lamarvalley
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Everything posted by lamarvalley
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Good day all, With the wealth of knowledge that exists within these pages I know this is an easy one. I'm building the San Francisco II and have come to the hinge/rudder part. I'm not a fan of the bright brass straps supplied with the kit. I want to make my own straps but am having a time finding the right kind of metal to work with. I pounded and flattened both tinned copper wire and copper wire and both have the look I want (after I age them) but neither survive more than one bend before they snap. So, the question: what makes for good hinge straps? (I should say other than brass) Randy
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I have carved before but if honest, it was frustrating and the results were just so so. I am consistently amazed at your patience and attention to detail. This is a fun build to keep track of. Thanks for posting.
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Hi Robbyn, She's looking great and you and everyone else is right... she's your ship and whatever changes or alterations you make they are completely up to you.... cut the holes, don't cut the holes... all you. For me this new-found hobby has brought me back to woodworking and I like the challenge of just about every aspect of this build. I've made mistakes...(such as using a different size of timber on the hortizontal rubbing strakes) and my fake holes are ever so slightly off... so what... I adapted and changed my vertical rubbing strakes to go with the screw-up. (pics soon) My San Fran will definitely be different by golly And I learned something in the process. The next build, and I hope there are many, will benefit from those errors. Kind of the point I think... Randy
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Good day Danny, Very impressive work! I love following (lurking) along and trying to absorb. An amazing build, one that I will enjoy watching as it develops. Question, the planking pins that you made... they look stout and useful and far better than the cheap plastic kind of pushpins that I have. How are they made? Randy
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Wow! The detail of that ship is just amazing. I have carved some in my life but nothing compared to the work you're doing on the Sovereign. It is quite impressive. Incredible patience too! Randy
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Nicely done David! Love that transom. I also like the progression of the pics, they really show the work involved. Randy
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Before I cut and mounted my vertical rubbing strakes (or whatever they're called) I cut and positioned the curved rails so the strakes would bump into them. I soaked mine for a few minutes and then clamped them down with tiny spring calmps starting at one end and working forward one clamp at a time. The clamps followed the curve of the wall and forced, ever so slightly, the timber to the bend. I must say however that I am using mahogany for the rails not applewood or walnut (I think it's walnut ) or whatever they put into the kit.
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I like your base... gives your ship a sense of action in a way.... for lack of a better word.
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Looking sharp Eric!
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I am nearly speechless! ... So this is how a ship is constructed eh? This is a marvelous learning tool and beautiful to watch develop, step by step... your attention to details makes me look like I model with an axe, a sledge and a meat cleaver. I need to read it about 3 more times to 'begin' to get it. Thanks... this one is gonna be fun! Randy
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Looking good David, you're making some nice progress (with your small white friend) Randy
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MONTANES by Garward - OcCre
lamarvalley replied to Garward's topic in - Kit build logs for subjects built from 1751 - 1800
Wow! A thousand posts. Add to that all the spectacular work on your ships and I wonder if there are maybe several of you under one name. Congratulations Garward! Randy -
Looking good Robbyn. I think the doors look super. I thought about carving them into the wall too but haven't... yet. I like the look that you got so... maybe. With all these deviations my boat will never get done I get your apprehension about the gun ports... I wish I had some insanely brilliant saying or words of wisdom for you but... really. I got nothin'! except you know it'll go right this time for sure Have fun with the fam. Randy
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Hi Eric, Glad you're putting the cannons behind you as she does deserve to be on a shelf just not like you meant... half done Double blocks?? I honestly need to do more research to understand that term much less how it should be done... for what it's worth, I think the latest pic looks great! Randy
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Hi David, I've never made a solid hul before and honestly had no idea about how much prep it requires to make sure the blank is as it should be. Requires a discerning eye and good calipers it seems. Randy
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Using Blacken-IT
lamarvalley replied to fnkershner's topic in Painting, finishing and weathering products and techniques
Hello all, I want to blacken the cannons and also the cannon doors on the SF II. Paint will do it but not really as you all know. I haven't wandered the gun shops yet but did look at Bass pro online and they have a product called G96 Liquid Gun Blue Gun Treatment. Supposed to be soooo easy and soooo good. Won't wear off, yada yada. I don't know if it will work on brass and bronze and such or if it is just for gun steel as their online descriptions and directions are slim at best. Has anyone had any dealings with this product? Good, bad, too good to be true...etc? Randy -
Hey Robbyn, She's looking good and coming right along. I'm sort of right behind you now... I finished my hull planking and have attached my rubbing strakes... funny story tho... I put the 5mm on instead of the 3mm.. , it wasn't until it was done that I realized my error and I swear I checked and double checked everything but once I thought those were the strakes... well, in my mind they were. So, they stay and my problem is rethinking which wood goes where now that some is used and gone. Oh well... I'll look at it as a different version of kit bashing. I might need that Modelers Shipyard too. FYI-on a different note, I didn't oil my hull yet but I did do an experiment... tung oil, even with a poly coat (Maloof poly tung oil finish) still allows glue to penetrate the fibers and it sticks as well as raw. One caveat tho... the test was done under pressure (clamps) and there is no way I can get that same pressure on all parts of the ship so I agree with Sam and try to keep completely raw wood available. Randy
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Man o man, I love those stairs! Randy
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MONTANES by Garward - OcCre
lamarvalley replied to Garward's topic in - Kit build logs for subjects built from 1751 - 1800
Garward, stunning work again, as always. You inspire me. Randy -
Robbyn, Love those hinges and the jams too. Looks like the doors should actually open and your pulls look pretty similar to mine just probably a lot more work than snipping from costume jewelry. All in all, while it is only a door... I think the dark side is fun and I like it there. First doors, wooden crows nest are next, then.... who knows. Randy
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Hello Alexander, Your modeling is exceptional and inspirational. I am new to the hobby and look forward to watching this ship develop and learning as it does. Randy
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Huge improvement over the metal one in the kit. Good job! I think I might also do a wooden version. Randy
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Wow! Paper?? Never would have guessed. Very nice! Randy
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Well, an object doesn't have to be listed as hazardous for an individual to have an allergic reaction. For example... felines... not listed, yet I still suffer. All in all however, there is a difference between allergy and irritation. CA glue is obnoxious in odor and even though I don't 'react' to it when I use it, I crave some fresh air afterwards to clean out the lungs, especially if I have to use the activator. I'm fine but it's not a pleasant product to breathe and just like Andy said, air flow is really helpful to help spread those fumes around.
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I prefer a natural finish almost all the time and a good tung oil really brings out the colors and depth of fine hardwoods like mahogany. Tung oil also absorbs into the wood rather than surface coat so as long as it doesn't contain polyurethane or some other top coat additive the wood fibers are still available for gluing. I wouldn't want to use it before major work but for stuff like cannon doors and such it should work fine. I haven't yet but I plan on testing that theory long before it becomes an issue, i.e. finish a few pieces of scrap and glue them together. We'll find out then.
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