How to remove thin tiny resin parts from their bases without breaking?

[Kazu]

I had a set of resin BRASSIN 1/48 AIM-9X. They molded the tiny tail end piece separately. It's the R5 in the image, and that piece has 4 parts protruding from a base that's a mere fraction of a millimeter. Just trying to cut the base can sometimes shatter the resin, ruining the piece. If you saw it off, you still have to sand off the base (standard procedure, right?), and in the process, the piece breaks. I managed to break all 4 parts so had to throw out the BRASSIN set. So I order a Reskit version, but I found it used the same mold, so same problem. Ugh!!!

 

I consider myself pretty good with handing even the smallest parts of 1/48 aircraft, but this has me baffled. Who thought a design for a detail kit like this would work? Am I missing some fundamental technique, or do you need an ultrasonic knife? If so, could someone please recommend one that works well and is reliable?

[Kazu]

Thanks. I definitely won't give up, but I do feel the ultrasonic cutter solution is overkill. I'm finding they're very expensive, and the cheaper ones under $500 make me worried they're unreliable toys according to the occasional bad review. Even if they work, I'm wary of using something that slices things so easily. So I ordered 3D-printed ones. These days, I'm starting to see more benefits of 3D-printed ones over resin.

 

During the 30-year hiatus I had of making aircraft, I feel the biggest change has been 3D printing...the detail we get in the detail kits and cockpit panels has been amazing.

[ExchefAndy]

I recently did some amraams myself in the same scale, and right now I don't remember the make.

My only suggestion would be what I ended up doing, use something like blutak or what ever you have to stick posters to walls. A small piece on the end of a toothpick or something like it and stick it to the piece on the sprue. Then using the sharpest blade you have, slowly and with repeated attempts... seperate each piece from the sprue. No rush, just a gentle cut each time. Let the weight of the blade do the job, and it may take 10 to 15 passes but it will work. The blutak will also prevent the small piece jumping off and disappearing. It can be done, just take your time doing it. 

Andy

 

[Kazu]

Thanks, Andy! That was a brilliant suggestion. I embedded the piece in Blu-Tack and after sawing off most of the base, I sanded the rest down to the 0.5mm thin piece.

 

Contrary to what I initially thought, this Reskit version isn't the same mold as the BRASSIN. It's broken into even more parts. Fortunately, the resin seems to be a bit less brittle and softer, so it took almost no time to sand things down. I probably could have sanded all the way without using a saw, which would have been even easier. But Blu-Tack was the way to go!

[ExchefAndy]

Happy I could help!

Andy 👍

[Kazu]

Hand painted the details and applied the decals. Still have to clear coat, panel line, etc., but here's how it's coming along. The tail fins are so fragile...

[HOLMES]

Really Really  informative. 

Thank you. 

[ExchefAndy]

That turned out rather well, nice work!

Andy