Source information help

Modeling Subjects Ships
1

Please help. I’m looking for:

  1. A source for small (itty-bitty–how’s that for accurate?) tubing. This could be brass, steel, aluminum, copper, monel, etc. This will be used for gun barrels (40mm and possibly 20mm) in 1/350 scale, as well as piping, etc. What I’m looking for is on the order of hypodermic needle tubing, the size of which corresponds to an insulin or tuberculin skin test needle or smaller (am I confusing anyone yet?)
  2. A source for extra hatches, straight ladders, etc. in 1/350 scale. I know PE sets exist, I just don’t know who to go to.
  3. 1/350 anchor chain. What size is appropriate (how many links per inch, or is that important?)?

I’m WAY in over my head on a 1/350 Tamiya USS Missouri, but am having fun anyway. [8D] Thanks in advance for all the help.

All the best,
Gip Winecoff

2

Hi Gip - -

I’ve gotten some very small diameter brass tubing from the local hobby shop … brand name K&S (?). I’ve also seen hypodermic-type needles for applying super glue. You could ask at your local hobby shop.

Gold Medal Models and White Ensign Models both produce quality photoetched parts. GMM produces sets for speceific ships as well as ‘generic’ sets of ladders, hatches, etc. I think they both advertise in FSM.

Good Luck - -
Ed.

3

Plastruct makes very fine styrene rod.
Down to 0.010 in diameter.
http://www.plastruct.com/ , if your hobby shop doesn’t carry any.
The styrene rods would work very well for piping, and if you were to cut a length and sand and drill out the end slightly, they could be used for gun barrels.

Post some pic of your progress!
We would like to see the insanity![:D]

4

There are many excellent photo etch suppliers - I like Gold Medal Models, and their customer service is truly outstanding.

http://goldmm.com/

For the hypodermic tubing, try Small Parts Inc.

http://www.smallparts.com/

They sell tubing with an internal diameter as little as .003 of an inch, or a bit smaller than an average human hair.

Hope this helps

Kurt

5

Kurt,
You’re a lifesaver (of sorts). I was aware of smallparts.com, but couldn’t remember where I had seen them on the 'Net. I already have the GMM detail set for the Missouri (soon to be Misery). I’ll check them out for the extra hatches I need, etc. Thanks a lot! (Thanks to Ed and Umi also for their fine suggestions. I’ve already tried K&S and will be looking into Plastruct.)
Gip Winecoff