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

[cnr6400]

  Hope Slim doesn't sneeze... nice scraper mod. 

[tghs]

made lots of wood swarf and profiled the rail to shape, made a shaped hardwood sanding block to complete the job, I'm going to be so happy not to deal with white oak for a while 

[crueby]

Looking great, though Slim has worked his fingers to the bone again!

[tghs]

filled the hull over, using a syringe with a large needle filled the hull to fender seam where needed with tinted epoxy..

[cnr6400]

 

[tghs]

looking at what to use for steering cable.. would like to keep with a metal cable but worried about the tight radius of the steering drum.. any ideas?  suggestions..  a direct scale size would be 1/16" inch..

[cnr6400]

There used to be aircraft braided stainless cables / wire ropes down to about .032 " diameter, just FYI. Aircraft Spruce was one vendor The .032 dia cable would wrap on a .75" to 1" drum diameter as I recall. McMaster Carr carry some .047" cable and recommend 1" min drum diameter for it. They also have .062" cable / wire rope and recommend 1 to 2" dia drum min. Maybe stainless steel fishing leaders would be smaller / could use a smaller drum. If the drum needs to be real small, maybe plastic high test fishing line might work. Just food for thought. 

[crueby]

I second the braided stainless  cable, lots of sizes available,  quite flexible in  smaller diameter.  I have started using it to replace universals and dogbones on some of my rc models. Small sizes and lengths available  from fishing tackle stores, larger stuff from ebay or amazon, they sell it for railings and hangers.


To cut, I  put it on a metal block and use a cold chisel, one sharp hammer strike and it cuts clean without unravelling like it would with a saw.


If its under tension both ends, you can use thinner braided cable than if you are doing push and pull from one end.


What diameter would look right? I can check what I have  for bending radius.

[tghs]

the cable scales out to 1/16" inch the steering drum is around 1" daimeter

[crueby]

I've got some 3/16 braided that easily bends around a 1.5" diameter, and some .035 that you can wrap around a finger with no effort. A 1/16 version would go pretty tight, less than 1" diameter bends very easily.  If there is a sporting goods store near you go look at their steel leader lines, they have braided ones.

Another option: they make brass cable for clocks. I've used it in a wall clock to hold the drive weight. Here is their 1/16 brass cable:
https://timesavers.com/i-8946371-1-16-brass-cable-x-11-foot-roll.html
They have lots of other sizes and also in steel.

https://timesavers.com/c-325852-clock-repair-replacement-parts-cable-cord-rope-for-weights-cable-guards-gut-related.html

[Mike R]

Stainless steel Fishing wire leader would be my choice for the win.  Also available in "CAMO" which makes it look pre-rusted (more authentic than a bright silver cable).  170lb test is 0.033" diameter and 30' is just $8. 
https://www.afwfishing.com/products/parent_Surfstrand_Bare_1x7_Stainless_Steel_Leader_Wire.asp?childskumatch=

[crueby]

Aha - just found where I had the spool of 1/16" braided cable, it was in the top of my toolbox, out in plain sight, right where I'd never see it. 

It wraps around my finger with little effort. Got a whole spool of the stuff, want some? It would mail in a padded envelope no problem.

[tghs]

thats great to know, I will need about 12ft though..

[crueby]

Its a 100 foot spool, plenty!

[tghs]

sent you a PM