Useful Info

The purpose of this page is to share useful information that we have found to assist in the construction of highly detail prototypical cars.  Most of the information are links to various suppliers outside of the live steam community who sell useful parts that can be used as details or handy high quality tools to assist in the construction of cars and locomotives.  In addition to parts and tools, we will add tips and tricks as we see fit.  Please free to send us suggestions or information however we will only be including companies that we have personally used or tried.

www.aircraft-tool.com    Aircraft Tool Supply is our single source for aluminum rivets and riveting tools.  Their prices on  aluminum rivets are great.  Take a look at part # MS20470-3-3  for some 3/32" x 3/16" long aluminum rivets.  Not only is this a good place for rivets but also rivet setting tools.  We highly recommend the Rivet Squeezer tool for installing rivets.  The hand powered on works great and avoids all the pounding and vibration from an air hammer.   They also have great prices on Cleco sets.

www.mcmaster.com  McMaster Carr is just a good all around source for lots of stuff.  They aren't always the cheapest but they have one day delivery and everything is in stock.   I have never ever had a problem and they have a fantastic website.  We have found them to be a great source for hardware.  You aren't going to find the #2-56 hex head bolts here but we often use a #4-40 x 1/8" stainless steel button head machine screws to fasten our details.  With a little paint, they look just like rivets.    They run $5.22/box 100 and are part number 92949A103.  Being only 1/8" long prevents the threads from sticking our the other side.  As it turns out in the smaller screws often times the stainless is the same price or cheaper than regular steel. 

www.bearwood.com    Bearwood sells a lot of little doll house parts and such.  We use their brass plated hinge HH-C18 on our personal locomotives.  The are very inexpensive and can easily be bolted on as a functional or nonfunctional hinge.  For our locomotives we nip off the section with the holes and solder them in place to simulate welded on hinges