What does everyone use to hold parts together?

[seeker589]

For the last two weeks or so I have been a fabricating fool. Now I'm at a bit of an impasse.

This is my build:

My G-bucket build

I have a bit of a problem. I have used some weld wire (held in with pieces of masking tape) to mock-up the rear suspension assembly. While I am very pleased with how every thing is coming together - the pins looks like dung and I won't use them on the final assembly. All the rear suspension parts are independent parts - each link in the three link is a part.

Upon final assembly - what should I use to assemble the bits? Is there aftermarket bolt detail with a shaft? Since I've made pretty much everything up until now - I am open to anyone's scratch building suggestions also. Would a cut down straight pin with a hex filed in it be scale enough? What should I use on the other end of the pin? A hex bead? Photo-etch bolt heads?

This really has me stumped. I was very excited to venture this far into scratch-building - Now I need some guidance on how to attach said fabbed suspension pieces.

Thank You all for any help you can give me.

Edited May 4, 2011 by seeker589

[seeker589]

RB Motion makes hex pin/nut assemblies and if you want real screws they are available also.

Paul

http://www.rbmotion.com/index.html

http://www.scalehardware.com/

I knew they made miniature hardware. But I didn't know how affordable the Scale Hardware line was. The RBMotion stuff is beautiful.

Thanks for the links and tip!

Does anyone else have any suggestions that may be even cheaper? 'Cause I'm, like, cheap!

[Harry P.]

I knew they made miniature hardware. But I didn't know how affordable the Scale Hardware line was. The RBMotion stuff is beautiful.

Thanks for the links and tip!

Does anyone else have any suggestions that may be even cheaper? 'Cause I'm, like, cheap!

Use straight pins as "bolts" by filing the heads to a hex shape, use slices of hex-shaped styrene rod as "nuts."

It's either "real" miniature hardware ($$$$$$$) or the DIY way.

[seeker589]

Use straight pins as "bolts" by filing the heads to a hex shape, use slices of hex-shaped styrene rod as "nuts."

It's either "real" miniature hardware ($$$$$$$) or the DIY way.

Thanks Harry!

I now have to make the decision on if I'm spending big money or little money.