Skipjack by michael mott - 1/8th scale - SMALL - 19 foot open launch

[garywatt]

HI Micheal are there any end,s to your talent,s spark plug look ACE sorry to hear about Judy send my regard,s, hint give her a big hug from all your follower,s we need you back in the workshop so we can learn more from a master craftsman, take care both of you.

[michael mott]

Thanks to all for the likes and comments

I have not been able to spend much time in the shipyard this last few weeks, but things have improved a great deal this week, Judy is home now.

 

I did manage to get some time today to make some changes to the spark plugs. I was not happy about the way the plug were integrated into the head structure so after a couple of experiments I now have proper spark plugs they are made from some Allen key, that I annealed.

 

 

The thread is a 6x40 I had to make them long reach which meant it was a bit tricky drilling a .028" hole almost 1/2 inch long through the Corian core which is only .078" diameter.

 

 

The hand shot for scale

 

 

The brass now functions as it was intended to hold down the oval cap to enclose the water cavity, and the spark plug threads into it.

 

 

 

 

All I have to do now is add a brass  0 x 80 or a 00x90 threaded section to the top of the electrode in order the be able to make a good positive connection with the ignition cables. i will need to see how easy it is with the 00x90 which is a better scale size.

 

Michael

 

[Omega1234]

Hi Michael

 

It's great to see you back in the workshop, but most importantly, it's fantastic that Judy's well enough to come home.

 

All the best to you both.

 

Cheers

 

Patrick

Edited March 15, 2015 by Omega1234

[druxey]

I second Patrick's remarks, Michael!

[mtaylor]

I'll third it.... that's very good news.

[jo conrad]

Thirds are charmes,

but all good things come in fours, don´t they ?? ;-))

My best wishes for a good and lasting recovery to Judy. Spring is around the corner, and all things are going to be "bright and beautiful".

Good luck to both of you

 

 

P.S. : the Most Honourable and Noble Swiss Watchmakers´ Society at Geneva would be pleased to send you their application form. They are constantly looking for new masters of their trade and will surely and with the greatest pleasure accept you as their new fellow. I neither saw any really working spark-plugs of 2 cm length, nor did I ever hear of such things. Mein Gott, Michael, where is this going to end ??

 

Germanus

Edited March 15, 2015 by jo conrad

[Twister]

I'll raise that fourth and submit a fifth...  Here's hoping all continues to improve.

 

Now, let me think about this - 0.028", that's about 0.7mm. Yep, I've had loads of drills that size, it's just rather unfortunate that I only need to try and pick 'em up and they break - am convinced they're only put into sets as some form of esoteric eyesight test, certainly not for actually using and definitely not for putting anywhere near other bits of metal. I'm probably severely limiting my modelling/engineering learning curve but I don't trust myself with anything smaller than 1/8".

 

Stunning work as always Michael, your talents know no bounds.

 

Regards,

 

Row

[Jack12477]

And I'll add to what's been said also - glad to hear Judy is home; hope her health  continues to improve.

 

Magnificent job on the spark plugs. I'm glad you include the "hand shot" for scale ! Impressive !

[IgorSky]

Hi Michael,

I am almost sure that if to fill in couple of drops of gasoline in this engine it will start working. Amazing work!

 

Best Regards!

Igor.

[cog]

I'm glad Judy is back at home, first it is better for her health and second it's a relief to know you do not need to travel and be at risk (for Judy it will too I 'reccon')

 

Stunning work on the sparkplugs, take care both of you

[captainbob]

Glad Judy is home.  Nothing, not even the boat is as important as that.

 

Bob

[Jim Lad]

It's good to hear that Judy's home, Michael.  I hope you'll both enjoy some spring sailing in your lovely little yacht.

 

John

[garywatt]

Hi Michael glad to Judy,s home best wish,s to you both and take care,i hope that mean,s you,ll be starting back on the model

[mikegerber]

Hello Michael

 

I am pleased to hear that things turn for the better - best wishes continues!

 

Regards

Mike

 

[shipmodel]

Michael - 

 

Such good news as I return.  So glad your wife is better.  The people we love are so much more important than the things we love, even ship models.

 

Dan

[popeye the sailor]

glad to hear everything is looking up Michael!  she'll recover better at home       plugs look sweet~!

[EdT]

I second everone's remarks, Micheal.

 

Ed

[SJSoane]

 

Michael, all the best for you and your wife. Family matters most of all.

 

Mark

[michael mott]

Patrick, Druxey, Mark T, Germanus, Row, Jack, Igor, Carl, Bob, John, Gary, Mike, Dan, Denis, Ed, Mark.

 

Thank all so very much for the well wishes, it is indeed great that Judy is well enough to be home and she has even gone back to work at the Library, (it is a small rural one and Judy is the Librarian  Manager she was looking forward to getting back so much.

 

P.S. : the Most Honourable and Noble Swiss Watchmakers´ Society at Geneva would be pleased to send you their application form.

Germanus this made me smile, They are way way above my league, but as a kid I wanted to be a watchmaker..... it is a funny world we live in. When I was 15 I had 24 chiming clocks in my bedroom all sort of them, picked them up in junk shops in England, they would be hard to find these days, but in the late 50's early 60's they were a dime a dozen.

 

I am almost sure that if to fill in couple of drops of gasoline in this engine it will start working.

Igor, as soon as she is ready that is what will happen.

 

The cover plate for the cavity on the top of the head, took for ever to fit, but it had to be precise and snug before I could drill the holes.

 

After the blank was fitted I flipped the head upside down and clamped it in the milling machine on top of a sacrifice block of brass, I used brass so that the plate had something the same density so that the hole would not form a bur on the drill exit.

 

The set up included using a couple of the original integrated spark plugs as drill bushings to act as guides for pilot drilling the holes in the plate

 

 

After the .078 hole was drilled the bushing was removed in order to then drill out a clearance hole for the spark plug which is .136"

 

 

 

The head was then indexed over to line up the second hole this was done by trial and error, by raising and lowering the .078 drill until it slipped into the hole easily. I did ensure that the upside down bit ran true before doing the set up.

 

 

Then drilled out the second hole.

 

 

Then repeated the clearance hole for the plug.

 

 

I made a couple of large .031 brass washers to act as the small circular covers these will get mounted to the oval plate with four small 00x 90 round head screws.

 

 

 

 

It is great to get a bit more time in the shop, and I am spending more with Judy now that she is back on her feet.

 

Thanks for all the likes as well.

 

Michael

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[cog]

Good to hear Judy is up and about, nothing to restore oneself but a well loved activity.

 

Again some marvelous work MIchael. I was nearly drooling like a dog over it's favourite bone, closed my mouth just in time.

[Jack12477]

Magnificent work as always, Michael. 

[druxey]

Well, you made me smile on two counts: one being news on Judy's recovery, and the other on the progress photos you've posted. 

[garywatt]

This is going to sound naff and i dont care, The Man is in the HOUSE beautiful work if i read right your an Englishman abroad with skill,s like yours i,d say Sheffield lol

[popeye the sailor]

glad to hear everything is looking up again       very nice progress Michael!

[michael mott]

Thanks for all the likes and for the kind wishes for Judy.

 

i read right your an Englishman abroad with skill,s like yours i,d say Sheffield lol

 

Gary, well it was St Marys Hospital Paddington right next door to the Great Western Railway Station. (or as some say God's Wonderful Railway) Then I grew up in Acton W3 in West London..... trial and error is a wonderful teacher, I have lots of scrap boxes that have accumulated over the years, and also encouraged by the right folk when I was young.

 

Michael

[kees de mol]

The master is here!! What an excellent job you did. Looking forward to see you new update

[michael mott]

Thanks Kees, and for all those who added a like to my previous set of pictures.

 

today I modified some 00 x90 hex head brass machine screws, cheating I know. I chucked up a small drill chuck in the Myford lathe to hold the small screws.

 

 

The round head 00x90 from the suppliers are .087" max head diameter which was a bit large so I turned down some hex ones I had to .078"  diameter  then filed the round with some fine files and then gave them a burnish with a clockmaker's burnish,

 

 

Next the screw slot was cut with the jewelers saw.

 

 

 

After drilling and tapping the circular plate I discovered that the round head screw were still a bit too big, also the holes in the circular plate still needed to be opened up for a clearance for the 00 x90 screws.

 

 

I reduced the diameter of the screws to .071", which is about as small as I want to go with the 00 x 90 which has a max thread diameter of .060"

 

 

Left one is .071 next is .078, next is the commercial round head at .087" and the hex type that I used as the base for the modifications.

 

Tomorrow I will finish the other plate and the rest of the screws down to the smaller diameter.

 

Michael

 

 

[mtaylor]

Beautiful work, Michael.   BTW, I think you should give a go for the Watchmaker's Society. 

[cog]

Yes MIchael, you should pass with flying colours. As far as I can see it cannot get any smaller ...!

[Bedford]

Beautiful work as usual Michael and as with all the others, so pleased Judy has returned home.

 

Steve