misterNNL Posted January 10, 2015 Posted January 10, 2015 I am building some 1/25th scale 26" bicycles and am looking for a source of drive chain.I have heard of some photo etched chain being available from China but to be quite honest at my age I no longer have the eye sight to assemble it.I am hoping to find something else that will look or at esst look close. Any suggestions?
jbwelda Posted January 10, 2015 Posted January 10, 2015 (edited) I cut a thin strip of Tamiya masking tape, colored it silver with a sharpie, wrapped it around the top and bottom of the chain drive and called it good. its not anywhere near perfect and it doesnt have the dimensionality of a real chain, but I would have no luck with photo etched chain that size jb Edited January 10, 2015 by jbwelda
southpier Posted January 10, 2015 Posted January 10, 2015 I have photo etch frets with 1/35 scale flat chain but don't think it would read well (Eduard or Aber). grandt line & northwest shortline have real delrin roller chain, but don't know if its size would work for you. http://www.swiftsixteen.com/productDetails.php?productID=111 http://www.grandtline.com/ http://www.nwsl.com/NWSL_Online_Catalog.html
SfanGoch Posted January 10, 2015 Posted January 10, 2015 Try fusee drive chains. These are essentially miniature drive chains used in pocket watches. They come in different sizes.
jbwelda Posted January 10, 2015 Posted January 10, 2015 yeah just try getting those around your sprockets, through the frame and deraulier and connected together! show us pics when you do! jb
SfanGoch Posted January 11, 2015 Posted January 11, 2015 yeah just try getting those around your sprockets, through the frame and deraulier and connected together! show us pics when you do! jb Hmmm......... I recall the following comment made by some guy in another post: "the envious cry out, 'it can't be done'" Maybe you know that guy, huh? Reminds me of another famous quote: Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change? I suppose it can't be done. Sorta like trying to put hair on a scale figure, right? Oh wait......Keeichi Aoki does that in 1/35. That's enough to humble any modeler. Given patience, skill and the proper materials, anything is possible. You should expand your modeling horizons. Necessity is the mother of invention, broski. Adopting/adapting techniques from other modeling genres to fit one's needs makes for a better hobbyist. Fusee drive chain for 1/35 scale bikes and motorcycles has been discussed in a number of armor modeling forums; and, guys have used it with no problem. If it can be done in 1/35, it certainly can be done in a larger scale, like 1/25. All one needs to do is get the right size for the project. That's when Google is your friend.
jbwelda Posted January 11, 2015 Posted January 11, 2015 great. remember, show us pictures or it didn't happen. then I will get envious. but not for long, trust me. jb
SfanGoch Posted January 11, 2015 Posted January 11, 2015 Geez.....I've only been a member of this board for a very short time; however, I have visited it many times over the years prior to registering. One constant is that you always fail to surprise me with your abrasive attitude. Whether or not you believe it would work is irrelevant. You're the last person I need to seek a nod of approval from and I won't lose any sleep based on what you think is possible. Before I brought up the topic, I doubt you even heard of, or knew about, fusee chain and what it's uses are. Tom was asking about alternatives to PE drive chains and I provided him with a viable option. If he feels that this might work, great. I guess Tamiya tape was the best you could bring to the table. That's O.K. Everyone has their limitations.
southpier Posted January 11, 2015 Posted January 11, 2015 hair, hell; looks like that Wave just got a manicure!
misterNNL Posted January 11, 2015 Author Posted January 11, 2015 Thanks guys.I always reach out to the forums for advise and help with techniques and have never been disappointed.There is a great wealth of knowledge and experience right here for the asking. Joe,I will definitely be checkinf out those Fusee drive chains.I plan on posting the results in under glass after it's done.All the parts are scratch built so far.
southpier Posted January 11, 2015 Posted January 11, 2015 as long as the Chain Gang is on the job: https://sdp-si.com/eStore/Catalog someone might find this helpful if they use the search function in the future (I think they might be a tad big for bicycle chains)
southpier Posted January 11, 2015 Posted January 11, 2015 (edited) although at second blush, maybe this would work? "... a nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse ..." Edited January 11, 2015 by southpier
misterNNL Posted January 11, 2015 Author Posted January 11, 2015 I will first try to find a domestic source for Fusee product.Everything on Ebay is from the United Kingdom.Has anyone reading this ever purchased the Fusee chain domesticly or know of a source?I have a lot of watch sprockets already.I bought a gallon of old watches at a flea market just to tear apart for the parts. There will not be a problem at the rear wheel as it is completely covered with a full aero dynamic fender.
jbwelda Posted January 12, 2015 Posted January 12, 2015 gee Joe, maybe I should check with you before posting eh? still waiting for the photos, impress me with your unlimited skill man, since I am so obviously limited. the tape thing was just a suggestion, and one that's fairly easy to implement. and I have actually done it and posted pictures so I am anxious to see your results that I am sure will follow. jb
misterNNL Posted January 16, 2015 Author Posted January 16, 2015 I have done some price comparisons on-line and new fusee chain from england is $ 10.40 an inch plus postage and takes 3 weeks to ship.Used fusee chain on eBay(also from England)sells for $ 3.25 per inch plus postage and is in stock.
Junkman Posted January 16, 2015 Posted January 16, 2015 yeah just try getting those around your sprockets, through the frame and deraulier and connected together! I guess combing a sparrow would be easier.
my80malibu Posted January 17, 2015 Posted January 17, 2015 There were some,on E-Bay with assorted sizes, which could be helpful if your not sure about what scale the chain is.
misterNNL Posted September 30, 2015 Author Posted September 30, 2015 I bit the bullet and bought 2 lengths of the fussee chain and it's awsome stuff !
SfanGoch Posted September 30, 2015 Posted September 30, 2015 It'll look equally awesome on the bikes.
BigTallDad Posted September 30, 2015 Posted September 30, 2015 What material is used to make the chain? Steel? Brass?Gun metal bluing will turn steel into a dark color, if that's what you want...
Harry P. Posted September 30, 2015 Posted September 30, 2015 Can anyone post photos? I can hardly believe that realistic bicycle chain can be made in 1/25 scale. Amazing.
Ace-Garageguy Posted October 1, 2015 Posted October 1, 2015 (edited) Can anyone post photos? I can hardly believe that realistic bicycle chain can be made in 1/25 scale. Amazing. Image search "fusee chain" on Google. This is the first hit. Pretty small...lives inside a pocket watch. Edited October 1, 2015 by Ace-Garageguy
SfanGoch Posted October 1, 2015 Posted October 1, 2015 What material is used to make the chain? Steel? Brass? Gun metal bluing will turn steel into a dark color, if that's what you want... Fussee chain is made from spring steel; so, it can be chemically blued. Can anyone post photos? I can hardly believe that realistic bicycle chain can be made in 1/25 scale. Amazing. The fussee chain to the immediate right of the match head is .25mm thick and .63mm tall. That is just about 1/25 scale for a bike chain.
Ace-Garageguy Posted October 1, 2015 Posted October 1, 2015 Pretty old tech too. From wikipee:"At first the fusee cord was made of gut, or sometimes wire. Around 1650 chains began to be used, which lasted longer.[6] Gruet of Geneva is widely credited with introducing them in 1664,[2]although the first reference to a fusee chain is around 1540."
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