Guys: I have an out of production Walthers SW-1 minus it’s handrails. I searched their website but don’t see any SW-1 stuff except for S-scale. I’m HO. Any ideas where to look? Thanks in advance.
Matt
DIY!
I’m quite sure that someone out there makes aftermarket stanchions . . . . . . . . . . and there is a multitude of wire available.
While I share R. T.'s sentiments, I don’t share his need to scream.
When it comes to adding or replacing handrails, brake plumbing on steam locomotives or electrical conduits on the roofs of catenary motors and EMU cars, a stock of wire and a pair of needle-nose pliers are your friends. Wire is available from many sources, including (but not limited to) LHS (even if its primary emphasis is NOT trains) and Ace Hardware. Where physical strength isn’t a requirement, I’ve even used solid electrical wire with the insulation stripped off.
Don’t be afraid to try using ‘raw materials’ to make something. If it doesn’t come out perfect the first time, just try again. Wire is cheap.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Well “Good Morning!” from the far far reaches of the East!
Matt
Thanks Chuck. I have some different sizes of wire and have fabricated a lot of different things for my layouts over the years. I’m just in the midst of a multitude of different scenery projects and backdrop painting that I did not exactly feel like sitting down at the workbench to mess with handrails. Was just trying to see if anyone knew of anywhere in the U.S. (East or West) where there may still be some in stock for 5 or 10 bucks. Of course I will make them if I have to but a project like that is ranking about 25th or so on the railroad to-do list at the moment and probably for the next several years.
.I didn’t scream. DIY–Do-It-Yourself–is always capitalized. I just capitalized it in thirty-six point type!
Try guitar strings! They come in a variety of diameters, and you can get them in steel or nylon (plastic). You probably don’t want wire-wound for locos, but you might for other stuff-- piping comes to mind. And guitar strings are generally pretty cheap.
Hey, thanx for the tip! I had heard about using guitar strings a long time ago and completely forgot about that!
Matt