Source for 8 LPI solid link brass chain?

[BanjomanParticipant @banjoman]

I am looking for some solid oval link brass chain, with the size somewhere in the region of 8 or 9 LPI (10 would probably do at a pinch).

The only chains I've been able to find from my usual suppliers (Cornwall Model Boats et al) that explicitly are solid link are the ones from Caldercraft, but alas theirs are either much too small, or too large (6.5 LPI or larger).

I need this chain to be able to take a certain amount of strain, so it does have to be solid link. If push absolutely came to shove I dare say I could try soldering the links of some open link chain, but (a) it is fiddly work, and (b) I'm not convinced it'd be all that strong anyway, so I'd much rather buy some ready-made.

I'd be most grateful for any tip!

Mattias

Edited By Banjoman on 15/12/2016 21:33:16

[BanjomanParticipant @banjoman]

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Mattias

Try model traction engine steering chain, is certainly strong enough but maybe too large.

The 1" scale Minnie has chain steering . G S Model Supplies & Maidstone Engineering Supplies are possibles.

Best Regards for Christmas Ray

[BanjomanParticipant @banjoman]

Hello Ray,

Many thanks for the tip! If the photo on the G S Model Supplies webiste is correct, the Minnie steering chain looks like open link, and thus wouldn't answer my needs; the brass chain sold by Maidstone Engineering on the other hand is described as soldered link, so is fine from that point of view, but with a link size of 6.5×3.5 mm (and assuming a link material diameter of 1 mm) is more in the region of 5.5 to 6 LPI, i.e. too large.

In the meantime, I remembered another of my favourite sources for top notch model metal goods, namely Knupfer Modell – und Feinwerktechnik (**LINK**), and checked their website where, lo and behold!, I found a good selection of brass chain in the right sizes (**LINK**). It doesn't say on the website whether these are open or solid pen link, although judging by the prices I'm hopeful that they might indeed be the latter. I have thus written to Dieter Knupfer to find out what's what …

Best wishes back to you for a very Merry Christmas!

Mattias

[BanjomanParticipant @banjoman]

I just wanted to report that at least some of the chains sold by Knupfer Modell. und Feinwerktechnik are indeed solid link, and that I have thus found what I was looking for.

More specifically I ordered their articles numbered bk-67 (2.5×3.5 mm links, 0.7 mm wire thickness, +/- 13.5 LPI), bk-68 (3×4 mm links, 0.8 mm wire thickness, +/- 9.5 LPI) and bk-69 (4×5 mm links, 1.0 mm wire thickness, +/- 10 LPI), of which the middle one, bk-68, turned out best to serve my current needs, i.e. for making up rigging block pendants on my Moonbeam build …

Although from a scale appearance view I best like the copper-plated steel chain with partially flattened oval links sold by SHG Models, these ones from Knupfer are among the better-looking plain oval brass chains I have found, and as usual when ordering from Knupfer, delivery was prompt and also contained two small chocolates, a seasonal (I suppose) variations on the mini-pack of Haribo Jelly Bears he otherwise always includes …

Mattias

[Author]

Posts