When you are adding details to a model or building a part, you often need a strip of photoetch of a certain width and length. Either to be used as is or with folds, with a length of a few millimetres or several centimetres: in these cases it is useful to have the new sets of Matho Models at hand.
Matho Models references 80043 and 80045 are two photo-etch frets with strips of different widths. 80043 is 0.10mm thick while 80045 is 0.15mm thick. All comments apply to both sets as the only difference is the thickness.
The frets measure 145x49mm, including the frame, and the strips themselves are 135mm long, with widths in 0.10mm increments from 0.20mm to 1.00mm.
In total there are:
- 3 strips of 135x0.20mm
- 3 strips of 135x0.25mm
- 3 strips of 135x0.30mm
- 3 strips of 135x0.40mm
- 3 strips of 135x0.50mm
- 2 strips of 135x0.60mm
- 2 strips of 135x0.70mm
- 2 strips of 135x0.80mm
- 2 strips of 135x0.90mm
- 2 strips of 135x1.00mm
The fret is covered with a thin transparent plastic film for protection, which can be easily removed without leaving any residue or deforming the sheet.
The thickness of the sheet and the width of each strip are engraved on the sheet itself.
The strips are attached at the ends and also by seven perpendicular supports. All supports are lowered to facilitate cutting and cleaning.
The quality of the photo-etching is excellent, with perfectly straight strips of uniform width, even the thinnest ones.
As far as their use is concerned, they are like any other photo-etched part, they can be cut and bent as required. Therefore, they can be used to make any scratch part where the plastic is too thick or a precise bending angle is required.
As they are simply strips, they can be used in any scale or area of modelling.
Conclusion
Useful and versatile set for detailing and scratchbuilding, it is simple but effective. The quality is excellent with uniform thickness and width, plus there is a good variety of widths and two thickness.
