RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Hi guys.i am working through my build of my Tamiya king tiger and dont want to have screws holding on my track guards.I want to use miniature brass bolts which i can buy from a couple of different places but my question is what size bolt should i use that replicates the head of the guard bolts as per the Tamiya plastic guards.Is it a 1.2mm shaft bolt or a 1.4mm shaft bolt.Remember a bolt is measured by the shaft size not the head size but i want to know which one of these will have a head size which is close to what is molded on the plastic Tamiya guards and has anyone already dealt with this..Have seen some builds with bolts but no mention as to what size they used Any ideas.Regards John.

Hi, I use two different sizes of nuts bolts and washers on my builds, M1.0 and M1.6,
The front additional Armour (From WOZ via Shapeways) for the drivers and radio operators mantlet on a Panzer 4, I pin vise a hole using an M1.02 drill bit after cutting off the faux bolt heads then tap a thread for the M1.6 nuts and washers,
All the Photographs show these bolts to be heavy duty whereas the Bolts I use on the replacement front fenders (Again from WOZ via Shapeways) which I fit with working hinges are smaller as per photographs of the originals so these are M1.0,
One thing I would recommend is do get M1.0 and M1.6 nutspinners or you just wont get them properly tightened, The unavailability of nutspinners smaller than M1.0 is one reason why that is the smallest size bolts that I use.
I buy all my Nuts Bolts and washers AND Nutspinners from
http://www.prime-miniatures.co.uk
They are quick and ultra reliable and Dominic is very helpful.

Thank you

Yes, bolts and screws should always be referred to by their thread size. But, getting the correct sized hex head all depends if the bolt is a standard size, some were different hex sizes if the thread was non standard.
With model making, always best to scale the original hex head down. After all, even the miniature ones may not have standard head sizes.

Shaun, do you mean M1.6 rather than M1.06?

Thank you Mick, I could do with a proof reader
Yes it was a mistake WHAT ME
It should of been M1.6
Now edited.
I blame it on Jet lag. Got home at nine this morning after an 11 hour flight.

Welcome back Shaun so glad I could make you feel at home with a correction

Oh wow, most I've been in the air is 4.5 hours, I could never do 11

Thanks every one for their help and especially about the nut spinners.John.

John If you are buying Nutspinners then these are the sizes you need ,
For M1.0 you need a 1.5mm size Nutspinner.
For M1.6 you need a 2.5mm size Nutspinner.
Would suggest you buy them in pairs.

Hi Try here https://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/ac ... bolts.html
Can't remember the size but 2mm nut spinner fits the bolt head.
Good to deal with , nut spinner sets quite cheap for 1.5>5.0 set of 6.