KeithAug

Richard, Gary, Roger, Mark, Geert - Thank you all for taking the time to comment. And thank you to everyone for the thumbs up's.

I agree - but will shorten them - I don't think acrylic would be strong enough without going to a bigger diameter.

Yes Keith - snooker playing days are over, my playing partner (son) got married and had a child. The table is on the disposal list but I can't find anyone who wants it - even for free.

Eberhard - yes it was for stability but having tested them out I think I can reduce them by about 2 inches without too much compromise.

Ok - I apologise for my little game, I blame my incarceration. About 7 years ago I completed HMS Cornwall and since then she has resided in a plastic bag on a top shelf of the workshop, occasionally picking up minor damage. I couldn't be bothered to make a case, or get round to ordering one. Finally the need for workshop shelf space prompted me to buy one and fortunately it was delivered the day before lockdown. Rather than install the model on a stand inside the case, I decided to engineer the stand into the base itself - hence the metalwork. Well done Eberhard - you win the prize. Oh! and of course Steve you too!!!!

Yes Javier - we all seem to be in prison, but at least here the criminals are getting early release. Funny world at the moment.

Bad time to contemplate finishing Vaddoc, but I suppose you can just get on with other projects. She continues to look really smart.

Another little gem Javier - but how do you make them so quickly?

Just catching up Pat. Some nice details and interesting manufacturing methods - well done.

Eberhard, Keith, Mark, Eric. I really should have explained that while it is relevant to this site it isn't for use on Germania. I think Steve must have made this assumption which is why he found it easy to work out.

Yes its pretty obvious once you work it out Steve - well done.

Sometimes the eye strain gets a bit much and I need to return to the full sized world of machining. I needed to complete a project that had been on the shelf for about 7 years and I spent a couple of days doing so. I made 4 steel rods 12mm diameter and just over 150mm long, axially drilled and tapped at both ends. I also drilled a cross hole about 10mm from the upper end. Additionally i needed 2 shorter and larger diameter pieces which I made from a printer roller salvaged some time ago. All were polished. I also needed 8 small and 2 large conical washers, cut from 6mm plate and then turned on a mandrel mounted in the lathe. Once tuned the washers were polished. Once made the parts were assembled and soft rubber pads were glued to the 2 large washers and 4 of the smaller washers. I now need to finish the 7 year old project.

The details are really bringing her to life, I know what you mean about fragility - its always a worry when many man-hours have been expended.

The shackles turned out really well - must try your technique. She is going along really well and as you say plenty of time to work on her.

Unfortunately the assistant chief medical officer said 3 to 6 months this morning. You had better slow the build from 6 hours to 3 hours a day Paul.

You made me smile Keith. Thanks.

A nice piece of carving - it turned out really well.

Beautiful work as ever Valeriy.

Very fine detail Eberhard, but you need to provide binoculars to any guest wishing to view it.

Pat, Druxey, Geert, Eberhard, Paul, Keith and Eric - thank you all for your kind remarks and thanks to everyone else who has looked in. As the pandemic accelerates may you and your families keep well.

very nice indeed.

great planking job Geert. I really like the hull lines.

Paul coming along nicely. I also got the first grass cut in on Tuesday. Ground still very soggy underneath though. I think we are in for a lot of shed time over the next 3 months. Keep safe.

I remain confined to barracks and my guess is that the situation wont change for many months. Never the less I am spending less time in the workshop than I had hoped. I continue to work in and around the anchor chain. From the winch the chain runs through a wooden guide as per the next image:- At some time after launch the guide was enhanced by the addition of hoops. Presumably without the hoops the chain was prone to jumping out of the slots. I made the guides out of the same wood stock I had used for the deck planks. The guides were milled on either side of a block before being slit off using the Byrnes saw. Cut outs were then made to accept the hoops. The hoops were made from thin sheet, cut into strips and then formed in a slot milled in oak, using a ball end milling cutter. I then went on to making the hand wheels for the winch brake. I didn't have any etched wheels of the right size and anyway for larger wheels photo etch parts lack realism. The brake wheels have an outer diameter of .320" a hub diameter of .092" and are of a 3 spoke design. Each spoke is .031" diameter and the wheel rim is .025" thick. I started with a 12" long 3/32" rod and drilled an axial hole of .040" diameter and 3 radial holes of .031' diameter. I then put wires in the radial holes and soldered the assembly by applying solder to the central hole. I then turned a bar of .320 outside diameter and .270 bore diameter to create a .025" wall. The hub rod was then mounted in the lathe and the ends of the 3 radial wires were rotated at speed and shortened with a file until they fitted neatly within the 0.270" bore. The larger rod was then placed back in the lathe chuck and hub rod was held in the tailstock chuck. With the spokes inserted in the bore the two parts were soldered together. The bore rod was then parted off and the central axial hole re-drilled to remove the solder. I then did a bit of cleaning up with a wire brush. Then back to the lathe to part off the hoop before finally inserting a shaft. The hand wheels were then installed on the winches. In the following shot the chain guides are not yet glued in position.

TrueType amazing Doris. It’s a pleasure to see your work.