Scratch building items from Japan

[Peter Lombardo]

I like to do a fair amount of scratch building so I always have my eyes open for parts and components that can be used to replicate detail parts on builds.

My son is into Sci-fi modeling so he spends a fair amount of time perusing the Japanese web sites where Sci-fi model building is really big. My son turned me on to these items and I thought some of you guys may be interested.

I just received in the mail yesterday a few “springs†and “mesh tubing†that has multiple uses in car modeling. I am enclosing the links to the items on the Hobby Link Japan site where you can order these and many other items.

Here is a General Link:

http://www.hlj.com/hljlist2/?rel=nav&GenreCode=Sci&MacroType=OptKit

Here are specific item links.

http://www.hlj.com/product/WAVOP-011)

http://www.hlj.com/product/WAVOP-016

http://www.hlj.com/product/WAVOP-012

http://www.hlj.com/product/WAVOP-017

http://www.hlj.com/product/WAVOP-013

http://www.hlj.com/product/WAVOP-014

Actually, the prices are very reasonable and I can tell you that the quality is first rate.

I ordered the springs in 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mm. These are amazing, you can cut them to the length you need and bend them without there being any “gap†in the spring. They will be great for water or oil hoses. The bigger ones are perfect for air ducts to cool front brakes and they are easily flexible so it the front wheels steer, they move with the wheel….it is so cool.

The mesh tubing is great for hoses and can be painted any color.

http://www.hlj.com/product/HQPSPR24

http://www.hlj.com/product/HQPSPR29

http://www.hlj.com/product/HQPMTSL

http://www.hlj.com/product/HQPMTSLL

http://www.hlj.com/product/HQPMTSML

Spend some time on the HLJ site, there are rivets, hex nuts, camera lens, the list of detail parts is almost endless.

[B_rad88]

thats cool, thank you for sharing Peter! i will now have to go look at all the stuff, lol!

[Bainford]

Very cool, thanks for sharing. I have yet to find a decent site that sells a great selection of scratchbuilding bits, aside from plastic shapes, etc. Most things you need can be found, but it requires a lot of creative searching. I still have not found a place to buy truely small fasteners, and you really have to think outside the box when looking for a variety if small screen or mesh. I'm going to take a look around that site to see what they have to offer. Cheers.