30ft 1890's navy steam launch 1/6th scale

[tghs]

started "welding" on the hinge lugs.. they will get cut, shaped and drilled.. my 4" x4" casting cylinder arrived will have to have a tab welded on the side as neither of my tongs will work around it safely.. thinking the tab and a vise-grips will work fine..

[tghs]

a little early morning wax shaping and drilling,, a bit more fine work and it's ready for investment..

[crueby]

Great!  Now I understand  why you are casting it!  Pretty sturdy wax to stand up like that.   

[tghs]

it can be carved, sawn and machined, as long as the tools are sharp and you don't let things get warm.. almost like a soft plastic.. but the little hand tool lets you weld parts together,, melting point is around 250f so it can't be steam melted before the kiln,, hoping I can relearn this skill might be a nice side gig when I retire in a little more than a year from now!! no one seems to casting brass boat fittings  in larger scales these days..

[tghs]

a small bit of brass master work tis morning,, down in the jewelry range again..

[crueby]

Slim's thought: I SWEAR I just saw it move...

Great looking parts!

[Kim]

Very nice, Tghs!  Looking forward to seeing the foundry work here!

Kim

[cnr6400]

 

[tghs]

and another small brass master,, stand-offs for 3/16" ths pipe,, basically for the whistle and safety valve pipes that get mounted to the stack,,  I left the base flat but it will be formed to match the curve in the wax parts..  Slim says he wants his own opti-visor..

[cnr6400]

  Might need to cut up a car tire for some spacers so the Optivisor's band fits Slim's noggin securely...

[crueby]

Turn Slim a loupe from brass, wire or twisty tie to hold it to his head! He might get annoyed if you run the wire through his ears though...

[tghs]

getting started on making molds..

[crueby]

Details! Need Details!  Is that wax you are pressing them into? Release agent needed?

[tghs]

silicone compatible modeling clay,, (micromark) mold compound poured directly on top, no release needed until the clay is removed and the other layer of mold compound is poured,

[tghs]

wax casting day,, added injection holes and vents to the mold top.. double boiler and my poor-man's wax injector.. now some trimming and the parts will be ready for mounting to a common sprue..