discussion 1/48 Bren carrier

[Isitme]

Hi all,
Decided to have a try at P.E. and managed to get a Tamiya 1/48 bren carrier complete with P.E. This will be my next build and will no doubt provide me with lots of challenges along the way. Any help and advice will be greatly appreciated especially concerning the P.E.
Here is the sprue shot and I have to say already a little worried - the P.E. is tiny !!
Thanks for looking,
Nick T.

For the etch I would suggest practice first using a pair of tweezers instead of your fingers to manipulate the smaller items, For bending I use a safety blade or a #9 scalpel blade, for holding down sometimes even a 6" ruler is too long so I use a couple of bits of 60thou plasticard wit h the edges sanded square. And most bending is either done on a flat floor tile or a piece of 5mm glass A5 size.

For attaching either a fine pin or the tip of an old #10A scalpel blade dipped into c/a and then touched to the area to be cemented.
Above all take your time, plan ahead and think.
Cheers,
Mike.

 

[Isitme]

Hi Tim,
That's a great tip and having just spent over an hour attempting to fit three pieces it may well be happening sooner rather than later.

To all,


The pictures show my achievements so far today - four stuck fingers and a few expletives later.
I only have cheap CA and was struggling with such small parts so finally used the end of a cocktail stick but as the picture shows one touch and it ran everywhere.
I hope there are better ways and that the secret is revealed ??
Thanks for looking and comments welcome.

Wait till you lose the part and then as you are getting ready for be the wife asks if that is a zit on your face....

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

PE plus carpet equals AAAARGH!

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

BTW Nick - couldn't make a link so if you're still interested my Bren Carrier is on page 4 of the Completed Armour line

Ooh, this was my hundredth post - so far still to go!

 

[NickT]

A bit more progress however the PE is causing problems its so small and I'm getting on a bit. Glasses and magnifying lenses and it still looks tiny. I honestly don't know how some of you manage even smaller and micro.

Thanks for looking Nick T.

 

[NickT]

Hi again,

Mike thanks for the information and photo of your kit. I am getting the hang of tweezers and have found it easier to fold/bend like you say on a flat surface and using a blade. As fot the zit well I almost dropped the whole lot laughing !!

Chris - many thanks I will certainly be having a look.

Nick T.

 

[adt70hk]

Looking good so far!

 

[NickT]

Thanks Andrew

 

[NickT]

Chris - just had a look at your previous conversion - Fantastic !!

 

[NickT]

Well that has been a steep learning curve. I now understand what you guys meant by using PE that adds to a model and not just for the sake of using it. Spent a number of hours (yes hours, I'm a bit slow) removing the front sides of the plastic model to replace with PE. I then have difficulties bending, fitting and glueing in place. When I take the time to look at what was already in the kit I now feel it would have been just as good, if not better, to use the original. Some of the smaller items of PE certainly add detail and I have enjoyed trying to shape and fit those.
Anyway moan over - still having fun - a few pictures of progress so far.




Thanks for looking, Nick T.

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

Looking good so far Nick
And like the consensus on PE is, add what enhances the kit not just because it's been supplied
I think that's Rule 3 of PE

We should compile a proper list of PE Rules
Rule 1 - You will ALWAYS lose pieces to the Carpet Monster
Rule 2 - If it's too small to handle, it's too small to use
Rule 3 above
Rule 4 and 5 anyone?

 

[Guest]

Nick. I know exactly what you mean, Its it me , aka Mike is a masterat PE and all things scratchery.

I have put back into the draw my Aber kits, just can't manage the PE.

Posts crossed Chris, rule 4 Sticking any part to the body is allowed.:smiling2:

 

[GerryW]

Looking good so far Nick
And like the consensus on PE is, add what enhances the kit not just because it's been supplied
I think that's Rule 3 of PE

We should compile a proper list of PE Rules
Rule 1 - You will ALWAYS lose pieces to the Carpet Monster
Rule 2 - If it's too small to handle, it's too small to use
Rule 3 above
Rule 4 and 5 anyone?

Might be a bit 'dense' here, but does rule 3 cover "if you can't see it"?

 

[Tim Marlow]

Hi Nick
Coming on well, and it is meeting modellers rule 1, the only one that counts! This rule states “it must be fun”......

 

[NickT]

Hi All,
Thanks Chris I think I've learnt rule 3 the hard way on this one.
John - what about sticking body part to body part ?? Done that on this build too !
Gerry - totally agree some so small struggle even with the magnifiers.
Tim - my attempts are always fun - they have to be or madness prevails.

Thanks for looking and comments.
Nick T.

 

[scottie3158]

Nick,
this is a small build in 35. You are doing a grand job so far.

 

[NickT]

Thanks Paul - eyes suffering a bit !!

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

Posts crossed Chris, rule 4 Sticking any part to the body is allowed.:smiling2:

'Allowed', 'compulsory' or 'unavoidable'?
Hmm, Rule 5 - when the PE part is perfectly placed, it will stay attached to the tweezers you're positioning it with

GerryW, interesting point, both physically and meta -physically. If you know it's there, and only you know it's there (in the back of the engine compartment, behind the glued-shut louvres), is that satisfaction, smugness, or 'I wasn't going to let the damn kit beat me!'?

 

[GerryW]

'Allowed', 'compulsory' or 'unavoidable'?
Hmm, Rule 5 - when the PE part is perfectly placed, it will stay attached to the tweezers you're positioning it with

GerryW, interesting point, both physically and meta -physically. If you know it's there, and only you know it's there (in the back of the engine compartment, behind the glued-shut louvres), is that satisfaction, smugness, or 'I wasn't going to let the damn kit beat me!'?

With me, it'd be 'I wasn't going to let the damn kit beat me!', but that's me (bit like the Protar JAWA Speedway bike - the crank and piston moves, but no-one can see it!)

 

[adt70hk]

Nick

That's coming on very nicely indeed.

Well done.

Andrew