Dear all,
I have been a long time reader of this site and learnt a lot from all you great people!
Today, i do have a specific question for you:
I did buy lately a new kit (Dragon's value pack m1a1), and I noticed that there are some very small "bars" meant for the storage on the side of the turrets.
I am thinking that i would probably break them if i try to go at it as usual, so does anybody have a good trick about those?
I m attaching a picture to illustrate what i m talking about.

Thanks for your time and help!

Excel super sharp #11 blades. You need to exercise very precise control when you are using them because they cut so well, but they will do the job. This tip was handed down to me by a fellow braille scale modeler and it's a life saver.

Hi, thanks for the info,
I ll basically try to get the sharpest tool I can and get to it very slowly, since pliers are a no-no and i ll break those very easily.

Thanks again!

You can also use photoetch saws. For me they are far better to get small pieces and fragil pieces that are held in more than one point.

Best regards,
Angel

For fine pieces, I use a fine razor saw to remove them from the sprue.

In these cases i usually take a new knifeblade to the hobby knife and start to cut slowly with very little pressure in a sawing motion. When I don't have much space. I cut up the sprue around the part to release tension on it. This way you end up with the part and some sprueattachments which can easily be cut off with knife or spruecutters. I usually try to leave the sprue on one side intact for ease of handling.

Alright!
thanks so much, there is a lot of practice and experience going on there
Like many things in this hobby, practice is everything and I ll make sure to make a blend of everything I m reading according to the situations and tools at hand!
Sometimes, i would give up very small parts like these, but they are too important in that kit so that is why I asked.

Again, thank you all so much

You can also use a heated knife blade to "cut" the sprue attachements and then clean up the remaining stubs.

I use a cheap pair of wire clippers to remove the attachment points and, then, an Excel #11 to clean it up.