1/25 Scale Rivets

[Bernard Kron]

I'm starting a build that would benefit greatly from detailing with rivets on some brackets and body panels. Any suggestions and how-tos would be greatly appreciated.

[Guest Davkin]

Scale Hardware makes them and Grandtline makes them. I've also seen them made by gluing a piece of plastic rod into the hole that is for the rivet then filing it down to look like a rivet.

David

[JHDrew]

Get yourself a roll of aluminum repair tape that has the paper backing. You will also need a 0.3mm metal barreled mechanical pencil. Pentel makes one.

Cut a couple inch piece of the tape off the roll and buff the surface of the aluminum with a pink pencil eraser to dull it up.

Sharpen the metal barrel of the 0.3mm pencil by holding it at about a 45 degree angle and rotating and dragging it across a piece of 400 grit sand paper. This will create a punch.

Click the pencil a couple times and hold down the button. Push the exposed graphite back up into the barrel with your finger. The graphite will be your ejector for the rivet.

Take the 0.3mm pencil and hold it perpendicular against the piece of aluminum repair tape. Apply a little pressure and twist the pencil back and forth a couple of times. Pull the pencil away from the tape and (if you haven't punctured the paper backing) a small dot will have been removed. Hold the pencil tip against the surface to which you want to transfer the dot and click the button. This will transfer the dot to the surface. The will self stick to the location but you may want to seal them with a coat of clear after you finish. Practice it a bunch on some scrap plastic to get your technique down. It doesn't take long to master and is a whole lot faster than dealing with the photo-etch dots.

Good luck!

[Lyle Willits]

The Model Car Garage has all the photoetched rivet heads you could want.

[Smart-Resins]

JHDrew that is one terrific tip!! Thanks a bunch. I have a roll of that left over and a pencil like that! I will have to try it since I just removed the detail on the back of my 29 pick up after chopping it and have to redo it all! Thanks. Jody

[oldstyle]

Hello

i Worked with Scale Hardware Rivets on my Frightliner and i Think it looks Nice.

It,s very easy to work with them

Uwe

[LDO]

I got a ton of rivets from my LHS; King's Hobby in Austin 512-836-7388. They are made by Tichy Train Group. I bought mine for a military project. Since reference info is scarce on the subject, I just ordered a bunch of sizes. I got .020" diameter all the way up to .080". I'll just keep the extras for a rainy day. You do have to drill a tiny hole.

[RatRod]

Here's a cool new product.....3D decals that go under paint!!!

http://www.archertransfers.com/catSurfaceDetails.html