As most members know I am not the site's Photo Etched Guru, but every now and then I do find one that I think might be useful to even to most novice modeler to spice up a kit. Titled "Bolts and Nuts", and carrying the number LAM024, the standard size Lion Roar set contains a few other items besides "Bolt and Nuts" useful to even the newest member to the modeling hobby. Now not being an expert on all things in the nuts and bolts department, I may misidentify a few, or they are for subject I have no knowledge of. (German Vehicles instantly comes to my mind; so a few may belong to these.)
The Set
The top row contains what appear to me as the brackets for the wing nuts, there are 23 of these. The next row contains 19 T handles for holding down US vehicles hoods, windshields etc., useful for the soft skin builders to replace either the molded on or missing ones on their kits. A little white glue or thick paint should do wonders to round these out before installing. These were the the reason I bought this set in the first place.
The next row contains 22 wing nuts, something useful to many vehicles and detailing interiors and engines. Again, a little white glue or thick paint will thicken and round these out easily enough if needed before installing.
The next row contains 58 latches, useful for interior and exterior box covers with a twist or flip type latch. Two sizes are on the sheet, one with a longer flipper, one with a shorter flipper, for lack of a better word.
The following rows contain approximately 230 slotted screw heads, ranging in size from 1mm to around 1/4 mm.
Now we come to the title products, the Nuts and Bolts. The hex bolt heads are next on the sheet, again numbering around 230, and again measuring from 1mm down to about 1/4mm.
Next we have approximately 65 (notice, I'm going cross eyed counting the tiny parts now!) bolt heads with a washer backing. These measure a smidgen over 1mm washers, and the bolts are just about 1mm.
By now I'm going nuts, so we at last arrive at the nut count; approximately 125 Nuts ranging in size from approximately 1mm down to 1/4mm. The center is cleanly etched open so the modeler can add the stud section if needed from some plastic rod or stretched sprue, or just sprinkle around a work area for effect.
I picked these up at Dragon On Line USA for the mighty sum of $3.95, just one of those fillers to bring the total over the $50.00 to get the free shipping.
SUMMARY
Highs: Many useful items, low cost.Lows: Lots of extremely small parts to feed the carpet monster.Verdict: I like this set, I bought it for the hood hold downs, and will find uses for the rest of the set on many other models. The price isn't going to break the bank.
About Dave O'Meara (Grumpyoldman) FROM: FLORIDA, UNITED STATES
I'm rewriting this in a much more humoristic way, to help over inflate my ego, and place my self on a pedestal, because I don't have a life, and plastic models are the only thing I live for. I plead guilty as charged to excessive babble, light hearted humor, and continued encouragement to youngsters...
Thanks for the review Dave. As I become more and afflicted with advanced modeler syndrome this is the kind of set I need.
I have some injection-molded plastic nuts and bolts by Gauntlett on the way, I'll let you know how I get on with them
I tried this set and I can contribute a couple of observations:
1. The alignment (i.e. fret registration) is not good. I initially thought my fret was flawed, but then I realized they're all the same (your review scan is yet another confirmation.)
2. Due to their extremely small size, cleaning up after cutting the parts off the fret with an Xacto blade is a royal pain in the you-know-what. Definitely not for PE newbies and/or people with little patience...
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