Occasionally I run across an article or video in which someone is kitbashing or scratchbuilding and uses what is referred to as “brass fittings.” I know where to find brass rods and tubes but these “brass fittings” are different shapes and quite fiddly with bends and turns and angles and holes machined in them and of a size which lends them to use as parts in model A/C. Does anyone know where they get these “brass fittings?”
What you are referring to is known as “photo etch (PE)”. Several compaines make it for all kinds of models, common to armor, ships, aircraft. Most of the interior a/c PE sheets come pre-painted, there are some out there for exterior detailing as wel as for the engines. Just depends on which model kit you are building as to availability, most are kit specific, but can usually be made to work with another makers kit of the same subject.
It can be quite a challenge, especially in the smaller scales. But it does add detail to a lot of builds. Has to be attached with either epoxy or superglue, or another adhesive. Styrene glue won’t work with it.
Search - Eduard, Flyhawk, Tom’s Model Works, White Ensign just to name a few.
For me it is a good hair removal tool…[;)]
I am well familiar with “photo etch.” Is that where these “brass fittings” come from? What I’ve seen are not the flat bendable sheets that PE represents, these are formed tubes in curves and balls with screw holes and such, not like any PE I’ve seen.
Then I misunderstood. Haven’t run across anything like that, sorry.
It would be helpful if you could provide an example with your question.
Brass fittings are common in model railroading. I’ve been away from that for awhile, almost pre-www. Spent many an hour at the LHS pawing through shoe boxes of the stuff.
Somewhat less common in ship modeling, but popular in larger scale sailboat models.
Model Expo and Blue Jacket are good sources.
AFA aircraft, other than PE I’m really only familiar with hardware on flying models. I have a couple of slope flyer gliders with brass fittings. I guess the advantage is that it’s not hard to drill and tap.
You might look at Tower Hobbies.
Got to thinking…Jewlery and beading findings, maybe. Bigger crafting stores like Michaels and HL
When I hear, “brass fittings”, I think of building ship models, especially wooden kits. Or specialty kits, like large-scale models of artillery pieces.
Linebacker, you might mean this type of item from Master Model:
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Brass gun barrels I put on a Hasegawa Bf-109E I’m building. Master Model makes a lot of brass fittings, as it were, for many models. Have a look at their website: http://www.master-model.pl/ The brass pieces aren’t too expensive either. $6.50 for the cowl barrels and wing guns. Tiny, but they look great.
Venders who cater to model ship builders often offer brass fittings- rail stanchions, portholes, mast rings, etc. Might these be model ship fittings?
Makes me think of the parts used for outfitting Steampunk costumes. Lots of misc. little watch parts, gears, rods, valve parts. just an assundry mix of pieces that came from something that used to work, not necessarily something that you buy outright. Or like the bins of extra parts I have from every plastic model I’ve built LOL I couldn’t go anywhere and easily buy that, it was gained through experience.
Are we getting closer to what you were looking for?
I routinely fabricate from brass …
Paul
Ok Paul I’ll bite lol, where do you get the brass from? But seriously, Is it just flats, rounds, and bar stock you buy and then form?
I just remembered there are a couple of model car aftermarket vendors that make brass fittings for things like fuel lines and such. These are in 1:24/25 scale, and look a lot like that shown in the OP. Pick up an issue of a model car magazine and peruse the vendor sites.
Brass, bronze, aluminum, and steel (and maybe titanium) can be obtained from OnLine Metals on the west coast. I think there is another on line shop located in Tennessee somewhere. These shops deal in small quantities that hobbyists are interested in, not the ‘ton’ quantities. They sell rods, tubes, bars, and sheet.
It almost always starts out as rod stock … then I machine it into what I want. The material is “free turning” brass that I get from a local metal supplier. I sometimes machine aluminum, but only if I absolutely have to, because it mucks up bits and mills.
Paul
Are you referring to the blue and red fittings located at the braided hoses in this photo:
Those fittings are brass fittings that have been painted red and blue. They are available from Detai Master http://www.detailmaster.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=DM-Fittings-BL. I use them on large scale model cars.