albergman

On to the next step ... not really next but I enjoy making these tiny pieces. The yacht has a very large self-tailing winch for controlling the genoa sail. The real thing ... 12" diameter at the base. I didn't have any stock of large enough diameter but I found 2 aluminium tubes that fit one inside the other but with a tiny gap which needed a strip of brass shim stock to fill it. Turned the large tube first ... . Next I glued in the inner tube with the brass shims. Turned the small tube down to its needed diameter. Sanded with fine wet sandpaper and polish with metal polish on a rag. Not bad so far ... Next I turned the top, black section (tailer) from a tiny, black plastic screwdriver handle ... no pics sorry. Lastly was the tiny rope guide that steers the ropes into the tailer. This made several escape attempts into the carpet and almost succeeded but I found it at last. Used a fin from an old computer heat sink which had the requisite thickness and is always a lovely "soft" aluminium and easy to work. Basically I cut a small square out with shears then drill a hole which I slowly widen till it fits over the top of the winch. Once that's done I start filing away the excess, bend it to shape with needle-nose pliers, wet sand to remove scratches then metal polish. The hole is a tiny bit over 1/8" I.D. The finished product ... just needs a black base which will come from the same screwdriver handle AND a winch cranking handle. Look sort of like the real thing? More later Frank

Me again Yes, I just happen to have one that I'm doing my first build guide on. It's a half-hull of a friends sailboat. http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234995195-scratch-build-of-beneteau-51-idylle-sailboat-half-hull/ I'm pretty new to BM but I have submitted a few of my builds ... finished and NOT. I only scratch build so hope that doesn't put you off. I have done a few kits way way back but took up scratch after I retired and love it. Please point me to some of your builds in return. BTW I've been in Canada since 1951. Frank http://www.britmodel...flying-scotsman http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234992509-building-flying-scotsman/ http://www.britmodel...ilt-triumph-tr6 http://www.britmodel...tsy-wooden-cars http://www.britmodel...uilt-half-hulls http://www.britmodel...rt-fishing-boat http://www.britmodel...build-lola-t70/ http://www.britmodel...agon-tarted-up/

Thank you bhouse. Darby ... I remember as a nipper in the York museum and being allowed to climb up on them just the sheer size of these beasts. Thanks too Darby. I too had a moment like yours but in the real world. June 15, 1951 our family took the train to Edinburgh to board the night Scotsman. Dad took me down the platform to see which engine was on the train (Papyrus or Blink Bonny ... starting to forget) and to record its number in my Ian Allan trainspotter book. The driver helped me up into the cabin and I remember the awe of the heat and that roaring fire. Magic stuff for a wee lad. This model helps me remember those lovely Pacifics.

Thanks very much Paul and all the others who have "liked" my model. I don't know that I'd be holding it up for Sir Nigel though. It has been a long road, almost 10 years, working off and on with this true labour of love. I started it a couple of years after I took up scratch building ... much too soon really. I wasn't prepared skill-wise to attempt such a complex piece but luckily I didn't realise that!! I had some official plans for it from somewhere and I thought that's all I needed. Ignorance is bliss they say. All of the stuff above the frames is pretty straightforward, even the tender. But I didn't know a thing about steam engines other than I liked them and that came painfully clear when I had to assemble the drive mechanisms for the first time. All those rods and levers operate in different planes as you move from the outside in. Only after capturing and studying hundreds of pictures and video clips did I start to get an understanding of what I was supposed to be doing. It's embarrassing really when I realised how ignorant I was of the subject. Anyway, I think I have most of the bits in the right places and reasonably correct. Not about to show it again on serious railway forums as it wasn't well received earlier. Something about rivets. Nice to have it appreciated here for what it is ... a hobby project. Frank

Comment for Seadog ... we were talking about band saws over in my Beneteau forum and I want to show you how effective the saw is with a narrow blade capable of cutting aluminium. I wanted to make these deep rims for the Lola so I scrounge my parts bin for "thickish" ally and find a chassis from an old computer hard drive I've dismantled. I like these because the alloy is pretty "soft" in comparison, also lots of areas are perfectly flat and almost 1/4" thick. I scribed out a few circles and cut them out on the saw. I glued 2 of them together using only CA and put them in my 3 jaw chuck. I drilled out the bulk of the material with various sized drill bits then using just my Chinese carvers produced a passable rim. The points I want to emphasize are: the bandsaw can hack out pretty thick (soft) metals, CA is amazingly strong as long as you don't get the work too hot, and a tool rest and cheap chisels can do a passable machining job. Forgive me if you already knew all this ... maybe others didn't Now, maybe I should get back to this Lola some day ... el oh el ay Lola. Frank

Spot on about my shed. Couple of years ago when I decided I like model building and it was going to be my retirement "thing" my youngest son came over for a weekend and we gutted my original layout of the shed. He then insulated it for me and tied it into the heating ducts running close by in the house. That's enough to keep anything from freezing and if I go out and turn on a tiny electric heater for 20 minutes before starting "work" it's toasty warm ... too warm in fact. Table saw: don't think I'd have much use for one except to cut the occasional base for a model. The band saw is a good compromise for me. Using a "3/8 wide" blade it does a passable straight line in wood but with the narrow, high teeth count blade it cuts all my aluminium and everything softer. Silver solder. Yes, the key is to get the right flux ... I'll get the name for you if interested, it's a liquid. You also need a 5% silver-content solder. Works perfectly when everything is clean and fitted tightly together . Beauty of it is that it is much stronger than old solder, polishes as shiny as the stainless and, more importantly, doesn't tarnish. This tiny ladder for a powerboat model has many joins, and all look as shiny today as when I did them 5 years ago.

Damn you Seadog ... I had that song stuck in my head all day ... and now it's playing again!! "dear boy I'm gonna make you a man" ... hmmmm wonder what that meant?

Now you're embarrassing me!! Thanks so much for the complement. Frank http://www.britmodel...flying-scotsman http://www.britmodel...ilt-triumph-tr6 http://www.britmodel...tsy-wooden-cars http://www.britmodel...uilt-half-hulls http://www.britmodel...rt-fishing-boat http://www.britmodel...build-lola-t70/ http://www.britmodel...agon-tarted-up/ http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234995195-scratch-build-of-beneteau-51-idylle-sailboat-half-hull/

Thanks very much H/C. Just wanted to clarify something for which you credit me. I just re-read what I wrote and I can see how you could get the idea I cast the wheels in metal. I DID turn metal rims for the wheels but I cast the spokes in urethane. At one time I had cast the entire wheel in urethane ... but I decided later on I wanted an aluminium rim ( the originals couldn't support the growing weight of the engine as I switched to more brass) so I turned six and set it into my silicon mould then poured urethane into the mould to bond with the rim. Worked a charm. If you are interested in the build of the loco I did submit a short essay and pictures at http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234992509-building-flying-scotsman/ Cheers and thanks again for the complement, Frank

Hello again Seadog Thanks for the comments. You have some interesting equipment there. I like the smallness of the pieces as my own shop is VERY small. I take it that's a small table saw in the foreground? Often thought I'd like a proper modeling lathe but I'll struggle on with my jury rigged outfit for now. Everything happens on this tiny benchtop A few projects languishing and awaiting their turn on the bench ... Back later Frank

Thanks Seadog. I was hoping to get my model finished to coincide with the reappearance of the real thing last week but, as so often happens, I get sidetracked and start working on something else. I now live in Canada (emigrated in '51) and I know the engines you speak of. I guess there's something about those formative years, for me anyway, but I've only ever been passionate about the British steam I grew up with. Now, the Big Boy that's being rebuilt right now by Union Pacific might just pique my interest enough to go and see that!! Swindon ... I was there last June on a tour of England and Norway. Lovely country. Frank

I used to be a big fan of beavers myself in my youth Seriously though, I presume you are talking aircraft here. Love to see what you do with them. As for seeing the real steamer this weekend I'm truly jealous. Take in a lungful of steam for me!! I've been poring over the many YouTube videos taken during her trials on the East Lancs railway and it's just lovely to see her back again. I grew up in Scotland in the 40's and 50's and saw and travelled on so many of these great machines. Thanks for the complement. Frank

Thanks for all that good info. I doubt if I'll change from this material as long as my supply lasts. I've tried 2 different grades of Ren, basically one a bit harder (beige) than the other (reddish) but I prefer the "harder" one as it takes better detailing. The decking really is very effective as a substitute if anyone wants to get into shaping something. I never knew that Ren/Ureol might bend with heat ... don't know that I'd need to do that but maybe? I know it catches fire real quickly! Frank

I'm starting today on the stainless steel stanchions which, with a white covered steel line threaded through their tops, form a safety barrier along the edge of the deck. In real life they're pretty useless and usually too low to be effective. Anyway there's a special pair in the picture above which have extra bracing. They are on both sides of the boat and the white cable can be disconnected between them to allow easier access to the deck from a dinghy for example. Crew tend to heave themselves aboard by grabbing the stanchions of the gateway so they need extra reinforcing. I'm fabricating the stanchions from 1.5 mm stainless rod (actually S/S welding rod) and it's very hard steel, I'll want a hole at the top of each post to allow a fine white wire to be threaded. First I take the hardness out of the steel with a torch. Then I use a small hammer to flatten the softened steel so I can get a drill started. I use drills about .8mm and work up ... using lots of oil and coolant. Eventually the hole is big enough to accept the wire. Incidentally the wire is just something I salvaged from some old computer cable. There's usually a good assortment of tiny, coloured wires in any such cable and they're great for say ... ignition wires on a model engine. Next I want to shape the rod to look like the real thing which means it should taper down to a ball end ... where the hole is. I don't take any care where I've drilled the hole because it's easier now to just shape the steel around he hole. This I do with a cutting stone on a Dremel flexible shaft. Once the ball is shaped round the hole I put the rod into the chuck of my "lathe" and run it up to a good speed. Again I use the same cutting stone to delicately shape the taper. I spend a few minutes in the lathe with fine wet-sandpaper (800 - 1000 grit) and smooth out the tool marks then polish it at high rpm with metal polish. Two stanchions took about an hour and a half. Hmmm ... one needs more ball handling. I'm going the make these two into the "gate" I talked about so I set them into their holes in the deck and added a drop of CA to lock them at the right height and with the hole facing fore and aft. I next cut the support rods, bent them to the right angle, dropped into their own holes, glued once they were tight fitted to the big one ... silver solder applied. File off excess solder and polish. These will actually be removed from the holes so I can do a better polishing job. More later. Frank

Thanks Seadog. The only power tools I have are: a bandsaw, 6 Dremels (crap Chinese ones - all with flex shafts so I can keep different bits in them) and hobby woodlathe. The lathe came with a flat faceplate to which I attached a 3 jaw chuck. This is fine for turning larger pieces but for a tiny winch it's too close to the spinning clutch jaws (and they HURT!!!) so I dismantled an old power drill and salvaged the chuck which now fits into the 3 jaw chuck ... much safer. I just use a tool rest for machining everything from Renshape to aluminium. I buy selections of cheap Chinese wood carving tools and shape the ends to suit any special purpose. They are made of hard enough steel to cut anything I want to shape. I know it's really crude but it gets the job done. Frank

LOL stage props. Actually everything shown in the pics above will be visible. I'm pretty close to 80 so I don't have time to waste on things that won't be seen either! However, I really do enjoy hacking a tiny metal item out of a cast off chunk of aluminium or whatever. I think that's the aspect of scratch building I find most satisfying. Good thing we're all different eh?

Hi all I've been at this off and on for a while but I've decided to post some shots of this project now that I'm back at it. It's for a friend who had this boat in the charter business for many years in the British Virgin Islands but has since sold it. This line of Beneteau's is particularly well built (a German Frers design for those who care) and can handle heavy weather with grace. My wife and I joined them to sail it from Tortola to Antigua (via San Maarten) and back in stiff headwinds going south and it was a treat to sail. In recent years Beneteau started to build a line of 51 footers for The Moorings charter business and, though pretty, they were just not the same animal. Lightly built, "bendy-boats" they became nicknamed. So, this will be just a half-hull, shaped from Renshape and at 1/2" to the foot makes it 26" long. They're not a particularly pretty boat "out of the water" as the hull is enormous given that it has 3 cabins, each with its own head and also a spacious main salon and galley but in their element make for a pretty sight. Here is the actual boat doing her thing ... Found these drawings of her and I've resized them and printed them to the required scale. There's enough here to get the major outlines correct. I've scoured the interweb for pictures which combined with my own on-board shots I hope to get a pretty close approximation of where things go. So ... here we go. My supply of Renshape was pretty low so I had to supplement it with the largest chunks available in my scrap bin. They're glued, screwed and the gaps are filled with good old car repair Bondo. Impressive eh??? Eventually she gets filled in and after many applications of Bondo and time spent with an angle grinder, belt sander and an orbital sander she starts to look right. Below you can see I've added some detailing around the cockpit and started marking out where all the deck hatches and windows will go. For many flat surfaces I use those little samples of Arborite and Formica you can get at the hardware stores to help you decide what colour counter tops your wife wants. My wife tends to be VERY indecisive so many samples are "liberated" for the cause. They're really nice because of their strength and perfect flatness and squared edges ... plus, they glue very well with CA. Here's the ugly (behind the curtain) side where the cockpit has been hacked out. This is stuff you never want the owner to see! Here's the little module that forms the cockpit sole and some seating ... mostly done with aforementioned samples It just slides into place when needed. I'm leaving it out for now. Everything looks a bit rough at this point but bear with me. Back later Frank http://www.britmodel...flying-scotsman http://www.britmodel...ilt-triumph-tr6 http://www.britmodel...tsy-wooden-cars http://www.britmodel...uilt-half-hulls http://www.britmodel...rt-fishing-boat http://www.britmodel...build-lola-t70/ http://www.britmodel...agon-tarted-up/

Just been poring over your work here as I'm a fairly new member. Have to say I'm mightily impressed by this model. That scratch built trailer is a lovely piece of work too. I take it the tractor is a kit then? You have an incredible eye for detail and knowing how things should look. As someone else already said ... in a different setting this couldn't be distinguished from the real thing and I agree. I think that's about as good a compliment as a modeller can get. Frank

Thanks Taffy. Is this the Sandown Park Exhibition you are referring to? (I'm in Canada so I Googled it) Anyway, I see it has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances!! I do like wood but it can be a bit unstable so, unless it's a particularly lovely grain and a hardwood, I don't want to take chances with it and waste a lot of time. I'm not into ruffling feathers anyway. I did display the Scotsman on a British railway modeller site (no, not this one) and the negativity that resulted really took me aback, I know there's rivets missing, and it's not correct for any given period in time. I'm just an old geezer trying to capture some boyhood memories for myself. I've stood on platforms as a lad and watched this and many A2's/3's and A4's blast through our station and that's what I remember when I gaze at this one. Don't get me started!! Frank

Why, thank you all kind sirs ... TGA, Natter, Brianthemodeller, keefr22 and anyone else who has "liked" my efforts. I know it's not the sort of thing usually posted here and I appreciate the reception my work has had so far. I've had a few private conversations with one of your members who seems to be serious about making something from scratch (although that is not my purpose here). But it is VERY satisfying to create something from raw materials or even to try and fabricate some small parts that might look better than a plastic kit-supplied part. You'd be amazed at what you can achieve with a hacksaw and some files and a chunk of scrap aluminum or brass for example. I'd be very happy to expand on the topic or chat with anyone who is interested . Frank http://www.britmodel...flying-scotsman http://www.britmodel...ilt-triumph-tr6 http://www.britmodel...tsy-wooden-cars http://www.britmodel...uilt-half-hulls http://www.britmodel...rt-fishing-boat http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234992373-another-scratch-build-lola-t70/ http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234991575-billings-dragon-tarted-up/

Hi Steve Just having another look at your BRM which, I'll say it again, I just love! Had a recollection that you mentioned that you were going to do the Connaught car as well and I was going to volunteer some pictures I have. One appeared at a race meet I attended back in the 50s here in Canada. Then I took several of the car that's in the Beaulieu Museum when we visited England this year. But I see you've already done it!! And another fine job if I may say so. So, in lieu of that can I ask about those lovely bases you've made for them. Are those actually tiny bricks? And what would they have been made for? Must say they make for a very appropriate surface and in a nice scale too. Frank

Hi Steve Glad you liked the TR6. It was a handsome car that still has great appeal. I still remember when I cut the block out that would become the model there was very little shaping to be done! It's a very simple design with modest styling cues that give it its appeal. Good example of less-is-more. Your Lola has got me thinking I really should pick up my own Lola model and try and finish it. Another wonderful design that. Winter coming here in Canada and that's when I have more time in my little shed. Frank

Hi Steve I'm fairly new to B/Modeller and working my way through builds I think I'd like to see and here you are again! I wrote you about your BRM model and have to comment on the Lola as it's one of my favourites too especially that early design. Must say you've done a fine job on this one too. Congrats. I see from your avatar that you're a Triumph enthusiast. Have a look at a TR6 I scratchbuilt of a friend's car. He was a member of the Triumph club here in Toronto. Frank http://www.britmodel...ilt-triumph-tr6

I think you'll find it works very well. I used a couple of power tools (sanders primarily) on it and it does tend to "melt" a bit if you are too aggressive but that problem is easily remedied by just going at it slower. It seems there are several different composites out there so maybe one works better than another. Frank

Recently joined the group and just saw your BRM and had to add my congrats for such a lovely build. I am "of that era" and Hawthorn was one of my heroes back then as was Moss, Fangio, Collins and de Portago ... all very colourful characters. Anyway, nice to see a build of a car from those days. Frank