Eduard 1/700 Photoetch Railings

I don't know if the rails of other vendors are any thicker or wider, but other vendors do have generic railing sets in 1:700.  I have used the ones from Tom's Model Works and found them okay to work with.

I'm working through a DML 1/700 ship right now. The LHA-1 USS Tarawa. The kit supplied PE is stainless steel, or in any case the silver colored stuff. In this case the extra hardness is kind of helpful. I've been cutting it with a pair of scissors.

Where I have problems is getting rid of the little nibs after cutting. Frankly I can't do it.

One problem with the Eduard set is that there is no gap between the rows of railing on the sprue.  One row blends in with the next row so that, to use one row, one is forced to destroy the next. And, to return to my primary reason for getting out of 1/700 in the first place, the rails become very hard to see, so cutting into the row I wish to use becomes very difficult.  It is frustrating. But, I shall persevere!

Bill

To separate railings that are connected close together, I use P-B-L De-spruing nippers, part #804.  They are like tweezers, but the end is a cross-wise blade, with a very fine point at one side.  I got them in a model railroad store.

G, for those nibs, I have a set of very small scissors (Solingen Dovo 45) that came from one of the cutlery shops in the big shopping malls.  I am usually pretty successful in holding those close along the side of the railings, and snipping and re-snipping until I can't feel the nib with my fingertip anymore.  (Note, the scissors were not from any kind of a sewing/craft store - those have not been as good for me)

Rick

Gentlemen,

Thanks for all of your advice! I appreciate your responses.  Rick, I will visit my local train shop to get those clippers and give it a try.

Bill

For vision enhancement, I find high powered reading glasses in discount stores, sometimes for a buck a piece.

I take those little nibs off with a needle file