A guy at a model show told me his technique on a 1/72 Flower (the Snowberry kit), he got fed up of the kit ones snapping off and made them from thin fuse wire wound around a jig of three pins to form the receptors for the cables (bearing in mind the RN rarely use solid rails, only the stanchions are steel, the cross cables can be removed).
Taking it off the jig he then ran solder over the thing to make it look solid, if he accidently got solder in the cable guides he just punched them out with a hot needle.
The result looked solid, but would bend if hit and could just be tugged back up.
I am dreading doing the guard rails, I make a mess of them even on plastic kits, I might resort to buying them when it comes to it!
I've scratchbuilt everything so far and only three things are left to figure out. One is the cable rails. I may be able to make masters for resin casting or I may have to buy them. Another is the legs for the cable reels. The other is the smoke candles. That will probably be done by making a master and having them cast. Already have done the life rafts and they are available through R&J Enterprises (they have a website). Rafts are basic and you have to make the floor with styrene. Working on casting a new lifeboat now. It's been a long trip and the end is near, I hope!
Any ship larger than a Destroyer is a waste of metal.
middle_watch wrote:A guy at a model show told me his technique...
Ah! Now that's a good idea. Thanks - I'll log it for when the time comes! There is a paucity of fittings at 1/72nd scale, compared to the wealth of stuff the 1/96ers have.
True, but stanchions can be bought at 1/72, there is an ad in the back of Model Boat for a company that do them, I don't have a copy with me but will dig out the addres if want it. Also did portholes and watertight doors.
I am building an 1/72 Ratte by Modelcollect. That "landcruiser" needs railings not included in the kit. After some dilligent net browsing, I came up with this company which makes quality stanchions. Price ain't anything near steep, either.