Hello all, just looking for help and hopefully you will be able to provide tips and any advice along the way? I have just started my first ever model, going for the T-34/85 1944 Dragon and I am stuck!

What is the best way to attach / glue the photo etched parts onto the plastic? Baffled!

Thanks

Superglue (cyanoacrylate). If you want some maneuvering time before the glue sets up, use five minute epoxy instead.

Hi!
As Gerald already written: cyanoacrylate or epoxy are the solution. I just wanted to add some more advices:
- cyanoacrylate will burn the plastic, so make sure you did not placed too much glue on the part - PE parts are rather glued by flat surface so any glue that is over needed amount will be pressed away to the sides of PE part and may leave stains on the plastic part.
- make sure that you wash your parts. PE parts will gather all from your fingers - sweat, grease, dirt - it may affect assembly. So wash parts, wash hands than glue .

BTW: my first model ever was also T34-85, but from Tamiya .

Happy modelling!

Andrzej

Could also try Clear nail polish makes it easier for a first timer.

Really does as when they start gluing to your hand the blade and well you will see.

then this happens.

Best of luck on it.

Another option you can try that has worled well for me is liquid plastic cement. I use testors. This is for where PE is glued to plastic ONLY. Resin/PE or PE/PE have to be done by superglue or for the PE/PE some solder. Anyhow, just put some liquid glue where the part will go, let it soften the plastic just a touch, and then apply the PE part. This is going to be FRAGILE until a good coat of primer or paint is applied, so keep that in mind.

There is also a product called Gator glue which can be used, it's a new product that was highlighted in the ShipWrights area. I will try and find the details as I myself want to get hold of some as it is far less nasty to use than super glue. I forgot I was told PVA can also be used but have not tried that either yet.

There are also some very nice Urethane adhesives (Shoe Goo, Urethane Caulk, etc..) that will work really well here. The key is to be certain that the PE part is chemically clean. One may consider a quick dip in household vinegar then a rinse in clean water, allowing time for the part to dry (of course blotting on paper is always good to accelerate drying time).
There are many other solvents that are equally effective for cleaning, notably Acetone, etc..
Just be cautious not to use anything with a detergent (soap base) or highly acetic (which will aggressively etch the parts, perhaps to extinction!). By the way serious weathering and damage replication is possible with common automotive and aircraft paint prep. etching solutions on PE and one suspects to a lesser degree Polystyrene.

Tweezers, forceps, etc.. always the rule to handle fragile bits.

Anyway just a 1/4 cent worth.

http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/000733.php
http://www.google.com/products?ie=UTF-8&q=urethane+glue&um=1

http://www.google.com/products?q=shoe+goo&btnG=Search+Products&show=dd
http://www.alleycatscratch.com/lotr/makingem/Tips/Metal/EtchTips.htm
http://www.bd-4.org/etching.html

Great site:
http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/TnT_Archives/Photo_Etch.htm

Thanks all.

thanks alot fellas, all great help and i will get sorted for tommorw, will keep you posted on the build - thanks again