Solderjoint_No2_Magazin - Flipbook - Page 50
Helmut
Schmid
Helmut Schmid, 89 years old,
is a master of classic ship
modeling. With over seven
decades of experience, he has
built more than 70 miniature
vessels – many of which are
now displayed in museums.
His tools: soldering irons, brass
wire, and his own two hands.
Valentin Bosch, 17 years old,
comes from the world of 3D
printing, electronics, and
microcontrollers. For him, digital
design, PLA parts, LEDs, and
precise solder joints are part
of everyday model building.
Valentin
Bosch
What follows is not just a conversation between generations,
but a celebration of everything
that makes model making – and
soldering – such a timeless and
inspiring hobby.
Valentin Bosch: Mr. Schmid, I’m honestly impressed by
how much precision, patience, and attention to detail
you put into your ship models. I come from a completely different background – I do a lot with 3D printing and
electronics. But when I see your work, it’s obvious that
there’s a lifetime of craftsmanship behind it.
the computer, print them in PLA or PETG depending
on the stress level, sand, paint, and assemble them.
Soldering is still a big part of my builds – LEDs, microcontrollers, sensors. But when something doesn’t fit, I
often have to print it all over again. One roof can take
14 hours to print – and if it breaks, I start from scratch.
Helmut Schmid: Thank you, Valentin. You know, I
started model building as a young boy – first with
simple wooden kits, later drawing up my own plans
and building everything from scratch. Over the years,
I’ve built more than 70 ships – from small tugboats to
naval mine hunters. Thirty-five of them are now in the
Maritime Museum in Hamburg. Back then, there were
no ready-made parts. I made everything myself –
railing, piping, fittings – bent and soldered from brass
wire. That was real handwork.
Helmut Schmid: Sounds just as time-consuming as my
way. Patience is everything – especially when soldering. And you need the right tools. My first Weller
soldering iron lasted 25 years. I used it for everything:
building railings, soldering windows, even functional
winches in 1:50 scale. When I couldn’t find the right tip,
I filed and bent one myself. Nowadays, you can buy
everything – but finding the right accessories is still a
challenge.
Valentin Bosch: That’s truly fascinating. I also work a
lot with my hands – just differently. I design parts on
Valentin Bosch: I use Weller too – mainly for the
temperature control. When I work on sensitive components like LEDs, every degree counts. I use different
