Making bolts heads the fun way

[Rob1970]

This is my new favourite tool!!!


It's the RP Tools Hex Punch and Die set! Just look at the hammer.... LOOK AT IT!!! It's so cute!! And it'll let you punch bolt heads out of ABS sheet no problem. And some people even use them on softer metal (not gonna do that.

Works great, and if you're bored you can take some scrap styrene or ABS sheet and spent an afternoon knocking out nuts.

TTFN,
Rob

[tankme]

May have to pick one of those up for myself since I usually make my bolt heads out of hex styrene that I cut to length. This looks easier. On second thought I just looked up the price and holy crap that thing isn't cheap. I guess I'm sticking to my method.

I picked up a Hollow Punch Set for punching out various size disks from thin metal or styrene. Another great set of tools to save time and for like $9.00 at Harbor Freight. Would be nice if someone sold hex head hollow punches for $9.00...

[Son of a gun-ner]

Here's one under a different make with smaller hexagon's in Europe.

AK-HPD Hexagonal Punch and Die set | AK Interactive | The weathering #Brand
https://ak-interactive.com/product/ak-h ... d-die-set/

[Rob1970]

Here's one under a different make with smaller hexagon's in Europe.

AK-HPD Hexagonal Punch and Die set | AK Interactive | The weathering #Brand
https://ak-interactive.com/product/ak-h ... d-die-set/

That's actually the RP Toolz stuff rebranded by AK. RP toolz makes (made? Got a feeling they are out of business) this small one, the larger one I got and various round sets. Also some other neat tools for the modeler.

On the subject of nuts and bolts; I've been eying this for rivets;
https://www.greenstuffworld.com/en/inic ... ivets.html

TTFN,
Rob

[Son of a gun-ner]

You can get those sheets with various bolt heads, even the threaded end with a nut on

[Rob1970]

Would be nice if someone sold hex head hollow punches for $9.00...

Ya mean like this? https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001024 ... 4ccc7c1-23

Starts at 4mm... just about right (or too big?)

Edit: Stupid listing... they actually start at 3mm

TTFN,
Rob

[tankme]

Yeah those are what I've been looking at, but smaller than 3mm.

[jarndice]

Never bothered with faux nuts and bolts,
Why would I when a "Rolson" Tap and Die set will prepare the surface for the real thing thereby negating the need for glue and making the particular subject easy to take apart later.
That way not only does it look right BUT it is right
And it really is very satisfying and it's a doddle.
Go to---
http://www.prime-miniatures.co.uk/
for nuts, bolts, washers and nut spinners.
Very quick and very helpful.

[tankme]

To each his own. I would rather not spend $20 on fasteners that are actually not holding anything together (like bolt heads on an engine deck) when I can use 20 cents of styrene to create the look. If something needs a mechanical connection that NEEDS to be removed, then sure a fastener is great. On my SU-152 I added over 50 bolt heads to the angle iron used to hold the track guards. All of that detail is glued on and never meant to come off again. That would be 33.76 British Pounds or $45 US in fasteners that don't have to have a mechanical connection.