Metal and Photo-Etched Accessories

Metal and photo-etched accessories are a product category designed for modelers looking to enhance the realism and detail of their scale models. If the standard parts from your plastic kit aren't enough, here you will find details that will transform the appearance of your tank, airplane, or ship. Using these add-ons allows for the faithful replication of the finest elements, such as mesh grilles, buckles, and equipment components, which are often simplified or omitted entirely in plastic injection molding. It's an excellent way to give your model a unique, professional look.

What are photo-etched accessories?

Photo-etched parts, often called 'photo-etch' or 'PE,' are thin sheets of metal (usually brass or stainless steel) from which miniature details have been cut using a precise chemical etching process. In photo-etch sets, you'll find parts like ventilation grilles, radiator grilles, seat belts for pilots and drivers, instrument panels, windshield wipers, ship railings, and much more. Assembling them requires precision and the use of cyanoacrylate adhesive (super glue), but the final result is well worth the effort, offering a level of sharpness and detail impossible to achieve with plastic.

Metal Upgrade Parts for Models

In addition to photo-etch, this category also includes other metal accessories such as turned barrels for cannons and machine guns, metal tracks, exhaust pipes, antennas, and tow cables. Unlike their plastic counterparts, these parts have no mold seam lines and often feature a perfectly round cross-section (for barrels) or realistic weight and sag (for tracks). They are ready to be assembled and painted, offering a straightforward way to significantly enhance the look of crucial model components.