Large Scale Central

Helpful and Knowledgeable Tool and Material Suppliers for Modele

I thought I’d share a few sources for modeling materials, tools and machines that may be of assistance to others. I have used all of these providers for years with no problems.

The Little Machine Shop specializes in small metal working tools and machines.
The nicest thing about this shop is their knowledgeable customer service. I needed a
6-jaw chuck for my lathe (and I don’t know much about lathes) and they provide the correct mounting plate and hardware for me to use. Their prices are good and they have excellent “how to” books and DVDs. If you sign up with them they will email you a “special of the week” that can save you money.
http://littlemachineshop.com/

Scale Hardware is an excellent source for scale nuts, bolts, rivets, and other items. I thought a 00-90 bolt was small until I ordered a .5mm set of nuts and bolts (they also sell a tap and hex socket wrench for that size). I’ve never seen these items anywhere else.
http://www.scalehardware.com/

Special Shapes provides all sorts of brass (and some other metals) sheets, bar stock, shapes and concentric tubing (round, square and hex) etc. I use them extensively as a material supplier. You will find that they have multiple sizes of virtually every shape of brass available.
http://www.specialshapes.com/

McMaster-Carr is the Mother Load for tools, bits, or material that you may need. With over 490,000 products available they probably have it. This can be a bit intimidating at first, but, stay with it and you will find all sorts of information. They have thousands of different drill bits, many with special coatings to work in steel. You can make phone orders in case you have questions. I swear this company has a catapult into a UPS shipping center. They are located in Chicago if I place an order in the morning the supplies arrive the next day UPS ground in Alexandria, VA.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#

Thanks, Jim. I’ve been looking for 1/8 inch wide by 1/16 inch thick brass strip to make stirrup steps to replace all the plastic ones that have broken, fallen off or just disappeared on our club freight cars. Guess I’ve got about 30 to replace. Think I’ll make a jig to speed up the process. Metal ones will work much better, and if they fall off, I’ll have a bunch on hand.

I suppose if I made them of galvanized steel, I could find them with a magnet ! I’ll try Special Shapes.

Thanks, Jim. I have used McMaster-Carr a lot and I’m always impressed with how quick the order comes, with very reasonable shipping. Another place I like for general supplies is HobbyLinc. Not nearly as quick as McMaster :wink: but it has become my replacement for Granddad’s Hobby that moved out of the area a few years ago. http://www.hobbylinc.com Dick,

I think that 1/16" thick is a bit too thick for the stirrup steps. I’ve had very good luck with the 1/8"x 1/32" strips (BTW, available at Hobbylinc: http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/k+s/k+s15026.htm )

As for a jig, I’ve had very good luck with the one I made out of plexiglass pieces: http://www.largescalecentral.com/articles/113/Making-Strap-Steps Very repeatable process and I get get a couple of car’s worth in just a few minutes.

(http://jbrr.com/Pics/StrapSteps/IMG_5716.JPG)

The colored one is from an Accucraft freight car, the rest are done via my jig.

Bruce, great minds think alike, or maybe it’s just coincidence. I found some 1/8 by 1/16 strip in a local hobby shop and thought it was too thick also.

Bought the smaller size and hope to get a jig built in the next day or so. I also found some other broken stirrup strips that have a 45 degree angle on them, so may make a second jig to repair them! Will send on a picture if it works out!

Good post, Jim. Thanks! Bruce, the stirrups look great! Unfortunately the link to your jig info only gets you to Bob’s trainwreck. Crazy world. I’ve been making stirrup steps for my challenge build today.

OK, that link is fixed.

Hmmm, I wonder if there’s a way to find all the broken links…

Yeah. Not to hijack this thread, but I was wondering that myself. Also, I’ve noticed that any links appearing in new posts arriving here at my desktop are purely decorative, too.

This’ll keep Bob off Steve’s back for awhile!