Mounting on a base

[mossieramm]

Hey guys,
I'm going to restart my Trumpeter 1/350 USS England with WEM PE and I don't want to really mount it on the supplied plastic stand. I would like to mount it on a wooden display with the 2 brass poles that I see many ship models on. So I can draw the proper waterline and have the model on something solid while it gets built.
I can probably figure out how to mount the hull to the display base but I would like to know is how to make the ship level. So the waterline is horizontal.
Any tips would be appreciated! I have been doing it on and off for 2 years with photo etch etc but not really getting anything done.
Thanks guys!
David

[greenglade]

Hi David

In general the keel will be parallel to the waterline so just use the bottom of the ship as your datum, as long as your mounting pedestals are of the same height the waterline will be level

regards

Pete

edit: I should add that when I say 'in general' that there are exceptions to the rule, probably the one that most here would come across would be the 'Flower' class corcettes...USS England follows the norm as stated above..I scratchbuilt a working example of this handsome DE nearly 30 years ago in 1/96..a great looking vessel.

[blw]

BTW those brass mountings that you often see are typically the ones included in Pontos detail up sets. There may be some others, but the vast majority of the ones I've seen are from Pontos.

[mossieramm]

Thanks for the info

[Admhawk]

An excellent source for brass finials, https://www.grandbrass.com/category/fin ... _and_caps/

You typically cut off the top and drill through so that a bolt can pass through for a nut to be threaded.

[drasticplastic]

I've use Grand Brass items, too. But I use the turned brass necks: https://www.grandbrass.com/category/nec ... ass_necks/ They have a smooth bore (unthreaded), and have no need to cut tops off. Your bolt or screw will just slip right through the wood base, neck, and model hull, then attach with a nut on the inside. Of course, all this has to be planned before starting construction on the kit!

[mossieramm]

I've often wondered where to get brass mountings, never realised they were just lamp necks. I was going to get brass tubing and cut that to size, but this is neater.
Thanks guys for clearing that up. I feel a visit to the DIY coming up.