Photo Etch - Here to Stay?

equipment,

hands,

Personally, I think they are here to stay. In the beginning the PE was used to enhance a kit or perhaps convert it to a different variant. Today's super-comprehensive sets try to replace all parts that should or shouldn't be PE.

Same deal with the kits. When the manufacturers toss in a small PE fret, it allows them to bump the price up. I wouldn't worry though, there are still going to be plenty of kits that are all plastic without having to find ancient repops.

Yes - I think etched parts are going to become a fact of life in a quality kit (particularly in the larger scales), if only because the aftermarket for them is so strong. And in some cases they just plain make sense - I know a lot of folk hate Trumpeters etched hinges, but I think they are a stroke of genius - durable and functional. And that's something I want in a kit - the ability to handle it once it's finished without fear of things popping off.

I know that I personally refuse to build an aircraft kit without etched parts these days - whether they come in the kit, or I have to buy them from Eduard. Most of the time I need to do both - the kit etch (other than structural parts - like those hinges) dosen't quite measure up to the aftermarket stuff...but I suppose that is to be expected, or there wouldn't be an aftermarket.

Dunno. PE in either after-market and in the kit has been around for some time. I remember the early DML German fighters had both white metal and etched frets back in the late 80s. We're also seeing more and more kits that include resin details in them now. Of course Monogram included some resin bits in a couple of their Pro Modeler sets over 10 years ago as well. With the demand for more accuracy and more detail in kits, I'd think this will be around a while.

pe is tough for a guy with arthritis, but not every new kit i buy has it. sometimes i want to super detail, sometimes not. with the huge asortmrnt out there, i uspect you'll never run out of kits you like. i'll take them revell repops if you don't want them...and your lindbergs and matchbox.

rufus, you are going to be the first climically recognized case of pe dependence. "but dr. it's just that the kit looked a little bare!"

I have the same problems as you. It is not the eyes- I can always pick up more powerful reading glasses. But my arthritic finger joints are just not steady enough with the tweezers. I also find in dry weather that static charge seems to sometimes repel small pieces from tweezers.

I do not refrain from buying those kits. The really small PE detail parts I sometimes pass over, however. The bigger pieces are okay, and look nice compared to fat molded plastic.

...I want a cut if it becomes known as "Rufus Syndrome".

won't happen. you'll be a footnote and some dr will get the creds.