RB Productions "Flip" Photoetch Benders By Matt Bittner

Here's a bit of modeling irony for you. How about a set of photoetch benders that are made out of - hold on, wait for it - photoetch metal!! What an interesting concept.

I've been wondering about photoetch benders ever since the first one arrived on the market. Since I build in 1/72nd or smaller scales, I couldn't see the advantage to something like the "Hold-N-Fold" or the "Etch Mate". Not only were they out of my price range at that time, they were extremely large for 1/72nd photoetch.

Just goes to show you that if you wait long enough something will come happen. These Flip benders - there are two of them the Flip-R10 and the Flip-R5 - are perfect for small parts. Note I wrote "small parts" not just 1/72nd. If you're into larger scales and have small parts to fold, then the Flip benders will help you as well. The difference between the two? The size. The R10 is - again wait for it - twice the size as the R5.

You'll want to take your time building these tools. It's not difficult, but since it is photoetch metal you don't want to bend the parts that hold it all together over and over again so they break. Just take your time in assembling and all should be well.

You can see in the following photographs how these photoetch benders are used (photos supplied by the manufacturer). I didn't have time to put them together and try them myself, but once I do I will report back on my observations. However, I can see nothing but good coming from these tools, especially for the smaller parts most photoetch sets come with. My thanks to RB Productions for the review samples. (Note: the owner tells me he plans on shutting down his ebay store and will sell them direct from his site in the near future (which could be https://www.radubstore.com, but should be linked from his main site).)