Hi Guys,

Since I stumbled across the website for hpcgears yesterday, I was wondering how many other companies our members knew about that could be used as a source for all those bits and pieces we all seem to need from time to time?

Do any of you have any other sites that you use, not just for drive components, but for other stuff related to modelling?

For example, I've been searching for BA nuts and bolts - No problem I thought, but once I started to search I was amazed at how difficult it was to find a company that did small quantities of small (12BA and 14BA) nuts and bolts! I did eventually find a source, but it certainly wasn't easy!

So tell us about any companies you know about that can help with this sort of thing - I'm still trying to find a source for resin cast window frames in 1:32 scale - 1:12, 1:24 and 1:48 are all available, but I've drawn a total blank for 1:32 scale stuff!

Hi Eddy - not sure of the scale, but period ship kit builders list plenty of gun port metal frames which can be modified to conventional window frames - one of the great things with metal frames is that you can grip them in a vice across the points & evenly deform them so that they can be used to follow a cabin roof line with a slight angle etc

Manuta light brass = 10x12, Amati heavy Brown = 8x8, 10x10, 13x13

Manutua/Amati brown =  8x8, 10x10, 14x14, 18x18 - all dimensions are naturally in mm and are external - Derek

Eddy,
I found some nuts and bolts here
http://www.srgroup.fsnet.co.uk/Sales.htm

Which comes to mind. Since we're an international site, do you think it might be better organized to group suppliers to their respected countries so members can look for items in their region first to avoid those costly taxes? For instances  the new site you found for belts and things there seems to be simular as Stock Drive Products here in the U. S.

Maybe it would help with shopping to list them under European, American suppliers, etc. Especially if the list starts getting big. I've got a fairly good list of places I shop on the 'net myself. Also on this list, a link to a good currency converter would be helpful for us who may consider ordering something from abroad, and would like to compare prices or figure out just how expensive an item is would be.

Thanks Joe, all perfectly valid points!

I'd like to add a section to the "Web Links" page for useful suppliers of materials, and yes I'll happily split it into sections for each area (USA, Europe, Australia/NZ etc etc).

I'll have a look around for a suitable currency convertor - Unless someone here in the group knows of an accurate online convertor we can put a link to?

Hello all, as good a currency converter that i use is at http://www.xe.com/ucc/ they constantly update the rates and I've found it very accurate.

hope this helps

chhers

Jim

Thanks Jim,

I've added the currency converter to the links page...

Hi.
I have used "EKP Supplies"for BA fixings and studding they also do BA nuts one size smaller  sometimes better for scale.On line catalogue to download this is a UK site. Model boaters may not have come across it as they advertise in "Model Engineer" mag. www.ekp.supplies.btinternet.co.uk
  Cheers Eric

Hi,

Somebody may have suggested this already, but that mother of all hobby shops, Hobbies of Dereham, might have some stuff that's hard to find elsewhere. They have small steam engines of both reciprocating and pop-pop types; and kits for just about everything, boats, ships, planes, doll houses and historical buildings that would probably have window frames.
Go to: http://www.hobbies-dereham.co.uk//default.htm and look around, if you haven't already done so.

Frank

Hi all Pds reading about nuts etc.  i use the following company who deal in all BA items  they are  "Items" Mail Order Ltd 46, ST Martins Road, North Leverton, Retford , Nottinghamshire, DN22 OAU,  1427 884319,  mobile 0780 9027427.  hope you all find this useful