These ideas are so simple and inexpensive, yet elegant, that I really wish I could claim credit for them. Floral wire comes in several gauges and materials and can be bare or plastic coated. It usually comes in rolls for a few dollars. Jewelry wire is usually made of soft brass and thinner yet.... between them there are a lot of good choices for inexpensive pipes, grabirons, handrails, stanchions, wires and supports. Plastic beads come in lots of sizes shapes and colors. round ones can be made into valve bodies, clear ones can be lantern globes, tubes can become pipe fittings. Buttons make pretty good cylinder heads. Sew on snaps make dandy handwheels. They come in lots of sizes. #4 and #6 work well for most loco piping Craft store wood turnings can become vents, chimney caps, lantern tanks, even crank discs. Below are a few examples:
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