Hand Made - Fittings ....Are Easy!

And You don't need - a Metal Lathe Or Milling Machine, "But If You Got One - Their Sure Nice!"

    However mine is the 7" x 10" Mini - Lathe from Homier.com and exactly the same unit sold by Harbor Freight, except mine is a different color.    These things will work = Metal, Brass & Aluminum, including Plastic & Hard Woods too!    And until recently, I used to hand-make most every part for my scale models, but naturally - I've improved my skills - as I went along too.    So turning parts - by hand, or using my old electric drill, clamped in a bench vice, I shaped lots of things with my old Dremel tool - in the past.    Plastic rod - for example, which I use to make some very small parts, was a long drawn out process..    Until I finally bought the mini - metal shop lathe, and still learning to use the darn thing, but I'm getting better.    But  I bought this thing, when "Homier Tools" visited my area with one of thier big "2 - Day Truckload Sales.    And after I checked their prices and compared it - to others sources that sld the same model = I bought it!    Check'um out at www.homier.com , the price is bargain, the lowest that I could find on these tings, outside of used ones.    I bought the Homier, and a even considered the ones that Harbor Freight = for example, sells, which is the very same unit for a much higher price - mind you.    As it turns out, mine cost me - $369.00 at Homier and that was a real Bargain.    But Harbor Freight - also sells a wider assortment of mini - metal Lathe & vertical Milling Machine - TOOLS and parts for mini lathes.    So I ordered additional stuff for my lathe - From Them and it all evened out - I guess.    I'm a total novice - at this thing too, so I have to learn and now I'm looking for somebody to teach me a few tricks on how to run it.    "Yeah Guys, even Ole River Bill - needs some help - SOMETIMES!"        

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Hand Carving - Parts

using an Electric Drill ... Bench - Vice & Dremel Tool and Bitts!

Scratch Building parts = Air Horns, Bitts, D-Rings, Buttons & Roller Chocks - for Barges &  Workboats and Other Models.

    Whether made from Wood, Plastic, or Metal, you can carve parts and fittings - like these, learning to shape them to scale sizes, with some patience and practice.    Basic Tools - Needed = Bench Vice & Work Table, Hobby Saw, Or Dremel Tool & Cutting Wheels and Bitts, Electric - Hand Drill, Sandpaper and Xacto Knife.    Or a Shop Wood turning - Lath, to turn parts of any size, with carving tools.    Materials = Plastic / Wood  & Metal materials in varied sizes  = Rods / Tubing & Dowel wood, plus some Plastruct materials in various shapes = L's /  Angles / C -Channel & I-Beam Stock.

Examples of - Bitts, Chocks, Kevels, D-Rings & More!

Tap Drawing To Enlarge

    Simply save this drawing to a file on your pc, or print the enlarged drawing - as you wish! ..... compliments of Old River - Bill!

     If you can insert a short strip of dowel wood or plastic rod into a drill chuck, tighten it down and pull the trigger .... "You can make rather neat looking fittings!"    For example, lets say you need a set of "AIR HORNS" .... Just carve their shapes into the material, mounted into your drill - chuck, by using a "Dremel Tool" and Dremel Bitts to shape it.    While its clamped in the drill and the drill is clamped in your bench vice, you can slowly shape the parts needed, using sandpaper to finish them after their cut to shapes needed.    And take advantage of the many bitts that come with a "Dremel Tool" also, they easily shape small parts with some practice.    Copy or save these drawings and build them - in whatever scale you may need, by enlarging them on your pc & printer .... compliments of Old River - Bill!

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Working - Deck Winches

    This diagram shows - two methods, of making a Deck Winch - actually Work.    Increasing the interesting details on a model, when you flip a switch, and the winch slowly - tightens up those loose lines!"    Usually the first comment from onlookers, is  something like - "How The Hell Didja = Do Dat?"

Tap Drawing to Enlarge

     ( Top Example - In Drawing ) works by using a small dc motor & gear drive to power the winch lines.    ( Bottom Example ) uses a very simple system of "Rubber Bands" that stretch to tighten the winch - lines.    I prefer not to operate winches - via the R/C Radio, due to radio RF -  interference.    Which can actuate a winch system - unexpectedly, and damage it, or the boat or whatever your towing.    Here, if the winch is to be electrically powered, I prefer to simply hide its controls, someplace on the model ( like - inside a Door or Hatchway ), where I can easily operate them manually - by hand.    Using a Small 9 volt battery as their power source - for example, which is easy, with a 3-way switch.    Meaning a switch that has Off Position - in the Middle, with In / Out functions applied to its other two terminals!

    NOTE - On some large - Towboats, there may be as many as 6 to 8 different - Deck Winches.    So you may have to make several different types of Deck Winches, to insure the model is true in every detail.    And sometimes boats use combinations of "Hand Operated" winches, along with Electric or Electric / Hydraulic - versions of winch systems.

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Two Types of "Hand Operated" - Winches

used on Towboats & Barges too!

    Depending on required scale - which these are built, you may find the "Hand Wheel" is easily obtained from parts left over from some past "HO - Model Railroad project" or from some Lionel or Garden - Scale parts?    Here also, some model boat fittings parts suppliers, may offer the correct scale - Hand Wheel, for your to add - in building these for a model boat or barge.

Tap Photos to Enlarge

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The Electric Powered - Deck Winch

Tap Photos to Enlarge

    Colors commonly used on winches, are BLACK & RED.    But on Barges, they can be pained the same color as the decks, so take note of this in your detailing.    I've also seen the Wheel Control - of the winch, painted bright "Yellow" and danger or cauton yellow or white painted lines around the winch on the deck.    These painted caution lines, just indicate to crewmen, where they should avoid walking, whenever the winch is in operation, or its lines are taught for safety.

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The Hydraulic / Electric Powered - Deck Winch

Tap Photo to Enlarge

Generally, Small boats use electric powered = Deck Winches, and larger boats use these Hydraulic / Electric - versions, but occasionally you even find them on small towboats like the Tender, harbor or Trip Boat - for example.    Their very powerful, probably the most powerful system available for such small units, so their use is commonplace on many types of vessels - even self propelled barges - Sometimes!    

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Make A Working - Capstan Winch

Or this idea can be used for a "Gear Drive" for Models, like Cranes & Lifeboat - Booms & Sail Winches too

Gear Ratio's used & Types of Gears chosen are optional to the builder!

Tap Drawing to Enlarge

    This drawing shows the drive system, used to operate a radar.    But with a few added parts = extra gears to slow it down further, it could function as a drive for a Sail Winch.    If it was built with a switching system, to be driven in either = Reverse or Forward.    And in some cases, you might even be able to make a miniature drive, by using a standard = Servo.    Here, an old Servo, with its Motor & Drive which has had its electronics' = gutted, will easily make a drive for a Capstan Winch or can be used in other applications.    Easily powered by a small 9 volt battery ( or pair of them ), or with the models - main battery.    Note wiring diagram shows a switch to provide both directions = controls, with Off = Located in the center position of the 3 position switch.    NOTE .... A lot of the parts needed here, can be obtained from Radio Shack or other Electronics' Parts suppliers, even the gears to - in some cases!    

    Special Notes ..... This simple system could be enlarged in numbers of gears, to make this a system for a Working - Deck Crane's, needed Boom & Cable Drives too.    Which could be easily operated via R/C - if you desired, making a very neat looking - Operational Crane with its own effects.  The system depending upon needs for the Crane, would operate the Cab, swing it Left or Right, or the raise or lower - the Boom, or feed the Boom Cables - In or Out.    Depending on how realistic you wanted make the model crane operate!

I'll Add More - Later, so check back Often

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Last Updated On 07/01/07 . With Fueled By

Email Old River Bill