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Scalefour Society Resources |
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Updated 27 September 2005 |
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| "Where
Can I Get…?" A display at Scaleforum 2005 put together by Chris McCarthy |
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Scalefour Society Resources |
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Updated 27 September 2005 |
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| "Where
Can I Get…?" A display at Scaleforum 2005 put together by Chris McCarthy |
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Middlesex University Teaching Resources We have chosen (in a small way) to showcase MUTR this year because we find ourselves coming back repeatedly to this source and it seems that not many people know about it. MUTR supplies craft and technology teachers with a very interesting range of items. Many of these suit our hobby’s purposes but were otherwise not known to us or hard to find. They are innovative in what they stock and their prices are often astonishingly low – presumably because schools don’t have much money! They sometimes bundle samples, especially of new or technologically specialist materials, and these give us the opportunity of getting small, mixed, quantities of useful “stuff” at a silly price. They have an excellent website with on-line ordering. Anyone can register (you don’t have to be in teaching) and we have found their mail delivery very efficient. We suggest you look at their website and make up your own mind. The four items displayed are there to whet your appetite. Available from: MUTR Website www.mutr.co.uk phone 01992 716052 |
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Rare Earth Magnets and Magnets with Tails A range of ultra strong magnets with many uses. The display shows the smallest. For example, a member is thinking of fixing one inside an etched coach end so that a model tail lamp (with ferrous wire core) can be “hung” on the outside but easily removed. The magnets with integrated tails are ideal for easily making and breaking low-voltage electrical circuits. Fix one to one wire, the other to the other wire and the magnets hold together and pass the current. Uses in our hobby include below baseboards, at joints, or in model buildings with lighting when the building needs to be removable. Available from: MUTR Website |
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Linear
Actuator A
well-made 3v-6v actuator that comes complete as shown. When operated,
its rod moves horizontally in and out, so ideal for turnout operation
etc. when connected by suitable linkage. Thrust length is easily adjustable by repositioning the supplied micro-switches. These turn power on and off so determining the thrust length. A slide switch is supplied for forward-reverse control. Available from: MUTR Website Solid Gold and Gold Plated Wire Nothing much beats real hard gold wire for electrical pickups from model wheels etc and similar situations when tarnish should be avoided. Solders beautifully. Seems quite hard to get elsewhere. Available from: MUTR Website Inkjet Magnetic “paper” This material is fundamentally similar to that used for fridge magnets, seaside novelties and management charts, but comes in A4 size. It can be used directly in an inkjet printer so you can use the computer to print anything you like. We think it has good potential for making “tiles” for train sequencing on layouts etc. as well as illustrative materials of every type. Available from: MUTR Website 
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Other Sources |
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Interdental Brushes Available in several diameters, these are ideal for safely cleaning hard to reach places such as between the spokes of P4 model steam locomotive driving wheels. Available from: Your dentist
Orthodontic Latex Bands These precision latex bands, used in such dental applications as children’s teeth braces (kids call these “train tracks”!), have defined strength and diameter. A range of sizes and strengths is available. Don’t confuse these with conventional rubber bands. They are very tough - inside a child’s mouth would test any material! Useful as motor drive bands or just holding things with known force. Available from: Any neighbourhood orthodontist (see your Yellow Pages or similar) Snap Fasteners Almost too obvious to mention but these are the basis of some 4mm scale bogie kit fixings. We have, though, been surprised that some people haven’t made the connection. By fixing one half to the bogie and the other half to the underframe the bogie can rotate, is held firmly but can be “clicked” off for painting, maintenance etc. Available from: Any chain store or haberdashery shop
Single Edged Blades The old fashioned single edged razor blade, ubiquitous as a modelling tool for generations, is now quite hard to find. It is still as useful to us as ever, and by no means superseded for all jobs by the scalpel or break-off knife. The market has repositioned the item as “household scrapers” so look in that section of your local “99 pence” shop or hardware store. Available from: High Street hardware stores Pencil Soldering Torch Frankly, most P4 modellers probably don’t often need a flame torch, just a soldering iron. Once in a while, though, it is useful to have something for a bit of silver soldering or to heat up a heavy gauge brass section which the normal soldering iron just can’t handle. This refillable (gas lighter canister) soldering torch is ideal, being small in size and cheap and easy. Well made – but check first. Available from: Often found on market stalls or from similar cheap tool suppliers
Fixings from Marine Suppliers Good marine chandlers (that means “shop” to the landlubber!) catering for the leisure boating market have a veritable Aladdin’s cave of useful fittings and fixtures, tubes, bolts, screws and oddly shaped brackets and what-have-you’s, mostly in copper or stainless steel. These are ideal for baseboards and a raft (!) of other layout constructional purposes. The LPG gas pipe saddles displayed (available in various sizes) are ideal for, say, keeping under-baseboard wiring fixed down (up) tidily and safely. Available from: Any marine chandlers – found wherever sea, river or canal pleasure boats congregate!
Magnetic Paint and Balsa Foam Many of us now visit the USA on holiday or business so we are showing two items from a large graphics arts supplier there who has many things to interest us. Strictly, the paint itself isn’t magnetic but rather creates a surface to which magnets adhere. Use limited only to the imagination but in our hobby by painting non-ferrous metal, plastic or smooth surface wood one can, say, create a useful surface for applying magnetic “tiles” (see MUTR sheet materials) for train scheduling and general display. The balsa foam is a “different” material for scenic construction etc. and carves very easily. It is somewhat like a denser and more stable version of a florist’s Oasis green foam block. Available from: Dick Blick Art Materials Website: www.dickblick.com
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| Miscellaneous Tools and Supplies |     |
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Display Turntable We have been surprised that many modellers don’t have a turntable for ease of spray painting and how many comments we got to this effect last year. We had showed a turntable base then but you had to make the platform yourself. This year we highlight one that is already complete and also quite widely available from market stalls and cheap goods shops, as it’s made for the domestic appliance market. Several makes and models seem to be available. No reason now not to get one! Available from: Market stalls and cheap household goods shops
Mini Motors Nigel Lawton models in 009 and needs very small but powerful motors. He has sourced a variety of these. Two examples are shown. The smaller, 6mm diameter, motor can be hidden under the floor of 4mm rolling stock etc., opening up many possibilities for new drive mechanism techniques for P4 modelling (Ted Scannell of C.L.A.G has pioneered some of these, e.g his use of them below floor of LT tube stock. See the CLAG website). Serious students of such motors can find suitable gearboxes of various ratios and other fittings (eg from Didel in Switzerland, www.didel.com). Available
from: Very Small Diameter Brass and Stainless Steel Tube Available in brass and stainless steel in various diameters and hardness, these tiny tubes are perfect for model detailing and control purposes. Some are unbelievably small in internal diameter. They will nest one inside the other and, being tubes, will also take a wire slipped in. Sourced from the medical and dental supplies industry. Available
from: Stainless Steel Mesh In different mesh sizes (the display shows just some of those available) all have application in our modelling. The consistent mesh size and fine form of the mesh is especially pleasing when, for example, the modeller wants a consistent representation of grills on building windows or on drain covers, or backing to louvres on diesel loco air intakes. Available from: Cammett Ltd 01544 388514 Website: www.Cammett.co.uk |
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Silon Mesh A type of nylon, these meshes are available in two degrees of fineness (both are displayed) and used in military modelling to form grills on armoured vehicles etc. An interesting alternative to metal mesh. Available from: Mr.Model 0121 420 2046 Email: mrmodel@amserve.com
Very Fine Chain It’s not too difficult to find model chain, but it is difficult to find it this fine, well formed, and available in both natural brass and pre-blackened, 42 links per inch. Being equivalent to 2 inch link size in 4mm scale, this chain is just right for lashing down wagon loads or for flat bed model lorries. 27 links per inch (equivalent to 3 inch size) is also available. From Tiger Model Designs in the USA. Available from: Military modelling specialists in U.K. Website: www.tigermodels.com The Chopper North West Short Line’s Chopper is one of those American tools familiar to some, of legend to others but which it has been quite difficult to get, unless you “know”. Really useful for accurately cutting modelling materials, many have sworn by, not at, this tool for years. Now get it in the U.K. Available from: Acme Model Co. 020 8979 0672 Vallejo Acrylic Paints These Spanish acrylics are, in many peoples’ minds, the crème of acrylics for modellers. They have a huge range and an excellent website. Very widely used in military modelling because of their dense coverage and easy-to-use characteristics. Surprisingly, they are not much mentioned in railway modelling despite having ranges suitable for brushing and airbrushing and a colour palette eminently suitable for weathering and detailed painting purposes. Superb website (in English). Available from: Many model shops serving military modellers. Otherwise check with U.K distributor: Creative Models 01354 660088 E-mail: info@creativemodels.freeserve.co.uk Vallejo’s website: www.acrylicosvallejo.com MIG Weathering Powders Again Spanish and aimed mainly at the military modelling fraternity, this extensive range of pigment powders and related resin is absolutely first class and ideal for weathering our models, too. Using techniques described in a comprehensive article (in English) on their good website, the modeller can build up depth and texture (for things like mud – useful to our military friends, but to us too) as well as simulating more conventional rust, verdigris and every type of weathered finish. Available from: Many model shops serving military modellers. Otherwise check with U.K distributor: Creative Models 01354 660088 E-mail: info@creativemodels.freeserve.co.uk MIG’s website: www.migproductions.com |
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