Ray

Running rigging
Part 1
   The last job before the running rigging was to add the shroud cleats.
The yards, I added the two main yards  first and then the cross-jack, I first made and fixed the Truss Pendants to the yards,I then fixed the yard to the mast held in by the pin, then tied the jeers, then after making sure the yard was horizontal and square cynoed the yard into the mast,and after giving it time to set,set up the blocks and tackle to complete the rigging of the Truss Pendants and the the main slings.
 

 
fitting the yard to the mast

 
truss pendants and jeers

 
Main yards rigged



 
Deck view

The rest of the yards and the sprit-sail yard have now been made up and rigged, they were a bit of a doddle after the lower ones, I have also made the two gaffs but I will leave them off for as long as possible to allow turning her  from side to side to gain access, when adding the yards and rigging,as she is getting longer. Again the yards are only in the pin holes.
Top yards

Top yards made up before rigging

Gaffs

Top yards completed

Yards on masts





 
 

Some photos below showing the yards, with stun-sail booms, on the masts, not fixed just in the pin holes. Next job make the remainder of the yards and gaff booms.
 

The rest of the yards and the sprit-sail yard have now been made up and rigged, they were a bit of a doddle after the lower ones, I have also made the two gaffs but I will leave them off for as long as possible to allow turning her  from side to side to gain access, when adding the yards and rigging,as she is getting longer. Again the yards are only in the pin holes.
Top yards

Top yards made up before rigging

Gaffs

Top yards completed

Yards on masts





 
 

Some photos below showing the yards, with stun-sail booms, on the masts, not fixed just in the pin holes. Next job make the remainder of the yards and gaff booms.
 

Thanks Ray I think your statement about this kit being more complex than it appears is spot on!  I wasn't planning on installing these until the second planking is done as you say, but do want to ensure I don't set myself up for an unpleasant surprise.  Maybe its because I don't have my planking on yet, but the side galleries and the stern windows extend above the upper deck which is what got me concerned in the first place with the alignment.  I have my plan now so just need to execute!

Hi Jason looks like you are trying to solve another of Diana`s alignment  issues, bare it mind it fits over the second planking, I have built a different version so lined up the top of the stern facia with the top of the bulwark in my open rail set up, you can adjust the side galleries above and below with the filler sections, and fill if needed as they are painted, again I did all this work after the second planking the hull, and after adding  the wale, and I also added a vertical plank to the edge of the keel and finished the second planking to this. I have added a photo of the rudder fitted as well this also shows how my one sits plus just how much its covered by the coppering, I think this build is no where as straight forward as it first looks and only a few of us have attempted to resolve the issues it throws up, my attempt may not be totally correct but at least I think it looks right.
keep up the good work she does keep the brain cells working.
best regards Ray
 
 

Hi Jason looks like you are trying to solve another of Diana`s alignment  issues, bare it mind it fits over the second planking, I have built a different version so lined up the top of the stern facia with the top of the bulwark in my open rail set up, you can adjust the side galleries above and below with the filler sections, and fill if needed as they are painted, again I did all this work after the second planking the hull, and after adding  the wale, and I also added a vertical plank to the edge of the keel and finished the second planking to this. I have added a photo of the rudder fitted as well this also shows how my one sits plus just how much its covered by the coppering, I think this build is no where as straight forward as it first looks and only a few of us have attempted to resolve the issues it throws up, my attempt may not be totally correct but at least I think it looks right.
keep up the good work she does keep the brain cells working.
best regards Ray
 
 

The rest of the yards and the sprit-sail yard have now been made up and rigged, they were a bit of a doddle after the lower ones, I have also made the two gaffs but I will leave them off for as long as possible to allow turning her  from side to side to gain access, when adding the yards and rigging,as she is getting longer. Again the yards are only in the pin holes.
Top yards

Top yards made up before rigging

Gaffs

Top yards completed

Yards on masts





 
 

The rest of the yards and the sprit-sail yard have now been made up and rigged, they were a bit of a doddle after the lower ones, I have also made the two gaffs but I will leave them off for as long as possible to allow turning her  from side to side to gain access, when adding the yards and rigging,as she is getting longer. Again the yards are only in the pin holes.
Top yards

Top yards made up before rigging

Gaffs

Top yards completed

Yards on masts





 
 

The rest of the yards and the sprit-sail yard have now been made up and rigged, they were a bit of a doddle after the lower ones, I have also made the two gaffs but I will leave them off for as long as possible to allow turning her  from side to side to gain access, when adding the yards and rigging,as she is getting longer. Again the yards are only in the pin holes.
Top yards

Top yards made up before rigging

Gaffs

Top yards completed

Yards on masts





 
 

The rest of the yards and the sprit-sail yard have now been made up and rigged, they were a bit of a doddle after the lower ones, I have also made the two gaffs but I will leave them off for as long as possible to allow turning her  from side to side to gain access, when adding the yards and rigging,as she is getting longer. Again the yards are only in the pin holes.
Top yards

Top yards made up before rigging

Gaffs

Top yards completed

Yards on masts





 
 

The rest of the yards and the sprit-sail yard have now been made up and rigged, they were a bit of a doddle after the lower ones, I have also made the two gaffs but I will leave them off for as long as possible to allow turning her  from side to side to gain access, when adding the yards and rigging,as she is getting longer. Again the yards are only in the pin holes.
Top yards

Top yards made up before rigging

Gaffs

Top yards completed

Yards on masts





 
 

Some photos below showing the yards, with stun-sail booms, on the masts, not fixed just in the pin holes. Next job make the remainder of the yards and gaff booms.
 

Hi Jason looks like you are trying to solve another of Diana`s alignment  issues, bare it mind it fits over the second planking, I have built a different version so lined up the top of the stern facia with the top of the bulwark in my open rail set up, you can adjust the side galleries above and below with the filler sections, and fill if needed as they are painted, again I did all this work after the second planking the hull, and after adding  the wale, and I also added a vertical plank to the edge of the keel and finished the second planking to this. I have added a photo of the rudder fitted as well this also shows how my one sits plus just how much its covered by the coppering, I think this build is no where as straight forward as it first looks and only a few of us have attempted to resolve the issues it throws up, my attempt may not be totally correct but at least I think it looks right.
keep up the good work she does keep the brain cells working.
best regards Ray
 
 

The rest of the yards and the sprit-sail yard have now been made up and rigged, they were a bit of a doddle after the lower ones, I have also made the two gaffs but I will leave them off for as long as possible to allow turning her  from side to side to gain access, when adding the yards and rigging,as she is getting longer. Again the yards are only in the pin holes.
Top yards

Top yards made up before rigging

Gaffs

Top yards completed

Yards on masts





 
 

The rest of the yards and the sprit-sail yard have now been made up and rigged, they were a bit of a doddle after the lower ones, I have also made the two gaffs but I will leave them off for as long as possible to allow turning her  from side to side to gain access, when adding the yards and rigging,as she is getting longer. Again the yards are only in the pin holes.
Top yards

Top yards made up before rigging

Gaffs

Top yards completed

Yards on masts





 
 

The rest of the yards and the sprit-sail yard have now been made up and rigged, they were a bit of a doddle after the lower ones, I have also made the two gaffs but I will leave them off for as long as possible to allow turning her  from side to side to gain access, when adding the yards and rigging,as she is getting longer. Again the yards are only in the pin holes.
Top yards

Top yards made up before rigging

Gaffs

Top yards completed

Yards on masts





 
 

Hi Jason looks like you are trying to solve another of Diana`s alignment  issues, bare it mind it fits over the second planking, I have built a different version so lined up the top of the stern facia with the top of the bulwark in my open rail set up, you can adjust the side galleries above and below with the filler sections, and fill if needed as they are painted, again I did all this work after the second planking the hull, and after adding  the wale, and I also added a vertical plank to the edge of the keel and finished the second planking to this. I have added a photo of the rudder fitted as well this also shows how my one sits plus just how much its covered by the coppering, I think this build is no where as straight forward as it first looks and only a few of us have attempted to resolve the issues it throws up, my attempt may not be totally correct but at least I think it looks right.
keep up the good work she does keep the brain cells working.
best regards Ray
 
 

Hi Jason looks like you are trying to solve another of Diana`s alignment  issues, bare it mind it fits over the second planking, I have built a different version so lined up the top of the stern facia with the top of the bulwark in my open rail set up, you can adjust the side galleries above and below with the filler sections, and fill if needed as they are painted, again I did all this work after the second planking the hull, and after adding  the wale, and I also added a vertical plank to the edge of the keel and finished the second planking to this. I have added a photo of the rudder fitted as well this also shows how my one sits plus just how much its covered by the coppering, I think this build is no where as straight forward as it first looks and only a few of us have attempted to resolve the issues it throws up, my attempt may not be totally correct but at least I think it looks right.
keep up the good work she does keep the brain cells working.
best regards Ray
 
 

Time has flown by, maybe time to note down a few thoughts on my plan of attack.  Its been a lot of fun spending lots of time tinkering with various bits so far, but I do want to make some concrete progress.  None of the diagrams solve the aligment dilemmas, and I'm less than convinced that the placement/shape is correct on various supplied parts, and I really wanted to be comfortable that I wouldn't be setting myself for future frustration.  
 
My prediction of running out of lime strip did come to pass so I have some on order (some of the kit supplied 1.5mm lime strip was on the thin side (~1-1.25mm) so I didn't use it,  and I want make sure I've got plenty of thickness here to sand back)Here's what I've concluded, and the alignment I'll proceed with...at least until I find a new problem.
 
Stern fascia:  The top of this should align with the top of the keel former at the stern.  Looking at many contemporary models, the stern windows feel larger in proportion to the fascia itself, and the proportions overall shown on the box art art and instructions just don't look right.  The former itself appears over-sized to me and will require trimming at the bottom and the sides to maintain what I see as the correct proportions. This will mean that I will probably need to figure out my own solution for decorations in place of the supplied PE, but that should be fun.  The PE windows should definitely be useable as are the castings.  The two holes (assuming chaser ports) will also be enlarged.  This is all for down the road though.
 
Side galleries:  The stern fascia size/alignment needs to also consider the side galleries, which should align nicely with the lines of the stern fascia and also align with the line of the gunports.  The low-res NMM plans show the gallery windows appearing slightly above the line of the gunports, however, every contemporary model I've seen seems to show these lining up exactly with the line of the gun ports, as does the AOTS book and plans. I'll try to follow the latter, and use the NMM plan as justification if I need to sneak them up a little.  The supplied parts will need to be reshaped to get the correct proportion, this seems a common Caldercraft scenario.
 
Photos below show a little trick I found useful.  Knowing I'd be using the PE windows, I copied the sheet on my home printer and simulated final placement, also whittled up a balsa wood quarter gallery so I could visualize the alignment.  The grey-blue I'm using will likely not show correctly, but its a Tamiya colour and I quite like it - seems to sit well with boxwood I plan to use...
 

 
Keel former: Once the above alignment  is determined, the positioning of the upper and lower counter are shown to be too high.  No problem, will just require the various former peices (26 & 27) to be 'corrected'.  The other item that I'll address is not in the instructions.  The termination of the lower counter and the hull planking would be perpendicular to the keel if taken to the last frame, however, I believe this should also gradually curve forward as it curves down.  
 
I also laminated some maple strip at the base of the stem to better shape this allowing for the needed extra depth to the keel.  I've positioned a few strips to show how I plan to include the false keel.
 

 
Upper Counter: The kit supplies a poor representation of the shape of the upper counter and simply says the lower counter should be planked.  I'll plan to shape my own out of some spare 1mm maple sheet, this requires the stern fascia positioning to be known first.
 
Quarterdeck bulwark:  Positioning this also is a challenge like all premade templates.  These need to be aligned so that the bottom of the gun ports are a consistent distance from the upper deck (which of course is not yet permanently fitted).  I may leave these off for now as they will be very delicate once installed, but I will need to know the lie of the planks below so I can install these.

The Lady Nelson

 

 

This is my finished Lady Nelson  
Great fun to do, and a good relearning curve, having not built a model for many years, and I am well pleased with the end result. The kit I would I recommend it, 100% yes, great quality materials super plans and drawings, plenty of wood, both planking and dowel, cord as well, the only short fall some 3mm blocks and eyes but is there anything perfect.   I can now open the box of my next model HMS Pegasus in earnest, not sure whether to do a build log for her? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, I've completed the coppering on one side. Not as perfect as I'd like, but for my first attempt it's not too bad, hopefully the other side will be better.
 
I kept the tiles in their strips for the longer runs. The rows overlapped quite a bit at midships, then curved upwards towards the bow and stern. I found it quite difficult to try and keep the rows level in places and I had to be careful not to let the plates 'buckle' when trying to lay the row.
 
Not too keen on this first experience of coppering, maybe after the other side is done i may feel a bit more confident.
 

 

 

 

All the main and lower yards with stun sail booms and the mizzen cross jack are now finished, I will next take some photos with them on the masts.


Stanchions used for the stirrups

Completed yards



Stun sail booms




 
 

Some photos below showing the yards, with stun-sail booms, on the masts, not fixed just in the pin holes. Next job make the remainder of the yards and gaff booms.