18th Century Longboat by Jack12477 - FINISHED - Model Shipways 1:48

[Nirvana]

Jack, you certainly did a nice save and not giving up. You should be proud of the result.

[Jack12477]

Well, I'm making some progress. Mast and bowsprit have been fashioned but those brass irons are a b*tch to drill a hole in without breaking the brass right where the hole is drilled. The flat brass strip is 1/64" x 1/32" and is way to narrow (1/32) to drill a hole in without it breaking.  1/32 translates to .034" my smallest drill bit (I can use without breaking the drill bit) is .023" or .59mm. Doesn't leave enough meat on the strip after the hole is drilled. So far out of 6 bands I made and drilled 5 have broken.  I'm about to abandon the drilling part and jury-rig a different solution. These are the bands that go on the mast and bowsprit.

 

 If the band was 1/16 instead of 1/32 I probably wouldn't have this problem. Anybody got any suggestions?

 

I may be shutting down the shipyard for a brief period - the river has frozen over and the ice yachts are being assembled - while I do a little "HARD" water sailing.

[divarty]

Jack I think I went down to a #78 drill bit (not sure what that measures out to) the key for me was to use a pair of magnifiers to make sure I was centered then use a very sharp and small awl to push a small dimple after that I would just spin my pin vise very slowly without putting any pressure downwards, the dimple would help it keep centered.  I let the bit bite and work it's way through with just the weight of the pin vise to drive it.  It's a very slow process but was the only way I could keep the bit from breaking.  Most of the time the only way I could tell it was working was by using my magnifier to see the brass shavings coming off.

[Jack12477]

Divarty, I also used a small awl and hand drill to get the hole started, then switch to my small WeeCheer (Dremel-like) drill to complete the task, using only the weight of the tool. The drill cut a clean hole. It was went I tried to trim it back to length and attach it to the mast that the piece broke right at the drilled hole. The hole doesn't leave enough metal to keep the piece strong enough to not break. I'll have to look up what diameter a #78 drill is and compare it to mine, which are all labeled in fractions of a millimeter.

 

 

Update: Looks like the drill bit I've been using is a #73 or possibly a #74. I little bit larger than your #78.

Edited January 18, 2015 by Jack12477

[Jack12477]

Well, finally making progress.  Mast, boom & gaff installed and rigged. Took apart a scrap piece of rail molding and used the posts as supports, used an old wood plague for the base, put a coat of MinWax English Chestnut stain on everything.  Mounted the boat temporarily for picture purposes. 

 

Now on to the deadeyes and shrouds.

 

[Jack12477]

Well almost complete !  Have to get some primer and black paint for the grappling hook - paint it and install it and I think I am done.

 

[dgbot]

Looks perfect I like the paint job you did on it.

David 

[Jack12477]

Thanks, David

[Jack12477]

Ok, grappling hook installed. Model is now complete and taking its place with the rest of the fleet.

 

 

 

Getting a little crowded !

[divarty]

From the early disaster to a very tidy little boat.  Congratulations she looks good up with the others.

 

ryan

[Tuffarts]

Those 'boys' in the back look very surprised  at your efforts  

 

Nice looking models

[Jack12477]

Ryan: Thanks ! Yes,  it did come out nice.

 

Tuffarts:  Thanks !  Those "boys" in the background are Byers Choice (Collectibles) Carolers which my Admiral collects. She gave me the sailors to go with my ships.