Has anyone been able to find a source for these little plastic hinges, that come on the self releasing dove harnesses? I've been looking everywhere for them. I've tried ordinary metal hinges, but they do not smoothly release everytime. Then tend to get bent, and even just a little bending will stop the hinges from releasing from the thread. Anyone tried to make their own before?

A long time ago I tried to achieve the same effect and wasn't able to find plastic hinges. However, I didn't look very hard, I went with the metal hinges and instead of thread I used wire. It worked great and was easier to hook up than thread. You may want to try that. Sorry I wasn't more helpful.

Create a "hinge" out of fabric. Just several loops on each side that join together like a hinge in the middle... run a piece of fish line through them, and you're done. They wont snag on your jacket or pockets either like a plastic or metal one will...

If all else fails, go to a model airplane hobby shop or website. They carry plastic hinges.

Dave

Just put a long piece of ribbon along inside the opening of the dove bag. Use a needle to run a fishing line from the begining through the end of the opening of the dove bag, leave about 2" extra line. Tie a saftey pin there and hook that safety pin inside your jacket. When you pull the catgut, the bag comes out, the thread stays and the dove bag is open automatically.
Ken

The hinges are available at Craft Stores, after you buy them go to a jeweler who will remove the pins for you. The hinges in a dove bag was the idea of the Mexican dove magician Zicarte.

Later on Tony Clark applied the idea to some of his bags.

G0THIKE

Yup Dave is right go to a hobby shop and look for model airplane hinges.

Fabric hinges are better imo.

Matt

SWEET! I have a remote controlled model airplane with those hinges right on it! I should have known! Blastphemy!

Check out Outwater Plastics... They carry a whole bunch of different size plastic hinges... I have found many of their other products useful when building some of my larger effects...
Bryan
p.s.- they are not strictly plastic...they also have diamond plate surfaces, etc.