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Written by Andrzej Stefanski
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Sunday, 21 January 2007 |
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Quite seldom but it does happen that when we build our model we need wooden blocks that are of different shape or size. And have to choose to buy those which do not really fit the scale or shape or to build them yourself!I face that issue when building my model of carrack. There was nothing else to do but to start working.
Very important is to choose right material, the best would be boxwood but since I did not have one pear wood would had to be just as good. Pear seems to be ideal for such small items because of its characteristics and easiness to work with being relatively hard at the same time. I think for items like blocks, deadeyes and other small accessories all fruit trees will be good because of their hardness and density. Working with fruit wood is not difficult at all once you have proper sharp tools.
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I prepared pear wood plank 4 x 2 mm where I marked with pencil my blocks, their heights are 5 mm. I drilled through 0.7 mm holes. Of course holes’ positions match the pattern from the plans. |
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Having drilled holes from the front I drilled also from the side. |
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Now with help of sandpaper I get initial shape of the block. Only few moves on the sandpaper and our block start to appear.
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Now I cut out my block and continue with others until I have all needed for my model. Cutting off technique can be anything I personally use small sharp knife, but of course fret saw or other saw can be used.
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So blocks with their initial shapes are cut out, now it is time to finish them off. I hold blocks with tweezers, blocks are small and fingers big plus it would be waste of fingers, they can still be used for something else.
Imitating the sheaves was the most problematic for me, I was thinking for a long time how to do it well. The solution in the end was trivial. But step by step.
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With Dremel power tool I delicately drill and trace under different angles starting with 90 degrees and gradually reduce the angle until desired effect is achieved. This activity could have been done with proper wood cutter/milling bit 0.7 mm but since I did not have one I had to improvise with normal 0.7 drilling bit. Block’s groove is around 0.3 mm deep. Arduous and time consuming work but the effect overwhelmed me!
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Proper finishing touch can make the difference to final effect so I really concentrated on this last step. All blocks have rounded edges and axles. Axles were made of bamboo drawn through steel plate (bought here at the shop), and then were put into ebony stain. Those wooden 0.7mm nails, axles nicely absorbed the stain and look like real iron axles on tall ships. Finally I painted all blocks with linseed oil.
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Now the most pleasant moment I believe we hang the blocks on our model!
With above methods I have built all blocks for my model of carrack. The method is not very innovative and perhaps known to many but nevertheless I decided to share it with others. If this method becomes useful to someone I will be very pleased.
Andrzej Stefanski (“Stefan”)
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 23 December 2007 )
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