RTL FASTENERS METRIC HARDWARE KIT #743
How many times have you lost a screw, washer, or other hardware piece and had to stop what you’re doing and run to the hardware store (or crawl around on your hands and knees with a flashlight and a magnet, looking for the piece that bounced once and disappeared forever)? What about sitting down for a build session only to get halfway through a step only to find out the hardware bag was short two screws? I’ve been there done that and it’s annoying. All modelers have a supply of hardware nearby but if your collection is like mine, it’s in an old coffee tin and the only organization applied to the collection is that it’s usually in the same place on my workbench when I go looking for it. Usually.
RTL Fasteners has come to the rescue! The question really becomes, what is my time worth? I would rather devote my time to building or flying than dumping a couple hundred screws on a table and scratching around them until I can find the right size then stuffing them all back in the bucket when
I’m done. When I consider the cost of a hardware assortment, even one of their extravagant Master Builder Assortments, the return you get in both saved time and aggravation will pay for itself handsomely.
I purchased the $120 Metric Hardware Assortment #743, which is the smallest of the three package deals, but it includes all the most commonly used hardware including M2, M2.5, and M3 hardware. These are the sizes used in almost all ARF and foam models that come from overseas as well as many helicopters and even RC cars and trucks. Various length hex drive bolts are included in each size along with flat, split lock, and nylon lock washers.
In addition to the hardware, the kit includes a pair of organizers. The organizers snap closed and featured adjustable dividers to segment off the compartments in whatever customized configuration that suits you. The last thing is a nice set of Bondhus ProHold Allen drivers, one for each size bolt are included in the kit. These are nice drivers with rubberized grips that hold the bolt on the end of the driver while you get it into position.
If you run out of a particular part, you can order bags of them in various quantities from RTL
Fasteners and there is plenty of room to expand your collection to different sizes in the included containers.
The ability to grab a container, go straight to the bolt I need, then move to another compartment and pull out the proper washer and nut, and get back to work is a godsend for anyone that spends a lot of time in the shop tinkering with projects like I do.—Andrew Griffith