Rivets

Nexus6 · Post by **Nexus6** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 8:24 pm

I am looking to do a scratch build of the El Dorado from Buck Rogers. I would love to know any ideas that you guys have about handling the couple hundred rivets on the model.
I am figuring to make one about 19 inches long, from the nose to the end of the rat tails. Any help you guys have would be greatly appreciated.

Andrew Gorman · Post by **Andrew Gorman** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 8:34 pm

I've used straight pins for rivets- just drill a #70 or so hole, add a tiny drop of super glue and push in the pin. You can cut the shaft of the pin down if clearance is a problem. Careful shopping at fabric, craft and dolar stores will give you a limited range of pinhead sizes. Grandt Line makes a wide variety of plastic rivets and bolt heads for model railroads too. For a big model with a lot of rivets, I think the pinheads would work just fine.
Andrew

Post by **LindaSmile** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 9:49 pm

Round Rivets

Linda

Warped Speedster · Post by **Warped Speedster** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 6:21 am

That's a lotta holes to drill by hand. Even so, a pin vise and a straight edge is about the only way to plant rivets nice and even, and straight. I hope you'll be using fairly soft plastic for your project (like Evergreen).

Darkov · Post by **Darkov** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 6:35 am

Round or Hex shaped?

Nexus6 · Post by **Nexus6** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 9:27 am

I am going to assume round rivets. They look round in the comic strip but the drawings don't get up close.

Nexus6 · Post by **Nexus6** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 9:34 am

Hi Warped Speedster,
I was thinking of plank on frame, sanding the ship smooth, then either scribing the panels and adding the rivets then or adding a second skin in sections with the rivets already on.

Mr. Badwrench · Post by **Mr. Badwrench** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 3:45 am

Raised rivets or recessed?

Darkov · Post by **Darkov** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 8:45 am

You could buy a punch set. Historex makes a hex set if you need hex bolts or Waldron makes a set for round. I bought both and they work very well. However you can make a set vey easily.

Here is a link to instructions on how to make your own and a picture of the one I made.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/darkov35/ ... ir=8241re2

The one on the left is the Historex set, Top right is Waldron, Bottom Right is mine.

Hope that helps
Pete

Nexus6 · Post by **Nexus6** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 11:21 am

It looks like they are raised rivets.

dekesdragon · Post by **dekesdragon** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 6:11 pm

how about, foil (thin metal) sheets that have had a ponce wheel run over it
in the pattern needed,
then turn foil (thin metal) over
of course, handle gently

rpauly · Post by **rpauly** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 6:50 pm

tiny drops of thick CA applied with a pin or toothpick

Bar · Post by **Bar** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 7:17 am

The store sells rivet gauges to evenly space the drill holes(If you are doing the pin method).

Antenociti · Post by **Antenociti** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 5:32 pm

Grandt Line Augmentables for a whole host of nuts,bolts and rivets in varying scales.

May not suit this individual build but its a darn useful URL to have in the back pocket.

http://www.grandtline.com/model_railroa ... _pages.htm

Mr. Badwrench · Post by **Mr. Badwrench** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 4:20 am

Woo! Thanks Antenociti.

Nexus6 · Post by **Nexus6** » Mon May 01, 2006 9:07 pm

Guys,
You've given me some great ideas for my ship and I just wanted to say THANK YOU for all the posts. You guys are the absolute best!