MAKING THE SPARS
For the spars use a straight and fine'grained wood such as
birch. If the dowel diameter is correct, it is only a matter of
producing a taper at both ends by means of a small plane. However, if
the dowel diameter must be reduced or you are working with special
woods from a square section, a yard may be accurately shaped as
follows. Fig. 59:
Plane or saw the wood stock to four even sides (square).
On the same four surfaces work in the taper at each end to the end
diameter previously drawn. You will note that unequal shaving will show
up in uneven edges. Plane the edges producing an eight'sided piece.
With fine shaving round off the spar throughout or leave an 8-sided
portion in the middle as required.
With the spar formed, drill the necessary holes, such as
tor eyes, jackstay eyes, topsail sheet sheaves, etc. The important
thing is to do tnis detail before mounting the yard on the mast.
An alternative and better way, if you have a lathe, is to produce bands
from brass or solid stock, drilling the bands to take small eyebolts
(No. 75 drill is suitable for the common small pins). For the eyebolts,
snip off the heads of small pins and form eyes with round nose pliers.
Or, simply use eyebolts available from model fittings suppliers. Insert
the shanks in the holes, apply a touch of solder and trim off inside
the band. Fig. 60B.
Less finicky workers can make the
bands of strips of black photographic paper glued to the yard. Careful
work will give creditable results. The eyes can be inserted in holes
(No. 75 drill) through the paper and yard. An eye formed in the other
end of the eye shank will hold the eyes in place. However, a softer
wire is recommended in this case.
Simplest of all is to knot the lines to the
yard keeping them small and neat, or alternatively, tie a small loop in
the thread and then make a few tight turns around the yard over a smear
of glue and stiffen up the loop with glue or dope. Careful painting
will even out the strands somewhat to look like a smooth band. Fig. 60C.
Of course, if your model is pre-1800 no iron
bands are necessary and plain thread bands are in order.
