Dumas Army Tug

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Techniques
1

Just started getting into scale modelling this past December ‘19 when I got a Dumas Army Tug Boat for my birthday. I’d run into some problems here and there but nothing a quick google search couldn’t fix but now I’m at a point where I’m stuck and can’t find any answers. I’ve googled it a few times and have only found one person who has logged this build and wasn’t much help. These are my problems right now:

  1. How to get the house to match up with the curvature of the deck
  2. How to solder the butt ends of brass rod together so they appear flush and one continuous piece
  3. Getting medium CA glue off from the base of the brass rod railing

If anyone could help me out and give me some tips and hints it’d be greatly appreciated.Thank you in advance

2

Here are some ideas that may work.

  1. I cut pieces of cardboard stock to make templates. Push the card stock against the deck. Use a pencil (or a shortened one of deck too small) and lay in on deck with point against cardboard. Push the pencil along the deck, perpendicular to the cardboard surface, and it will draw a line parallel to the deck about an eighth inch higher than the deck. If the deck has too much sheer and camber for an eighth inch line, use one of those fatter marking pens. Cut along that line and you will have a template with which to trim bottom of deckhouse.

  2. Place a short length of the next size rod into tube the size you want, then solder it into the next section, pushing the ends of the tubes together while the solder is still molten.

3 There is CA debonder available. If you cannot find it at a hobby shop or hardware store, you can order it online.

3

You can use acetone to remove CA glue, too.

If you’re married or have a girlfriend, ask is she can spare some nail polish remover. Otherwise, you can get a bottle at a drugstore, or you can get a larger can of acetone at a hardware store.

I’d use an old paint brush to apply it to the spot where you want to dissolve the glue.

Hope that helps!

4

Something to consider, the deckhouse may have to be removable to access equipment below, since the model is designed for R/C. There may have to be a coaming or edge built there for a seal that the deck house must fit over. Just a thought.

5

1)Excellent idea to transfer the shape of the deck to the house. Never would have thought of that

  1. I’m not sure I’m following you with the instructions on how to do this

  2. will the debonder melt the styrene too? The glue is attached to both the brass railing and styrene deck

6

Yes the deckhouse is removeable but I’m having trouble with the pilot house and the 01 deck

7

Use a fine brush and apply small amounts, till the glue is softened/dissolved. That’s how I do it with acetone. I use an old paint brush to apply it to the area. If you use small amounts, in a couple of passes, it should work without damaging the surrounding area.

I also use acetone to thin putty when filling seams, and to remove the excess. Again, using small amounts, I can apply it without damaging the styrene.

8

Just acetone by itself or do you dilute it with something? And I thought I saw somewhere that I should be using a natural hair bristle brush when brushing acetone as you could melt plastic bristles brushes. Is this true?