Hi all,

I have a favor to ask. The IJN Maya PE set required a significant amount of modification to the kit provided masts. Well it has left the mast weak and lacking in my opinion. I am looking to replace the kit masts with a fabricated brass mast but have never attempted something like this, so any advice you might have including the material and process you follow would be very helpful.

I appreciate any informtion you can provide.

Dave

Hi Dave

I agree, kit styrene masts are for show and serve no function at all having not the strength to hold rigging, nor maintaining a round shaper after the seams have been removed.

I tend to replace all kit masts where I can. Preferably with brass rod and tube, sometimes styrene rod or tube and sometimes a combo of both.

You needn't spend a lot on this either and avoid the AM sets. To get tapers, simply fit a brass rod into a power drill and hold it against some sanding paper to get the desired taper. Other methods to build tapers are using differing tube diameters and building them up by sleeving. Tim Reygana is the master of building up differing tube diameters in the sleeve method.

For adhesives, solder works great on the larger diameter brass, but for the smaller diameters you may find 2 part epoxy works best.

I'd upload some pics, but the gallery seems to be offline at this moment.

For specialist shapes like on the liberty ship I did, you can have brass rod turned down-you'll need access to a lathe for this though

Lastly, when you mount the masts to the ship, use a 2 part epoxy resin as CA will not provide the strength required.

Hope the gallery's up soon and i'll put some pics in.

Hope this helps
Russ

Russell,

That's great information. I think I am going to tackle a new brass mast this weekend and will follow your guidance. Looking forward to seeing the pics in the gallery

I just picked up a clue of tubes of two part epoxy too.

Thanks again

Dave

Good to hear, Dave

making your own masts really changes the way you can rig ships for the better.

Hopefully the 'tech team' can get the gallery up and running soon mate.

Hi Dave

the gallery's back up!

First up, here's how I prepare brass rod for soldering or gluing

and here's how I hold the pieces while I solder/glue. Note, blue tack melts, so if it's close to the join, use clamps!

kit parts from the Liberty

vs brass rod vs plastic

and assembled

note, these masts were turned on a lathe from brass rod.
Some more brass replacements. These were made by soldering different diameters together.


hope this helps!

Russell,

Thanks for the pictures and the tutorial. It will come in handy when I tackle my first brass mast. The Maya brass is pretty uniform so that will help too. I don't have a lathe but your work on turning brass is impressive

Thanks again

Dave

Hi Dave

there's a great book by David Griffith called, Ship Models from Kits, and he does a much better job explaining how to replace kit masts. Highly recommended!

PS. I don't have a lathe either-these were turned up by a mate for me

Russell,

Thanks for the reference recommendation. I am alws in the market for good references.

Ahh, having a mate with a lathe is always good.

thanks brother

Dave