Substitute driveshafts for Hallmark/Samhongsa U-Boat

[Sharky_McSharknose]

I have two brass Hallmark/Samhongsa U-Boats, a U33B and a U30C. The U33B is missing the female end of one of its driveshafts. The part swaps between the two U-Boats but that of course will leave the other out of commission. Unfortunately, I can't find a replacement part commercially available and there were no replies to my ISO post https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=49689.msg665906#msg665906 with the part, so I will need to cobble together a substitute. Peteski did mention NWSL may have sold this type of driveshaft in the ISO thread but I cannot find it on their website. What is available that will be flexible enough to move side-to-side and extend/contract with the truck-mounted worm gear on these models?

[ns737]

how about 3D printed?

[Sharky_McSharknose]

how about 3D printed?

I didn't see anything on Shapeways or Yeggi that would work in my case. My CAD modeling skills are even worse than my real-life modeling skills so I will need brush up on that before trying. 

[woodone]

Those look like A-LINE drive line parts. But I think A-LINE is for HO. Not N scale.
You will have to measure the shafts and get some u-joint kits from NWSL and make your own.
OR use flex tubing to connect. Get surgical tubing if you can, it is very flexible.

[ns737]

i ment some here mite be able to do it.

[peteski]

Those look like A-LINE drive line parts. But I think A-LINE is for HO. Not N scale.
You will have to measure the shafts and get some u-joint kits from NWSL and make your own.
OR use flex tubing to connect. Get surgical tubing if you can, it is very flexible.

You might be onto something. Many mechanical parts are not scale specific.  So A-LINE universals might do the trick (if they fit 1.5mm motor and worm shafts (or whatever diameter shafts are used in Sharky's model.)

[spookshow]

Check with Gene Maddox, he might be able to hook you up.. He used to work at Bobbye Hall's and wound up purchasing their inventory of Hallmark brass parts after the shop closed. Contact info here - http://www.spookshow.net/brass.html

-Mark

[Sharky_McSharknose]

Thank you for the suggestions, everyone! I will contact Mr. Maddox first. The A-Line kit might work if he doesn't have the part, but it's expensive and I need to get a ball joint off of the motor to measure the size (the kit description says they're pre-drilled with a 2mm hole). I'll also keep surgical tubing in mind.

I understand now ns737. I'll check the 3D printing section of this forum to commission the parts if I don't find another solution.

[MK]

If you end up using surgical tubing, use silicone tubing instead.  They don't degrade over time like latex surgical.  You can get small silicone tubing at any LHS that caters to the R/C airplane guys that still fly nitro or gas.  Less than $5 $3 and you get something like 3 2 feet.  I know they come in two sizes, small and large but I don't recall what diameter is each.

EDIT: Apparently they have three sizes.  Remember, they can stretch a lot.

Small (1.5mm inner diam)
https://www.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?I=LXD727&P=7

Medium (2.3mm inner diam)
https://www.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?I=LXD728&P=7

Large (3mm inner diam)
https://www.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?I=LXD729&P=7