Norwegian Sailing Pram by DocTom - Model Shipways - 1:12

[DocTom]

Post 15 - Pintle Party

 

I finally got ahold of a butane torch and annealled the frets of the PE brass. I annealed the tube while I was at it. I measured out 12 mm lengths on the fret, and drilled 0.7 mm holes 1.5 mm in from each end. Despite my best efforts to center the holes, they were not. I couldn't figure out what to use to start a pilot hole. I used the point of a #11 blade but it didn't cut it. Drilling was actually easy, and I now understand the reason to anneal brass. I used my smooth broaches to clean the holes and make sure the copper nails fit into them. For each pintle, I glued the 1/32 rod into one end of the tube, and cut off a piece equal to the width of the fret/strap. I initially tried to glue the tube to the strap and then bend the strap around it, but it kept coming unglued. I therefore used the extra tube to bend the straps and then glued the tubes with rod in place. I then cut the rod to the required lengths.  I test fitted them on the gudgeons to make sure they slid in easily and swung freely. Filed the rod as needed. The upper one had a funny bend and kept binding, so I redid it. I finally ended up with two workable pinions. Not the prettiest things in the world, but they do what is required of them.

                                                                        

 

I placed them on the rudder, test fitted and marked locations with maskiing tape.

 

                                                           

 

I followed Trevor's advise and tried to line up the corner of the rudder with the skeg. The pintle ended up essentially over the useless slots. I took them off, applied some CA glue to the aft surface of the tubes, and put them back in place. After the glue dried I snipped 5 (I lost one) of the copper nails and pushed them into place. I touched up the paint, and Voila!

 

                                   

 

All of that took me about 6 hours over 2 days. Again, time well spent. To my amazement, the rudder fit onto the boat easily, and swings freely.

 

 

The nail on the upper pintel looks like it has paint on it, but that is an odd reflection. The white speckles on the rudder are just dust. During all this, I dropped various tiny brass bits and copper nail heads on the floor, but I managed to find them all (except for one nail). I read somewhere that the modeler's motto is "Where did it go?"

 

I couldn't resist putting on the tiller to see how it looked. Looks cool.

 

                                                          

 

I plan to buff up the brass a bit, and then move on to the oarlock plates. I took Rick's advise and went to our local Michael's, where I found a lifetime supply of brass pins for $8.00. 

                                                          

 

I will cut them down to use on the oarlock plates, but that will wait for the morning. For now, a Manhatten with Elijah Carig bourbon to celebrate my pintles.

 

All this taught me the importance of annealling brass, and taught me that I can make my own brass parts if I have to. Two valuable lessons.