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Titanic Display Base Question...

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  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Greenville, NC
Posted by jtilley on Monday, July 31, 2006 10:42 AM

There are all sorts of ways to mount a ship model.  Some modelers modify lamp finials, which you can buy at places like Lowe's or, if you have one in your neighborhood, a lamp repair shop.  There are two problems with that approach.  One - you usually have to modify the finial in some way, by chopping the top off and/or drilling the hole the rest of the way through.  (It probably will come with a threaded hole in the bottom.  Two - lamp finials look like lamp finials.  My guess is that most of them are pretty tall for the job of mounting a Titanic model.

You might want to check out the mounting pedestals made especially for ship models.  Two good sources are Bluejacket (www.bluejacketinc.com) and Model Expo (www.modelexpoonline.com).  Most such pedestals are designed for sailing ship models; they have grooves in the tops to accommodate the models' keels.  It wouldn't be hard, though, to hacksaw the top off the pedestal and file it smooth.

When it comes to baseboards, you have lots of options.  If you know somebody who has a router, and have access to a source of nice hardwood (such as walnut, mahogany, or cherry), maybe you can talk that person into making you a baseboard with a nice, decorative edge.  Here are a couple of sources for good-looking hardwood boards:  www.woodcraft.com and www.rockler.com .

Model Expo and Bluejacket sell pre-routed baseboards, though they're a little on the expensive side. and the variety of sizes is limited.

Your biggest problem, if the model is almost finished, may be figuring out a way to fasten it onto the pedestals firmly.  The best way to approach that problem is to worry about it while you still have access to the hull; you can either epoxy a piece of wood inside the bottom of the hull or mount a couple of sturdy nuts in it, to receive bolts coming up through the pedestals.  I'm not familiary enough with the kit to suggest how best to mount the hull when it's already put together, but I'm sure there's a way to do it.

There's no rule that says the model has to be mounted on pedestals.  Lots of very handsome liner models are mounted on keel blocks - a row of hardwood blocks, spaced fairly closely together, suggesting (though not literally representing) the keel blocks in a drydock.  That method lets you epoxy the model firmly down to the blocks; for a model that's almost done and doesn't have any internal mounting mechanism, that might be worth thinking about.

Hope that helps a little.  Good luck.

Youth, talent, hard work, and enthusiasm are no match for old age and treachery.

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Mansfield, TX
Posted by EdGrune on Monday, July 31, 2006 10:32 AM

 piflo1 wrote:
I am working on a Minicraft Titanic.  I would like to know what is used for the display "pegs".  Someone told me to use a piece from a lamp???   Not sure which piece that would be.  It is something I can buy at a hardware store like Lowes?  Also, I am having trouble finding a display base.  The only thing I can find it a shelf but the wood is flat on the back side.  (The side that would go against the wall)  Thanks everyone!

The lamp part that you want is called a finial.   It is the decorative knob which goes on top of the "harp" and attaches the shade to the lamp.   The item on the left is a 1" tall finial which I purchased at the local Ace hardware.   The next is the finial with the top knob cut off and a through hull drilled.   The next item is a lampshade riser, and the last item is a riser with the threaded piece cut and a through hole drilled.    The threading on the riser is 1/4-28 (NF).  If you want to use a lampshade riser without cutting the threaded part you will have to check the non-standard nut & bolt bins - as a typical 1/4 inch bolt is coarse threaded at 20 threads per inch (1/4-20)

I have found that Lowes & Home Depot carry fancy finials with jewels or castings, but not the plain turned ones like I got at the Ace.   Lowes & Home Depot do carry the lampshade risers in a 2 per pack  bliater card.

Do you have access to wood working tools?   While at Lowes check their stock of oak boards.   They will cut a piece to length for you (you do need to buy the whole board though).   Sand the board with some sandpaper to knock over the edges.  .    If you have access to a router, you can rout some decorative edges on the board.   Go to the paint section.   Get some stain for the wood and some varnish.   Minwax makes both - and their spray clear gloss polyurethane varnish is good and easy to use. 

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: arizona
Posted by cthulhu77 on Monday, July 31, 2006 9:41 AM

There are many different brass turned posts available, you might want to check out a smaller store, like Ace or a local electrical place.

  Do you have any photos of bases that you like (from other modelers) ?

                greg

http://www.ewaldbros.com
  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Mooresville, NC
Titanic Display Base Question...
Posted by piflo1 on Monday, July 31, 2006 9:12 AM
I am working on a Minicraft Titanic.  I would like to know what is used for the display "pegs".  Someone told me to use a piece from a lamp???   Not sure which piece that would be.  It is something I can buy at a hardware store like Lowes?  Also, I am having trouble finding a display base.  The only thing I can find it a shelf but the wood is flat on the back side.  (The side that would go against the wall)  Thanks everyone!

Bryan
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