5
Before You Begin
Tools Needed To Start Construction
Niagara
is a beautiful, interesting ship and makes a splendid model. Assembling the plank-on-bulkhead hull develops
an understanding of how real ships are built, while laser-cut parts assure an accurate shape. The kit contains more than
150 laser-cut wood parts.
Although britannia, brass, and wood fittings facilitate construction, many require final finishing prior to installation.
This is especially true for the britannia castings and is discussed later.
Take your time building this model. It has a fair amount of detail and small parts. Furthermore, the rigging is fairly compli-
cated. Complete one stage before moving to the next. When things go awry, consider doing them over. A second attempt
usually surpasses the first. Practice does make perfect.
The following items are recommended. Those who have modeled before may have their favorites.
A. Knives and Saws
1. Hobby knife
2. # 11 blades
3. Razor saw or jeweler’s saw
B. Files
1. Set of needle files
C. Clamps
1. A few small C-clamps
2. Wooden spring-type clothes pins
(craft shops have small versions)
3. #16 and #33 rubber bands
D. Carving Tool
s
Small woodcarving set, or individual
gouges and chisels for carving keel
rabbets, bow and stern filler blocks,
ship's boats, and tapering the stem
and rudder.
E. Sharpening Stone
Keeps tools razor sharp.
F. Boring Tools
1. #60 to #80 miniature bits
2. 1/16”, 3/32”, and 1/8” bits
3. Pin vise
G. Miscellaneous
1. Tack hammer
2. Tweezers (a few)
3. Small, fine pointed scissors
4. Miniature pliers
a. round nose
b. flat nose
5. Small bench vise
6. Soldering iron or torch
a. solder
b. flux
7. Sewing thread for seizing
(other rigging in kit)
a. black
b. tan
8. Beeswax block
(for treating rigging lines)
9. 1/2” or 3/4” wide masking tape
10. Wire cutters (for cutting fine wire
and strip metal)
H. Sandpaper
1. Fine and medium grit
garnet or #100 to #200
aluminum oxide
2. #400 wet-or-dry sandpaper
I. Sail cloth
Light weave cotton or linen cloth for
sails. Model Expo sells a suitable
cotton cloth.
J. Finishing
1. Paintbrushes
a. Fine point for details
b. 1/4” to 1/2” flat square for hull
K. Supplies
1. Paints
2. Primer
3. Stains and varnish
4. White (polyvinyl acetate or PVA) or
woodworker’s glue (aliphatic resin)
5. Cyanoacrylates (generic name is
Super Glue)
6. Five-minute epoxy
7. Wood filler
Note:
White or woodworker’s glue in yellow
or tan will suffice for most of the model.
Five-minute epoxy provides extra strength
for affixing fittings. Cyanoacrylates, such as
Jet, Flash, or Zap, produce quick adhesion.
For most applications, the medium viscosity,
gap-filling variety is best. The thin type is
recommended for filling a narrow crack and
tacking bulkheads to the keel or planking to
the bulkheads.
BELFRY AT BOW
