Lever knobs

For me at least, a high quality white glue such as Micro Kristal Klear works best. Squirt some out on a scrap piece, let it set for a few minutes until it starts to get tacky. Use a sharp pointed brush or toothpick & pick up a small blob on the end. Carefully transfer the blob to the PE & when it sets it should look good.

Try poking a thin piece of stretched sprue at a candle flame. With practice you well be able to produce small round knobs.

Good Idea with the sprue, but how do you attach the to the rounded end of the PE lever? Cutting off the round end of the tiny PE part and sticking them on the end is an invitation to disaster, at least for me.

QUOTE: Originally posted by sharkskin Good Idea with the sprue, but how do you attach the to the rounded end of the PE lever? Cutting off the round end of the tiny PE part and sticking them on the end is an invitation to disaster, at least for me.

Here's an idea: Using the finest pin vise drill bit you have, score a tiny hole in the knob and then cement the PE part to the hole. Do this before you remove the knob from the sprue, and then when you cut it off, all you need to do is lightly sand it with a very fine grit sandpaper.

Just a thought....

Just make your controls out of stretched sprue and don't use the brass. In 1/48 and especially 1/72 you really can't tell the difference. Also instead of an open flame, try using a soldering iron or a wood burning tool to make the balls -lots more control and far less fire hazard (the lit end of a cigerrate works great!)

I have given thought to chucking most of those 2 dimensional levers. I think I will making them from plastic and, using qmiester's suggestion, find a practical use for my disgusting habit. Right now the levers are for a ProModeler Ju 52 and the throttle and mixture levers are very prominent under that greenhouse. I'm using the Eduard set and the instructions are typical, which is to say, awful. I can't for the life of me figure out how all that stuff goes into the bathtub bomb site after you've gone to the trouble of bending all those very delicate parts. At least Eduard's got color callouts now.
Thanks, guys.
Tom