1:12 Etching Parts for Kawasaki KR250

The real subject

The Kawasaki KR250 is a Japanese sports motorcycle of the nineteen-eighties. On a model of a motorcycle in 1:12 scale the machine is exposed from every side, so even the small things that are visible on a finished model from close up leave their mark on the resulting impression. It is precisely there that photo-etched metal comes in useful, because the corresponding parts come out too thick in plastic.

What the set contains

It is a set of photo-etched parts, that is a thin metal fret in which the shapes are etched chemically. The individual parts are held in it on thin tabs and are separated from the fret before use. The extent of the set, that is which parts of the model it replaces and completes, and which kit it is cut for, is given by the manufacturer's instructions. Before the build, therefore, check that the set matches the model you are building.

Building and painting tips

Separate the parts with a sharp blade on a hard surface, not by snapping them off, or they will warp. Level the remainder of the tab with a fine file. Make the bends in a photo-etch bending tool or between two blades, so that the edge comes out sharp and straight. Metal is glued with cyanoacrylate glue or a two-part epoxy, as cement for plastic models does not work on it. Before painting, wash the parts, degrease them and use a base coat intended for metal.

• photo-etched metal parts in 1:12 scale
• intended for a model of the Kawasaki KR250 motorcycle
• thin metal parts replace coarser plastic ones
• gluing with cyanoacrylate glue or epoxy
• the extent of the set is given by the manufacturer's instructions

Who it is for

The set belongs in the hands of the modeler who builds motorcycles in 1:12 scale and wants to take the detail further than plastic allows. Working with photo-etched metal calls for a sharp knife, tweezers and a calm approach. The kit itself, paints and glue are not included in the delivery, unless stated otherwise.