Screws to fix cars to bases in 1/18 scale

[The Hypno-Toad]

Sorry for the extra thread but I need to move quickly on this one so any help would be appreciated.

I've got a couple of 18th Models to sell for a friend and she has lost the screws that secure the cars to their bases inside the boxes. I've googled but it all the searches seem to come back with screws for R/C cars or massive packs of screws that I won't need. I've tried to get them from local shops using one I have for my own models as a guide but no good.

Its for a brand I have little knowledge which is called The Beanstalk Group.

Help!

[Mr Pointy]

Length? Thread size/type? Head style? Picture?

I think it's a struggle for anyone to help when all we know is "I need a small screw".

[CanAm]

You need a proper old-fashioned hardware shop with a bloke in a brown overall who will tell you the exact thread size and type of your screw from about six feet away; he'll dig in a drawer, find the exact size and ask you how many you want rather than giving you a bubble pack of 48.

[The Hypno-Toad]

Mr Pointy said:

Length? Thread size/type? Head style? Picture?

I think it's a struggle for anyone to help when all we know is "I need a small screw".

I don't have the size of the screw. If I did I wouldn't have started the thread. That's why I said she had lost the screws.

What I am looking for is someone who has had a similar problem with sourcing screws for 1/18th model boxes (Burago, Minichamps, Autoart etc) and has found a generic solution that they then can then pass on.

[CanAm]

The Hypno-Toad said:

I don't have the size of the screw. If I did I wouldn't have started the thread. That's why I said she had lost the screws.

What I am looking for is someone who has had a similar problem with sourcing screws for 1/18th model boxes (Burago, Minichamps, Autoart etc) and has found a generic solution that they then can then pass on.

R M Toys Ltd seem to be the main sellers of Beanstalk models, so they will probably be able to help. Even if they can't supply spares they should be able to tell you the screw sizes which you can source from hardware shops, Amazon Ebay etc.

Do the models have the country of manufacture on them? If Europe they'll almost certainly be metric sizes, which should be easier for you to source.

R.M.Toys Ltd. Tel : [phone]

31 Aston Road,
Waterlooville.
Hampshire.
PO7 7XQ.

Edited by CanAm on Tuesday 28th April 15:51

[BunkMoreland]

Measure the hole in the bottom of the car.
Both the diameter (with a ruler)
then the depth with a cocktail stick or something

Go to a rc car shop that sells spares. (harder than it was 20 years ago)

eg

https://www.modelsport.co.uk/product/35078

[InitialDave]

I'd expect something like a 2mm or 3mm self-tapper, maybe 10mm long, is likely to see you about right.

[The Hypno-Toad]

Thanks for all the tips gents, I do have a proper ironmongers not far away so I wander over there tomorrow.

[CoolHands]

I can’t envisage what these screws are for, but most likely m3x10 self tapping type. Or possibly m2x8 if quite small. Tamiya and other rc cars use screws like that.

[mmm-five]

Just had a look at mine, but none of the Otto, Kyosho or Minichamps 1:18 models have screws holding them in...just formed polystyrene.

I do have some Bburago ones that were used to keep the kids away from the expensive ones, but they're not on stands, the boxes have long gone, and the screw is not in the bottom of the model.

[Jim H]

CanAm said:

You need a proper old-fashioned hardware shop with a bloke in a brown overall who will tell you the exact thread size and type of your screw from about six feet away; he'll dig in a drawer, find the exact size and ask you how many you want rather than giving you a bubble pack of 48.

I just love this analogy.

When I started my RC aircraft flying hobby in the mid eighties, the lovely bloke who ran the local model shop wore brown overalls. Same with local hardware shops.

I am not really surprised they didn’t survive the internet age. A shame really.

In my career in engineering, I’ve met many guardian expert store managers? When asked if they can give me a M8 bolt.

The response: “what length? What TPI? Stainless? Zinc plated? …

OP, if you come across something similar to this issue again. I purchased a very cheap digital calliper from Aldi a few years ago. It really has helped on so many occasions

Measuring thread Outside Diameter is very hard to do with a ruler and eyesight. A digital caliper will always put you in the right Ball Park as an excellent starting point.

I am always buying various nuts and bolts (fixings) for my hobby of cars and RC aircraft .

eBay is excellent. I’ve always had my doubts about ordering from China, however, get this? I’ve ordered some wacky threads of screws / bolts from China equaling a sum total of a few quid. Who would actually take that order? No real loss to me if it all goes wrong.

Received within about 7 days max

[CanAm]

Jim H said:

I just love this analogy.

When I started my RC aircraft flying hobby in the mid eighties, the lovely bloke who ran the local model shop wore brown overalls. Same with local hardware shops.

I am not really surprised they didn't survive the internet age. A shame really.

In my career in engineering, I've met many guardian expert store managers? When asked if they can give me a M8 bolt.

The response: what length? What TPI? Stainless? Zinc plated?

OP, if you come across something similar to this issue again. I purchased a very cheap digital calliper from Aldi a few years ago. It really has helped on so many occasions

Measuring thread Outside Diameter is very hard to do with a ruler and eyesight. A digital caliper will always put you in the right Ball Park as an excellent starting point.

I am always buying various nuts and bolts (fixings) for my hobby of cars and RC aircraft .

eBay is excellent. I ve always had my doubts about ordering from China, however, get this? I've ordered some wacky threads of screws / bolts from China equaling a sum total of a few quid. Who would actually take that order? No real loss to me if it all goes wrong.

Received within about 7 days max

There was such a shop near my office when I retired, with exactly such a bloke "Ah, that'll be a 3/8th UNC CSK Phillips head then". It seems to have gone now.