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Posted (edited)

Paint a tube with a red Sharpie. Paint a bead with a blue Sharpie. Using the metallic Sharpies is even better, but not necessary. Slide a tube over your "hose," followed by a bead, gluing both. 

You now have an AN hose end, and can make a hundred more.

I got these through Amazon, but they are available at Michael's and Hobby Lobby.   

Tubes.jpg

Beads.jpg

Edited by mcs1056
Changed one "blue Sharpie" to "red Sharpie."
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Posted
On 9/23/2025 at 6:47 AM, mcs1056 said:

Paint a tube with a red Sharpie. Paint a bead with a blue Sharpie. Using the metallic Sharpies is even better, but not necessary. Slide a tube over your "hose," followed by a bead, gluing both. 

You now have an AN hose end, and can make a hundred more.

I got these through Amazon, but they are available at Michael's and Hobby Lobby.   

Tubes.jpg

Beads.jpg

Not to detract from your post, because I'm all about the 'it's the cheap way- but looks the part' route,  but just out of curiosity, how many of you if you were judging a contest, would base their vote on whether the fittings are actually 'faceted'.. or not?

Show of hands? 

Posted
30 minutes ago, SpeedAndViolence said:

Not to detract from your post, because I'm all about the 'it's the cheap way- but looks the part' route,  but just out of curiosity, how many of you if you were judging a contest, would base their vote on whether the fittings are actually 'faceted'.. or not?

Show of hands? 

Especially in a contest scenario. I am quite happy for people to employ the 'cheap & cheerful' methods, and won't knock their work unless asked for a critique, but for me personally, for my own work, this stuff matters.

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Posted (edited)

Each to their own with regard to buying ready made small detailing parts to use or making them your self.

Some regard making things yourself as 'cheap'.  I personally disagree with that sentiment as making things your self is more challenging than buying off the shelf accessories, and some builders like to push their own boundaries by making rather than buying things designed and made by someone else.

However, I have no axe to grind with whatever the individual decides to use on their models whether bought out or self made items. If either looks right it really matters not one jot as both approaches are just a means to an end. As far as contests go, I have yet to see a judge using a microscope to differentiate home made from bought out detail parts.

Edited by Bugatti Fan
Posted
14 hours ago, SpeedAndViolence said:

Not to detract from your post, because I'm all about the 'it's the cheap way- but looks the part' route,  but just out of curiosity, how many of you if you were judging a contest, would base their vote on whether the fittings are actually 'faceted'.. or not?

Show of hands? 

I don't build kits for contests, just as I don't take my 1:1 Galaxie to car shows (OK...I take it, but I park in the lot and go look at the other cars). In fact, I doubt that I'll ever even go to a model car show.

I don't build kits to impress my friends or neighbors, who wouldn't know (or care) that the doors didn't open out of the box. I certainly don't build kits to grease the pockets of those 3D printers who make a slightly better window crank handle than I can scratch build, or to invest in bags of "plug wires" or pre-fabbed distributors. 

I built my XL for me to enjoy driving. I build kits to enjoy the time spent...to relax...and for them to sit on a shelf. I LIKE making crank handles, just as I LIKED almost breaking my back taking the intake manifold off of the 390. 

If someone came to my house and pointed out that my fittings weren't faceted, I likely wouldn't show them the door, but I would have a revised opinion of them. 

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