Live steam coupler chains

[Benjamin Maggi]

This is an odd question, but I am not sure where else to post it. In scratchbuilding my cars to run behind my LGB Stainz (and someday a Roundhouse "Lady Anne"), I put hooks between the buffers on my cars and plan to connect them with chains. The chain doesn't have to be scale size, but I don't exactly want one huge link or lots of really tiny ones. And, using paperclips is getting old. When I ordered some parts from a British company, they send along a small section of chain that is 3 links long and each link is about 3/8." Try as I might, I cannot find chain like this at Home Depot or other places. Craft stores sell chain that is much too fine, and hardware stores sell chain that is much too big.

What do you other guys use? 

[cabbage]

The reason you can't find it is the fact that you are looking for an Imperial Size when the chain itself is Metric. I make my own chain using silver steel wire -it is not too hard and is quite ductile when you work it. A quick flash over with the torch and little silver solder and the link is complete.

regards

ralph

[Rex in Pinetop]

Scoobster,

I get my chain from Bob at Garden-Texture.  He advertizes in GR.  Right now he is out of black chain so I just spray paint it.  Here is a pic.

The second pic shows some of the steam donkey.  The "cable" is some heavy thread I found at a fabric store.

Rex

[Benjamin Maggi]

Gang, just as a follow-up, I went to Home Depot looking for chains the size I needed and they could not help me. However, they did recommend Lowes, which had just what I wanted. It is called "#5 Clock Chain", and the label beneath the chain on the aisle said "Hobby chain." The brand is Campbell. It is the exact size as what I wanted, and you get 15 feet worth of chain for less than $8. It is brass plated and rated to 10 pounds, though I doubt any of my trains will ever weigh that much.

If you google "clock chain" I am sure you will come up with something similar.

[Rex in Pinetop]

I visited our new Lowes store and struck out:  No "Hobby chain" or clock chain.  The only thing they had that was even close was some electrical fixture pull chain but it looks like a bunch of brass beads stung together.  Lowes did have these cheap ($14) bird feeders that look to be about the right scale:

Rex

[Mr_Ash]

I get all my chain from Ozark Miniatures

Cracks me up that Homedepot sent you to Lowes