Just nuts!

[Andy B]

Scale 1:22.5 nuts and bolt heads - Whitworth (pre-war) sizes, from 5/8" to 1".
There isn't much choice around if you want scale hardware this small - so I have produced an etch in 0.006" brass for nuts and bolt heads of correct A/F size and height for G3.

They can be used

• to add detail to kits or scratch built items
• to replace damaged details on castings
• to produce masters for resin or whitemetal casting
• with brass / nickel silver by soldering
• with plasticard, wood or card by gluing
• as a nut with a separate piece of wire to simulate the bolt end (etched hole type) or with the bolt end pressed out (half-etched circle), or as a flat bolt head

The first 2 pictures show the 5/8" size used on a replacement door runner bracket for a resin MR covered goods kit.

I produced these mainly for my own use, but if there is a demand I'll get some more done for the AGM.
Price will be £5-£6 per fret, each containing over 300 nuts - as shown in the final picture.
If you'd like one (or more), please indicate your interest by adding a reply here, or send me a private message or email.

Andy

P.S. This should probably be in the 'New Product Announcements' section - but forum members can't reply to messages in that area.

[AllWight]

Are they left hand or right hand thread.

Mark

[454]

Wow Andy you've been busy. They look really good

Before I had my eyes tested and my cataract sorted I was kind of content with a blob of glue or a domestic pin head to represent a wagon side fixing. You have now raised the game, sadly, even though my eyes are like a hawk when it comes to picking out detail I now find I have 5 thumbs on my hands when it comes to tiny bits of metal.

But it is fun trying to hunt them down in the carpet pile before Mr Dyson's monstrosity sucks them up.

Last search was 10 minutes for one Flexikit 14BA nut.

Dave

[John Candy]

Andy,

Your nuts look to be very good and I am tempted BUT I have the same problem as Dave in that I would have difficuly both seeing and handling/placing them.

Dave seems to be better than me at hunting down 14BA nuts....there must be at least a half dozen somewhere in my hobby room... I don't think I have ever been able to find one I have dropped......or has "pinged" across the room while picking up with tweezers, in fact there are several much larger items somewhere in that "black hole" which seems to appear every time I drop something!

Regards,
John.

[MikeWilliams]

Ah, back in the good old days you could put a clean handkerchief inside the trusty Goblin cylinder vacuum cleaner and after collecting the contents of the carpet, take it out and sort the contents.  Such is progress that you can't do that with a Dyson, which is a real design oversight which must really restrict their sales!

Andy - I'm surprised that 6thou looks so realistically thick on your model - excellent.  I'd like a set to play with please when you get some spares.

Mike

[John Candy]

Mike,

I think the "trick" is that you have to fold the corners (the etched items are "star" shaped) to get the thickness from a 6 thou etch.
I certainly don't now have the dexterity (or even patience) to attempt such minute folds.

John.

[Andy B]

I'm surprised that 6thou looks so realistically thick on your model....

Mike,
The inverse of your comment was my starting point - in G3 even a 5/8" W nut scales to 0.74mm thick.
As you'll know, these couldn't be reasonably etched as a solid from 22g brass (0.71mm) due to the size of the cusp and the through-hole size needed.
So, as John correctly observes - they are folded. The idea isn't mine - there are commercially available etches like this in 1:35 scale used by military modellers.

Now that I've worked out a method, folding them actually isn't too bad - a 'mandrel' (the end of a piece of wire with the end filed flat) just smaller in diameter than the inside A/F dimension is placed on the centre of the nut, then the sides are folded up using the point of a scalpel blade. The mandrel is still in place when cutting from the fret - this eliminates it 'pinging' off into the underworld depths of the carpet-monster.
Looks like a demo at the AGM is needed!

Andy

[midnight miller]

          Hello Andy

             Please put me down for 3 sheets


                                                           John

[bolingbroke]

Hello Andy,
Same for me please - three sheets.
Roger.

[jamiepage]

Ditto, thank you.

[Derek King]

And three sheets for me too please Andy.

If I don't get down to the AGM I'll contact you after re. sending a cheque to cover cost & postage.

Derek.

[Andy B]

Thank you all - what a great response!

I'll be putting the order in on Monday (11th Feb).
Any last-minute takers?

Andy

[John Witts]

One for me please Andy, hope I will be able to see them, having enough problems with 12BA nuts and Bolts.

Regards

John

[Andy B]

Etches arrived today, so will be on sale on Saturday.

For any Midland fans out there - I also have some new axlebox covers, for use with Mike Williams' 'Ellis' pattern grease axleboxes (his code AB3).

Andy

[Andy B]

Following the success of the hexagon nut etches, I have now produced a similar etch for square nuts.
Square nuts were commonly used by the PO wagon builders, and some of the pre-grouping companies used them until quite late on - e.g. the Great Central.
Priced at £6 per fret, same as the hex nuts. 
Limited supply at present, so if you'd like to reserve one (or more) to purchase at the AGM please let me know.

I have also done some 1/2" W hex nuts as a separate etch (for those with nimble fingers and very good eyesight!) and some washers to go with the larger hex or square nuts. Both priced at £0.50 per fret. Very small stocks of both of these.

Andy