Photoetch ladders

John T

This is my first 1/350 ship kit using photoetch. What's the best technique for angling the ladder treads so that the piece doesn't look like a slide?

Do you mean inclined ladders vs vertical?

For inclined ladders,  fold the handrails up to form a U-shape.  With a pair of fine-point tweezers grab each tread and twist to position them so  they are parallel with the deck

EdGrune

 

John T:

 

This is my first 1/350 ship kit using photoetch. What's the best technique for angling the ladder treads so that the piece doesn't look like a slide?

 

 

Do you mean inclined ladders vs vertical?

For inclined ladders,  fold the handrails up to form a U-shape.  With a pair of fine-point tweezers grab each tread and twist to position them so  they are parallel with the deck

I sometimes find the steps are so close together in the as-furnished condition that I have a hard time even getting fine point tweezers far enough into the gap to bend the steps. I use a very small conventional point screwdriver I have to open the gap slightly so I can get the tweezers in far enough.  Then bend with the tweezers.

to bend the rungs and to even them out so they are all the same angle, i use a dulled sewing needle.

just push the needle through the gap between the rungs, and they will turn 90 degrees (and they will all be the same angle when you are done) ...good symmetry adds alot to appearance

I use probably something similar to these fellows. I use VERY FINE surgical tweezers They are so fine , don,t drop them in your lap . Like most things with points they always seem to land point down in my leg , right through the fabric my trousers are made of even if it,s BLUE JEANS . They work awesome though . When you have folded both sides then grip them gently in the non-dominate hand and take the tweezers and slide them around each step . You should be holding the stairs at about 45 degrees (plus or minus ) you can adjust them after all are bent . When I do them I squeeze the tweezers until I hear a click . That tells me that bend is done , go to the next one .   good luck          tankerbuilder