Looking for a type of ball joint...

[Cache]

Hi all,

I ran into a situation where the parts I need (whether they exist or not) are outside my range of knowledge. I am looking for a double ball joint that is nearly identical to the ones on my alligator clip "third hands" tool. The joint must have one rod/pin in each end (or can be modified for such) and it must have a complete 360 degrees of 3-D movement.

Here's a rough example, on the left is the third hand tool:

Any and all help locating this would be appreciated.

Thank you,

Brian

[jipe]

Hi,

Try to see on Hobby Link Japan (think we can find that in other places)

Wave accessories

Kotobukiya accessories

[Valkyrie]

I don't think I've seen a joint like that... but if all else fails, just get two B-Joints (Wave's ever-versatile ball joints) and glue them to gether, perhaps with a spacer in between them.

B-Joints are great, but they tend to be a little on the weak side. They can't support a lot of weight.

If you need something stronger, I'd go with these Yellow Submarine ball joints instead. They're made of a hard plastic, and are quite stiff.

http://www.hlj.com/scripts/hljpage.cgi?YLS40101

[Stamen0083]

360 degrees of movement!? Good luck. Unless you get into transdimentional manufacturing, even your god can't pull that off.

If you want 180 degrees left to right, and a number elsewhere, the Yellow Submarine balljoints are the best. They're stiff, and they're paintable.

[tetsujin]

Do you really need ball joints in those points? A more typical solution is to use a double hinge and have pivot points where the peg struts coming out of the hinge plug into the rest of the model. For instance, the Wave T-Shaft #1:

http://www.hlj.com/scripts/hljpage.cgi?WAVOP-291

Or Kotobukiya Mecha Joint:

http://www.hlj.com/scripts/hljpage.cgi?KBYD-110G

The hinges can bend 90 degrees in either direction (180 degree arc total for each of the two hinges: combined total 360 degree sweep) and you can change the orientation of the hinge if you mount the end pegs in such a way that they can swivel: for instance, by burying them in Bondo, or by plugging them into appropriate polycaps:

http://www.hlj.com/scripts/hljpage.cgi?KBYD-104B

So for the whole installation, that's 360 degrees on the (let's call it the) X axis, and 360 degrees on the Y axis: so given adequate clearance, while the first peg is pointed in a given direction, the second peg can be oriented in just about any other direction. I used the Kotobukiya Mecha Joint to re-elbow my Gundam Strike:

(shameless self-promotion... ah, well.)

http://1-4-4.home.comcast.net/models/Works..._Strike_Gundam/

If you really need the joints to be ball joints for some reason, there are pre-made double-ball units you can buy:

http://www.hlj.com/scripts/hljpage.cgi?KBYD-111G

But like Stamen said... as ball joints go, you just can't beat the Yellow Submarine Kansetsu Waza:

http://www.hlj.com/scripts/hljpage.cgi?YLS40101

You could brace two balls or sockets together to make a double-joint by using a combination of metal pipe, reinforcing wires, adhesive, and filler.

[Cache]

A more typical solution is to use a double hinge and have pivot points where the peg struts coming out of the hinge plug into the rest of the model.

That's the conclusion I have come to. I've never worked with these types of joints before so "ball joint" was stuck in my mind. Next time I can manage an order to HLJ I'll be picking up some of these: http://www.hlj.com/scripts/hljpage.cgi?KBYD-114B

Making up a pivot at each of the pegs shouldn't prove too difficult.

I did pick up a link to an armature site that offers the metal ball joints like on the third hand tool. Almost exactly what i need but too expensive for the quantity needed: http://www.armaverse.com/phase-2_parts.html

Thanks all for your replies.

[tetsujin]

One thing about the Koto ball double joint: bear in mind the whole thing is polycap material, and thus not paintable. If you are OK with that then there's no problem. Otherwise, there are also parts like Wave L-Joint #2 and #3 which have plastic covers for parts of the joint.