The Ship Model Forum

I've begun a scratch build where the main ingredient is brass. I want to avoid adhesives, plastics, and wood entirely. I may resort to copper and pewter on some pieces that require delicate shaping, or in rigging situations. The project itself is in 1/160 scale.

One idea I have is to cut brass or copper tubing in half (grinding if necessary) and using a guillotine type cutter, though I'm not sure what I'll find out there that would cut without mashing the stock.

Another is to use a pipe cutter and make many little rings which I'd then cut in half. Many little rings...

Other than that, I haven't thought of any others that didn't send tiny little crescents of brass flying about the room.

Am I missing something obvious? Anyone got a method they'd care to share?

Thanks in advance!

For smaller scales, I've seen others just wrap some wire around a core, then cut that now-curved wire in half along the core's length so you're left with a bunch of crescents. Imagine a spring coil, and you cut right down it on opposite sides.

That's an excellent idea!
I'll definitely try it. Might have to liberate some speaker wire and see how that works.

Thanks!

Gazza S

I can confirm that this process works well, certainly up to 1/48th scale.
Obviously you choose the correct diameter of brass or copper wire for your chosen scale. If it is annealed first then when it is wrapped around the correct size of drill bit shank it will stay that size rather than springing outwards and enlarging (if that makes sense).
On larger scale models it is possible to source square section wire which looks better, but round section will be fine at small scales.
With this method I think you stand a much better chance of producing consistently accurate eyebrows than trying to part them off a tube section.
Good luck.

Thank you for that, sir. I'm looking forward to trying it once I get my hull form done. I reckon portholes, eyebrows, and all of the necessary alignments will prove to be a tough task.

I really enjoyed your thread on V105. Wonderful work!