Just watched the current Rice Harbor video on Video Plus, wherein David Popp uses these Patternmaker Pins (alignment pins) to line up the two layout pieces. David even provided the website for the company that makes them.
These are just what I need for my new removable layout extension.
Only one problem, the company is in the UK and their website says they do not ship to North America! Is there another source for these?
Thanks.
Just type Patternmaker Pins into Google or any other search engine and all types show up.
Cacole: Did that. Lot's of listings with the words pattern, patternmaker and pins come up, but for patternmaker pins, only the company David referenced comes up on my search. If you have some results, feel free to post them. Thanks.
McMaster has everything.
Steve S
Steve: Excellent! Thanks.
Try ALIGNMENT PINS. Google presented several suppliers.
I personally use standard hex-head bolts that fit tightly in the holes that I drill in clamped-together parts - but I AM connecting steel, not wood.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
I've got package of these I picked up recently, Hobbico brand HCAR5150 Medium T-pins. I suppose they're available through www.hobbico.com
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Gents: Still looking for these.
Mlehman misunderstood what I'm looking for - the "T- Pins" he mentioned are not even related.
Steve S. directed me to McMasters and they have a lot of stuff, but nothing exactly like the C&L Finescale Patternmaker Pins. The key is the screw holes in the flanges that allow you to easily attach them to the benchwork.
Other "Alignment" pins (and the female counterparts) I found at McMasters do not have the screw holes in the steel flange (although they do have the flange). These will probably work if epoixied in place. And the place is here in southern California.
Maybe I'll ask my Aussie friends to pick some up.
Owen W
I have been unable to locate any other source for those pattern makers dowels. Unfortunately, they won´t ship them to the US or Canada. You may have to involve your friend from Downunder to get them.
Owen W in California,
I use carriage bolts to hold sections together. A carrige bolt, one end has a round head, below that part of the shank, is shaped like a square nut. You clamp the two pieces you want together drill two holes one at each end, in a horizontal plane unclamp, recess the inside holes where you put the carriage bolt, take a socket tighten the bolt, the round head side will pull into the face of the wood, put your section back into the drilled holes and attach with a fender washer and wing nut. I guarantee, they won't go anywhere and they will always line up the same. I recommend 1/2 dia. bolts, length determined, by how wide the two pieces are.
Frank
Steven S McMaster has everything. Steve S
Steve,
I'm still waiting for the manhole covers to go on sale.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Thanks Frank. Yes, that's the traditional way to do it. The section will only be attached for ops sessions, so I had planned on using the patternmaker pins to ensure a perfect line up in perpetuity, and using carriage bolts to keep it together during sessions. Maybe it's overkill to use both.
Appreciate the assistance though!
Owen
This company has them in the US
http://freemansupply.com/MalleableIronDowel.htm
Not sure if you can buy direct but they may be able to direct you to a retailer near you.
The press-fit ones that McMaster-Carr has should work equally well. They have a small flange on them so if you drill the mounting holes carefully, they will sit on the surface. A small amount of epoxy in the holes will hold them in place - there shouldn;t be much pulling stress on them anyway.
On some of out newer modules on the club layout, they have legs only at one end, and the other hand has two holes drilled through it for simple hardwood dowels. This both aligns things and holds up the free end. They've been togerther and apart for many shows now over the past few years and are still holding up, and the tracks align with no problem - this is a multi-track engine temrinal area, so there are a lot of tracks across the gaps. No fitter sections.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
owen w in californiaMlehman misunderstood what I'm looking for - the "T- Pins" he mentioned are not even related.
Sorry about that. I wasn't certain exactly what you were looking for, but understand now...
I wonder if it would be possible to drill out the flanges on the other alignment pin units that are available so they will work like the (possible unobtanium) ones? Ordinarily, I'd say go with epoxy, but I think this is one app where a mechanical connection with screws is clearly better.
Thanks, Randy. I will check that company out. It may be overkill (I could have done it already with the time spent discussing it, right? Wood dowels or the bolts suggested by Frank would both work. But those patternmaker pins are such an elegant solution. Thanks. Owen
Mike: Probably could drill out (I thought of that too). Like I said, It's all overkill at this point. Thanks for your input though.
Got my NMRA Magazine today. There is a letter in it about someone loocking for what may be these same pins. Note that the maker is DCCconcepts, not "DCC Supplies" which was the comapny that doesn't export. In fact, their agent in the UK is Gaugemaster Controls.
DCCconcepts does export to the US from Australia where they are based. These may be what you're looking for?
http://www.dccconcepts.com/index_files/Baseboard_alignment_dowels.htm
Mike: Thanks for the follow up. I'm going to go with wood dowels for now. Old School. :)