cockpit knobs and switches

[wwesley]

Looking for reference on how to scratch build knobs and switches in cockpits. Looking for stretching sprue  and other ideas.

 

Thanks

Bill W

[Big Texan]

You can also use thin solid wire like telephone wire. For the knobs, epoxy works really well or Elmer's glue. You've already hit on stretched sprue which is also very good.

[Bill_S]

I use fine wire for switches; punches to make knob, too.

[Out2gtcha]

There are some good cockpit placard decals out there to simulate switch names and such, and  as you suggested, stretched sprue works well - If you take some rectangle profile sprue and stretch it, the square/rectangle profile remains, and you can get some cool tall switches from it.

 

Here is the dash from my KHM B-25J with just such stretch sprue switches. You can see them on the lower section of the pilots half of the IP, as well as some on the center console -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HTH

[Chek]

A method I use is to stretch some sprue to required thickness, then carefully move a cut end towards a candle flame.

With care (it may burst into flame the first couple of attempts) the end will roll back into a ball.

 

It's fairly easy to control once you've got the hang of it, so producing four identical knobs for, say a bomber's throttle panel is easily done.

The melted ball can also be pressed against a flat surface and trimmed to make one hand operated twin-jet throttles etc., or T-shaped pull handles or pressed through a suitable template for other shapes.

Edited February 29, 2016 by Chek

[David Hansen]

Plastruct makes extruded rod in. 010 and .015 diameters, which is useful for knobs. However, you normally have to special order it. Copper wire is a good choice for switches; it's more ductile in short lengths than brass is. Only disadvantage is its  well, copper-coloured.

 

-d-

[Rick Griewski]

I use the Waldron punches for knobs. Sometimes punch colored plastic. Punch out decals. Many sources for instrument gauges etc. There are nice looking PE placards too. This is a nice trend.

 

Ricks

Edited March 2, 2016 by Rick Griewski

[Shawn M]

Britta water filters are full of round balls of all shapes and sizes, 1 filter is enough for a lot of models.

[wwesley]

Britta water filters are full of round balls of all shapes and sizes, 1 filter is enough for a lot of models.

Any pictures of what is in the filters?

[petrov27]

I used some really small insect pins for my AEG dashboard - not sure they were ideal but it worked out:

 

[Growler]

Looks great to me.

[wwesley]

Looks great to me.

What are insect pins? Are they for pinning subjects in a frame? Where do you buy these?

[petrov27]

What are insect pins? Are they for pinning subjects in a frame? Where do you buy these?

 

 

I believe they are used to stick thru dead bugs into a board for display? Here are the ones I purchased:

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Stainless-Steel-Insect-Mounting-Pins-size-000-/201064299242?hash=item2ed05dbaea:g:X7AAAOxyjxlTN16l

 

I just snip the long pins with wire cutters and they fit into drilled holes with the smallest bit I have...