Soldering try it you'll like it LOL.
You will get the ladder right.
Rick

I tried soldering photo etched parts recently. Of course, I was immediately disadvantaged as it was part of a Dean's kit.
I ended up using super glue. Some sticky fingers but much better than my soldering attempts.
I've used super glue on several occasions and have always been successful.
Worth a try in the future Ed?

Steve

Try soldering on scrap pieces Ed. If soldering small wire, I would recommend an 18 or 25 watt iron. If larger, say 3mm, then 40 to 60 watts is better. Clean the parts to be soldered well with abrasive paper. Use a good quality flux and lightly tin both parts if practical. Place iron on the joint to give sufficient heat and add the solder very carefully as it is easy to add too much. Try to ensure the whole joint area is hot or the solder will not flow properly. It really is down to practice, but I agree, it is fun to do. Don`t forget to clean and flux the iron tip as well as the joint and the solder.

What can I say Ed. Makes up for all the breaking filament and the horrible smells.
Very well done!

Steve

BRAVO ZULU Ed👍
Great! Now you can have marimba music on board😀
Break out the Havana rum chaps, Splice the Mainbrace😋
😎

Hi Steve,

They came out better than what I thought they would!👍

Cheers, Ed

Hi Doug,

That's right!
Now, all I have to do is bring out a Stogie for Cuba! LOL!

Cheers, Ed

They are Magic Ed, you should have a word with Stephen, and get some made to buy in the shop, especially if you can make them to any scale.👍👍👍


Cheers, Pete

Just don't forget to print the marimba band though Ed
"Shrimp boats (and Ed's tug😉) are a coming, there's dancing tonight"😁
😎

Excellent idea Pete👍
Put me down for four at 1/35 please😊
😎

Hi Pete,

That's an excellent idea!
Not, sure I could sell them!
I printed them from a Thingyverse file!

I don't think I could charge for them!
But, I wouldn't mind making some money!!!!!

I'll even thro in the pallet! LOL!

Cheers, Ed

They look great Ed.
Well done.

Martin555.

Thanks Martin,

I try!

Cheers, Ed

Well done Ed. They look really good.👍

"I don't think I could charge for them!" can't see why not Ed, I used to own a crafting shop, and sold rubber stamps and the like for making greetings cards, but it was OK for the customers to use said stamps for images and sell them, so I don't see that you have a problem, thingyverse is available world wide, so I don't envisage them knocking on your door for license fee's😊

Cheers, Pete

I'm sure after painting and set up they will look great.
Rick

Hi Ed,
You will probably find doing something different for a while will give you renewed energy.

Martin555.

Its all these White wires Ed .
Cheers Marky👍

Hi Marky,

It's like a bowl of Spaghetti's! LOL!

Cheers, Ed

PS. Eventually I'll get to it!

Just a few more day to go!
While I learn this new 3D printing thing!

I have thought of working on the Smit.
But, It's not time yet!

That's why I say just a few more days to go, LOL!

This will prove to be a dangerous move. I know this as I now have four models in progress. I WILL finish one soon. Maybe.

Hi Ed,

I’ve never used Arduino, but I think it is a good choice if you are new to programming control systems. Once you get into it there are so many things you would be able to add to you Smit. I think you should go for it, but start with something easy, like controlling the lights.

Graham93

Not sure how to connect arduino boards to boats & controllers, but this was my last arduino project 😎 so if you get stuck with coding!...

Stephen

Musical Light Show Christmas Tree - Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

▶️

Hi Graham93,

Thanks,

That exactly what I'd like to do!
Control the running lights!

But, first I've got to learn it!
The Arduino that is!

Cheers, Ed

Hi Stephen,

I remember when you showed it to me!
Very good project!

I didn't know you used an Arduino!
To control your Christmas tree!

Very good, I hope to control the lights in my Smit!

Cheers, Ed

Hi Ed,

I can't find the link right now - some guys have been using Arduino in F14/F16 as the multi channel decoder - I am pretty cetain the encoder as well.

I will see if I can find the web links

What type of things do you want to achieve/control with Arduino in your model?

Regards
Jonathan

I've tried and "bounced off" microcontrollers. I might try again...Arduino offers a lot of bolt on goodies - at a rapidly increasing price. But its a matter of time. As an example, assume I have 5 channels available, each of which controls one light or device. But some combinations may be unrealistic.
So I reckon that a state machine is an option. Have as many different lights and radars to turn as you wish. But then define say 16 combinations (states) that are realistic for you.
The parts exist to use 4 channels as a binary address. That's 8+4+2+1 and a zero, making 16. The Fifth channel, when clicked, memorises the count selected on the 4 channels..that defines one of the 16 states.
You can then also use the 4 channels again to control 4 items more, individually, provided you leave the select switch Ch5 alone.
And if you want to change anything you add or take away a wire.
In a way, you are programming without the programmer. My father loved to twiddle switches, and this sort of setup would have even kept him happy.

Thinking of learning Arduino Ed could be a big task, especially if your intention, is only to use it in the Smit, but if you intend to use it further, I'm sure Martin will help you with the task.😐

Cheers, Pete

I think taking your time will turn out well for you as making the model do what you want is your objective.
Rick

Hi Jonathan,

Thanks for looking for the link!
I'm definitely interested!

I'm actually not sure yet.
Of what I'd like to control!
Lights for starters!

But, The sky is the limit!

Cheers, Ed

PS. Please try to find the Link?

Thanks, SeamanCook

Anything is possible!

Cheers, Ed

Hi Pete,

Thanks, I'm going to have to use a lot of grey matter!
But, I'm sure I'll be able to achieve what I want!

Cheers, Ed

Hi Ed,

Do you still have the Robbe encoder/decoder that failed to work?

I remember I got additional grey hairs when I played with them a few years back - a basic fundamental of how they work is "odd" I seem to remember and can leave you with the impression they don't work!!

If you still have them I'll back track and find my workings and post it here.

You can still buy encoders/decoders from a company called Wetronic

https://wetronic.nl/multiswitches

Learning Arduino from scratch to be able to use in your model boats is a fun subject. However there is unlikely to be much that you want to do that others have not done before and published their code on the net.

A good way to learn is to get a grip of the basics:
1. How to use the IDE (the software where you write code - a simple text editor environment)
2. How to upload code to the Arduino board

Rarely do I start with a blank canvas - you normally find a set of code that achieves close to what you want and then tweek around the edges.

For example if I want to use a GPS device - I "include" someone else's code in the form of a reusable library to catch the GPS data the GPS hardware spits out in the form of NEMA sentences, parse it to extract the values and then work with those values in my program.

The net result is I can access meaningful GPS values in my code without having to do any work to get them from the GPS hardware.

I have been programming for 40 odd years but if I was given the GPS hardware and needed to write my own code to achieve the same result as above I would struggle.

For example connecting the Arduino to a RC receiver is simple.

The code to achieve reading the channel values is simple in principle but tricky in coding terms.

But you don't need to worry about it as it's been done by others and refined to a slick solution(s). You simply include their chunk of code in your program and build on the channel values it outputs to do your stuff - switch things on/off etc

Have a look at this link - remember all you are interested in is the output from the code - "my radio control receiver channnel values"..

https://ryanboland.com/blog/reading-rc-receiver-values

The concept of hacking(building on) open source code / reusing code & prewritten code libraries to interface to hardware is what it's all about...

Regards
Jonathan

https://wetronic.nl/multiswitches

🔗

https://ryanboland.com/blog/reading-rc-receiver-values

🔗

Hi Jonathon,

Thanks, But I sent them back!
To where I had purchased them from!
As, Try as I could!
Couldn't get them to work!
I even had some of the knowledgeable guys on here.
Help me with the setup!

But, nothing worked at all!
So, I sent them back!
And was given a full refund!

I was toying around with the idea of using an Arduino!
But, I've spent enough time on the Smit build!

I may not use it after all!

Maybe I'm over thinking.
What I want to achieve on the Smit build!

Cheers, Ed

Hi G6SWJ:
Is this what you meant when you talked about starting with Arduino?
The post is very interesting ... I download it

Ron here...you had any pond time?

Good planning on not using the coils but buying lengths instead.

Hi Ed,

If you find you are running out of the brass rod you can straighten the coil by wrapping one end around some pliers and standing on them and then wrap the other end around another pair of pliers and gently pull up until the brass is straight then cut of the ends.

Martin555.

Hi Ed,
How did the LED tests go?
Which you wanted to do 'tomorrow 6 days ago'?
Or did the alligators eat the LEDs?😮
Funny! Thought you were in Connecticut not Florida😁

BTW to straighten out brass (or copper) wire from a coil -
I clamp one end in the vice, cut off the length I need plus some,
then hold the the free end in a large pair of pliers (or small Mole Grip) and give it a few sharp tugs. Then hold it under tension for about a minute.
If it breaks off at the vice end (Young's Modulus exceeded) it ain't gonna get any straighter😉
(If it doesn't break off .... Eat more spinach😂🤣 I hate the stuff so I'm weak as a 🐱 😁)
Slightly warming it with a small kitchen gas torch 🔥 helps but isn't usually necessary for fine stuff.
Cheers, Doug 😎

"until the brass is strait"
Oh dear🤔
Martin is suffering from a surfeit of Mark Knopfler again!
What a Dire Strait to get into!!!😁
😎

Dire Straits - Sultans Of Swing

▶️

Hi Doug,
Hopefully i got it right this time.
I suppose it would of helped if i actually went to school when i was younger.

Mind you i liked the video.

Martin555.

Just pullin' your anchor chain FLEET#2😁
Glad you liked the vid though.
Plenty more good stuff follows that vid, e.g.
Eric Clapton playing rhythm guitar to Mark's lead!!😮
Cheers, FLEET// 😎
PS 'Down the mines were you'? 🤔
But look where you are now👍😊

Doug,
Not exactly down the mines but i suffered with a lot of breathing problems, they say a cat has nine lives well i have had eight of mine.
So very little schooling was had.

The strange bit is i am fitter now than i have ever been.
Having said that i am not feeling that well at the moment but hopefully it will soon pass.

Martin555.

Very sorry to hear that Martin, had no idea (how could I?) 😔
With me it was the other way round; fit as a fiddle in school and college.
NOW the breathing problems have set in!
Self inflicted; 50 years of the weed☹️
Get well soon🤞👍
Doug 😎
PS Some years ago I actually had the, rare these days, pleasure of seeing and hearing Mark playing on a seldom reunion with the rest of Dire Straits at an open air concert in Munich.
He'd done his back in but still appeared and played up a storm propped up on a bar stool.
A real trouper😊

Don't worry about it Doug,

I am sorry to hear the weed got you that way.

Here is a another thing i bet you did not know, i played Drums at a gig for the group "the real thing"

I had to give up playing due to the breathing problems as it dose take a bit of doing.

Martin555.

Snap Martin, between 8 and 13 I only went for about 6 weeks each year. Spent 6 months each year in convalescent homes either in the charnwood forest or at the one at Mablethorpe in the sand dunes. I bet you can guess which I preferred.
I still get wheezy days, but have learnt to live with it, at least I'm not called the VICK Kid anymore.
Back to the subject in hand I buy jewelers soft woven stainless steel wire, it costs about £2.50 for 50 metre reels, I find its great for rigging for my boats.
Cheers Colin

"at least I'm not called the VICK Kid anymore."
Not until NOW Colin😁 On the other hand -
who would dare to address one of our illustrious Captains, on the Commodore Promotion Board short list, in such an irreverent manner? (Apart from me of course 😁)

To the subject in hand-
"I buy jewellers soft woven stainless steel wire, "
I agree Colin, I also find the Craft corner of many Garden Centres good sources of multi-strand stainless (used on my U25, seen in the attached pic with HMS Hotspur both 1/72) and various fine gauges of silver, brass and copper wires as used by florists as well as amateur jewellers.
On small spools but easy to straighten and stiffen as above.
And they're much cheaper than from specialist model and craft suppliers😊
Cheers, Doug 😎

Hi Ron,

No Pond time!

I didn't want to use that coiled up spool of brass!
I did have a feeling I could have straightened it out!
But, I want a straight run.
Of wire connected from the Mast to the Funnels!

Ed

Thanks, Martin!

But, I wanted a straight run from the Mast to the Funnels!

Cheers, Ed

It's a pity we are so far from each other Ed, I can get brass wire any gauge in meter lengths from Javis.😐

Cheers, Pete

Hi Doug,

Yes, I am a professional procrastinator!
So, No haven't gotten to it yet!
Eventually I will!
Then, I'll need plenty of help!
Hope, you'll be available?

Cheers, Ed

Hi Colin,

Thanks, The Smit came with a coil of brass!
But, really didn't like the Idea of using it!

But, I appreciate the advice!

Cheers, Ed

Hi Pete,

Thanks, for the offer!
Some times I like the 1 meter length of brass wire!
It avoids having to solder every few inches!

I could use some for the Smit though!

Cheers, Ed

If you would prefer one meter lengths Ed, let me know the gauge, and I will see if Javis have the right one in stock, then check postage to USA.😐

Cheers, Pete

btw, I have some 2.55mm and some 1.70mm brass wire in my own stock if that is of any use to you, one mtr lengths.

"Then, I'll need plenty of help!
Hope, you'll be available? "
You 'nose' where I'm at Ed 😉
😎

Spent nearly 40 years on the mines here in South Africa and have Silicosis only a slight touch. But smoking didn't help either!
Here's a possible useful link for the guys who like brass pulleys and turnbuckles. Proctor Aircraft they supply R/C models that take a lot of work (Some of them go back to Bleirot's Monoplane) So all sorts of stuff available. They used to have agents all over the world but they are good at what they do!

http://www.proctor-enterprises.com/index.htm

🔗

Sorry to hear you are under the weather Martin. Hope you feel better soon.😊

Have a good day Ed.

At least there not all White 😁 enjoy .
Cheers Marky👍

Thanks, Peter!
I will!

Cheers, Ed

Hi Marky,

Isn't that the truth!
First thing I did was make sure.
They where different colors..........

Cheers, Ed

Just take your time Ed, and don't miss any connection, check, and re-check every joint, and I'm sure you will get everything working as you want,

Cheers, Pete

btw, the mast looks great with the funnels now, nice and straight👍

Hi Pete,

Thanks, It took some doing!
But, it's nice and straight!
A bit tilted aft but, it looks ok!

I just hope I don't blow myself up! LOL!

Cheers, Ed

Brilliant Ed , don't get your wires crossed😁.
Cheers Marky👍

Hi Marky,

The plan is to not see any magic smoke!
Except from the smokers!!!! LOL!

Cheers, Ed

Nice work Ed,
It has been a bit of a battle but you got there.
Well done.

Martin555.

That's certainly a lot of wires Ed, you mention your wife helping you, did she bring her knitting needles?
there's enough wire to make a pullover! Ha,Ha,😁
It will really make the boat having all the lights fitted, you can never have enough lights, I say! I have a model of "St Olaf" a WWII hospital ship, which will need some 150 interior lights🙃

Cheers, Pete

Hi Pete,

I couldn't have done it without the wife's help!
The wife doesn't knit, So had to scratch my head a lot!

Your "St Olaf" sounds really complicated with 150 lights!
It's going to be a nice model to look at at night!

Cheers, Ed

Thanks Martin,

Onward and Upward, Right!
It took a bit of doing.
But, I finally got there!

Just a few more add-ons to do!

Cheers, Ed

Hi Edd, you will have to treat your wife, for the assistance she gives you.
Have posted a link for the "St Olaf" just to show her size, won't be building her for a while, already had her for over 18 months.😑

Cheers, Pete
http://deansmarine.co.uk/shop/product_info.php/cPath/10_20/p...

http://deansmarine.co.uk/shop/product_info.php/cPath/10_20/products_id/2897

🔗

So that's 'all white' then ED😉
How do you tell which wire is which?
Greetings to Jenny, your able third and fourth hand👍
Cheers, Doug😎

Hi Doug,

I made the 2 ground wires.
Longer than the wire to the lights!

I ran the grounds first!
That way I could then run the others!

Let's just say running the wires.
Was easier with Jen's help!

BTW, Regards to Gisela!

Cheers, Ed

PS. could find different color wire.
White was all I had!

Ed-

Hi Pete,

The wife helped me, And I helped her to cook dinner!

Your "St Olaf" looks like quite a nice model!
I remember seeing it a while back!
On the Dean's website!

I'm sure you will have a nice time building her!
I look forward to reading her build blog.
Once you start the build!

Great choice BTW!👍

Cheers, Ed

Ed, it’ll all be worth it first time you light the Smit up in the dark. You’re doing a fine job...keep up the good work!
Cash

Hi Cash,

Thanks, I'm trying as best as I can!

Cheers, Ed

A working winch Ed, fantastic 👍if you can work it out,
I would like one on my Yorkshire Man, If you can work out the mechanics, put me down for one.😊


Cheers, Pete

Hi Pete and Ed,
You only have to go to Build Blogs and search for Winch and you'll find the solutions😊
Like here-
https://model-boats.com/blogs?q=Winch
Cheers, Doug 😎

https://model-boats.com/blogs?q=Winch

🔗

How do you find these blogs so quickly Doug, I have great trouble looking for blogs that I would like to catch up on, the one where Ron I think, got some resin figures from Shapeways, struggling to find out how to search for it.😐


Cheers, Pete

Hi Pete,
Like the Brooklyn cop told the old lady who asked him 'How do I get to Carnegie Hall?'
"Practise lady, practise!"
It's simply (🙄) a matter of finding the right keyword to search for.😉
Happy hunting🤞
😎

Hi Ed,
When you say you are going to run the mast wires down the funnels, i assume it is on the inside of the funnels to hide the wires.

Martin555.

Have a go at a prototype Ed. You might be surprised and be glad you gave it a go. 👍

On the real boat, the mast probable extended below deck. Could you add a small diameter brass tube insert from below up into the mast? That would certainly provide better installation and strength than just epoxy flush to the surface. One good knock in transport or carelessly movement of your hand reaching across the model could dislodge it.

actually - on the real S.N. the mast is fellable (is that a word at all 😂). I mean that it can be turned down for passing under bridges etc. This means, it doesn’t extend down through the decks. the pivot axis is somewhere around the mast support. I’m planning to implement this mast turning capability on my ”Delfi”, ex Smit Ierland, a sister vessel of Smit Nederland. I’m building it from the Billings S.N. kit. The differences are minor.
You are doing a great job! I’m learning from you at every step. I made the winch already as a static one. I couldn’t dream of a working one ... well I _could_ dream of it. Not more 🙄

Hi Martin,

Yes, I'm putting the wires on the inside of the funnels!

Cheers, Ed

Hi Ron,

I was trying to figure out.
A better way to support the Mast!
But, the piece that's used as the support.
Is it's self flimsy, But, I didn't want to distract from the actual details of how the mast goes placed on the support!

So, Epoxy was my solution!
So, after the model is completed!
I'll have to protect it as best a I can!

I figure I'll have to apply a bit of social distancing.
For my Smit!

A one meter distance of stand clear!

Might help in the mast not getting knocked of!

Ed-

Hi Hande of Espoo,

I have yet to build the winch!
I'm thinking of making a working winch!

What are you going to do with your winch?

Cheers, Ed

PS. I really like the Idea you have.
Of a foldable mast!
I really would like to see your model?

Ed-