Where could I find 2-3mm black plastic balls?
Discussion
gopher said:
do they need to be individual, or could they be supplied in "piles"? (not sure of appropriate nameing but those triangular based canon ball thingsgroups)
They need to be individual, as they need to be individually placed into position along the edge of the hatch combings.
The place where I designed before had a supplier, but I can’t for the life of me remember where they come from, they were perfect, satin black polyurethane (or styrene) balls, 2 and 2.5mm diameter.
Chris
Chris,
I know someone who may be willing (certainly able) to cast these for you in lead free pewter, I can't give you any idea of cost but if you want to know more pm me and I will approach him directly.
There are certain issues you need to take into account - 1 there will be likely to be a moulding plug (flash in effect) that may need to be removed (by you or the consumer) and 2 the cost will be higher than high volume plastic
Cheers
Paul
I know someone who may be willing (certainly able) to cast these for you in lead free pewter, I can't give you any idea of cost but if you want to know more pm me and I will approach him directly.
There are certain issues you need to take into account - 1 there will be likely to be a moulding plug (flash in effect) that may need to be removed (by you or the consumer) and 2 the cost will be higher than high volume plastic
Cheers
Paul
Chris, I would use simple ball bearings for that. They are perfectly round and have no flash or seam lines etc.
Have a look at this UK site- you can buy some measuring 2.5mm:-
www.atlasball.co.uk/prod.htm
I would then spray them with Humbrol Polished Steel and burnish the "top" of each one with a toothpick
Edited to add that you'll need to prime them first with car body spray prior to using the Humbrol.
>> Edited by kenny chim 4 on Monday 2nd January 00:10
Have a look at this UK site- you can buy some measuring 2.5mm:-
www.atlasball.co.uk/prod.htm
I would then spray them with Humbrol Polished Steel and burnish the "top" of each one with a toothpick
Edited to add that you'll need to prime them first with car body spray prior to using the Humbrol.
>> Edited by kenny chim 4 on Monday 2nd January 00:10
When ime in town looking for ideas ive found the most unusual places for parts,for example there is a material/sowing shop that stocks all matter of bits and bobs that can be utulised in models.
Things like chrome buttons for wheels,small chain and also beads(could be what your looking for),but ime lucky as its all hung up on display racks so i can quietly take and pay for it,i hate to think of the looks i would get if they knew what it was for
Things like chrome buttons for wheels,small chain and also beads(could be what your looking for),but ime lucky as its all hung up on display racks so i can quietly take and pay for it,i hate to think of the looks i would get if they knew what it was for
Thanks for the great relies again guys, I have to admit that I thought I was 'pi$$ing in the wind' to get even one reply!
Right, they definitly can't be cast from white metal, too many 'cannon balls' per kit needed (about 2-300 per kit, and kits are made up in batches of at least 200 per subject!) I know that the vulcanised moulds for the white metal are at the very least, £40 in cost price alone, plus the time it takes to make the balls with the white metal and centrifugal machine would add quite a bit to the retail price of the kit, which is why these balls must be plastic, I know they exsist, I just don't know where!
As an aside,
I may be looking for someone who can cast some 'master' fittings for me, which I make in both modelling clay and plastic (so the mould must be a special low temp when vulcanised, so as not to melt or distort the patterns before the rubber mould has cured), could that someone you know do that?
Chris
Right, they definitly can't be cast from white metal, too many 'cannon balls' per kit needed (about 2-300 per kit, and kits are made up in batches of at least 200 per subject!) I know that the vulcanised moulds for the white metal are at the very least, £40 in cost price alone, plus the time it takes to make the balls with the white metal and centrifugal machine would add quite a bit to the retail price of the kit, which is why these balls must be plastic, I know they exsist, I just don't know where!
As an aside,
paul said:
Chris,
I know someone who may be willing (certainly able) to cast these for you in lead free pewter, I can't give you any idea of cost but if you want to know more pm me and I will approach him directly.
There are certain issues you need to take into account - 1 there will be likely to be a moulding plug (flash in effect) that may need to be removed (by you or the consumer) and 2 the cost will be higher than high volume plastic
Cheers
Paul
I may be looking for someone who can cast some 'master' fittings for me, which I make in both modelling clay and plastic (so the mould must be a special low temp when vulcanised, so as not to melt or distort the patterns before the rubber mould has cured), could that someone you know do that?
Chris
chris watton said:
I may be looking for someone who can cast some 'master' fittings for me, which I make in both modelling clay and plastic (so the mould must be a special low temp when vulcanised, so as not to melt or distort the patterns before the rubber mould has cured), could that someone you know do that?
Chris
He certainly could Chris (his masters are also from plastic), but before we go any further I'd better check that he wants to first
. I'll pm you with his reply, I should be speaking to him in the next day ot two.Back on topic, found these sites which may be of use, not sure about mimimum order quantities etc, but it may be worth enquiring.
www.plasticballs.com/
and
www.rgpballs.com/
Cheers
Paul
www.plasticballs.com/
and
www.rgpballs.com/
Cheers
Paul
gopher said:
Back on topic, found these sites which may be of use, not sure about mimimum order quantities etc, but it may be worth enquiring.
www.plasticballs.com/
and
www.rgpballs.com/
Cheers
Paul
Paul, Cheers for the links, will check them out this afternoon
Chris
Try a friend who is into shotguns.
Most shot now is available in metals other than lead, and you only need a 1 cartridge to get quite a few.
In general the following should work as a guide.
A Number 5 Cartridge gives shot of 3.05mm while a Number 9 cartridge gives 2.01mm so that should give you a good enough spread. measurements in mm are 2.01(9), 2.16(8.5), 2.26(8), 2.39(7.5), 2.77(6) and 3.05(5).
Theoretically yoiu should be able to go to a gunsmith, and ask him to break open a cartridge with non-lead shot (steel, etc) and just pay for the cartridge, so no major trauma. Approximate cost of a cartridge, 10 to 20 pence each.
hope that helps.
Most shot now is available in metals other than lead, and you only need a 1 cartridge to get quite a few.
In general the following should work as a guide.
A Number 5 Cartridge gives shot of 3.05mm while a Number 9 cartridge gives 2.01mm so that should give you a good enough spread. measurements in mm are 2.01(9), 2.16(8.5), 2.26(8), 2.39(7.5), 2.77(6) and 3.05(5).
Theoretically yoiu should be able to go to a gunsmith, and ask him to break open a cartridge with non-lead shot (steel, etc) and just pay for the cartridge, so no major trauma. Approximate cost of a cartridge, 10 to 20 pence each.
hope that helps.
Gassing Station | Scale Models | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff