have had a lot of trouble with their tool clamps, in particular, and their fenders for the DML Elefant. I've had more experience now, and will be trying them yet again after the group builds get wrapped up.

I have both a Hold 'N Fold (2 inch size) and an Etch-Mate. I like the small Hold 'N Fold because I can pick it up off my table and work on the part "up close and personal"! It, to me, was well worth the money. The Etch-Mate was a Christmas present, and believe it or not, I haven't done any PE since Christmas. I'm working on the Panther and Sherman group builds and am not using PE on either one of them. I wish I was for some of the parts, though.

Good luck and let us know what you decide to do!

I find that most PE sets are overkill. I use only the parts that I think will enhance the model which amounts to about 33 - 50% usage. Just my .

I'm along the same lines as most of the rest of the folks here. It can add a great deal of detai, or very little depending on the kit and the part. There will be some pieces that are less to scale in p/e than plastic (i.e. flat p/e pieces to replace rods). I think it's worth getting, but won't use every single piece off of it either. It can be frustrating, but the end result makes it worth while in most cases.

I'd suggest a smaller Eduard set for starters and see if it's worth fooling with to you. That's what matters.

Eric

I have a kind of love-hate relationship with PE parts. On one hand, they do make the models look better and more realistic. On the other hand, they do add a lot of time to the building process, depending on how many changes you decide to make, and how complicated the parts are. Not that I'm racing against anybody, but sometimes I just don't feel like spendig six months on a single model...

just my 2 cents
I've personally shied away from them, for maily the same reasons as yourself, price prime amongst them. However, I've used some, generally anything I can find for around 20 canadian dollars. Granted, definitely the lowest end of the scale, but I've found them ok. generally worth the price. I'm sure that if I could get some of the more lucrative ones, my opinions would differ

I would say the PE sets add more detail to a model. They are fun to me but I like models with lots of parts and not stressful, so far. I bought Eduards PE sets for Academy's M3A1 and Tamiya's Stug IV. One thing I question is if the scale may be to thin on some parts? Not sure. The Zimmerit is extremely helpful on the Stug IV though. The thing that I'm doing which is adding even more expense is buying two of each model. The first one i'm practing on, the second i'm adding the PE set which will hopefully come out better. Call me crazy....(and hopefully nothing else) but if I spend the time and money I want it to look right. With more experience and more expensive kits I will be less apt to buy the kit twice.

Joe

I don't have much experience in PE. Some kits (Dragon) often include some PE and that's what I use. I have not really tried to get any as addition to the kit because of budget constraints. I do however, believe that PE can add more realistic effects and accuracy of the parts to the model.

I like PE sets.

I use them regularly.

To me they are worth it for an indepth project.

But, I very seldom use the entire set because some parts are acceptable/better in the plastic kit than what is supplied by the PE set.

As an example, I will use almost all of the Eduard PE set for the Sherman, but I only used about 1/2 of the Aber set for the Italeri Elephant.


And BTW: I just got my third star!!!

Thanks a lot for all your comments!

I believe i will take the plunge soon, and try and get a simple set for one of the kits I have in the wings. Trouble is, where I am it is easier to buy a kit for what PE is available, and not the other way around! I found a cheap set for a Jagdpanzer IV, but now I can't find a kit!

Like a few people alluded to, I am a bit worried that once I do a model with PE, I won't want to go back! I may even start like Dwight, with kits that include it, although the Tamiya kits with PE are nearly $100 here in Oz!!!!

Speaking of Dwight, I hope you all notice that I am now a secret member of the planehaters!
Thanks a lot Wildwilliam!

And thanks again for all your cents, everyone, it is much appreciated. Just remember that it is you people that I will run to when I have my thumb stuck to my forehead and a brass engine screen on my chin!

Matt, in sunny Australia!