Beads

[Easy]

Hi, I'm new to this forum. I convert Historex and Airfix figures in 54mm to ACW figures. I'm currently on a Zouave kick. I am looking for very, very fine beads, or something similar to use as buttons. An example of this type of button was used on 14th Brooklyn jackets. I have attached an example. Any suggestions?

 

[Nap]

Hi there Mike

In this scale I would suggest you use a putty like Magisculpt , mix A & B together , roll out to a thin line , cut suitable pieces off and roll into the button shape

Looking forward to seeing more on this project

Nap

 

[theBaron]

Hi, Mike, and welcome to the Planet!

Another flavor of Nap's suggestion is to use the kit sprues. Stretch a piece over a candle to soften it, then stretch it (gently) till it's the right diameter. Let it cool, and cut small pieces off and glue them on.

If you want to do flat buttons, you can use an old paintbrush that's shed its bristles. I take these and use a fine needle file to sharpen the edge a little. This makes a great die to press into material and reproduce a flat button.

I look forward to seeing these pieces as you work on them!

Prost!
Brad

 

[arj]

How about 0.5mm bearings?
Would these be of any use ....
https://simplybearings.co.uk/shop/p...4D4vxCPQetT9YhTjBKngVTe89SCxJmlRoCsU4QAvD_BwE

Cheers,
Andrew

 

[svt]

There are many options, here are some of them:
- you can sculpt by rolling out a thin pancake from sculptural material, marking it into identical squares with a knife, manually roll balls from each square, or you can roll up a thin sausage, cut off equal parts from which to roll balls, gluing them to the figure (for flat buttons it is enough to press the ball harder);


- you can be made from microbeads - these are glass balls 0.7-0.9 mm in size, maybe there are smaller ones (suitable only for spherical and hemispherical buttons);
- Solder for soldering in stores is sold in the form of small balls from 0.2 to 0.5 mm, but it is possible that there are other sizes (only suitable for spherical and hemispherical buttons, although solder balls can be flattened, thereby obtaining flat buttons);


- you can stamp buttons from thin foil using a cut and sharpened medical needle (only suitable for flat buttons);
- can be sculpted using a special jewelry tool.

 

[Richie]

Hi Mike,
Have you searched for micro beads to see if there is anything suitable you can buy off the shelf.
cheers
Richie

 

[Scotty]

These look tiny! There must be a stage in scale where you can just paint on a tiny thin button like this surely? I expect to be corrected
Scotty.

 

[Easy]

Thank you all for your responses and suggestions, much appreciated. Good ideas all around! I'm currently working on 5th NY figures and have no idea when I might get around to 14th Brooklyn. Especially, since I work (at least it seems to me) incredibly slowly. Not to mention, I'm easily distracted. I thought that this was such an interesting uniform, I had to find out how to do the buttons. I would also like to recommend two manufacturers of weapons and accoutrements that I have found useful, Speira Miniatures of Sweden and G&G Miniatures of Italy. Both are on Facebook and also have their own websites.