Not much progress this week. Still waiting for the prop.
I ordered it, along with another, from Westbourne Models in the UK in Sept. Two props did arrive but they were completely the wrong size and both only 3 bladed. Sent them straight back, emailed many times, left phone messages but no reply after 6 weeks. Impossible to reach them by phone, the website email contact doesn't work. Very frustrating.
I found quite a few bad reviews online – all similar stories to mine. They get less than 1 out of 5 stars from customers. Looks like I've just become another statistic. Don't know how they stay in business.
When I realised that the props were never going to turn up I ordered 2 replacements from Cornwall Model Boats. Heard back immediately and they should be here any day.
I can't do any more to the hull until the prop arrives so in the meantimeI've been assembling some of the other items.
The tow hook is made up from components that I had brass etched. The brass is only 0.7mm thick so some of the pieces are several layers sandwiched together and soldered. The bar is styrene and the spring is some very soft, malleable brass wire, formed by wrapping it around a small brass rod.
The hook on Hikurangi is quite small and complex and took much longer than I had planned. I had to go out and buy a pair of really strong reading glasses. Can hardly see at night these days. Next time I'll use 1mm brass and save some of the work – or even better, get them 3D printed. Also managed to cook my old faithful soldering iron and got a new 45w version. Probably too powerful for this type of work so I may get a smaller 25w for the fine work.
Still need to clean up the hook mechanism with a smaller file (in the mail also). It looks a bit rough in these photos but they are way larger than real life – you'll never get up that close, and a coat of paint should hide a lot of sins.
