Okay Guys, this is really a cheap shot. I’m too lazy to look throught the Ozark Minatures catalog or website. Does anyone know if they make replacement eyelets to hold the wire grab rail around a Bachmann Tank Car. If not, what have you used to repair these brackets? Thanks. Sorry for my laziness.
I order them out from Service.
At least I did, and have enough to keep my fleet afloat.
You could use boiler handrail stanchions, but you’d have to do them all, and figure how to hide the two joints like they do in the long sleeves…
Ric, Would these work?
They’re from Micromark… http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=60405
Ric Golding said:Ric have you considered the really small cotter keys ? You could find them somewhere in town most likely .
Okay Guys, this is really a cheap shot. I'm too lazy to look throught the Ozark Minatures catalog or website. Does anyone know if they make replacement eyelets to hold the wire grab rail around a Bachmann Tank Car. If not, what have you used to repair these brackets? Thanks. Sorry for my laziness.
Have you considered super glue to fix the broken ones? That’s what I do.
Ummmmmm Cotter pins fromt the local hardware store? Insert into a length of styrene tubing and glue in place…Voila!
Bart’s solution is one that I use . We call them “split pins” and they are available in the UK from lots of outlets .
You will probably have more trouble getting the tubing .
The pins come in a variety of sizes , so there is going to be one to suit . The sort to look for are the half round ones , the ones that form a perfect circle in cross section . These sit very nicely around the hand rails by presenting a flat surface on the contact face .
KS brass tubing is the right size --take a split pin along and stick it down the tube to confirm . Or measure the pin and order tubing with same internal diameter by post . Yes , I know it sounds obvious , but extra help doesn’t hurt.
Another useful tip when you are near to a KS stockist --pick up the odd piece of brass every time you visit , you eventually get quite a library of useful sizes. That saves a lot of time wasting searching for just the right bit .
As I have mentioned before , KS Hex tubing makes very good long-reach spanners Try it .
Mike
Guys, those are the type of answers I needed. I happen to know a marina in town that has a tremendous supply of cotterpins in all shapes and sizes. Stainless steel and I’m sure will work. The marina is run by a pretty nice guy, however sometimes he is a little dense and can’t see the answer right in front of his face. Its a good thing he has friends.
As far as super glue or epoxy, that has been done many times. The criticall mass was achieved last week, when the two year old grandson brought a tank car to me carrying it by the stretched and extended end of the handrail with the tank car trailing on the ground behind him. Daughter was amazed at her Dad’s composure, but also shocked by the color of his face. 
Ahhhh yes…much the reaction when my grandson removed the track from the dropleaf section of my On30 layout. Luckily I had planned to redo this section a bit that included putting a different framing option under it. just glad the lil feller didn;t get any of the dressmakers pins that had been spiking the track to the foam.
How 'bout fish hooks with the business end cut off?
Fish hooks are the way to go…they are tempered and take a beating…very inexpensive, and come in so many sizes…be very careful…you can catch your fingers very easily until you have cut the hook part off…
Fred Mills said:Yeah, but then you don't have to worry about loosing the thing. ;)
Fish hooks are the way to go.........be very careful.....you can catch your fingers very easily until you have cut the hook part off.......
madwolf
Don’t buy trebel hooks 