Syren Ship Model Company News, Updates and Info.....(part 2)

[Chuck]

Its gonna  be a few days.  Its always first come first serve.  Have to get some stuff made and on the shelf first though.

[Chuck]

While restocking rope I am trying to take advantage of the downtime to finally make some new stuff...

 

Belaying pins...9.5mm and 14.3mm

 

And some teeny tiny toggles.  3mm, 4mm, and 5mm long

 

To begin with just the boxwood color.

 

The belaying pins are in no way as strong as brass.  But they are plenty strong enough as long as you dont over-do the tightness....which you shouldnt be doing anyway.  The toggles are also quite resilient.  Pictured are some tests in 3 and 4 mm long.

 

So look for them on my fittings page when I reopen next week.

 

 

 

 

[James H]

Outstanding!

[GGibson]

These all look great, Chuck!  More "stuff" to add to my Syren shopping list once I get to my Constitution build. 👍🏆

 

I am curious, though, what are the specific purpose of the toggles?  The Pavel Nikitin version of the Santa Maria that I am currently finishing has toggles in various locations on the running rigging and at the end corners of sails.  I assume they were placed on these ships in order for the crew to pull down on as they secured the various lines to make them as taut as possible.  Any other reasons/purpose?

 

 

Continued success on your Syren operations, Chuck!  

[Chuck]

For ships much later in the 18th century for examples...toggles were used to secure blocks under the top.  They are also used in other places but are usually too tiny to make and have look good.   Even with 3D printing these 3mm toggles are a bear to make.   They just get all over the place and its impossible to keep them on the sprues at this size.  But I am getting the hang of it.

 

Chuck

 

 

 

 

[Chuck]

I thought some of you would want to

see how I tested the viability and strength of the belaying pins.  I made a crude mock up which you see below.  This allowed me the opportunity to test in actual use various belaying pin iterations over and over again.  I must have tested so Many different resins and resin mixes until I found the correct mix of two that would be strong enough and look good.

 

There is no glue holding the pins in the rack and they are press fit.  There is also no glue on the rope.  This is the way I actually rig my models.  If a pin breaks you can easily remove it and insert another although I never came close to breaking one.  They will flex if you over tighten the line ridiculously.  But normal rigging tension works wonderfully.  
 

These are 1:48 scale belaying pins.  It actually is very encouraging and may also test 3/16” scale pins as these worked so well.

 

 

[Freebird]

Chuck,

 

I’m just amazed at the amount of new items that you keep coming out with! Keep up the great work!

 

Best Regards …. Rick

[RossR]

We are lucky to have people like you and Chris Watton to push the envelop and use new technology to advance our hobby.  I recently purchased some of your printed blocks, the level of detail on the 3/32 and 2mm blocks is just incredible.  I will  be practicing stropping the 3/32 inch blocks for use in my next build, either the USF Essex or US Brig Syren.  The belay pins look great.  I will be interested in how the 3/16 pins work out.

[Chuck]

Thank You for saying guys.  Some 1:48 scale swiss pear color belaying pins.   Just stocked a bunch of them.  I am not sure which folks will prefer but I made both colors just in case.

 

[TJM]

They really look fantastic! If it is feasible to do them in 1:64 scale, I would definitely buy a bunch!

[Chuck]

I am gonna do some tests on 1:64 pins next week.  I am about 50/50 on whether they will work.   I know a lot of heavy-handed riggers out there!!!

[James H]

1 hour ago, Chuck said:

I am gonna do some tests on 1:64 pins next week.  I am about 50/50 on whether they will work.   I know a lot of heavy-handed riggers out there!!!

Shhhh, I told you not to tell anyone 😉

[Chuck]

Next up.....3d printed thimbles...I hate making them so I am trying to print these tiny things.  Should know by next week if they work. Black resin is the goal.  Starting the test with 3 sizes and will adjust from there.

 

[dvm27]

These belaying pins are fabulous! The 1/4" ones are perfectly proportioned and fit a #66 hole. Note - most commercially available belaying pins have very fat handles. Chuck has just saved me hours of work. And adding thimbles to his store would be equally amazing as the commercially made brass ones are no longer available (Crafty Sailor).

[Chuck]

Thank you Greg....

[Freebird]

Amazing!

 

Best Regards …. Rick

[Rustyj]

I just caught up on all of these posts and I would say I'm amazed at how good they all are but amazing is what you do! I can't wait to have a build I would need to use them on. 

[Chuck]

Thimbles are now in stock...only 2mm today but the other sizes will show up over the next few days...a couple of new sizes per day starting tomorrow.   Packaging these things are a pain.  A massive pile on the table of round items that roll.   I count by two's

 

2, 4, 6, 8, 11....15....25 thimbles.  ugh.  Repeat.

 

FYI

 

[Dr PR]

Chuck,

 

Push a pin into a piece of wood. Stack thimbles on the pin until you get to the number you want to package (25?). Clip off the pin above the stack.

 

Now to measure the number of pieces you don't have to take the time to count them. Just stack them on the pin, dump into a bag, repeat.

 

And I would do this over a large bowl or baking pan, with the parts in the bowl/pan. That way they can't roll away.

[Clark]

On 5/8/2025 at 7:27 PM, TJM said:

They really look fantastic! If it is feasible to do them in 1:64 scale, I would definitely buy a bunch!

Would also be interested in 1:64 scale

[gjdale]

13 hours ago, Chuck said:

Packaging these things are a pain.  A massive pile on the table of round items that roll.   I count by two's

 

Just a thought Chuck - could you fill/count packages by weight rather than counting individual items?

[Chuck]

Tried weighing them even with a very expensive scale but there is too much variation.  I basically count out my blocks and these like a pharmacist counts pills.   These are just very squirrelly.   I am used to it but its a pain.  Putting them on a pin is fine but that would take three times as long.   I have to be quick.   Too high a volume.

 

Chuck

[knightyo]

Maybe a small funnel into a tube of the proper length and diameter

[Tossedman]

Maybe use a pill counting tray that pharmacists use. You can get them cheap on Amazon.

 

Todd

[thibaultron]

1 hour ago, knightyo said:

Maybe a small funnel into a tube of the proper length and diameter

Drop them in in ones and twos, so they don't jam. Pharmiststs tray to funnel.

[Chuck]

Thats what I use...I got this.  It just takes time.   1.75 mm are up next.

[dvm27]

In our office pharmacy we use a pill counting app on our cell phones. It works great for similar sized pills (or objects). You obviously wouldn't use it for small groups but for packages of >10 it might be a useful app.

[Chuck]

And just to keep me busy...a new Lantern...typical but detailed English Navy circa 1770-1800.  I have so much to do and lots of new stuff in the works.  This will be printed in four pieces if all goes according to plan.  The glass will be an insert and printed in clear resin.