Photo Etch

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Craig Skinner
Posts: 69
Joined: 11 Jun 2015, 03:11

Re: Photo Etch

Post by Craig Skinner »

Hey Brian,
Thanks for the post,don't have any friends that live close by that are into modeling but I did find some cheap PE on e-Bay to practice with.

Craig Skinner
Posts: 69
Joined: 11 Jun 2015, 03:11

Re: Photo Etch

Post by Craig Skinner »

Hi guy's!

Have to ask another newbie ? Annealing PE is to make the PE softer so you can manipulate it better?

If so how hot do you have to get it? I tried heating a fender piece with my bic lighter and heated till it changed color a bit but still having a time getting the spring out of it. Do you have to heat till it turns red?

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Gary Boxall
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Joined: 18 Jul 2014, 21:34
Location: Auckland New Zealand

Re: Photo Etch

Post by Gary Boxall »

Craig

It depends a lot of the size of the piece. Larger sections, such as a fender, sometimes need to be heated until almost glowing. Smaller pieces (such as chains) simply melt with too much heat. It can often down to trial and error.
If you need to anneal a large piece of PE - especially if it's thick, then a gas butane torch is far more effective than a BIC lighter.

Gary
Hi. My name is Gary and I'm an ex-Shermaholic....

Craig Skinner
Posts: 69
Joined: 11 Jun 2015, 03:11

Re: Photo Etch

Post by Craig Skinner »

Thanks Gary!

Looks like I'm going to have to get a micro torch! :)

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Gary Boxall
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Joined: 18 Jul 2014, 21:34
Location: Auckland New Zealand

Re: Photo Etch

Post by Gary Boxall »

I use a gas torch for about 99% of my soldering. The other 1% is with a BIC lighter. I never use an electric iron....

Gary
Hi. My name is Gary and I'm an ex-Shermaholic....

Craig Skinner
Posts: 69
Joined: 11 Jun 2015, 03:11

Re: Photo Etch

Post by Craig Skinner »

Ya but your a pro! I've seen your work on this site,just stunning!

I'm not so sure I could use a torch to solder just yet,annealing ya, but :lol:

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Gary Boxall
Site Admin/Founder
Posts: 2476
Joined: 18 Jul 2014, 21:34
Location: Auckland New Zealand

Re: Photo Etch

Post by Gary Boxall »

Here's my spares stash of PE.

Generic....

Image

Sherman specific...

Image

Just can't get enough :lol:

Gary
Hi. My name is Gary and I'm an ex-Shermaholic....

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Steve Hutchinson
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Joined: 20 Jul 2014, 08:27
Location: Bradford West Yorkshire, UK

Re: Photo Etch

Post by Steve Hutchinson »

:shock: :shock:

That is a lot of brass :shock:

Steve H
""I need to be creative, to feel ALIVE!""

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Philipp Gross
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Re: Photo Etch

Post by Philipp Gross »

The scrap value alone could buy you a new kit I'd guess :lol:

Craig, you're not alone - despite Gary's best efforts I haven't soldered a single piece of etch yet :oops: :lol:

Philipp
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Craig Skinner
Posts: 69
Joined: 11 Jun 2015, 03:11

Re: Photo Etch

Post by Craig Skinner »

Well that is quite a pile of scrap PE you've got there Gary :shock: Had a little bit of practice at this PE stuff have ya now Gary :P

It's know wonder your a PE master now Gary,you've let your secret out of the bag with this post,practice,practice and practice :lol:

Philipp Gary has enough scrap PE there equivalent to pay for probably a dozen AFV kits,this stuff is anything but cheap :P

I haven't solder anything yet but I'm determined to give it a shot! No pain no gain as I see it,this stuff is tedious to work with but it presents a challenge and I'm all for that. Even though I'm new at this AFV I can see how PE can take your model and your modeling skills to new and improved heights,one does have to master patients (grasshopper) though but it's all good as I see it :shock: :lol:

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