detail associates ho lift rings--really tiny!

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

hello, hope this post finds all you safe, healthy and cooler.

i ordered a pack of detail associates 1101 ho lift rings on ebay. they came today, a sealed package and they are really tiny, like they were closer to n scale, half the size of the ones on my proto 2000 ho e8 locos. i could understand a slight difference but these are definitely half the diameter of the p2ks. can anyone explain this? -rob

2

Don’t know for certain, but the DA lift rings are probably closer to scale size.

3

Agree.

4

thanks guys–so anyone know who sells the original proto

2000/walthers lift rings? i need 12.

5

Why not use the DA parts? Is there a concern that someone will see two units next to each other and comment about the lift rings being different sizes? If that’s the case, I’d just show that person the door.

6

A couple of years ago, I bought a BLI E8 on eBay and when it arrived it was missing a lift ring. I contacted BLI and they had lift rings available for their E8 units. I don’t know if these lift rings would be the right size for your situation, but they are a decent size. BLI does respond to emails.

Rich

7

thanks for your help rich, i contacted them.

8

Excellent, let us know how that turns out.

Rich

9

I’m pretty sure that the Cal Scale lift rings are slightly larger than the DA parts. I love the DA stuff, but those lift rings have gotten ridiculously expensive and you get half as many in a package. I can’t imagine how many I’ve flung across the room over the years. I need to learn to be more careful!

10

thanks chuck! an ebayer has a photo up of some cal scale wire lift rings next to a ruler and the ring od measures about 1/32". that’s the size of the proto 2000 rings. the detail associates rings are about 1/48", too small.

11

what the heck–they are manufactured from wire turned into a loop with a stem–i could make 'em myself. all the online sellers charge more for shipping than the item itself. love your help guys just the same.

12

I would think that it would be challenging to make them yourself. But, if you do, let us know how they turn out.

Rich

13

Did BLI indicate the size of their lift rings?

Rich

14

I thought lift rings were etched from brass sheet…

15

no reply yet rich

16

The ones that I got from BLI were plastic.

Rich

17

some are brass, overmod, but cal scale fashions their #501 from .012" wire

18

Really? A lift ring is basically an eye bolt. 1/16 inch rounds up to about 6 inches in HO. Sounds pretty hefty for something that needs to lift some sheet metal.

Wonder what the dimensions of a real diesel lift ring is?

19

Nuts, I heard back the same day.

Here is the email address that I used.

partsorders@broadway-limited.com

Rich

20

you are correct maxman. detail associates labels their lift ring “3 1/2 inch eye bolt lift ring” which is roughly 1/32 inch in HO scale but the da’s measure 1/48" and look silly and puny on an HO diesel roof–you can hardly see 'em.

now we’ve all gotten so used to oversized kadee #5s over the decades and never mind the fat air hose coming out of them.