Making odds and ends....

[mjt60a]

....I was looking at some baby's buggies in the town yesterday and some of the wheel centres look very useful to me....

I work for a local council and regularly have to collect buggies for disposal (among many other things) as their 'owners' no longer need them, never thought of using the parts other than for a model transporting device of some kind...
...I do often find things to recycle, just the other week a board game 'goosebumps' was found in a pile of fly-tipped junk and the playing pieces are 1/32 scale figures!!!
I love finding stuff to use on models 

[Eddy Matthews]

Okay, another little item has just sprung into my mind, mainly coz I need some and don't have a clue how to make them....

Mooring ropes, or the ropes that are normally slung between the bow and the paddleboxes and the stern and the paddleboxes for "Springing" a paddler away from it's moorings....

Basically ropes with a loop at one or both ends that are put around the bollards....

I can't do what I would normally and just get a peice of suitable cord and tie a knot in it to form a loop now can I? So how do I go about making a rope with a loop that looks like it's professionally made?

Regards
Eddy

[Talisman]

Hi, Eddy,
Here is a video of an eye splice being made in a full size rope,
Allways fancied doing a splice in a model rope but have allways cheated and used heat shrink.....maybe one day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ETjsIHLg0M

[Talisman]

A supplier of rather nice 3 plait ropes for the task - best of luck

http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/Miskin-Models_Scale-Model-Rope_W0QQ_fsubZ6455593QQ_sidZ44958975QQ_trksidZp4634Q2ec0Q2em322

[Eddy Matthews]

Hi, Eddy,
Here is a video of an eye splice being made in a full size rope,
Allways fancied doing a splice in a model rope but have allways cheated and used heat shrink.....maybe one day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ETjsIHLg0M

Thanks Kim, a very informative little video.... I do like the heatshrink idea too, I hadn't thought of that one!

Regards
Eddy

[steamboatmodel]

Hi Eddy,
One thing that really comes in handy is making some small marlin spikes. I found that some of the crochet hooks work well in manipulating the small rope.
Regards,
Gerald
One of the better small books on knots and rope work was put out by the UK Sea Scouts.

[Talisman]

Hi Eddy,
One thing that really comes in handy is making some small marlin spikes. I found that some of the crochet hooks work well in manipulating the small rope.

My plan, if i ever get around to making a spliced miniature rope, was to put a sewing needle on each strand.

Guess what I'm up to this eve .... Splicing full sized ropes for another project...

One of the better small books on knots and rope work was put out by the UK Sea Scouts.

....
Now where did i put my Turks head woggle  ...

[hucksdad]

Hello Paddleducks!

I trick I have used in splicing miniature rope is to unlay one end and use glue (cyano) to stiffen the ends of each strand...presto...built in needle!

David

[R.G.Y.]

Having built four sailing vessels with all working rigging, I have always cheated. form a loop then twist tight retaining the loop, and super glue, then cut off the short end on the splay. this gives a good impression of a splice. the heatshrink is exultant if the rope has been served.R.G.Y. 

[big-geoff]

What a Great and informative thread, I have been facinated by all the information given I though that I might add a tip of my own.

I have seen many fine models sailing on the water that look wonderfull but sound awful because of the resonance from the motors and gearboxes.

My thoughts on this was to make something similar to an engine mount as seen an any car.

I have had many failiures until i discovered Silicone Rubber.

All that I now do is make a container to hold the solution until it sets, susspend the motor/gearbox and pour in the rubber compound once hard seperate the container etc and you have a custom fit motor mount.

because the rubber does not transmit the vibration to the hull the sound is dramatically reduced, including motor whine.

when I can find it I will post the the link to the company I use.

Same stuff can be used to make moulds for casting small parts in resin the limit is your own imagination and ingenuity.

Regards

Geoff

[Eddy Matthews]

Stuart,

In another thread, you mentioned using a "clockwheel" to make simulated rivets on a hull - What is a clockwheel?

Is it a specific tool, or is it literally a wheel from a clock? Either way, more information and perhaps a photo of the item in question would be appreciated....

Regards
Eddy

[Stuart Badger]

it's a small (or large!) gear wheel from a clock. Give me a few days and I'll do a little item on hull plating/simulated rivets.

Stuart

[Eddy Matthews]

Thanks Stuart, I knew I could rely on you

Regards
Eddy

[steamboatmodel]

Given that mechanical Clocks are now mostly replaced by electronics, to find a "clockwheel" you might have to search for one. If you talk nice to your better half she may have a dress makers pattern wheel which is like a clockwheel with a handle.
Regards,
Gerald.

[Stuart Badger]

Hi Gerald

I got my clockwheels from my local jewellers/clock repairer, he was only too happy to part with the bits he had left over. You can still pick up old alarm clocks etc at car boot and jumble sales. If you want to be really fancy you can of course purchase metal gear wheels from various sources.

A dressmakers pattern or 'pouncing' wheel is OK for some jobs, but they tend to be rather flimsy and the tooth spacing is quite large - fine for realy large scale models.

Another alternative is to file the teeth in the perimeter of a pizza cutter - worth the effort as one can then get a 'custom' rivet spacing and you can really exert some pressure!

Stuart