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This is a very interesting forum. I would like to add my experiences. Having to deal recently with a large collection of Anthomyiidae collected in the Dolomites in Malaise traps (at high altitude and therefore very valuable) I researched methods of extracting the flies from alcohol, and mounting them dry. This was necessary because there were a number of undescribed species present, and many species previously little known.
I found on an American Museum website that acetone was mentioned as a water-extracting and hardening agent. This worked extremely well. The method I used was:

1. Remove a number of flies from the alcohol and drain on filter paper, then drop into a small container containing acetone.
2. Leave for approx 3 hours.
3. Remove one at a time and pin with a micropin sideways (below the wing base). Drain acetone off with a piece of filter paper.
4. Pin onto a small block of plastozote and under the microscope pull out the legs, and genitalia, if a male. Unnfold the wings if necessary with a pin. Generally the membrane will be stiffenned enough, only leaving the hind margin a bit rough. Luckily the wing venation is not important in anthomyiida!
5. Blow on the fly gently to remove remaining acetone.
6. Thats it! Before staging it may be necessary to put a small amount of glue on the pin below the specimen as they are not stuck to the pin (no natuural juices); they can spin round the pin.
It is important to deal with one specimen at a time, as the drying iis fairly quick.
I have dealt with over 300 specimens this way, in batches of 10.
You will be amazed with the results, only slight cuticle shrinking in some specimens. Material prepared in this way is generally superior to most museum material, which in the past was not collected by dipterists. It is not so good as material collected and freshly pinned by oneself of course. Another advantage is that acetone can be purchased (in England) from any chemist