Attaching trucks to scratchbuild cars

[nfmisso]

Hi Noah;

Most North American modelers use #2-56 screws to secure the trucks to bolsters, which is between an M2 and an M2.5 metric screw.

If you can get together with a few others, you can order screws from MSC for far less than you can get them in small quantities from a hobby shop. In a typical hobby shop, you'll pay $0.25 to $1.00 per screw. MSC:
http://www.mscdirect.com/IWCatSectionView.process?Keyword=Y&RestartFlow=t&Merchant_Id=1&p_section_Id=762&Section_Id=762&p_product_type_Id=425&ShowProductList=t&p_att_type_id_0=6977&p_att_value_id_0=366175&p_search_flag_0=1&p_att_type_id_1=6984&p_att_value_id_1=183940&p_search_flag_1=1&SelectedAtt.length=2&pbegin=0&pcount=15&NameVector%5B0%5D.Name=Head+Type&NameVector%5B0%5D.Value=Phillips+Pan+Head&NameVector%5B1%5D.Name=Thread+Size&NameVector%5B1%5D.Value=2-56&NameVector.length=2&View.x.x=93&View.x.y=10

I was fortunate enough to secure a lifetime supply for a couple dollars a few years back when an employer auctioned off excess inventory. I was lucky; no one else wanted #2-56 screws.

Further, I would suggest drilling and tapping the bolsters before installing them, and test fit the screw to make sure it doesn't extend thru. If the screw does extend thru, you can trim at this level, with much less fuss.

[DSchmitt]

One hobby shop in my area sells small packages of screws, nuts and washers. The brand name on them is Hob Bits[:)] This one store is the only place I've seen them.

I did an internet search and found they are available from Woodland Scenics
http://www.woodlandscenics.com/ Click on "Accessories" at the top of the page, thedrop down menu has the link to Hob Bits [:D].

Another source
http://www.micromark.com/

[Noah Hofrichter]

Thanks to all of you, and especialy to Nigel, i found something in one of those.

Now for one more question, where do I get small enough screws for the bolsters? Doesn't Kadee make them or something

[nfmisso]

Take a look at these:

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/300-5125
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/300-5183
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/521-802
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/585-31083
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/786-534

[Anonymous]

Noah, Simply copy the method used by some of your kits, or ready to run cars. All that is needed to keep the trucks on the car and provide a pivot point for the trucks, is a small screw. Generally this screw screws into the car frame's bolsters. This provides some space for the bury length of the screw.

Without a diagram of what your talking about, it's alittle hard to know what you need.

Hopefully this has been of some help!

[wp8thsub]

Look under a comparable commercially available car and check out the body bolsters, then compare to the plan drawings to see if you can visualize what they're telling you in 3-D. The car you're building will need some kind of body bolster to space the truck bolster the proper distance from the floor, and it will probably look a lot like the bolster on an Athearn or other store bought car. If you're planning on doing a minimal amount of detailing on the underbody, a block of styrene with a hole drilled into its center may suffice (a similar arrangement is used on some of the old style craftsman kits). Check the dimensions of the coupler draft gear boxes you plan to use along with those of the truck bolsters to determine the proper thickness of styrene for everything to line up.

You could also cut a bolster from a commercial underframe or try to find bolster castings intended for use on scratchbuilt or kitbashed models.

[Noah Hofrichter]

I was looking at the plans for my scratchbuilt car the other day, and realized I have to figure out a way to attach trucks to a flat piece of styrene. I was only planning to to make one layer of styrene for the base of the car, which you could say is like a flat car, so there's no way to drive a screw up through a car without it being seen from the other side. Do I need to build a box for a base or something to attach the trucks to, or what? Any help is appreciated greatly.

Noah.