Build log · Phase 13, Hammock cranes

Hammock cranes from tube

8 January 2025 · How-to · Problem and fix

The hammock cranes from the kit are nearly all done for, so I am making them myself. For that I ordered tube of 1 mm diameter with a 0.6 mm bore. The method is simple. I saw a wooden jig to size, bend the tube round the jig and cut it to length. Cutting closes up the hole at the ends. I file that open again and insert a small ring that fits exactly into the 0.6 mm hole. And there you are, a new hammock crane.

The tube, a first home-made crane with eyes, and a crane from the kit
The tube, a first home-made crane with eyes, and a crane from the kit

Straight away a dilemma. After a few of them I realised I could also try round rings instead of flat ones. The first attempts have flat rings, the second attempt round ones, and those are slightly larger too. I am going by how it is done on the Victory, where the netting hangs from a rope through the eyes of the cranes. Something to think about before deciding.

Flat rings on the left, round and slightly larger ones on the right
Flat rings on the left, round and slightly larger ones on the right
The hammock cranes with nettings on the Victory
The hammock cranes with nettings on the Victory
Detail of the cranes and the netting on the Victory
Detail of the cranes and the netting on the Victory