Tools for a newbee to P.E

[Ian B]

Hi

Can someone point me to a suitable thread (I did try and find one!) or advise me as to some basic tools for cutting, bending etc P.E. I am hoping to embark on my first plastic ship with P.E enhancements and my main concern is cutting and shaping, I assume CE glue is OK for the actual sticking?

 

Sorry if this links sounds stupid.🤡

[John Cheevers]

If you can find it, you want something like this:

[VonHoldinghausen]

Hi there

 

Good luck with your new project

Patience is the first thing you need. That can not be bought though

   I would say a bender could be nice to have, but you can come a long

way with simply a small steel ruler and a razor blade for bending PE.

Remember it should always be done on a hard surface, like maybe a tile or

a small piece of glass.

   CA works fine. Another option is the acrylic Hobby glue from Gator Grip.

It is a bit more forgiving and gives more time for placing/building your PE parts.

   Bigger PE parts can be placed with tiny amounts of CA to hold it in place,

and then glued more solidly in place with for example the above mentioned glue.

   Any sharp hobbyknife would be ok, as long as the blade is small.

There are special PE cutters, but I would say you can come a long way with simply a knife.

Remember cutting PE should also be made on a hard surface (to awoid unwanted bending).

 

Cheers!

Edited June 12, 2019 by VonHoldinghausen
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[Ian B]

Thank you both, this is a really leap into the unknown. I plan to do the Airfix HMS Belfast 1/600 with White ensign PE as a trial. A ship I have visited but think I will do in the grey all over and not the disruptive camouflage scheme she is currently in.

[Haliburton]

Does anybody ever use solder for PE?  I saw an article in finescalemodeller about using it. But it seems to me most just use the glue. 

[James H]

5 hours ago, Ian B said:

Hi

Can someone point me to a suitable thread (I did try and find one!) or advise me as to some basic tools for cutting, bending etc P.E. I am hoping to embark on my first plastic ship with P.E enhancements and my main concern is cutting and shaping, I assume CE glue is OK for the actual sticking?

 

Sorry if this links sounds stupid.🤡

 

If you pop me your address via PM, I'll send you my 5.5inch Hold 'n Fold. I have two, so don't need another. It's not new but is perfectly ok. It's high quality machined aluminium and very precise. All I ask is postage.

 

[James H]

12 minutes ago, Haliburton said:

Does anybody ever use solder for PE?  I saw an article in finescalemodeller about using it. But it seems to me most just use the glue. 

Sometimes, yes.

[Ian B]

Not a great picture, but when I was building my Cheerful I did solder the chimney after cutting the sides from thin brass. I could then file the joints flat.

 

PS- the windlass is only placed there around it and not badly fitted LOL