I just found 6 older Life Like P2K SW9/1200 locos. All of them have the infamous bent hand rails. Did anyone figure a way to straighten these out? If not, is there a reasonable way to replace them with out having to repaint the shell?
I suggest using guitar strings-- you want solid steel, unwound strings. The type for the higher notes are best.
Jay,
Can you tell us more about the guitar strings? I have some P2K handrails that I need to replace. The recommendation I always hear is to use brass wire (I’m not certain as to which thickness). Are the guitar strings easier to work with? Easier to paint?
Any decent hobby shop should carry music wire (piano wire), but you could also try a music store. Music wire comes in various thicknesses, but for an HO diesel, .015" should be about right. It’s steel, so you’ll need pliers to bend it, and it’s best to measure accurately, as it doesn’t respond well to repeated bending and straightening. Cut it using a cut-off disc in your Dremel. The advantage over brass is that it will stand up to handling much better, as its springy properties prevent it from deflecting.
Wayne
I don’t know about easier, but they’re easy enough to work with, and I’ve never had a problem painting them. I use acrylic paint though. Since they’re metal, a brittle paint would probably break/flake off.
Probably an “ernie ball #8” or so would be about right for you. Its 0.016 diameter steel wire. You can get them in single strings or else buy them in packs (for a guitar) pretty cheaply. I use them for all sorts of things, including handrails.
Here’s a link:
http://www.amazon.com/Ernie-Ball-Nickel-Single-Guitar/dp/B0002GYX8W/ref=pd_sim_MI_3
EDIT: You don’t have to buy them online, probably any decent music store-- especially if they sell electric guitars-- will likely have 'em. And you can get them in other sizes and finishes. And if you saw the link, they don’t weigh a pound. That guy is either a nut or else a pound is the smallest increment Amazon permits.
John
And whatever you do, DON’T succumb to the temptation to cut steel wire with your nice, new flush-cutting rail nippers. It ends up making them much less nice in a hurry.
Been there, 'got the ruined tools to show for it.
Agreed, for small diameters I just use an old pair of cheap scissors.
Gentlemen, thank you for the info. I’ll take a trip to a musical instrument store in my area and get the recommended guitar strings.
I appreciate the warning about using nippers and will cut the strings with my Dremel cut-off wheel. [:D][tup]