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TBlack

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Everything posted by TBlack

  1. TBlack
    Yes, but who's got me?
  2. TBlack
    Keith, The ice might melt before we're ready to celebrate. Tom
  3. TBlack
    I've gotten the other side bulwark pattern in place which allows me to put the aft bulkheads in place: Because the aft bulkheads now don't have the same curvature as originally designed, they are slightly longer (now going in a straight line as opposed to arcing}. See the line I've drawn above. But also, the width between the port and starboard bulkheads now really needs to be determined. I've been using a template that measures 3.5", but that is just a guess. On the plus side, where I drew the counter on my plan and where it needs to be "as built" is coming out perfectly. I may actually be able to pull this off! Tom
  4. TBlack
    Kevin, Did you show the clamps earlier on in your log? If not I would like to see how you build them. Tom
  5. TBlack
    Kevin, Nice haircut! That clamp with the very deep throat: is it commercially available, or is that custom made? You have created a work of art, and I wonder why the builders decided to plank the deck that way instead of straight planks. Tom
  6. TBlack
    Magnificent work, Kevin.
  7. TBlack
    I started to make the counter piece and got this far: In trying to make the curves on the back end I managed to botch it up completely. Start again! So next I thought I ought to pay attention to Chris Watton's wonderful instructions which go toward the bow. I see from other Speedy logs that dealing with the side bulwark patterns can be interesting. Nevertheless, it's time to install on side at a time. Here is my first attempt now drying: At another site I recommended elastics and alligator clips, so couldn't use too many nails. Tom
  8. TBlack
    Crisp! Tom
  9. TBlack
    Mark, My experience with waterlines is a lot of fiddly work between black and white until it's right. So you're doing everything according to the book. Also, from this distance, the quarter galleries look good. Tom
  10. TBlack
    Is there something special about those clamps for your project? There are a lot of other ways to secure planks that might be more readily available. I personally use alligator clips and elastic bands. Tom
  11. TBlack
    Gets more complicated. This piece: There's a transverse arc which I've mapped out below: Hard to see the arc in the above drawing, but it's on the lower line on the right picture. I think I can make this piece out of one block. Not sure how yet. These are things they never taught you in college! Or maybe I just went to the wrong college? Tom
  12. TBlack
    Using 5.5' as a guide, I set up a couple of planks to see how it all fits: Now I can mark the bulkheads for the 1/4 deck position. Turning next to the transom area, I have a profile plan as to how it all fits: Notice in my drawing that the Sophie transom is in the same position and same angle as the Speedy. Given that fact, the rest of the area falls into place (theoretically!). It gets a little hairy back here to make everything fit smoothly, and I'm no draftsman (draughtsman, if you're from the UK). Tom
  13. TBlack
    She's fairly faired! Looks a little rough, but the run of the battens is smooth and symmetrical. I'll quit while I'm ahead. Next, I installed the captain's cabin subfloor: This will help me locate the quarterdeck. We know, from the book, that Aubrey can't stand upright in the cabin. Furthermore, he states that when he is sitting down there is 18" of headroom over his head. I calculate that to mean the cabin has a height of 5.5'. Finally, thanks for the likes, and stopping by. If you see a place where I might be going wrong, don't hesitate to put me right. Tom
  14. TBlack
    Kevin, A nice white floor, making it easy to find dropped parts! And shouldn't you be wearing shoes in the shop? Tom
  15. TBlack
    Pat, Try email direct to Kat Powell: Kat@sherline.com Tom
  16. TBlack
    A little more progress: I've installed the lower deck, the supports for the main deck, and the main deck as far back as bulkhead 13 where the quarterdeck/captain's cabin start. I determined the location of the break by looking at the photo and seeing that the break occurs just after #6 gun. In the side view picture below, that rig is helping me decide how wide the transom should be. Tom
  17. TBlack
    As I mentioned before, it's the last 3 bulkheads that need attention (13, 14 & 15). 13 maybe minor, we'll see. But 14 and 15 need complete new fabrication. These are the ones that come with the kit: They need widening and filling out. I just have to guess at their shape. I put the rest of the bulkheads in place and put batons along the sides to estimate a smooth shape for the hull. Took a chance and cut two bulkheads and came up with this: I'm getting closer, but not quite there yet. The baton strategy is the way to go. I'll need to add some width to 13 and 14. Tom
  18. TBlack
    Bob, Thanks for your reply. Remember I’m not building Speedy; I’m building a brig that resembles Speedy in some respects. If Jack Aubrey says there is a quarterdeck, a captain’s cabin, and windows in the transom, then Sophie is bulkier in the stern than the speedy. For example, look at the picture of the Sophie that I posted above. Notice how at the stern the bottom of the wale is at the waterline. Now look at the two drawings included with the Speedy kit. You can see that the wale is considerably above the waterline. And, Bob, I can’t just invent a Sophie. If Aubrey (O’Brian) says these things exist, then I have to build the model accordingly. There will be other areas where descriptions in the book will lead me in how to build the model. Another example is the forecastle. The term is used throughout the story; however, it turns out it’s not a raised f’csle in the traditional sense, but just the forward area of the main deck. Finally, I’m thinking the transom piece is too wide; I’m going to try making it a bit smaller. Tom
  19. TBlack
    A transom template. A complete guess, but it has seven windows somewhat equal to the proportions seen in the photo. A little rough, but it's the width and length I'm interested in right now. From the plan that I drew, shown above, I've fixed the cabin deck. I know from the book that Aubrey sat in the cabin and that there were 18" above his head to the ceiling. I figure that means about 5.5' of height in the cabin. That fact sets the location of the quarterdeck. Does it match the photo? We'll see. Tom
  20. TBlack
    Keith, bro, She's fabulous, and a wicked sense of humor, and she's your niece! Anyway, on to ship building: I have no real idea of how to tackle this, but I thought I ought to put something on paper. Fortunately, Chris includes the following with the Speedy kit: Still not quite sure what to do with the information, but I developed this: But what about the beam? Maybe dictated by the transom? More later, Tom
  21. TBlack
    Well, Yves I'm doing Sophie for my daughter of the same name and pictured below with her family: Tom
  22. TBlack
    James, You're right Vincejo weighed in at 250 tons while Sophie was closer to 150. No, I'm modifying the Speedy kit. Principally by broadening the last three bulkheads to allow for the aft cabin. Tom
  23. TBlack
    Bob, I appreciate your lengthy and in-depth reply. My source of information is the book Master And Commander. The Sophie, unlike the Speedy, had a quarterdeck and a captain's cabin. She was, in fact, the former Spanish brig Vincejo (Trans: swift) which, in real life, had a quarterdeck and a captain's cabin. What I have done is buy the Speedy kit from Chris Watton and intend to alter it to allow for the changes to the aft portion (this is a little like taking the Mona Lisa and painting a mustache on her). And I think I will handle the stern like the Fair American, that is, the outboard windows will be fake. Tom
  24. TBlack
    Chris, thanks for asking, but it’s a modified kit. Tom
  25. TBlack
    Affinity, Try these. I love them: Tom

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