wwesley Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 Looking for reference on how to scratch build knobs and switches in cockpits. Looking for stretching sprue and other ideas. Thanks Bill W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Texan Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill_S Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 I use fine wire for switches; punches to make knob, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out2gtcha Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 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 Growler, Harold and Chek 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chek Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 (edited) 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 Barry and Rick Griewski 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Hansen Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 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- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Griewski Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 (edited) 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn M Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 Britta water filters are full of round balls of all shapes and sizes, 1 filter is enough for a lot of models. Big Texan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wwesley Posted March 4, 2016 Author Share Posted March 4, 2016 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petrov27 Posted March 4, 2016 Share Posted March 4, 2016 I used some really small insect pins for my AEG dashboard - not sure they were ideal but it worked out: Bill_S and allthumbs 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Growler Posted March 4, 2016 Share Posted March 4, 2016 Looks great to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wwesley Posted March 4, 2016 Author Share Posted March 4, 2016 Looks great to me. What are insect pins? Are they for pinning subjects in a frame? Where do you buy these? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petrov27 Posted March 4, 2016 Share Posted March 4, 2016 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... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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