Getting these d#*n porthole/scuttles in a straight line!

[europapete]

High gang. Pete in RI here. Putting out a general call for help, as I am having a heck of a time drilling port holes in a straight line. Subject is the 1/200 HMS Hood, Trumpeter. The kit's molded ones are in the wrong places, (well, gee, what do you expect from the big T?, accuracy?? lolol) So, I tried, multiple times, got the spacing right, got the different sizes right, but getting them in a straight line????????? lololololol.......SO.......what do method do you all use? I marked, center popped, used a small pilot hole, bust. filled, started again. Failed again. rinse and repeat. Do I make a brass template? Drilling holes in a straight line in plastic REALLY should not be this hard. What am I missing here? Helpless and incompetant in RI Pete.

[europapete]

Right on the plastic, don't want the old "tape wobble"

[reigels]

I've never built anything in 1/200, but I've done lot of portholes in 1/700 which I assume is no more forgiving.

Typically I'll mark out the horizontal centerline with some type of hard edge tape https://www.amazon.com//dp/B00B8GQRHK ( or Dymo tape, scribing tape, even masking tape sometimes) and then mark the centers with a needle tool of some type https://www.amazon.com//dp/B0028MV9G2 to center the drill bit before drilling with a pin vice.

Links above are similar to what I use, but not necessarily specific recommendations.

Related - I'm really not much of a fan of the newer drill sets with tungsten carbide bits. https://www.amazon.com//dp/B07G6STHKW I can't even keep one on the desk top without the bit breaking. Strongly prefer regular old carbon steel bits for smaller sizes.

[wefalck]

Carbide drills are not made, indeed, for free-hand drilling, they don�t like lateral forces.

Did you use an electric drill ? The drill-speed may have been too high, melting the plastic, which in turn leads to drill run-out. A pin-vice is better for this.

[reigels]

Did you use an electric drill ? The drill-speed may have been too high, melting the plastic, which in turn leads to drill run-out. A pin-vice is better for this.

Nope. Just the regular collection of pin-vices and bits.

[G.A.G.]

Have a look at a previous thread on the subject where a number of folk contributed ideas
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=91552
Midway down, the page you will find the practice of using a saw blade to line them up and also space them out.

[europapete]

Thank you all for the help. will switch to the pin vices and read through the suggeted links. Regards, Pete in RI