Hi, I know this is an area I am new at ( less than two years),but, what I discovered today I just have to pass on.I am sure ,like many modelers ,I have ALL the neat tools for dealing with photoetched parts.Well, you newbies out there (newer than yours truly)You don,t have to have to buy "JOE,S - P.E.Bending tool, or MIKE,S shure shot P.E.Cutter!"Go out to your garage or tool drawer.Do you have a decent set of STANLEY screwdrivers and a STANLEY retractable box knife??How about that set of scissors your wife says wont, cut her scrapbooking stuff right anymore ,and two pair if pliers With good jaws.Now go to the stained glass area of HOBBY LOBBY and they have two very nice pliers for P.E. work One pair are called glasiers pliers and the other are just a neat pair of smooth jawed wide angle(THEY are wider at the edge than the hinge) pliers .If yoy have these things you can get by admirably well.Until I started with my present client I didn,t know that P.E. could be gotten any larger than 1/192.Well, did I get my balloon busted!!Anyway, all you have to do is dive in ,get comfortable with the stuff and TALLEY HO!!! If you can, see if a buddy has some scrap P.E. material that you can practice with.I had a friend that had two ships worth of stuff he didn,t use, so I practiced and now there,s no shape I wont tackle! If you want HEMISPHERES you need a piece of the foam like placemats are made from or something a little stiffer.If you have the above listed starter tools you,re good to go. Hope this will get you going. tankerbuilder