1:24 Nuts and bolts

[repeatplease]

Any tips on how to simulate consistently nuts and bolt heads (not rivets) at this scale?

1:12 would also be useful.

Thank you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[geedubelyer]

Not sure if these are what you're after or if they are available in your region but Grandt Line offer various bolts and bolt heads. 

 

Hope this works?

 

Also, Anyz produces lots of resin accessories. 

 

See here

 

Cheers,

Guy

 

P.s, lots of other useful stuff too. 

Edited September 9 by geedubelyer

[RCPlym]

I'll be able to supply various scale 3D printed nuts, bolts, screw heads etc. quite shortly (or longly for bolts and studs! 🤣🤣 )

 

They will be of quality, but in basic packaging as fancy packaging for such things is a totally unnecessary expense and far outweighs (in every respect!) the actual product.

 

[repeatplease]

Thanks guy's.

I was looking/hoping for a DIY method.

 

I'm not keen at all to be using resin parts and the Grandt products are expensive in the quantity's I'll need.

[LSP_Kevin]

There are two ways that I know of to DIY bolt heads. The first is to punch them out of styrene sheet using one of the hexagonal punch sets from RP Toolz. The downside is that the punch sets themselves are not cheap, and if you don't need many, buying a 3D-printed set would probably be more cost-effective.

 

The other way is to use the smallest Allen keys that you can find, press the tips into Milliput or similar, and then once it's cured, fill the tiny hexagonal divots with the curing liquid of your choice. This method takes longer, is less precise, and requires you to have suitable materials to hand.

 

Kev

[Juggernut]

The third method is to buy hexagonal styrene rod from Plastruct and slice as needed.  To get consistent thickness, you'll need a precision cutting tool like a chopper that has adjustable metal triangles that lay flat on the surface of the base of the chopper.  

 

Plastruct Hexagonal Rod. Note this link takes you to all their dimensional products (styrene) but the top ones on the list are the hex rods.

 

This is an example of what I mean by "Chopper":  Micromark Chopper

 

 

 

 

[chrish]

2 hours ago, LSP_Kevin said:

There are two ways that I know of to DIY bolt heads. The first is to punch them out of styrene sheet using one of the hexagonal punch sets from RP Toolz. The downside is that the punch sets themselves are not cheap, and if you don't need many, buying a 3D-printed set would probably be more cost-effective.

 

The other way is to use the smallest Allen keys that you can find, press the tips into Milliput or similar, and then once it's cured, fill the tiny hexagonal divots with the curing liquid of your choice. This method takes longer, is less precise, and requires you to have suitable materials to hand.

 

Kev

I bit the bullet a couple years ago and bought the RB punch set and, now use them for almost every build. Never missed it when I didn’t have it but would sure miss not having it now. Very very handy, like many modellers I keep hoping more tools make me a better modeller

[LSP_Kevin]

6 hours ago, Juggernut said:

The third method is to buy hexagonal styrene rod from Plastruct and slice as needed.  To get consistent thickness, you'll need a precision cutting tool like a chopper that has adjustable metal triangles that lay flat on the surface of the base of the chopper.  

 

Plastruct Hexagonal Rod. Note this link takes you to all their dimensional products (styrene) but the top ones on the list are the hex rods.

 

This is an example of what I mean by "Chopper":  Micromark Chopper

 

 

 

 

 

The problem I've found with those hobby guillotines is that the cuts they make aren't perpendicular, but instead, have an angle that corresponds to the cutting edge of the blade (usually a razor blade). I rarely use mine for that reason, as it lacks the cutting precision I'm usually after (I have the NorthWest Shore Line one, which I believe may even be OG).

 

Kev

[repeatplease]

Thanks guy's.

 

These solutions are more to my taste.

 

I've had a similar 'chopper' for years, but as Kevin says, the angles cut at an angle made it immediately redundant.

 

The Plastruct idea idea has been lurking in my mind for some time but wasn't sure if they did an hexagon section.

As I've been typing this I've thought of a simple jig, which should provide consistent hand cut slices.

 

I'm aiming at 'suggesting' these nuts, as my project would look 'bare' without them.

 

Can the Plastruct be heat stretched like sprue, that would provide endless 'nut' sizes?

 

Having to use a 3rd party host for photo's for downloading my own photo's to this forum is another of life's little complications I am happy to forego, but is a bind.

 

Best wishes to you all.

[repeatplease]

Another idea; the Plastruct rod can be mounted in my Unimat and centre drilled.

A small piece of round rod could then be fitted in the hole... then not only would you get bolt heads but also 'nuts and bolts'.

Simples.

 

One thing I have is plenty of patience!

[Juggernut]

7 hours ago, LSP_Kevin said:

 

The problem I've found with those hobby guillotines is that the cuts they make aren't perpendicular, but instead, have an angle that corresponds to the cutting edge of the blade (usually a razor blade). I rarely use mine for that reason, as it lacks the cutting precision I'm usually after (I have the NorthWest Shore Line one, which I believe may even be OG).

 

Kev

 

I've experienced exactly the same thing with mine (also a Northwest Shore Line unit) and I do believe, like you, it is no longer available.  The way I deal with the "non-perpendicular" cuts is to glue the shaved piece onto where I want it, let it dry then sand/file it to a flat profile.  I will admit it gets a little tedious when a large number of "bolt heads" are required but I haven't found a better way of creating bolt heads in the various sizes I need.  I do have modelkasten nuts and they work in some instances but largely not for aircraft in 1/32 or smaller.  Likewise, Asuka (Tasca) includes bolt heads on the sprues of their Sherman armor kits and I've shaved those off and kept them.  They too are pretty much too big for 1/32 or smaller.

 

Since the cutter cuts wonky, when I have to cut rod/tube, I will actually rotate the material while applying moderate pressure to the cutting arm.  I find that helps keep the cut straight.  Hex rod may be a little tougher to do that with (I haven't yet tried it) but I may try it the next time I need a bolt head or two. 

[RCPlym]

On 9/9/2026 at 9:03 PM, repeatplease said:

expensive in the quantity's I'll need

 

Mine won't be what I'd call expensive at £2.50 to £3.00 depending on size/type per 100 in 1/32. 

[wunwinglow]

On 9/10/2026 at 6:29 AM, LSP_Kevin said:

 

The problem I've found with those hobby guillotines is that the cuts they make aren't perpendicular, but instead, have an angle that corresponds to the cutting edge of the blade (usually a razor blade). I rarely use mine for that reason, as it lacks the cutting precision I'm usually after (I have the NorthWest Shore Line one, which I believe may even be OG).

 

Kev

I packed my blade over to take the angle out.... Bit of a fiddle, but it gave me square cuts.....

[thierry laurent]

Meng released cheap sets of styrene ones and they are relevant for many scales. Look for SPS-003 to 009 as they offer different sizes. Here's one:

http://www.meng-model.com/en/contents/81/35.html