Photo-Etching

[Dan Morton]

Some questions about photo-etching of brass for small figure parts. What equipment is needed? Is the equipment prohibitively expensive for the hobbyist? How difficult is it to use?

all the best,
Dan

 

[megroot]

What kind of photo-etching are you planning to do on figures ??

marc

 

[btavis]

Originally posted by Dan Morton@Jun 4 2005, 01:16 PM
Some questions about photo-etching of brass for small figure parts. What equipment is needed? Is the equipment prohibitively expensive for the hobbyist? How difficult is it to use?

all the best,
Dan

You can buy a photoetch kit from MicroMark for about $149. The process is similar to setting up for silk screening except you etch the brass with acid. It is time consuming and not really worth the effort unless you have number of things you want to etch at one time.

 

[Dan Morton]

Marc - I was considering various WWI uniform parts [particularly those that should stand away from the surface] - some belt buckles, parts of bayonet frogs, clasps and brass pieces on cuirasses, medals, insignia, equipment etc. These would be 'add-ons' to improve or change the appearance of the uniform or equipment vs. the molded result. I don't believe there are any pre-made ones from Verlinden or whoever that include WWI uniform and equipment stuff. I have a sheet from Verlinden that includes glasses, etc. The etched brass barbed wire from Parkins The Firing Line is great.

Bob - Thanks for your reply. Have you tried it? From some brief web bashing, I gathered it would be far too much trouble to do just a few items. Mostly I just wanted info on whether other modellers had tried it for uniform items in 120mm or 90mm - successfully or unsuccessfully. I imagine 54mm and 70-80mm would be impossibly small for uniform & equipment details in etched brass.

all the best,
Dan

 

[MattMcK.]

Hi-
For a class project one of my students wrote a SBS on building a FW German fighter (Ah, the joys of being an English teacher!). For it he bought a circuit board etching kit at Radio Shack which was, if I remember, in the $20 range. He made a nice control panel with raised detail, so maybe that's a cost effective way to get started.
Matt

 

[Dan Morton]

"Ah, the joys [????!!!!] of being an English teacher!"

Matt, I would guess you also enjoy sticking pins in your fingers, but that aside - thanks for the suggestion! I may try that!

all the best,
Dan