Solderjoint_No2_Magazin - Flipbook - Page 52
Helmut
Schmid
A lifetime of craft: Ship modelling the classic way
For 70 years, Helmut Schmid has been building scale model
warships in his home basement workshop, always relying
on Weller soldering equipment – today on the WE1010 and a
ZeroSmog Shield fume extraction unit.
A lifetime surrounded by brass, wood, and patience
Walking into Helmut Schmid’s workshop is like stepping back in time. The shelves are lined with bundles
of fine brass wire, neatly stacked strips of wood, and
small drawers filled with tiny fittings. In the middle
stands his latest creation – a 1.5-meter-long steamship, its hull made from wood, the deck fittings crafted
in gleaming brass. For more than seventy years, this
has been his world: ship model building in its purest,
most traditional form. When he started, there were no
CAD files, no 3D printers, no ready-made kits, if you
needed a part, you built it yourself.
Soldering as a foundation of craft
For Helmut Schmid, soldering is more than just joining
pieces of metal – it is the foundation of quality
craftsmanship. Whether forming a railing, shaping an
anchor, or assembling a bridge, each connection must
be both precise and strong. A neat joint that lacks
strength is useless in shipbuilding, examining a tiny
section of brass railing. In the early days, he improvised
with the tools and tips he had. Today, he relies on his
Weller soldering station for precise temperature
control: It allows him to work on delicate details
without burning them. Once he switched to Weller, he
never looked back.
Tools, technique, and the art of patience
In Helmut Schmid’s view, patience is as important as
skill: That means heating the parts evenly, feeding the
solder gently, and always keeping the tip clean.
Cleaning, for him, is a ritual – the difference between
a flawless joint and a failed one. He still makes use of
flux for every delicate connection, remembering how,
decades ago, he even created his own mixtures for
fine model work. His philosophy is simple: the right
tools, the right technique, and the willingness to take
the time it needs.
Passion as the driving force
Despite his age, Helmut Schmid continues to build
regularly, working more slowly but with undiminished
passion. Soldering is for him like a conversation with
the material. He has to listen – if it resists, the temperature might be wrong, or the fit isn’t quite perfect.
For him, every model tells a story, not only of the ship
itself but of the countless hours spent bringing it to life.
Whether or not he eventually experiments with adding
lights or motion, the heart of his work will always
remain the same: precision, durability, and beauty
crafted entirely by hand.
