USS Constitution - Model Shipways

[Vfordyce]

Mr. Phelps. Your mission is as follows. As usual this message will self destruct in 10 seconds after you have read it:

I have to fit the rivet into the holes(reamed with a #75 drill bit) in the chainplate assemblies then attach to the hull with another rivet. The rivet is the little brown thing at the top right and the chainplate assemblies are the two other pieces. I have to clean the solder and paint everything black. Then rince and repeat.

View attachment 540427

For how many chainplates?

 

[Jack Sparrow]

For how many chainplates?

I count 64

 

[Vfordyce]

I count 64

Ouch!

 

[Jack Sparrow]

I don't know any way around it and the worst of it all is that the pieces are all really small

 

[Jack Sparrow]

Here is what Bob Hunt shows for the mizzen channel:

 

[Jack Sparrow]

Although the deadeyes on the Constitution are black, I think I will leave them as is because I don't want to plug up the holes and I don't want to have to ream the holes later on. I have my limits.

 

[Rob444]

Your chain plates are looking good!

 

[Jack Sparrow]

Your chain plates are looking good!

I wish they looked as good as Bob Hunt's.

 

[Rob444]

I wish they looked as good as Bob Hunt's.

Just as I wish my stuff looked as good as yours! It is all relative. As Robert Browning said "Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, Or what's a heaven for?"

Rob

 

[Jack Sparrow]

Small update. After fiddling with the plastic rivets for a while, I decided to give up on that idea. In addition I decided to paint the deadeyes and the eyebolts black because I didn't like how they looked unpainted. This is my first attempt at soldering chainplates. It's really hard because the pieces are so small.

 

[Vfordyce]

Small update. After fiddling with the plastic rivets for a while, I decided to give up on that idea. In addition I decided to paint the deadeyes and the eyebolts black because I didn't like how they looked unpainted. This is my first attempt at soldering chainplates. It's really hard because the pieces are so small.



View attachment 542061

I feel your pain.

 

[Peter Gutterman]

Nice work all around. I'm never satisfied with my own work. I'm my own toughest critic. I often tell myself to F*** off and not to let the perfect be the enemy of the good enough!

 

[Jack Sparrow]

Nice work all around. I'm never satisfied with my own work. I'm my own toughest critic. I often tell myself to F*** off and not to let the perfect be the enemy of the good enough!

I hear you.

 

[rturcic72]

Jack Sparrow - I felt the same pain. I used Testors Matte Black acrylic model paint and it was thinned already and it went on nicely and didn't clog up the holes which I thought was going to happen. The chain plates were not fun whatsoever. I used that small stand with the clips on each side to hold the deadeye with the wire and the other with the brass strip and then I positioned the tip of the brass on top wire and then put my soldering iron under the wire pulled away immediately when I melted just a touch or solder. This leaves just enough to keep everything together otherwise any longer and globs up and hard to clean up with a metal file. I also used copper wire around the deadeyes because I thought the brass wire in the kit sucked and broke too easily and kept unfolding itself. Copper was easy to solder and a great conductor and that's why I laid the brass on top of it. After you paint them, you would never know anything was improvised.

 

[Jack Sparrow]

Jack Sparrow - I felt the same pain. I used Testors Matte Black acrylic model paint and it was thinned already and it went on nicely and didn't clog up the holes which I thought was going to happen. The chain plates were not fun whatsoever. I used that small stand with the clips on each side to hold the deadeye with the wire and the other with the brass strip and then I positioned the tip of the brass on top wire and then put my soldering iron under the wire pulled away immediately when I melted just a touch or solder. This leaves just enough to keep everything together otherwise any longer and globs up and hard to clean up with a metal file. I also used copper wire around the deadeyes because I thought the brass wire in the kit sucked and broke too easily and kept unfolding itself. Copper was easy to solder and a great conductor and that's why I laid the brass on top of it. After you paint them, you would never know anything was improvised.

Thanks for the information.

Not my favourite activity but it is required. I guess I don't mind the solder practice either. You never know when that will be handy again.
But overall it is a very challenging process. I didn't use the brass wire. Instead I used dark annealed steel wire. It twists quite well. Now that I think about it, maybe I should sand off the dark stuff on the wire. That would explain some of the difficulties that I am having.

 

[Namabiiru]

Thanks for the information.

Not my favourite activity but it is required. I guess I don't mind the solder practice either. You never know when that will be handy again.
But overall it is a very challenging process. I didn't use the brass wire. Instead I used dark annealed steel wire. It twists quite well. Now that I think about it, maybe I should sand off the dark stuff on the wire. That would explain some of the difficulties that I am having.

Steel wire can’t be soldered unless it is zinc galvanized.

 

[Jack Sparrow]

Steel wire can’t be soldered unless it is zinc galvanized.

I am going off a couple of references that I found on the subject. I didn't clean the steel properly but I did put a tonne of flux. I will do a mechanical cleaning in my new procedure to see if it makes a difference.

References:

Can Steel Be Soldered: What You Need to Know Before Trying?

Discover whether steel can be soldered and learn the best techniques for effective steel soldering. Explore tips, materials, and methods to achieve strong, reliable joints on steel surfaces. Perfect for DIY enthusiasts and professionals alike looking to master steel soldering.

walkermetalsmith.com

How to Solder Stainless Steel Wire: A Complete Guide - MFG Shop

Soldering stainless steel wire might seem daunting for beginners, but with the right guidance, it can become a straightforward and rewarding skill to master.

shop.machinemfg.com

 

[Jack Sparrow]

I am going off a couple of references that I found on the subject. I didn't clean the steel properly but I did put a tonne of flux. I will do a mechanical cleaning in my new procedure to see if it makes a difference.

References:

Can Steel Be Soldered: What You Need to Know Before Trying?

Discover whether steel can be soldered and learn the best techniques for effective steel soldering. Explore tips, materials, and methods to achieve strong, reliable joints on steel surfaces. Perfect for DIY enthusiasts and professionals alike looking to master steel soldering.

walkermetalsmith.com

How to Solder Stainless Steel Wire: A Complete Guide - MFG Shop

Soldering stainless steel wire might seem daunting for beginners, but with the right guidance, it can become a straightforward and rewarding skill to master.

shop.machinemfg.com

I have a 100Watt iron at my disposal so I should be able to get enough heat on the joint.

 

[mtbediz1]

I have a 100Watt iron at my disposal so I should be able to get enough heat on the joint.

Are you using lead-free solder? If so, the melting point is higher.

 

[Jack Sparrow]

Are you using lead-free solder? If so, the melting point is higher.

I am, yes. Yes the melting point is higher.