Scale Bolts, Nuts & Hardware

[taaron76]

I've been looking at some scale bolts and nuts from http://www.scalehardware.com/ and was wondering what were the appropriate sizes for different applications of a build you guys might be using. As an example, connecting rear control arms from the axle to the frame, etc. Where are you guys using nuts and bolts at in your builds? Do you have any reference pics? Not sure if its feasible to try to using them on header flanges or anywhere else, but figured I see what you guys are using and how. Thanks!

Tim

[Greg Myers]

just now on the Ebay http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xscale+nuts+and+bolts.TRS0&_nkw=scale+nuts+and+bolts&_sacat=0

[taaron76]

Thanks, Greg. I found a couple of different places to purchase them from, but wasn't exactly sure on what sizes to get. Thanks,

Tim

[astroracer]

Most of your automotive bolt sizes are going to be 5/16th's and 3/8th's. most suspension applications will be 1/2" on cars and 9/16th's or 5/8th's on trucks.

These convert down to:

(5/16) .3125 / 25 = 0.013" in diameter

(3/8) .375 / 25 = 0.015" in diameter

(1/2) .5 / 25 = 0.020" in diameter

(9/16) .56 / 25 = 0.022" in diameter

(5/8) .625 / 25 = 0.025" in diameter

Mark

[Quick GMC]

I use Scale Hardware a lot and th only sizes you can really use are the .5mm, .7mm and .8mm. Everything else is to bi on 1/24 and 1/25

[microwheel]

Well if you want to simulate bolt and nut harware without actually using true nuts and bolts, you can always buy some Plastruct brand plastic hex rod. Most local hobby shops that sell train detailing supplies will have both the Evergreen and Plastruct brands of scratch building plastics. Only the Plastruct brand makes plastic hex rod. For the average 1/25 scale common sizes of bolts and nuts, you'll want the hex rod in .020 (smallest), .030 (average for common sizes) and .040 (makes great line fittings). Nice thing about it, is, it comes with 10 pieces in a pack and each piece is 10 inches long. How many bolts and nuts can you cut and make out of 10- 10 inch pieces? Can you say, it will last a loooooong time. To make a scale bolt, just cut a piece of hex rod for the bolt head and glue it to a smaller diameter length of round rod and you have whatever length bolt you need. For a nut, same thing, cut a piece of hex rod and drill a hole in the center of it and ya got a nut. And best part of all, if the floor monster swallows one on you, it's not hard or costly to make another one.

Edited May 20, 2015 by microwheel

[taaron76]

You guys are awesome! Thanks for the info!!!

Jim - I didn't even think of that! I'll have to hit my local hobby store and scour the aisles for those pieces. Thanks a million! The floor monster!!! lol Good one...

Tim

[10thumbs]

Hahaha, "the floor monster". I have one of those too, the sucker hides under the bench and wins most of the time.

Jim, I'm going to try this stuff. My shop has hex rods in metal too.

I'm lucky to get my nuts and bolts in metric sizes. It's much easier to figure out. 1mm equals approx. 1inch. So lots of things can be done on a 1:25 model with 0.6 to 0.8mm nuts and bolts. Even though I'll use mostly 0.8mm as the o.6 are so tiny they're only seen in closeup pic. I just ordered 50 pieces, all in 0.8mm. If I go to the trouble of mounting them, I want to see them too.

By the way, for lug nuts I have 0.9mm, like almost an inch in 1:1. They still look too small! Just a FYI, don't worry about the super small ones, they are very tiny!

Michael