I want to add some pipe fitting detail (specifically unions, tees, globe valves) to some HO rolling stock and structures. I've looked at the websites of Precision Scale Co., American Scale Models and Rusty Stumps Scale Models. I'd like to hear opinions from anyone who's used products from these companies, or others, about the quality of detail they, or others, offer. As far as detail in general is concerned, and for comparison purposes, I'm familiar with the level that Tichy Train Group offers, which I think is very good; as far as I know, though, it doesn't produce the fittings I want.
It has been that Precision Scale did subcontracting for at least some of the brass builders and importers.
The other 2 names I only know of and have not used their product.
Since 1980s I have been quite happy with Precision Scale's products, both their brass and styrene.
Also true of the halfway similarly named Cal Scale.
Precision Scale and Cal-Scale (Bowser) are my go-tos for brass detail parts, and Bowser's offerings are much more extensive than the stuff in that little yellow folder, which they used to send out regularly. I've spent hours at the store in Montoursville, browsing the racks of details.
Wayne
I likewise use Precision Scale and Cal-Scale detail parts. I keep many item #'s in stock.
doctorwayne I've spent hours at the store in Montoursville, browsing the racks of details. Wayne
Days of the old LHS are just memories today Wayne. A shop that I used to frequent near Me for at least 45yrs. the owner and great friend, had two walls filled with every detail part you could imagine behind sliding glass doors. It would take a few days to honestly say you saw most of it......
Take Care!
Frank
zstripeDays of the old LHS are just memories today Wayne.
Yeah, in many cases you're right, Frank. Of the 10 or 12 around here that were within a half-hour's drive, there's only one left.
Every year, when I go down to Ohio to visit friends, I make at least one visit to English' Model Railroad Supply on my trip home. It's approximately 250 miles to my friend in Ohio, and about the same from there to Montoursville in Pennsylvania....and about the same from there to home. They have several roll-out racks (roughly 6'x4') of Cal-Scale detail parts, many of them originally made for the brass builders in Japan and South Korea.
I recently ordered over a hundred bucks worth of detail parts from Precision Scale, mostly parts for passenger cars, as I'm attempting to wrap-up that aspect of model building - 18 cars should be the end of it, although some are for a couple of friends.Locomotives, and scratchbuilt freight cars, and cabooses will be next on my get 'em done list.
I keep a small stash of detail parts on hand. You never know what you might need in the middle of a project.
Detail_Parts by Edmund, on Flickr
Overall quality is good but can be kind-of hit or miss with the popular brands. Cal-Scale has generally been good. Precision Scale has recently been taken over by the Prantle family (TJ Trains) and I don't know if they have resumed production or if they are selling on-hand inventory.
Dozens of suppliers have fallen by the wayside, unfortunately.
These Unions are from Cal-Scale which is now run by Bowser. You can see a few deformed ones but that doesn't mean they can't be used with the bad side facing away from the viewer.
Cal-Scale_Union by Edmund, on Flickr
The largest one is probably 2" pipe, down to 3/4. A half-inch union would be pretty small in HO.
These rising-stem gate valves are very well done.
Cal-Scale_Gate-valve by Edmund, on Flickr
I didn't measure them but they probably represent 1½" on the left and 2" on the right. Even the valve wheel is cored out nicely:
Cal-Scale_Gate-valve-detail by Edmund, on Flickr
Another supplier of white-metal details is Wiseman Services.
http://wisemanmodelservices.com/
Some of the castings are a little rough but are easily cleaned up.
Good Luck, Ed
Thanks for opinions and photos everyone. Makes the selection process much easier!