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photoetched detail kits--help

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  • Member since
    January 2005
photoetched detail kits--help
Posted by wahooman on Monday, April 18, 2005 10:00 PM
Wanting to upgrade my modeling skills, I've purchased a cockpit potoectched detail kit. I must admit it has spooked me, bigger task than I expected, and I really don't know how to use this kit. Do you replace some parts, overlay some,and what about painting? On the cockpit instermaint panal do you sand away the out of box panel? I'm lost, and in over my head, but I don't want to be an apprintance forever. I need help, and I would greatly appreciate any advice given, please elaborate in detail. I've searched this fourm,even Swanny, but found nothing about photoetched detailing. yahooman
  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Utereg
Posted by Borg R3-MC0 on Tuesday, April 19, 2005 8:53 AM
Don't panic!

I'll try to anwser some of your questions:

Replace or overlay? That depends on the parts of the Pe set, use instructions, reference material and you own judgement!

Painting: any modelling paint will do. Airbrushing and drybrushing are handy to show all the details. You don't want them to disappear under a coat of paint! Make sure the parts a free of any grease etc.

Remember that you don't HAVE to use the WHOLE set. Just use the parts you like, keep the rest in the spares box.

I would like to give you more detailed anwsers but these PE set's vary. So take some pictures of problem pieces etc. (box panel?) then you might get more specific anwsers.

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: NYC, USA
Posted by waikong on Tuesday, April 19, 2005 12:00 PM
Or tell us the kit & the photoetch set you purchased, we can look at it from a few different web sites and get back to you.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, May 16, 2005 10:37 AM
Hey, Guys,
I am in a similar position. If it's OK... Tamiya Bf-109E-4 and the Eduard color photo detail set (Eduard 49 220). I, like wahooman, feel completely out of water.
Thanks,
Dale Neidhammer
dneid@austin.rr.com
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: NYC, USA
Posted by waikong on Monday, May 16, 2005 12:21 PM
Looks like you started off with a full set, so you are going to dig right in!

First off, realize you don't have to use everything in the set. Some people find certain items in PE are too flat and the kit part is actually better. You decide which looks better to you.

I looked at the instruction sheet briefly and it looks fairly straight forward. Some parts are marked with red to show that you have to cut off the kit part and replace with their PE item. Usually a #11 blade and a filing will do the job. Cutting off the PE takes some care or it will go flying off somewhere. Some people cut the PE on a piece of glass. I also sometimes simply tape the piece down and then cut to prevent fly aways. For example, the first sheet asks you to remove the details onthe left fuselage completely and replace it with PE details. The pieces that aren't replacing a kit part simply needs to be glued.

Since its metal, you need to use Cyano glue (i.e. Krazy Glue, Zap instant glue). Lots of the pieces are SMALL, so depending on your eyesight you may want ot use some maginifying lense and lweezers. I also recommend 'slow curing' Cyano glue for the small pieces in odd positions - as this will give you a little bit of time (10-15 secs) to move the piece into the correct angle/area.

The only other part thats a bit different is the panel. You basically sand off the kit's panel details, paint it white, then glue the provided film with the instrument dials onto the sanded panel. You then glue the PE panel with the holes over that carefully to align the holes with the instrucment faces.

The other skill set to learn is bending the pieces as some pieces need to be folded into a 3-D shape. Some people buy dedicated tools like EtchMate, which is around $60 or so. You can also simply use a steel ruler or some other still straight edge, to trap the PE piece to be folded. Align the edge you want to bend with the edge of the straight edge, then slip a Razor blade underneath the PE piece and bend blade toward you to fold the piece.

Hope this helps.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, May 16, 2005 2:27 PM
Hey, Waikong,
Just what I was looking for. I have lots of prior scale, stati experiance from over 20 years ago and I am returning to the scale aircraft world. I also have a great of experience building and flying RC aircraft. So a great deal of the techniques you discuss are familiar to me. It is great getting some feedback from some one who has more experience with these PE kits.
Once again, thanks so much for the help and your time.
Thanks,
Dale Neidhammer
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: NYC, USA
Posted by waikong on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 12:01 PM
You're welcome. I always wanted to get into RC aircraft, but due to the lack of open space to fly and the thought of crashing the plane have kept me back!
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Brooklyn
Posted by wibhi2 on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 5:00 PM
Hey waikong,
methinks they fly planes on the marine field near Coney Island or gliders along the Belt Parkway in Bayridge. I'm sure there are places in Queens and the Bronx (like the zoo :0) )
and defineately on the Island.
3d modelling is an option a true mental excercise in frusrtation
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 10:12 PM
Hey, guys,
You really should give the RC thing a try. I love it!! Be aware of one thing though... all your RC planes come with an expiration date; you just don;t know what that is!!
Thanks,
Dale
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