Page 5 - March 2019
P. 5
Photo Etched Parts – Small Details, Big Results
Many expert level (level 5) model kits include some form
of Photo Etched Parts, or have parts that can be added
as a future accessory. Deck railings on ships, handles on
Using Epoxy Putty, Styrene, and Decal Sheets
to customize your model kits cars, exhaust manifolds on tanks -- if it’s small and made
of metal chances are it could also be made as a Photo
Part 4 of a 4 Part Series
Etched part. Used in so many tiny places it’s sometimes
This is our last edition of our four part expert model building very difficult to work with these little pieces of metal,
series. In this blog we will discuss the use of Epoxy Putty, but a delicate touch and proper tools will help. Photo
Styrene, and Decal Sheets, to customize your model kits. Etched pieces should be carefully extracted from their
We will then cover tips for applying photo etched parts to metal sprue using a hobby knife and manipulated via the
your model kits. Finally we will talk about diorama building use of tweezers or small pliers.
using products from Woodland Scenics, custom lighting, and
We often suggest using fast drying Cyanoacrylate (CA)
touch upon airbrushing.
glue to attach the metal parts to your plastic kits;
Model Customization – Time to make your kit unique standard model cement will not adhere to metal. Be
Tamiya Epoxy Putty is a two part product with both a quick very careful when bending parts as mistakes are nearly
and normal formula. When mixed together the product impossible to correct.
becomes mouldable putty. When soft it can be worked into
If you're looking for a different type of model,
any imaginable shape and once dry it remains hard and is
try one of our Metal Earth model kits.
paintable. An example of expert level work with Epoxy
Putty shows a military soldier turned into a baseball player They are made entirely from Photo Etched Parts!
by molding a glove and hat, and finishing him off with a
custom paint job. Diorama Building – Setting the scene
Styrene, a pre-moulded
plastic, is a very useful tool
If you aren't satisfied with simply putting your model on
when customizing your
a shelf for display, and you would like to make it part of
model (for example,
a grand scene, Woodland Scenics has a wide range of
converting your Coupe to a
products that can help. The Woodland Scenics line
Convertible). In its simplest
allows you to design your own scenery, whether from
form, styrene can be used to
scratch or from their collection of pre-built scenic
create detailed add-ons for
existing models, but in the accessories. Once you have a scene in mind, simply add
hands of an expert model trees, grass, streams, etc. to make it look realistic.
builder you can even create
your own unique model
from scratch. Custom Lighting – Let there be light!
Styrene is sold in sheets, strips, tubes, and rods, available in
a variety of widths and diameters. Often seen in SciFi model kits, custom lighting can also
be used to illuminate anything from dashboards to port
The final way people make their kits unique is with Custom holes.
Decal Sheets. As Canadians we are often forced to make
due with British or American decals for our model kits. With When getting started you need to establish where lights
the use of Decal Sheets and photo editing software you can would be in real life. On a ship these would include port
holes as well as red and green on port and starboard.
create perfect decals representative of your model.
Whether it’s a maple leaf on a Canadian ship, or a lightning Once you’ve established where the lights will shine
bolt on the side of your car, you just need to find the through you need to open up the holes. Typically a pin
vise can be used to start a hole and you can then use a
pictures on your computer and make them to scale. Decal
Sheets come in clear and white, for both inkjet and laser specialty tool such as the Tamiya Diamond File to widen
it without causing damage to the model.
printers.
