Blacksmith details

[Chuck Doan]

Very nice Phillip!

[Frederic Testard]

I like it too, Philip.

[Philip Smith]

Thanks!



 

[JohnP]

That is cool stuff. I watched a smith in his smithy doing his smithing at the http://www.blueridgeinstitute.org/ one Fall day. It was hot, cramped, loud and real fun to see. It is one of those things I always wanted to try. Your set of parts will make a finely detailed scene.

John

[Philip Smith]

John, A pretty good moonshine section at that website . Another one of my scale addictions!
Nice little submarine still! 
Philip

[Chuck Doan]

Looks well researched, Phillip!

[marklayton]

Philip -

Very nice painting and weathering - the castings really came to life.  Except for the 20th century heavy chipping vise, this scene looks very appropriate for countless rural blacksmiths from the late 18th century through the 1880s.  The grindstone is timeless, and London-pattern anvils (single horn) were being imported as early as the 1750s.  Once electricity and one-lung gas engines appeared on the scene, bellows quickly gave way to blowers, and belt-driven Little Giant power hammers replaced the apprentice swinging a sledge hammer.  Some bellows did survive into the early 20th century, but that was not very common if the smith was at all successful.

The heavy timber structure to support the crane is a nifty touch.  It could also support a lever-arm "drill press."  Drilling into iron was tough work before wall-mount, screw-feed blacksmith's drill presses arrived after the Civil War.  Which is why most holes were punched hot.  The smith could buy metal-cutting bits for his bit brace, but you can imagine the force that must be applied!  So when a drilled hole was needed, it was common to use a long wooden lever arm to apply great pressure onto a bit brace.  Can't lay my hands on a photo.  Think in terms of sturdy table attached to, or sitting against one of the vertical posts.  A lever, perhaps 3' long would pivot from the post, mounted around chest-level.  The metal to be drilled is laid on the table, a bit brace is positioned under the lever arm, and the smith would pull down on the free end of the lever while reaching to turn the brace.  We can't imagine what a boon electricity was to these guys!

You mounted the lever arm correctly for the bellows.  I built a bellows set for the historic blacksmith shop in a park in Kingsville, MD, and I've demonstrated with the bellows at another museum shop.  Two-chambered forge bellows are heavy; the mechanical advantage of the long lever is essential, and it needs to be right by the forge.

My shop is not so romantic – pneumatic forging hammer, hydraulic press, milling machines, power saws, and other modern conveniences!

Mark

[Philip Smith]

Mark,

I'm actually trading the vise out for a leg vise and adding a swage block. Should take delivery early January. Thanks for sharing first hand knowledge. Very interesting this bit brace? I'll search for photos as I don't recall seeing or reading about that devise. May have to add another item if I can locate a photo.

thank you!   

Philip     

[Philip Smith]

Finally finished this one........

[finescalerr]

Satisfactory. -- Russ

[Frederic Testard]

The scene is very nice, setting it outside seems an interesting concept.

[Philip Smith]

The scene is very nice, setting it outside seems an interesting concept.

yes a certain remedy for rust and extra maintenance.

thanks gents!

[Malachi Constant]

Philip --

You've got an awful lot of interesting detail packed into both the moonshine and blacksmith scenes ... I want to point out something especially interesting, like the details on the bellows or something, then my mind and eyes wander over to some other curiosity.  Neat stuff!

Cheers,
Dallas

[Philip Smith]

thanks Dallas!

The moonshine dio isn't mine. It's from the link John provided. Wanted to hammer that home.
Phil

[Philip Smith]

Russ,

Thanks for allowing the free advertising plug! Many thanks! It's official, all ten kits are sold!  A second run is in the works, hopefully in a couple of .... No hurry.

Philip