How do you add & make whistle & bell cords for HO Scale Steam Engines?
You might try a single strand from some fine stranded wire. A dab or two of grunge-grey paint will kill the copper, and it will take (and hold) a proper catenary curve with a touch of finger pressure. OTOH, it will be hyperfragile!
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with locos that didn’t have bells)
Thanks for telling me how to make one! Now, I want to know how to put the wire on the loco!
I’am still accepting ways on how to make whistle & bell cords!
fishing line, acc it to each point
Yep, a dab of super-thick ACC on either end should do it. I used the single strand from a stranded wire also when I was in HO.
In N, of course, it’s almost not worth it 'cause the bell and whistle chords would be almost impossible to see!
If you get a little glue where you don’t want it and it leaves a tiny shiny spot you can touch it up with PolyScale Matte acrylic finish (you can find it with the hobby paints).
Good luck!
As noted already, fine copper wire, and Blacken-it works great on that, or you can get some “scale” rope from Micro-Scale. Listed under model ship’s rigging are several alternatives of small non-fuzzy thread if I recall correctly. Have also used it for power lines.
I use brass wire from Detail Associates. In most cases, .012 or smaller works quite well. You can bend the wire to to give it a realistic sag. A #80 (or #78) hole drilled into the cab at the appropriate level will accept the wire. A little ACC to attach to the bell or whistle usually does the job. I paint mine with “Aged White” or “Aged Concrete” and they look pretty good.
I, too, use very thin brass wire from Detail Associates. Such bell and whistle ropes are very fragile I agree, and I would NOT use copper wire because even only the slightest touch will leave an ugly “edge”, whereas brass wire is stronger and springs back to its original shape after the unintended touch (not too heavy touch of course).
I only have brass models so I am soldering the wire to the bell arm, and I use eye bolts as holders between bell and cab. Nothing glued. But you have to PREFORM the wire completely before application to the model, the more when you are gluing. Forget to correct improper shaping after that.
I would think a long human hair would be about the proper scale. some of the baled wires from electronics would work, you also get to rip apart those 14 old computers out in the garage, the copper windings on small electric motors also.
Are there any pictures?
Peter Smith, Memphis
The Proto 2000 0-6-0 comes with a whistle cord. Here is a website with a nicely weathered 0-6-0.
http://www.port-kelsey.com/?m=200504
