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Painting photo eched parts


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Make sure your PE is clean. I use lacquer thinner to clean, but dawn n water would work too. Depending on the PE, and where it’s gonna go you really wouldn’t have to worry about using a primer or metal primer that Mr hobby has or Tamiya. But if using primer make sure light thin coats, and then paint. Also make sure to bend etc any part that needs it before priming or painting. Basically if the PE is gonna be somewhere where it’ll never get touched like gas, brake pedal you could skip the primer, and just paint as normal. If you wanna prime the part example gas, brake petal part? Than clean PE, and attach it - let the glue cure, and then prime with whatever preferably mr surfacer, and then paint. 

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Yes, photo etched parts should be primed first. If it can be attached to the body or another larger part before painting, do so and then prime the whole assembly. If it needs to be painted before assembly, I will brush on Gunze Sangyo Mr. Metal Primer.

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On 6/5/2023 at 3:34 AM, GEORGE LEMIRE said:

Could i get some advice on painting photo eched parts,i use laquer Mr Hobby Mr Metal Aluminum ect.Would i need a primer and what type of prep is needed.Thank you.

I have one tip for cleaning the p/e parts without 'touching' them. Vinegar can be used to etch the surface a little, which should give much better paint adhesion. What works even better, and in just seconds. is hot vinegar. Simply microwave it until it boils, then dip the p/e in it for a few seconds.

Rob

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The process is also called "chemical milling".

Some historical and technical info is on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_milling also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photochemical_machining

Some companies which do this have websites with photos showing examples of the process.  Here is a very nice example https://www.ppdltd.com/the-process.html

There are also home-brew etching kits available (or you can roll your own, once you learn about the process).

 

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