Page 11 - June2018

Adding Aftermarket Details
Photo-Etched Parts
As stated in the
corresponding article
about adding aftermarket
resin parts, Model Aces
specializes in building
authentic-looking,
museum-quality scale
model replicas of actual
WW II aircraft. In this article, we’ll touch on the high
points of working with photo-etched parts, but for an
excellent, detailed tutorial with great pictures, we
recommend chapter 7 of "Building and Detailing Model
Aircraft" by Pat Hawkey.
Out-of-the-box model kits and upgrade kits are not
perfect or might not be the version of aircraft that you

want to build. Rely on your own research to decide what
aftermarket parts, if any, you want to add to your kit to
achieve the level of authenticity that you seek. Debate
the pros and cons of adding any part, as more is not
necessarily better – the goal is realism. As part of your

research, it is helpful to read kit reviews to get a better
understanding of various kits’ strengths, weaknesses and
what pitfalls to avoid. Also look for historical photos and
the particular aircraft’s plans and drawings whenever
possible.
After resin parts, photo-
etched parts are the other
popular choice for
aftermarket detail. Photo-
etching, also known as
photochemical machining,
is a process that can

produce fine, highly
complex parts from sheet
metal. A variety of metals from soft brass to stiff
stainless-steel can be photo-etched. Photo-etching
involves using a light-sensitive masking material called a
photoresist to areas that are to be preserved. After the
photoresist is applied, the metal is subjected to a
corrosive “etchant” which removes the unprotected
areas. This is called “chemical machining”.