Don't know if this has been posted before but I was doing some surfing this morning (looking for info on photo etch tools) and came across this site showing how to do phot etch yourself. Pretty interesting stuff seeing all the steps that are involved.

http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Fea1/601-700/Fea688_F-4_Greutert/fea688.html

Oh stop, that's no ordinary modeler, that's a super human! :-)

WOW, understood it all till " The orientation diagram from my Plane Captain Handbook ". The effort required to make your own P.E looks a little complicated to me :-) .
Andy (++)

Nice result but between the CAD program, special transparent inkjet film, the light box and UV lamp this is just way to complicated for me. This said, I would like to be able to do something like that, no doubt.

Yea, I thought the same thing. It would be nice to be able to make your own stuff like that but I'm no mad scientist, so I'll stick with just buying the AM parts if I need them or do as I've been doing and just buy the Dragon kits. lol

I found it a very interesting read though, figured lots of people here would too. It's interesting to see how many steps are involved to achieve that photo realism.

That's actually the "correct way" to do DIY PE a simple Sharpie marker on some clean brass put into the Etchig solurion works as well.... Mother had a small Post on it here somewhere......


Matt

Looks pretty great. Thanks for the interesting article, but considering that the tools are quite expensive I´ll stick to professionally done PE and won´t start messing around with that stuff. Maybe I´ll try later (10-15 years or so :-) )

Hi!

You could get a kit available from Micro-mark
all you need a CAD genius or MS paint expert

Good find, that's a pretty cool deal there Kenny. Anyone ever use the Micro Mark set? Here's a link to it: http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=83123

You don't need a cad genius..... Just call me...LOL

I think it's better than a book because it gives step by step better I think.


Happy Modeling
(++) 1:35

don't bother it is wiser to payfor pre made PE kits than to waste $100+ on DIY PE kit (I'm talking about another
DIY PE kit I saw in a icro-mark ad in FSM magazine)

I'd rather just pony up the cash my LHS in Iowa City (an hour away) for PE kits. even though they never have any WW2 era PE kits

It's a matter of opinion..... If there's PE that's not on the market... and you need it.... and could justify the cost.... Why not do the DIY photo etch????

Over the summer I decided to try doing my own PEing, nothing fancy just some simple stuff. All in all I was pleased with the results. Now when I need something not so complex and simple I'll make make own. Here is what I came up with. You'll have to read through the post some, it's towards the middle.

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/57539&page=1

Wow, very cool Joe! Thanks for that info, I never saw that one when it was originally posted. This looks like a really valid option for many people without having to go the mad scientist route. lol Pretty cool to do when in a pinch for a part or making a PE part that just doesn't exist. Thanks for sharing.

You can buy most of the solutions at your local Radio Shack for under U$20. Doesn't look like you can mail order it. Those are some serious chemicals.

The art work can be as easy as Joe's Sharpie or as complex as CAD. I think Rust White (Flagship Models) had published a phamplet or maybe it was a FSM article on DIY PE.

For small stuff, especially stuff that doesn't need a lot of bends, it could be a winner.