What is an NBW in Model Railroading?
In the world of scale modeling and model railroading, we love to shorten terms and abbreviate just about everything. One abbreviation that I recently came across while working on the Westboro Sandhouse is NBW, which I’ve recently learned stands for Nuts, Bolts, and Washers. These tiny detail parts are added to structure and freight kits by manufacturers to add realistic elements to model railroad structures, rolling stock, and accessories. NBWs simulate the hardware that holds together steel and wood buildings, bridges, and other infrastructure, bringing what I notice now, a very cool and needed pop when looking to add an extra layer of authenticity to your models.
When you’re building kits and striving for realism, adding details like NBWs can make a significant difference. These parts are particularly important in fine scale modeling, where every element is scrutinized for accuracy… As we all love to do to each other in this hobby! However, if you’re new to the hobby or not deeply immersed in the terminology as I tend to be, the term NBWs might be a mystery to you at first. personally, I tend to not remember all the terms and technical definitions and I end up just making up my own words for them.
How Did I Go This Long Before Encountering NBWs?
While working on my latest project, the Westboro Sandhouse kit, I posted some progress pictures to the Wiley’s Scale Modeling Facebook Group and received comments from a few of you that I add NBWs to certain parts of the build. At first, being the clueless dolt that I am, I had no idea what they were referring to. Especially when they were asking me if I cut them off, or actually drilled out the hole to install them…
I began to ask myself, “I was supposed to drill out a hole for them?”
So to not look like a complete fool, I started digging through google… I found my answer from the great folks over at Model Railroad Forums. They provided a simple explanation that NBWs refer to Nuts, Bolts, and Washers that are used as detailing parts. These small details, which provide a very cool look when added correctly to a structure like mine, built with large timbers, are a single detail part that adds the complete look of having the nut, bolt, and washer all in one detail part. Thank god too, because I wouldn’t even attempt to add the three parts if they were separate pieces. You can find the discussion thread where I found this answer here.
Why Are NBWs Important?
In real-world construction, nuts, bolts, and washers are used to join materials and provide structural integrity to timber frames, steel beams, and other large structural items. When you’re aiming for realism in your model railroad builds, you want to replicate those features on a smaller scale. Adding NBWs to your model can enhance its appearance by making it look more robust and true to life, especially in areas like trusses, bridges, or other mechanical structures. Some model kits come with pre-molded NBWs, while others give you the option to apply them yourself as part of the detailing process.
I can say that this recent learning about NBWs (at least thinking about them more over the past day) and how they contribute to a more accurate build helped me improve the look of the Westboro Sandhouse kit, and I’ll definitely keep them in mind when working on future builds that may be appropriate for NBW’s.
So if you’re like me, and you don’t always follow the lingo of the hobby, or don’t read instructions thoroughly or at all, or maybe you just make up your own names for everything, now you know the appropriate name for these detail parts… NBW’s. Who would know that you could write so much for such a little detail part.
Looking for an easy tutorial on how to make NWB’s?
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