Scratch-Building the Juanita's Miniature Brass Steering Sheaves​

One of the features that immediately caught our attention on the stern of the Juanita was the pair of steering sheaves used to guide the steering cables for the monkey rudders. Although they are very small components on the real vessel, they are highly visible on the finished model.

Rather than simplify them, my good modeler friend John decided to reproduce them almost exactly as they appear on the full-size boat.

The result is a pair of miniature brass sheaves that are truly little pieces of jewelry.

Studying the Prototype​

Everything began with careful study of the original fitting. Close-up photographs revealed that these were not ordinary pulleys but fabricated steel assemblies consisting of two side plates separated by four spacers with a grooved sheave mounted between them.

The challenge wasn't simply making something that looked similar—it was reproducing the construction in miniature.

Designing the Parts​

John first sketched the outline directly onto styrene to establish the exact geometry of the side plates.

Before cutting any brass, he built a simple positioning jig that would accurately locate each component during soldering. This small fixture proved to be one of the keys to the entire project.

Machining the Components​

The side plates were fabricated from brass sheet.

Tiny brass discs became the pulley sheaves.

Small brass tubing and rod formed the center bushing and spacer posts.

Every hole was drilled before final shaping to maintain perfect alignment.

Building the Assembly​

Using the alignment jig, the four spacer posts were soldered precisely between the two brass plates.

The sheave remained free to rotate while everything stayed perfectly square.

Working at this scale leaves almost no margin for error, so each part was repeatedly test-fitted before moving to the next operation.

Final Shaping​

After soldering, the assemblies were carefully filed, polished, and cleaned.

Small brass washers completed the detail while maintaining the correct spacing around the sheave.

Although each completed fitting measures only a few millimeters across, the finished appearance closely matches the full-size hardware.

Installed on the Model​

Once installed at the stern, these tiny brass assemblies become focal points of the steering mechanism.

Most people viewing the completed model will probably never realize how much work went into making these miniature fittings.

Model builders, however, will immediately appreciate the craftsmanship involved.

Special Thanks​

All credit for designing and fabricating these beautiful miniature brass steering sheaves belongs to my good friend John Wright.

His willingness to share not only the finished parts, but also the complete construction process, makes this hobby even more enjoyable. The simple alignment jig he devised is an excellent example of how thoughtful planning can transform an extremely difficult scratch-building project into one that is both accurate and repeatable.

Meet John.
A Craftsman Behind the Miniatures​

Before continuing with this build log, I'd like to introduce the gentleman responsible for many of the remarkable scratch-built components that have appeared throughout this project.

John has an extraordinary ability to look at a photograph of an original part, study its construction, and then reproduce it in miniature using nothing more than brass, patience, and an impressive amount of ingenuity. Whether it's miniature gears, working horns, steering hardware, tiny winches, or the beautiful steering sheaves featured in this update, his workmanship continually amazes me.

What makes John special isn't just his machining skills. He is always willing to explain how he solves a problem, share his techniques, and encourage other builders to try something they may have thought impossible. His willingness to pass along his knowledge is every bit as valuable as the parts he creates.

Many of the details that have brought my Juanita to life simply would not exist without his generous help and countless hours spent at his workbench.

John, thank you for your friendship, your generosity, and for allowing me to share your craftsmanship with the Ships of Scale community. It has been a privilege to learn from one of the finest model builders I have ever known.

— Julian Nodarse

New Catwalk Support and Sundeck Supports​

This is an update to the catwalk support that I posted some time ago.
The redesign was suggested by my good friend John, and after giving it some thought, I decided to follow his idea.
While making the new catwalk supports, I also fabricated matching sundeck supports using the same construction methods and materials.

The original kit supports are made from thin styrene, and unfortunately, a couple of them broke during handling.
Since these supports are rather exposed, I decided to replace them with something considerably stronger.

To create a permanent solution, I replaced them with supports fabricated from 2 mm × 5 mm × 120 mm brass strip, producing a much stronger and more durable assembly.

I also decided to make matching supports for the sundeck at the same time.

Step 1 — Original Kit Supports​

The original supports supplied with the kit are molded in thin styrene. They look fine once installed, but they are quite delicate and can easily be damaged while working around the model.

Step 2 — Planning the New Supports​

I decided to fabricate the replacements from 2 mm × 5 mm × 120 mm brass strip. The goal was to keep the appearance of the original supports while making them substantially stronger.

Step 3 — Fabricating the Side Plates​

Four small brass side plates were cut and prepared. These form the attachment points for the new supports.

Step 4 — Making the U-Shaped Supports​

The actual supports were formed from the 2 mm × 5 mm brass strip. I made a simple soldering jig to hold everything in the correct position while assembling the pieces.

Step 5 — Adding the Mounting Bar​

Once the U-shaped portions were completed, the mounting bar was soldered into place. This produced a much more rigid assembly than the original styrene parts.

Step 6 — Test Fitting​

Before painting, each support was test-fitted on the model to make sure the dimensions and angles were correct and that everything lined up properly with the catwalk and sundeck.

Step 7 — Painting​

After everything was completed and cleaned up, the brass assemblies were painted to match the surrounding structure.

Step 8 — Final Installation​

The new brass supports were then installed on the model. They are considerably stronger than the original kit parts, while still maintaining the appearance of the prototype.

I am especially happy with the way the sundeck supports turned out. Making them at the same time as the catwalk supports also gives the model a more consistent appearance.

Once again, thanks to John for the suggestion. Sometimes another builder looking at a problem from a different angle comes up with the best solution!

More progress to come on the Juanita.