Friends,
Last Saturday I posted an item regarding the wheelsets for LifeLike Proto 2K drop-end gondolas. In it I also mentioned the delicacy of the add-on styrene grab irons for these kits and that I will be replacing them with wire grabs.
Just to be sure that I'd get the right ones, I used a pair of drafting dividers to span the pre-drilled holes in the car body. Then I compared that gap with the BLMA grab iron template. To my surprise, they are not the expected scale 18-inchers but 20s. So the standard ones from Tichy, CalScale, BLMA, etc. won't do without spreading them - which would not only be a bit cheesy but perhaps introduce some inconsistency in application. Take particular note, folks: I am fully prepared to make my own. However, I'm willing to track down any that are pre-made by standard detail suppliers. But, so far, I haven't found any out there. Does anyone make 20 inchers?
Thanks,
John
Detail Associates part number 6427 are 19.5" drop type grab irons.
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-Kevin
Living the dream.
Details Associates made/makes a wire 19.5" drop grabiron (#6427).
There's an echo in here. Maybe they posted at the same time.
Mike.
My You Tube
Thanks, guys. And DA 6426 is the 19.5" straight grab iron. Now to find someone that has 'em. Will have to bundle them with some Kadee 148s and IM 33" wheelsets - each on sale - to mitigate the postage. Wish me luck!
AttuvianThanks, guys. And DA 6426 is the 19.5" straight grab iron.
Yes it is. I shouldn't have just blindly trusted the text in my Google search.
I make my own, in any size, and in straight- or drop-form. I made a few today, in fact, for a couple of Athearn passenger cars. I use .0125" phosphor-bronze wire from Tichy. It's also good for making corner grabs for roofwalks, too...
Wayne
Thanks, all. Late yesterday I scored two bags of Cal Scale #506s at one LHS. With some local stirrups they will get me past the gon project. The store didn't didn't have the phosphor bronze and their .0125 brass looked to floppy for me to bite on it. I'll order the Tichy wire today at the other LHS if they don't have it in stock. Phooey on the postage.
Seeing all of Dr. Wayne's work makes me wonder how much of it he has gone through over the years. And think about what he might be doing with it underneath those cars and elsewhere!