bruce d

Thank you Martin.

Wonderful model but I am also cautious about the identification.

Thanks guys, much appreciated.

Found this image in the Library of Congress online: The description says 'Drawing shows a British gunboat under sail on Lake Champlain with a view of Crown Point, New York in the background. ' It is dated circa 1759. Any ideas about the identity or class of the 'British gunboat'?

Thank you, exactly the way the nice people at UNIMAT had in mind. I have made a cannon or two using the headstock adjustment and would not think anything more ambitious should be attempted without support. You are right Bob, of course, and I hope nobody believed I was saying they could turn masts in this fashion. The very first thing I made on a Unimat SL was a torpedo. I did the warhead end freehand and used the headstock adjustment for the tapering aft section. Worked like a charm and I felt like a master craftsman..

Unimat original collet chuck for the SL on the left with E16 collet, aftermarket ditto on right with ER16.

Outrageous. Like finding the end of the rainbow.

Shipman, You have recieved good advice above but I expect that to get started you should just focus on learning to use what you have. Unimats are far more common in the UK market than the Sherline tool and there are many bits available here at (I am glad to say) lower prices than the same item in the US. As you are making model ships and not watches, I suggest to concentrate on the SL. Unlike the UNIMAT 3 it has a built-in taper turning facility by adjusting the angle of the headstock. I assume you have a three jaw chuck. Sharp tools are more important than correct speed. Take your time. Experiment with some round brass bar until you can get a smooth finish. Make a couple of cannons. See for yourself what happens if you use a rounded tool shape instead of a pointed tool. Now repeat the exercise with some hardwood, of course with appropriate tooling. Don't get a sleeve anywhere near the lathe. Wear eye protection. Best advice: find out if you like using the lathe. If not, well .... good thing to learn before stocking up with must-have tools and accessories. Quite right. There are screw on collet holders for the SL and U3 and the original factory pieces used E16 double angle collets which are no longer produced. ER16 collets will usually work in the Unimat E16 collet chuck and readily available, however there are some very poor quality pieces out there so tread carefully. If you go forward it may be worth getting collets but get to know how useful (or not) having a lathe is first. HTH Bruce EDIT: CROSS POSTED, YOU HAVE MADE PROGRESS ALREADY. The book you have is the best starting point I know. Have fun.

Inspiring. Well done.

Looks amazing but I can't make the link work. VERY good choice of subject!

Found this in an 1861 Scientific American: Yes, it is a cannon revolver. The patent was granted in 1860 and it was intended for fixed batteries or shipboard use. As far as I know it wasn't put into production, but I don't know. Please tell me it was never mounted on a ship. Bruce

It is. I was privileged to be invited to the Coastal Forces Veterans reunions for the last couple of years they were held here in the UK and these were the go-to books, often brought along and displayed on the table for anyone to consult. I think that is a pretty good recommendation.

Old stock of Letraset is dwindling. Try these people: https://www.mayfairstationers.co.uk/office-supplies/letraset-dry-transfers.html HTH Bruce

!!!!!!! I learn something every day on this forum.

Pretty sure IPA is not the one. IPA = rubbing alcohol, meths is a different beast and I believe it is the 'denatured' product. I will be interested if it turns out to be IPA.

We know it as 'methylated spirit'. HTH Bruce

My boo-boo was on an earlier occasion and consisted of me trying to rewrite history because I thought I had 'discovered' an error.

... and I have been caught out as well. Red-face saved because I wasn't alone. When I go to the National Archives in a couple of weeks I can look into it if it is important to anyone, let me know.

Hi Mark, The letter is dated January 2, 1778. HTH Bruce

She certainly had copper by 1778. From an entry in NMM Caird Library: 'Propose that the Triton may be ordered to be refitted and sheathed with copper at Chatham instead of Sheerness.' This sounds like a first installation of copper but is not conclusive. Typical wording in these letters for replacing copper would be more direct, such as 'strip and sheath with new copper.

A warm welcome to MSW from Sussex. Do you have a warm place to work on your model?

The only purpose I can imagine for the metal additions (and the clue is in their name) would be if the ship or battery had a device, like a rail, for traversing a gun that was not always in use. To explain: a gun fitted with the discreet traversing plates could be wheeled around on the otherwise standard trucked carriage and used in the normal way, OR it could be backed onto a rail, possibly circular, and trained in that way. My reasoning is that I can't quite see how the gun could need the traversing plates if it was in use as a free-standing traditional trucked piece, and would not need the trucks if it was always in use in a position served by a traversing rail. Some armed boats (ships' boats) had crude traversing rigs and only shipped the cannon/carronade when needed so it would make sense to have a modest alteration to the carriage for the purpose. Do you have a date for the very useful illustration in post #17?

Hello John, welcome to MSW. It is a great place. Bruce

Many thanks Toni for de-demonizing planking. Lovely job, attractive model and simple steps. Well done. Bruce

Well that sounds simple enough. Thanks, Bruce