Updates contd.
I have been putting off adding the PE latches (I bought these ages ago) but I was running out of things to do on the tank. Sooner or later I was going to do the thing I hated most - working on these awfully small PE parts.
The PE sheet comes from Aber. They are 1/16 scale but still way too small for me.
I read online that before assembling the PE, you have to heat it. (A process called annealing). Be careful overheating the sheet though as it is very thin and will distort easily. The key to annealing is not so much applying too much heat but letting the PE part cool slowly after heating.
Here is a sample instruction sheet that comes with the kit. The PE sheet consists of clamps and latches. The instruction I will be following will be for the latches. As you can see I had problems sourcing (and attaching) the 0.3 mm wires since the PE kit didn't came with any.
I finally sourced the wire from a telephone cord. I peeled off the insulation and removed a single wire from the stranded wires. This wire was actually a bit thinner than what was needed but since I had none other available I settled for it.
Here is a photo of one assembly step. I had some difficulty inserting the side extensions on one part (red arrows) to the corresponding holes on the curved piece. The key here is to line up the holes properly before attempting the insert.
And here it is after a successful attempt. Please note that these parts are smaller the the locking pin chains I did before, so as usual I couldn't really see what I was doing and just proceeded by feel alone. I wish I had a loupe so I can actually see what I was doing. However a dslr with a macro lens helped since I was able to take a pic of each step and review my work.
Here is another piece. It was flat from the sheet so I used tweezers to bend it. There are bending tools available that could make this easier but bending them with tweezers is not really that hard. Its very important you have a sticky mat (I used a CD sticker) to place these parts on so that they don't go flying about when you try to bend it. Also wear goggles or eye protection (I had my glasses on) so that if they do fly off, they don't inadvertently hit you in the eye as these parts are not only small but sharp.
(I am thinking if one of these buggers hit you in the eye, the only way to get them off would be a quick trip to the hospital) So be warned.
That last piece (part 7 in photo above) actually attaches to the tank and serves as the pivot for the latch. You attach it together by threading the 0.3 mm hole through the 2 pieces. (Easier said than done).
Here is a photo after the wire was successfully threaded to the 2 pieces. The wire was threaded to 4 holes in total. Please note that it took me 2 days to finish this one step. (Although I had many breaks in between). Don't expect to finish this process in one sitting. Its particularly maddening since you have to line both holes of the 2 pieces together before you can successfully thread the wire to both of them. I was so frustrated that I was thinking of giving up and chucking the whole thing. If you start to feel like this, just gather up all the parts, rest and call it a day. The key here is not to be in a hurry to complete it. I was finally successful when I stopped and continued the next day.
