Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length.

[Shipmate60]

I have been talking to some modellers who shy away from James lane Guardrails as they are unsure about how to fit them.
As I am fitting some  I thought I would take some pics as I went and post on here.
There are several ways of fitting these stanchions, this is how I fit them to a semi-completed model of a well worked warship. HMS Belfast.

These are the tools you will require plus a soldering iron that suits you but no more than about 20 watts.

[Shipmate60]

I use the 0.8 mm drill supplied by the company to drill the holes.
The holes on this model are in the original holes for the Brass Etched stanchions that were fitted, so no comments about the spacing from the deck edge please  :)
After the holes are drilled I place as many full length stanchions as I can in them.

[Shipmate60]

Next trim the other stanchions to fit all the holes.
It doesnt look tidy yet but that doesnt matter.

[Shipmate60]

Now comes the clever bit.
Uncoil some of the coiled wire and measure the length roughly.
I put one end in a vice and hold the free end in a pair of pliers and pull it straight.
You will feel it "give" as you exceed its elastic limit.
This produces a straight piece of wire, which remains straight.
Carefully remove from vice or other pair of pliers and trim the ends, I file one end into a small point.
Now thread this through the top hole in the stanchion length.

[Shipmate60]

I then "paint" the top rail with Bakers Fluid and solder each stanchion to the guardrail, this produces quite a rigid rail.
The white plastic is a height gauge to ensure the rails all the same height.
On an older model I solder the stanchions  while lining up by eye, for the more purists you can use a set square.
Stretch some more wire cut to size and fit the lower 2 rails, you can solder or superglue these in place.

[Shipmate60]

Just clean up the rails with a file or emery and good solid rails.
I personally dont glue the rails to the deck, just in case I need to replace them, but I have had some of these knocked flat to the deck and straightened them out again.
This process doesnt take that long as I did the stbd foredeck this afternoon, some 75 stanchions.

Just hope this helps someone   :)

Bob

[Shipmate60]

Clive,
I have just bought a small container of Bakers Fluid No3 from my local hardware shop, and he still stocks lead solder too!!

Bob

[HS93 (RIP)]

Chronos do bakers no 3 via mail order.   Peter

http://www.chronos.ltd.uk/acatalog/Chronos_Catalogue_Soldering___Brazing_Accessories_271.html

[John W E]

The stanchions Bob used in his build - come from

JAMES LANE (Dispay Models)
30 Broadway
Blyth
Northumberland
NE24 2PP