USS Edwin A Howard DE 346 project- progress update 4/4 p.6

[Stikpusher]

Of course you can! Or styrene? I am glad you found that useful. I thought the whole methodology was incredible—chapter by chapter. I need to write the builder to thank him. He put a lot into that and it shows.

I’m really wanting the rigidity of brass for rigging. And perhaps even for soldering on some of the fittings. The basic mast is quite simple with only one cross member, or yardarm, or whatever they call it. I am just so worried about knocking off some of the small fittings later on that making up a brass mast and soldering the small things in place really sounds attractive. But I have not soldered anything since around 1980 in high school....

[speedgraflex]

Do check slot car sites... this one, perhaps? Very useful. Neat tips.

http://www.hoslotcarracing.com/Soldering.html

[Stikpusher]

I’ll fall back on this if need be. We have some guys in IPMS and AMPS that are soldering masters, so to speak, so I can hit them up monthly for guidance. I do have a rechargeable cordless soldering iron to work with. All I’m lacking is knowledge and experience...

But once again, thank you Bruce. You’re digging up all sorts of helpful stuff for this project. I truly appreciate that my friend!

[speedgraflex]

I will follow along with you, Carlos! I am here if you need anything. Your point about rigidity is well taken. If you are worried about that, you could also create a brass tube with a yardarm that drops on top of it. Create the yard arm from a well bonded brace of plastic or a small carved piece, then glue. This also creates a repair area should something happen to the model.

[Stikpusher]

I have some of the brass tubing and rod needed for the main mast already, possibly all of it. Any more brass tubing required, along with solder, will only cost a few bucks. I can always keep the kit mast as a fallback option if my efforts come to grief. That’s my plan for now. For the basic mast I’d prefer to work in primarily one medium or the other, for maximum strength of the bond, not a mix and match.

[Duke Maddog]

Carlos, this is an excellent project! I'll be following along with this one..

One suggestion I have: find or acquire a few sets of scrap brass and solder and practice on them to see what your skill level really is.and where you might need to improve. You might be pleasantly surprised that you remembered so much. Also, possibly make the mast even longer so it passes through the deck and fastens down inside the hull bottom. You could find out where it passes through and touches the inside hull and add a small plastic or brass tube that the mast will slip right into when you're ready to install it.

[Stikpusher]

Mark, I was planning to do just that- run the mast down to the keel for more strength. And yes, certainly some practice runs at soldering before I go and actually build the mast for the kit. I’ll probably hit up Sean and Conrad for some advice as well. K&S brass does not cost much, and just a pack or two will give more than enough for this and for practice.

[mostrich]

I love project with a personal involved. The commitment of the builder is always a good lever higher than on other, just out of interest-projects.
Good luck, Carlos!

[LyleW]

This is going to be good, that is for sure! Having someone ask you to build them a remembrance is so special.

[Stikpusher]

I love project with a personal involved. The commitment of the builder is always a good lever higher than on other, just out of interest-projects.
Good luck, Carlos!

Yes, this one has a double level here, one to get the ship correct, to honor her and her crew, and two, for my friend and just as important, his great uncle.

This is going to be good, that is for sure! Having someone ask you to build them a remembrance is so special.

Lyle, it sure is a special project. I could have knocked the basic kit out in an afternoon, straight OOB. But this needs lots of TLC and everything I’ve got to get it right for the reasons that I’ve mentioned.