"Modelling shipping containers" Topic

I've almost finished building a couple of dozen shipping containers, like this:
picture

Anyhow, I have to find some way of doing the front pieces, and I'm stuck. Those rods could be done in thin plastic or brass tube, but I need 24 x 4 x 4 cm = 4 metres of rod, which is too expensive from the model shop (even if I could find it here in that quantity).

Where could I find something cost-effective to use as tubing, about 1 to 2 mm in diameter? Fragile is fine, as it will be glued to the front of the containers down the entire length.

As I say, I need about 4 metres worth.

Or is there an on-line seller of plastic for reasonable prices?

Get some wire from a garden centre or hardware store. They sell it by the metre.

Good thought! It is usually too soft, but in this case it might work out fine.

Ta!

Another cheap alternative is florists wire. Comes in straight lengths so may be easier to use.

Make sure to post some pics of the completed containers, I need rather a lot of them myself.

Small minor correction: The bars in question are the door locking mechanism and are at the rear of the container. That aside, for your scale, florist/garden wire would work fine (and is fairly cheap!).

K&S makes brass and aluminum wire/rod/tubing in 36 inch lengths, I'm guessing Walthers has it, so does Small Parts, but there might be minimum orders there.

Oh, also depending on scale, Evergreen styrene rod would cost between $5-12 for that amount depending on the scale/diameter.

mcmaster.com – Lots of everything – they have 1/16" nylon rod for 29 cents per foot. They also have 10 packs of 3 foot long 1/16" brass rod for $14.58 USD (other sizes/quantities as well).

I unloaded shipping containers like that for 19 years at my last job. Not all of them have that particular locking mechaninsm . While it is the more favourable and recognisable , there are other locks and latches that might be easier and cost effective to model onto your containers .
May we see a photo of how you made yours ? , they would be ideal for modern terain pieces .

cheers tom

Thanks for the ideas.

I hope to set up photos, but not until I have finished!

BTW I live in NZ now, where styrene rod is REALLY expensive. Posting stuff is also an issue -- both for price and difficulty with big stuff.

I shall try the florists wire first.

Would this help?
PDF link

Ahah , i see where you're coming from now , styrene rod is also very expensive over here in OZ ( as are most hobby supplies ) . As a substitute may i suggest some kebab skewers or chuppa chup sticks . Actually a search through your local hardware store like Bunnings might turn up something cheap to use , look in the curtain rod section or the garden sprinkler section . cheers tom

Straight 3 inch nails, chop the heads off and use a belt sander on the points. 5 bucks tops..

Nails would be alright, except that they are too fat. Even 1 inch panel pins (which are far too short) are too fat.

I'm using upturned nails for my chain link fenceposts though.

What scale are you modeling? You ought to be able to find containers from the model railway crowd in a variety of scales.

It's 25-32 mm scale. I wanted two dozen containers (or more) which pretty much ruled out buying model railroad stuff. Again, New Zealand is very expensive for that sort of thing. I did consider casting them in resin, except that I wanted some to have open doors.

Anyway, I found some absolutely perfect florists wire today, $2 USD for 15 metres, so I'm solved. Thanks Matakishi.

Pictures to follow, with luck.