The base frames were cut from boxwood, and the top corners were filed into a half round shape.
In addition, the wheel rope guides, situated on the deck directly below wheel which thread the rope to the steering mechanism below the deck, were fabricated from scrap pieces of wood and 0.005” brass plate. The main tubes on the ship are most likely made from copper or brass, but they have oxidized to a very dark color so it’s difficult to tell. The model’s were made from scrap wood and painted black because these components will be mostly hidden from view. What will be visible are the brass covers with a smaller rope feed tubes poking through. To determine the size of the smaller feed tube requires knowledge of the rope size passing through it. The kit provided 0.021” (1.61” full scale) rope, The practicum did not fabricate the feed tubes but just drill two holes in the deck The practicum used 0.035” (2.69” full) rope because Mr. Hunt didn’t like the look of the small kit rope. My research indicated that the typical wheel rope size was 5/8” – 1” full scale or 0.008” – 0.013” at scale. I have Syren 0.018 (0.45mm) Ultra Tan which looked correct to me based on the images of the actual ship’s wheel. Therefore, the small rope feed tube was cut from 3/64” (1.1906 mm) (0.0349” ID) brass tube.
In addition, the wheel rope guides, situated on the deck directly below wheel which thread the rope to the steering mechanism below the deck, were fabricated from scrap pieces of wood and 0.005” brass plate. The main tubes on the ship are most likely made from copper or brass, but they have oxidized to a very dark color so it’s difficult to tell. The model’s were made from scrap wood and painted black because these components will be mostly hidden from view. What will be visible are the brass covers with a smaller rope feed tubes poking through. To determine the size of the smaller feed tube requires knowledge of the rope size passing through it. The kit provided 0.021” (1.61” full scale) rope, The practicum did not fabricate the feed tubes but just drill two holes in the deck The practicum used 0.035” (2.69” full) rope because Mr. Hunt didn’t like the look of the small kit rope. My research indicated that the typical wheel rope size was 5/8” – 1” full scale or 0.008” – 0.013” at scale. I have Syren 0.018 (0.45mm) Ultra Tan which looked correct to me based on the images of the actual ship’s wheel. Therefore, the small rope feed tube was cut from 3/64” (1.1906 mm) (0.0349” ID) brass tube.
