1/350 DML USS Livermore screw up

Allen109

Member since
October 2004
From: NE Oklahoma

1/350 DML USS Livermore screw up

Posted by Allen109 on Thursday, February 27, 2014 2:16 PM

Alright,I messed up.Bad.

In my attempt to drill out the supports for the prop shafts(cause I wanted to replace the shafts with metal that wasn't warped,versus trying to straighten the plastic ones) I managed to blow out the the plastic with the drill bit I was using.

I went to my LHS in a attempt to find metal tubing that would work,and am currently looking at plastic replacements. Finding a matching inner diameter isn't a problem,but all the outer dimensions are too large.

Already missed my deadline for fixing this in time for our local contest.

Any ideas?

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ddp59

Member since
April 2005

Posted by ddp59 on Thursday, February 27, 2014 4:52 PM

if inner diameter is correct but outside is to big then turn it down with a coarse file & a drill to be used as a lathe. did that for the capstans on my 1/426 pennsylvania rebuild.

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GMorrison

Member since
September 2012

Posted by GMorrison on Thursday, February 27, 2014 4:56 PM

One thing you could try.

Extruded plastic shapes will keep their shape when you heat and stretch them. Square rod stays square, tubes stay tubes etc.

Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

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Don Stauffer

Member since
November 2009
From: Twin Cities of Minnesota

Posted by Don Stauffer on Friday, February 28, 2014 9:12 AM

Why do the shafts have to be tubing? Why not rod? Piano/music wire is a good color for shafts and comes in a lot of sizes.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

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Phil_H

Member since
August 2005
From: Sydney, Australia

Posted by Phil_H on Friday, February 28, 2014 9:34 AM

Don, I believe he's talking about the strut/support for the prop shaft, which needs to be hollow, not the shaft itself.

Allen, check out the listing here http://store.spruebrothers.com/category_s/2053.htm and look under the description "micro brass tube" to see if there's a suitable size.

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Allen109

Member since
October 2004
From: NE Oklahoma

Posted by Allen109 on Friday, February 28, 2014 10:53 AM

Don, I believe he's talking about the strut/support for the prop shaft, which needs to be hollow, not the shaft itself.

Phil_H- Exactly. The shafts will be metal rod; I'm using piano wire(?) that is .047 inches.

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Allen109

Member since
October 2004
From: NE Oklahoma

Posted by Allen109 on Friday, February 28, 2014 10:53 AM

I will be checking those out.

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GMorrison

Member since
September 2012

Posted by GMorrison on Friday, February 28, 2014 1:34 PM

Thing about piano wire is it's steel, so it will rust if you don't clean it and clear coat it.

Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

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Allen109

Member since
October 2004
From: NE Oklahoma

Posted by Allen109 on Friday, February 28, 2014 3:36 PM

GMorrison- Even if I paint over it? The hull red I'm using is Tamiya (acrylic).

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tankerbuilder

Member since
August 2008

Posted by tankerbuilder on Sunday, March 2, 2014 3:45 PM

Allen .

It's been my experience that the shafts were painted with primer and the same color as the ships bottom , OR they were steel with a sprayed on anti-corrosive .Tamiya paints Don't work well as a primer on steel .