I have upgraded some used rolling stock from hobby stores. Since the nearest hobby store is 250 miles I also need to improvise. While at a fabric store with my wife I noticed the smallest clothing snaps look like brake wheels.
I believe I'd just hold off on those projects until I managed to travel that 250 miles.
Yup, that's what I'd do.
Ed
PS: And what's with this living in a place where a fabric store is nearby but a hobby shop is 250 miles away? Priorities, sir. Priorities.
At 250 miles to the nearest hobby shop, I can see why you may improvise a bit more than the rest of us. Many folks do use alternative products to ones made for model railroading, so it is certainly not a new idea. I say if you have found something that satisfies your needs and you are comfortable, go for it. When you get to the shop or shop online, if you still want to upgrade your brake wheels (or anything else you have improvised), that's the time to do it.
Remember it is your railroad, do as YOU want.
Have fun,
Richard
Ya I know. But WE are A specialized craft. Buttons and such are you know, walmart
If they look reasonable then by all means use them! That will provide you with an opportunity to create a new track side industry which manufactures your brake wheels and you can decide on their brand name all on your own. How many model railroaders have their own brand of brake wheels?!?
Later on you can always change them for more prototypical versions if you wish.
Just for interest, have you compared the cost of your fabric shop brake wheels with the cost of those from a scale manufacturer, like Kadee? Scroll down a bit on this page and find out if you have a bargain: http://www.kadee.com/htmbord/HO-Scale%20Detail%20Parts.htm Granted you have to add in shipping costs but Kadee has a lot to offer so I think if you were to find a few other things like couplers or wheel sets that you will need in the future the shipping cost becomes minimal per product.
Hey - like others have said, its your railroad so you can do whatever you want!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
P.S. Dalrail!
Just in case nobody has mentioned this,
You will find lots of good advise on these forums, and don't be afraid to ask questions. Before you ask a specific question you might want to try a search in the Model Railroad forums for an answer. If you scroll down the right side of this page you will see a search engine for the forums. Sometimes you will find the information that you are looking for in previous posts (such as 'how to post a picture to a thread). Other times you may find that the specific answer is not found by the search engine, so you are absolutely free to post a new question.
Clothing snaps for HO brake wheels?
Old technology!
I first saw this in MR when I was building wooden StromBecker cars - it was recommended as an upgrade. Those things came with printed cardstock ends - the brake wheel was printed on the cardstock.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
thanks Dave