Burroak

Another small update.
This is just a dry fit again...don't want to fix anything permanently until all the bulkheads have been faired (at least partially) and the decks are cut and test-fitted.
 

 

I see you didn't waste any time......quite a vessel you've chosen.   your off to a great start!

OK, here you go.  From that glimpse of the plans, it looks as if you've picked a formidable challenge for a build --- let alone scratch.  But I'm certain of 2 things:  it will be both a learning experience and will result in a model you'll be proud of.
 
I'll just pull up a chair here.......
 
Best of luck 'New builder'.  Perhaps time for a new name????

looks like you are off to a good start. I've never considered milling my own wood.

Great job Popeye, I'm amazed at the quality of your work!
 
 
Greg

Great job Popeye, I'm amazed at the quality of your work!
 
 
Greg

I wanted to further along with this build,  than I thought I had.........if that makes any sense.   these past couple of days,  I have been moving from one table to the other.......surprised that I only got a few pictures of mu time with the Half Moon.
 
I did some measuring and spacing with the gun port lids
 

 
masked and painted the rudder.........went into my inventory and got the Gungeons and pintle hinges I had made for an earlier build.   I need to look at the actual ship to see if I can get away with just the two.......if not I can make another.
 

 
the gun ports are cemented in place.  the only chain board  that I'm going to need to make any adjustments on,  will be the main mast boards.
 

 

pretty easy to make Bob.......perhaps yours will come out better........movable guards?
 
I made some more progress with the boats........staining them was a big first step!   no paint on the outside for me,  John........I promised you......remember!       
 

 
the last picture you will see of all three together.........the scratch built boat got the Half Moon color.   I gave it a shot of the mahogany stain.  the other two have gone to the trawler Syborn build.
 

 
staining the hull of the boat.......I got a good idea where the bleed throughs were.  to remedy that,  I spread a thin coat of fill to the inside of the hull,  evening it off with a piece of wood.
 

 
I was going to paint the gunwales with a brown paint........but I ended up staining them instead.  I figured that if the accents for the interior were going to be stained......it may as well too.   the interior is painted a flat red.
 

 

 
the floor was created next.......made on the table and fitted in place.   it wasn't cemented in until after it was stained.
 

 

 

 
I was curious how this would look aboard ship,  so I brought her out and set her up as a dry fit.  I might be a little off as far as where everything goes......don't hold me to the layout  
 

 

 
just for you J...........I know!   I pined and cried for the Moon,  because I didn't have those tack line decorations.   ..........and what did I do when I got them........drilled them and left them lying around on my table,  for god and everyone to knock'em off!  happy to say that they are in the works!   I painted them with a flat red........but I'm beginning to wish I could sand blast them.....that finish doesn't hold paint for #&%@!
 

 
I used the dark stain to give them a bit of weathering......but it caused the paint to become solvent and move around.  the finish showed through.   I brought out the red again,  and touched them up.  the stain mingled with the paint,  but they look a bit too red again.  after I took these pictures,  I took a q-tip and dabbed them a little......they look much better.   I'll give them a shot of flat coat before I even try to handle them.  it's fine.........I still have to map out their location anyway
 

 

 
 

I could not have said it better!

well.......I seem to have a renewed sense of direction on this build.   true.....the weather hasn't been my friend.......but it seems to have turned for the better!   I have to do my painting in the garage...the temp and the rain has done a nice job of hampering me.......until now     there was also another factor that dogged me...a key piece of detail that I was determined to find.
 
it all starts with a build of the Half Moon,  done by jct......here on the site.   I am enjoying his build,  and since it is a Corel kit,  we have had a great time exploring all the differences with the two kits.   he got to the point of prepping out the sheave rope decorations that line the hull,  and I took a step back.  the Billing's kit doesn't have them!  they are not listed in the parts list.......and not even shown on the plans.
 

 
I tried to look for these decorations in craft stores........but to no avail.  I even tried a few jewelry stores, and got the look........like I was some kind of nut!   with this scavenger hunt,  a complete bust,  I went with my last resort.   I contacted Corel........I downloaded parts of their catalog,  and I found the complete fitting kit for the Half Moon.   I told them that I was working on  Billing's kit and that I wanted to purchase the sheave decorations - part # D-228......if necessary,  I would be willing the purchase the entire fitting kit.
 
they e-mailed me the next day,  asking for my address.........they were going to send me the sheave decorations....at no charge!   free!!  holy cow!.......you could have knocked me over with a feather!  I sent them my address,  and soon after,  another e-mail came saying that they were in the post.  they sent them on the 28th of May,  and I got them yesterday,  the 2nd of June  
 

 

 
I should have put a coin by them to show you how small they are........about 5 mm x 4 mm.  I will need to drill the sheave holes in them,  in prep for paint..........but this is small effort,  if you take into consideration the added visible detail,  they will give to this build!  
 
my thanks to you Corel!  you reaffirm my belief that once a kit is purchased,  it becomes the builder's kit,  and it is his {or her} interpretation,  that guides the outcome of the model.  even though the kit isn't one of your design,  I am grateful that you chose to help the modeler achieve,  what the kit could not. 

Well done, Popeye, that looks really first class!
 
John

one word of caution with this decal program......be sure to let the sheets sit for a while before you apply the bonder.  it's best to give the ink plenty of time to dry.  there was a bit of an issue with the circle sheet,  but not that bad,  that I couldn't use them.  they also need to lay as flat as possible,  or there will be some color bleed.  these are to go on the blue border.......I'm hoping that with new ink cartridges,  the transparency issue will not be a factor.  when cutting them out,  you must get as close to the image as possible.....remember,  the entire paper is embossed with film.
 

 
this is clear decal paper........you will see no white,  when the decal is applied.  they do have a white decal paper.......it works to your advantage,  when the image your using has white in it,  or the decal is being applied to a white background.   there are many variables,  but it does have it's limitations.  this is actually two layers......the foreground and the background.  I did these to a white background......but the actual background color is blue.   I could have changed the background to blue......but trying to match color would drive me nuts!  it can be done.......but you'd have to know the spectral numbers that make up the color your looking for......too much for this simple mind to follow     I was so surprised,  when I applied the decal,  and it showed up as good as it did!
 

 
it could use one more circle,  so I clipped one from one of the other images.
 

 
...and added it to the existing decal
 

 
I did the other side the same way
 

 

 
now I can get back to the transom in peace........no more little voice in my head about these pfffffffff decals!  {you gotta teach me more word Sjors........I sound like a surfacing whale!}
 
"Thar she Blows!!!! 

Lookin' good Popeye! Very anxious to see the decals in place.

I had begun on the transom this past Friday.   still some more to go before it will be complete.   I'm going to lean more toward the Billing diagram with it,  instead of the picture I've shown you......I like the added detail it brings to the build.   first,  I added the decorative molding that encases the transom......then the 'brim' at the top of it.
 

 

 
on the back rail,  I added a piece of the striped stripping and the ornament on the top
 

 
now,  as I mentioned,  I created the circles and lines on paint shop.   the one that is included in this computer is bare boned......can't do too much with it.   I have downloaded paint shop 10.....I just need to install it,  and I'll see how much more I can do.
 

 
after importing the scanned copy of this design into the decal maker,  I ran off a sheet.......but I think the image needs to be beefed up a little.......it may be hard to see.
 

 
if this was the decal itself,  you would not see all this white,  but it will fit something like this on the ship
 

 
there are other parts that will adorn the transom.........two crests,  the moon,  the stars,   and the logo for the East India company.  the stars are going to be interesting.......they are the studs that I found in the paper craft dept, at Hobby Lobby.   I still want to go back and buy those other stars I saw......I will be sure to show them when I do.  for some of the folks that have ship star decorations.......they will find these quite useful.   anyway.......I painted all of these parts.
 

 
the Billing diagram shows that there are four gun ports....two on the transom,  and two just below the counter.   these I have to make from scratch....they are missing in the kit.   they are 10 mm squares of basswood......for the hardware,  I'm using dark mahogany stripping......they are in the beginning phase.
 

 
the mahogany was painted flat black........two of them will be painted blue,  and the other two will be stained the color of the hull.......there's still more to do to them 
 

She's becoming very fetching with your colour scheme Popeye. I really like models with lots of colour to them.
 
Peter

today.......I started with the incline rails,  cutting and trimming them to fit.
 

 

 

 
I began with the striped strips.......I must warn you......it does get a bit graphic here.  if you have that  'dizzy issue'.....then look in controlled glimpses.  if your susceptible to the 'WTBH syndrome',  refer to the picture a page or two back,  and it should dissipate rather quickly.   my only regret,  is that I probably should have made the sand area a bit wider.    and so I began........
 

 

 

 
when I did the inclines,  I wasn't sure how I was going to the curved parts.........I quickly figured it out though
 

 

 

 

 
then it was time for the bow to get it as well
 

 
until I arrived with this........really staggers the imagination,  doesn't it? 
 

I said that I was going to do a little yesterday.....well,  I did.   I began with the rudder,  finishing it off and staining it.  instead of the bland looking plywood,  it looks like this.
 

 

 
all of the rail parts got the reddish mahogany stain.
 

 
working on the port side first,  the rails were cemented in place....starting at the fore deck 's outer hull
 

 
I added in the end caps.......and then the bottom rail was added.
 

 

I went into the camera........yea,  there were still a few in there.  here is a close up of the nests.
 
horror show...........or no?
 

 
more work on the rails......progress on the top rails.
 

 
here is the center rails
 

 
the other side of the rudder is planked over.......now to wrap the outer edges to hide all the plys
 

 
the top rails are shaped and ready for stain.   the center rails are next,  and then I can make the final pair of curved rails.
 

 

 
I'll even need to bend a couple to run along the edge of the mid ship...from the bow to the stern.  more to come.

the curve along the outside of the rails isn't a problem......what of the inside curve?   a tiny triangle of material is cemented in place there,  and will be sanded to a curved contour.
 

 

 
the paint work is done.  I found that the paint stuck quite well.......I was able to mask it off with the scotch tape,  pulling none of it off when removing it after wards.
 

 

 

 
more work done to the rudder,  thickening it up
 

 
now I'll have to see what's still in the camera 

thanks Bindy!  you can make your own sanding sticks,  any shape you want.   I also do it with odd pieces of planking.....various widths.
 
 I didn't need to buy her a new Iron..........it's got a Teflon coating :D :D .....no stick!   thanks for the good word
 
thanks John.......good to see your back

Just catching up after a few days away, mate!
 
She's really coming along well.
 
John

I still have a number of post to install........mid ship and fore deck.   the stern decks are done now,  and I was curious how it would look with the rails.   so,  I stained some 3mm strip stock and installed them on the stern.   just before I went to bed,  the cap on the end was cemented on.  it will be rounded up and touched up when it's dry,  as well as the tips foreward towards the mid ship.
 

 

 
I did manage to shape the three step-downs that the actual ship has........I'm going to have fun trying to do the edge moldings ....hee.....hee
 

 

 
the posts for the foredeck overhang are installed,  complete with the cross beam and the cap board.
 

 
one side has been trimmed and shaped.......I did the other side
 

 
there is to be another section of rails for the step-down section.  what I'm using doesn't take too kindly to being bent sideways,  so I'm just going to go this route.   the posts for this section will be the same height,  with just a very minor step-down.
 

 

 

 
when these are dry,  I can better show them.  now.......on to the mid ship and fore deck!    I also have a cool idea for the pin racks........I'll do the stern racks and will be able to show you soon.

Thank you Jeff for letting me know. I look forward to your return. I just got my USS Constitution in from Model Expo and hope to start soon. Take care
 
 
Thanks
 
Greg

I don't see anymore updates since November 2014. Is it located elsewhere?
 
Greg

Hi Greg. This is still the current log. I have neglected the model for some time now and it sits here on the shelf awaiting my attention. I will be back to it soon I think. I've been focusing more on my other hobbies lately and perhaps secretly working on another model ship.
 
Thanks,
Jeff