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Photo-Etch Hell

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  • Member since
    November 2005
Photo-Etch Hell
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 2:09 AM
Is it just me or do others here also have trouble folding teeny weeny photo etch parts? I even have an Etch-Mate folding tool which is great for larger parts but I really struggle when small parts need folding into 3D shapes. I mean does anybody actually get these really small items to fold up and look right. I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that extra detail involving 3D items is the realm of resin. PE is great for adding surface detail, seat belts, instrument panels or simple larger folded items. The Eduard set I am working with now has some items so small which need complex, accurate folding it is simply ridiculous. I probably won't use 30%-40% of this set because of this. In saying that, most of the unused parts will have been for OTT "I know it's there" detail anyway. Oh well, it was my choice but I was just wondering if others find themselves in similar circumstances or is it just me?Dunce [D)]

Cheers...Snowy.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 2:13 AM
For really small parts I use 2 modelling knifes, 1 to hold the part down the other to slide underneath and bend it. Or pliers and a Knife.

Had to do it recently on a 1/72 Tiger kit where the vision ports & some hand-holds were replaced with PE parts.
Big Smile [:D]

Takes practice though.
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Tochigi, Japan
Posted by J-Hulk on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 6:31 AM
For me, folding is as much of a problem as getting on the model straight!!

If the superglue could wait just half a second more...
~Brian
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 6:35 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by J-Hulk

For me, folding is as much of a problem as getting on the model straight!!

If the superglue could wait just half a second more...


What CA are you using??
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Posted by maddafinga on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 8:15 AM
I know your feeling on this Brian. I have had to pop off pieces and reglue them a few times due to not getting it straight and the part setting up almost instantly. I hate that.
Madda Trifles make perfection, but perfection is no trifle. -- Leonardo Da Vinci Tact is for those who lack the wit for sarcasm.--maddafinga
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 8:55 AM
I bought 2 sets for some corsairs I am doing and it will probable be the last I buy. Lots of wee tiny things that ar a devil to hold let a lone put in the right plave staight.
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Central MI
Posted by therriman on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 9:17 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by maddafinga

I know your feeling on this Brian. I have had to pop off pieces and reglue them a few times due to not getting it straight and the part setting up almost instantly. I hate that.


Ever notice that half the time the CA sets to fast. And the other half it sets too slow. Out of the same bottle.Question [?]Question [?]Question [?]
Tim H. "If your alone and you meet a Zero, run like hell. Your outnumbered" Capt Joe Foss, Guadalcanal 1942 Real Trucks have 18 wheels. Anything less is just a Toy! I am in shape. Hey, Round is a shape! Reality is a concept not yet proven.
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Posted by maddafinga on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 6:37 PM
Hehe, yep, it depends on what you need. Some ingredient in the glue picks up latent thoughts and feelings from your brain and performs the exact opposite way.
Madda Trifles make perfection, but perfection is no trifle. -- Leonardo Da Vinci Tact is for those who lack the wit for sarcasm.--maddafinga
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 8:08 PM
Fold 'em ???? I'm still trying to see 'em !!!!!
Eyes going, hate the magni-visor, have to take glasses off to see part, then can't find squat on bench, etc, etc, etc .... Plus, to make matters worse, I nibble at my nails & thus have stubs to handle 'em with .... Why am I doing this ?$@$#^*(&^#$%

Seriously, I use a couple knives & razors, plus very-fine point tweezers ....
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Alice Springs Australia
Posted by tweety1 on Thursday, January 15, 2004 6:49 AM
Snowy, I went down to the hardware store and bought 4 sets of longnose pliers, small ones, Sidchrome brand, red handles.

The original one has no teeth on it, and is about 4 mm across the nose, perfect for grabbing the etch without marking it.

As for the other three sets, I ground them down across the nose to 3 mm, then 2 then 1.

Seems a little fiddly I know, but what I got was a decent size tool that would grip the small part as needed and not fling it across the room only to be found next time you walk in with bare feet, and accurate folds even on the smallest items, like a crosshair site for a 1/48th scale Zero.
--Sean-- If you are driving at the speed of light and you turn on the headlights, what happens???
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 15, 2004 1:24 PM
I've got a set of piano hinges on my Aber Tiger I set that need folding round to house a 0.3mm wire.. ACK!

Also, the set has teeeeeny weeny clasps that, if made properly, will actually work!! Mad!
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 15, 2004 5:41 PM
Tweety1, I'll try your pliers idea, that sounds pretty good, might even get me out of trouble. If I go for the Sidchromes I'll cringe when I put 'em to the grinder. There goes that life time warranty.....! OUCH!
Thanks.

Cheers....Snowy.
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Tochigi, Japan
Posted by J-Hulk on Monday, January 19, 2004 12:33 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by MadModelFactory

QUOTE: Originally posted by J-Hulk

For me, folding is as much of a problem as getting on the model straight!!

If the superglue could wait just half a second more...


What CA are you using??


Howdy, MMF!
I mainly use the Zero-Time (Cenodine, maybe?) line of CA adhesives readily available here, mainly the "wide" type. That and gel type, which seems to work a bit better for me.
I tried Locktite, but that stuff just did not stick at all.

Everything I use sticks great, but like I said, if I had just one half a second more time to adjust the position...Big Smile [:D]
~Brian
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 19, 2004 12:40 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by J-Hulk
Howdy, MMF!
I mainly use the Zero-Time (Cenodine, maybe?) line of CA adhesives readily available here, mainly the "wide" type. That and gel type, which seems to work a bit better for me.
I tried Locktite, but that stuff just did not stick at all.

Everything I use sticks great, but like I said, if I had just one half a second more time to adjust the position...Big Smile [:D]


I tend to use both of the Wave Super Glues, they come in "strong" and "fast setting".

Some of the reasons for using them are: low smell, dries clear(no fogging), K-Nozzles.

For stuff that I need to reposition longer I got 2-minute epoxy glue.
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Tochigi, Japan
Posted by J-Hulk on Monday, January 19, 2004 4:57 AM
Any difference in setting times between the two Wave types?
I've tried epoxy glues, and found them a bit unwieldy. And I don't need 2 minutes--2 seconds would be plenty!
There's gotta be a single-tube cyanoacrylate out there that gives you a second or two to position.
The quest continues...
~Brian
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 19, 2004 5:22 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by J-Hulk

Any difference in setting times between the tow Wave types?


Yes, the strong takes longer to set than the fat-setting one, Wave also makes a kicker/accelerator.

Neither of the Wave glues seem to be instant settings, for fiddly bits I position, hold the part and apply with the K-nozzle attached to the tube.

[edit]
One word of advise DO NOT play with the end of tubes of Wave CA. Wink [;)]
[/edit]
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Tochigi, Japan
Posted by J-Hulk on Monday, January 19, 2004 7:30 AM
Thanks, MMF!
I'll give them a shot (and avoid the tube ends!).
~Brian
  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Newnan, GA
Posted by benzdoc on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 3:58 PM
snowy, I feel your pain brother! Some of the really small levers and such almost seem like they would be better to make from scratch - lite wire with a bit of glue on the end. As for myself, in the end I usually make use of a very trusted pair of flat blade pliers. They haven't let me down yet!

hang in there!
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