Tips – Hulls and Superstructures

Build your Hull Peter’s Model Aircraft Way

If you have not read the Model Boats magazine article about Peter’s building of the “Dampschiff” steam-powered launch, which is on this site, you will not have seen his way of building a hull, as follows. ... READ MORE …

Building Tips – Making a hull template

Member’s tip from Harry: Do you need to make a template of the shape of a hull? Maybe you need the external shape to cut out a support for display, or the internal shape to add a frame to stiffen the hull? Press a length of solder wire onto the hull in the location required. Carefully transfer it to a piece of cardboard and tape it down in a couple of spots to ensure it doesn’t move. Trace it using a pencil, remembering which edge was pressed onto the hull. and cut out.

Building Tips – Fitting Bilge Keels

Bilge keels are the strips that stick out from the turn of the bilge on most vessels, and are provided to reduce rolling. Here are some suggestions for fitting bilge keels to a scale model. … READ MORE …

Building Tips – Scratch building a rudder

Here is the scratch building process that Peter uses for all of his boats. … READ MORE ...

Building Tips – Bending Planks

Member’s tip from Rowen: Bending strips. Using 1/2″ (or similar) plastic plumbing tubing, capped at one end, make a reservoir into which ammonia can be poured. Slide the wood strip into the tube and allow it to soak. Then remove and bend to shape whilst it is still saturated. 
On drying out it should retain the bend. Have also thought the plastic tube, containing the strip, could be bent into shape and then drained.  The strip would then dry out retaining the bend.

Building Tips – Bending Plywood

Bend clamped in place, by gentle heating with a heat gun. I have never been sure just how well it works, but as no parts have sprung apart I have assumed it is fine. I am building a pilot boat model that has a pronounced rounded bow to support a substantial rubber buffer. I was wondering how to do this as I was reluctant to try the usual wood block sanded to shape approach. I decided to cut a length of thin plywood (1/16″) to the same depth as the inwale and held this in a steel tube bender and applied gentle heat. Lo and behold the ply gradually relaxed and took up the shape of the bender.
When cooled the wood was released and most of the shape is retained. It was then cut to length and glued to the frames and bow support, where it fits nicely.

Building Tip: Smoke Unit for “Ned Hanlan”

Peter reported on a smoke generator system Bill Morrison engineered and made for his 40” scratch built historic Toronto Harbour tug “Ned Hanlan”…. READ MORE …

Building Tip: Working with styrene

Styrene has become well-established as a modelling material. It is unaffected by water, has no grain, and can be painted. It is available in flat sheets and structural shapes of different thicknesses and sizes.