Who's PE does everyone use?

Aber... hands down. They are the most refined and consequently most tedious to build (most of the time). Much of their stuff is workable when finnished but again this makes it quite a chore to build.

Eduard has its place but isn't anywhere near aber

There are others out there, too, like Part, Lion Roar, Royal, and Airwaves. But I'd say most, by far, use Aber and Eduard. Depending on availability, I use Eduard if I want a frustrating build and Aber if I want an impossibly frustrating, super fidley build!

I don't have much experience with PE other than the occasional Eduard set, and have been happy with them. I am going to have to try out Aber stuff and see the differences.

Dan

I am currently using both Aber and Eduard sets on my Panther. Aber goes to a level of detail that is awe inspiring. However, building with both can be tedious and frustrating. Once mastered, the payoff is well worth the trouble.

Aber is the only one I've lost, er used, so far. I have Eduard for a 109 coming up. Aber looks better to me though.

I've used Eduard and Airfix. I have thought about using Aber sets, but I don't know if I am ready for the asylum just yet. I really like the Eduard Zoom sets, most of the time I only want the engine deck grills and their sets really come in handy.

I bought my first couple of Edeuard sets a few weeks ago, and I am satisfied with them. The only others I have had any experience with is Verlinden, and Eduard is a lot better than that.

Haven't done a lot of PE, except for Tamiya Panther and Panzer III grilles. I have done Eduard zim, but found it to be to methodical, not very textured.

I use either Aber or Eduard, but lean toward Eduard due to cost...it's generally less expensive. If there are both set available for a given subject, I'll normally buy the least expensive one. If only one company makes a set, I'll go with them. I've never used any PE Zimmerit, but maybe someday. I really enjoy making my own right now.

I have used Aber and Eduard. Aber has a lot more that I don't use, so I tend to use Eduard for my average build. Eduard's instruction are a little more clear on where the pieces go then Aber is.

eduard is nice ,but not nearly as detailed as aber ,the tradeoff, ABER is insanely frustrating , and I am not joking here ! I have done 4 of these kits with one in the waiting. ( The german tank radio set is pretty kool ,tough but kool! ) Language barrier (polish) instructions make it tough also . As do very vague placement instructions , do research and have your reference pics at the ready , best solution to both is find a model somewhere that has used that kit and look at where they placed the particular part . Good luck!

Good question, Jester


From what I have found - Both have good and bad points

- right now I've been using mostly Eduard - more kits easier to get

- Aber is better metal and easier to bend without wrinkling
Only thing is the Aber is too shiny -can barely read the numbers on the spures and when doing close work it's tough to see the individual pieces

Right now I still have a mix of both
Just my observations don't know if anyone has noticed the same things

Hi , All I do not use PE at any stage in my model making , I make all the replacement parts my self . PE is a waste of money in my opinion cheers ian

Thanks for the input everyone!! Interesting point Ian, do you build all of the replacement parts using styrene then? Just curious...always open to good ideas
Chester
P.S. Which company offers clamps, clasps, etc. for securing tools, cable, jack, etc. onto German armor?

Aber makes working tool clamps. At first, sheer insanity will cause you to try building them to work, a challenge, right? You'll give up though, not at first, but you'll end up gluing them just to keep ahead of the attendants.

to what ausf said. I worked for two hours on my first one, lost parts of it two or three times (there are 3 parts to each clamp) and finally wound up gluing it all together.
But they look nice!

I used Tamyia's deck screens for a Jadgpanther and a tiger I, I used an Airwaves set on a BT 5 and I've used a couple of Eduard sets on various projects. I've only read about Aber sets. Of the three I've used, Eduard is the most detailed, but the others were satisfactory for the use I put them to.

I think the trick to the clamps clasps saga is the , (from the college of hard knocks mind you) , build them from the handle side out ( I bend mine slightly then clamp it with tweezers after the inner part is inserted ) I hold it with my thumb and forefinger bend the outer side then clamp it when the inner (last part is in place ) I will post the info later when I get my new camera , to show detail better !

Hi Chester , I always try to make the parts out of Aluminium foil , etc the kind used in food trays or cat and dog moist food trays . Knitting needles , can be turned up on the lathe for gun barrels , if you want my tips pages now running at number 11 , send an e mail to me at ian.sadler3@ntlworld.com , title it tips pages and I will willinmgly send them to you cheers ian sadler

My first real venture (aside from cutting 1/72 brush guards out of a coke can) was were with Eduard for a Tamiya Sherman, not because of any refined selection process but rather it was hanging on the wall in my hobby shop. Eduard seems competantly done, but not necessarily perfect. Their fenders were incorrect, leaving me to shave the edges of the plastic kit fenders to a reasonable thickness. There were a few other parts that seemed like they could be done better in plastic. So like Ian, I made a number of detail parts out of sheet styrene stock, rather than using the PE.

If I do another Sherman, I may go with Aber, if nothing else just to get correct fenders. I have an M3 Grant in the queue, and I got an Eduard set for that. I haven't actually assembled anything, but it seems to be an excellent set for the vehicle.

in my opinion eduard is the most crisp.. they will all add to the model though.

i build in small scale, mostly 1/72...
i make up scratchbuilt detail parts out of styrene sheet, strip, tube & rod,
also use copper & steel wire, & even thin brass & aluminum tubing & sheet...
it's fun & it's inexpensive, & if i lose a part, i just make another instead
of searching 4 it all nite !

i am in awe of the stuff i've seen on this site using p/e, tho'...
truly impressive !
just got a couple of Dragon 1/144 armor kits that come w/ little bits of p/e,
so i'll b trying it myself soon...
everything i read about the stuff tells me it really ups the
'frustration factor' of a build, but it sure looks cool !

frosty