Thanks for the suggestions. Gives me a couple of methods to try out. Now, off to get some plastic tube & rod....!!

Cheers

Tom.

How about using tightly rolled paper, at least you'd be able to create the tapper.

Hi Bernard.

It seems information is quite scarce about this particular style of mast on the net. I found only a few photos and no information on height or other dimensions. They seem like they may vary in height though, the one in the photo at Chesterfield seeming higher than the nearest to me which is at Farnham.

I've quickly tried one method using some plastic tube. Four cuts were made down each side and a thin sliver of plastic removed from each before it was glued back together to try and produce the taper. Once dry, a knife blade was run along the tube as per Missy's suggestion to produce the flats. I'm not sure I got enough taper in this first effort though?

Thanks all for the suggestions, they are much appreciated.

Cheers,

Tom.

Though the flats might be a bit small to easily reproduce, the taper in it is very obvious so a plain tube isn't going to look right. Looks like it must be about 40 to 50 foot (15 metres?) high. Anyone got any accurate info on them?

I heard of a trick to reproduce tapers originally used for boom type crossing gates on a Fremo module. The builder used brass rod and ferric chloride etching fluid, vertically dunking the rod in the fluid and allowing it to run down and drip off the end. As a result the bottom of the rod is in contact with the etchant the longest and the result is a gradual taper. Using hexagonal rod might give a good representation although with fewer facets(?) than the original.

Michael

Hmm...Chopsticks, not a bad suggestion Will! Could be dangerous for the ol' waistline though!!

Tom.

If getting a constant taper is proving difficult, have you got any plastic chopsticks? I have one in the kitchen drawer that looks oddly perfect for the job (if it had some 'facets' carved into the sides ). One end starts as a larger, slightly rounded off square section, it tapers down over its length to a smaller circle at the end you jab at the food with.