Mark Pearse

Dear all
 
Thank you all for your comments and likes!
I ve been working on the boat, walking a thin line between the Admiral's wrath and getting a few things actually done, so time for another update.
 
Rob Ross used to say that there are no mistakes, only happy accidents. There sure have been many happy accidents so far with this boat! Usually my CAD drafts are pretty accurate but as I move on, I am scratching my head as 1+1 does not always make 2, I cannot figure out what I was actually drafting. But so far I managed to more or less fix things.
 
So planking is finished! You will see that the sheer strake, or rather half of it, is missing. The reason is that Hercules has a tall bulwark and it would be difficult to securely fix it in place so I thought it made sense to merge the sheer strake with the bulwark. Now Hercules is 150 feet long and made of steel so the planks are completely unrealistic but they do make a nice hull!



The card templates (there were even more than these) show how much work actually planking involves with spilling and everything - still I had only 2 half planks that I had to re do as they came out very wrong.

One of the many happy accidents is in the following photos. I did not really want to buy new wood so I had just enough pear for the planking. I managed to snap the very last length I had left, with just a half plank left to do! I managed to fix this by making it in two parts, narrow escape!

Then lots of Osmo filler and lots of sanding. Of course I did not read the instructions that state to thin the filler with 15% water and I struggled wasting a lot of the expensive filler. Prior to that, all the hundreds of screws were replaced by tree nails.



Much more filling and sanding will be needed but a big chunk of the hull preparation has been done.
 
Then I made the bulwarks but only after I managed to snap the little stem extension not once but twice. I had a sheet of maple and three sheets of mahogany left so I used maple - what a nice wood it is! It will all be primed and painted black.


 



But something felt wrong. I went back to my CAD drafts and the plans and indeed, the bulwark/planks were a couple of centimeters short. The happy accidents are piling up!
Now, Hercules has this little feature at the stern where there is a small flat vertical segment, this has to be made by laminating thin strips which gives the opportunity to correct the mistake above.
So I used some thin beech strips I had. I dislike beech due to its huge movement in service but it is so nice to bend, just with water it can be tied in a knot.


I just used PVA to laminate the strips, if I had used epoxy it would have been very messy.

Then rough cut to shape and screwed in place.



I know it looks rough, I had trouble with the stern drafting in CAD and did not really spend time on it, I hope I ll fix it with a bit of filler, bit of sanding, paint on top.
 
I am enjoying this boat, it is very different from anything I have built so fat.
 
On another note, the postman dropped a cardboard tube with some plans which are currently being processed. There will be a new log starting, this time for a far more complex boat that will take a long time to build, a boat that from the first time I saw it I new I just have to make! 
 
Take care all
 
Vaddoc

Since the last post, the cockpit sole was given the weathering treatment. The seat backrests are made but won't go on yet as they will restrict access for other pieces.

 
A feature of these yachts is the varnished removable hatches either side of the companionway storm boards, & other varnished details. They are a really nice part of the cockpit area & of course will draw the eye to them on the model. So, with some hesitation I started fitting these pieces, after varnishing them (shellac, to a satin finish). The deck also got painted, matt blue with gloss white edges. On the photo below, cover strips & edge details are still to be added.

 

 

 
This photo to show the finish, & the nice glow of the timber (Queensland Maple on the model, Teak on the yacht).

 
And the fore hatch also:

 

Since the last post, the cockpit sole was given the weathering treatment. The seat backrests are made but won't go on yet as they will restrict access for other pieces.

 
A feature of these yachts is the varnished removable hatches either side of the companionway storm boards, & other varnished details. They are a really nice part of the cockpit area & of course will draw the eye to them on the model. So, with some hesitation I started fitting these pieces, after varnishing them (shellac, to a satin finish). The deck also got painted, matt blue with gloss white edges. On the photo below, cover strips & edge details are still to be added.

 

 

 
This photo to show the finish, & the nice glow of the timber (Queensland Maple on the model, Teak on the yacht).

 
And the fore hatch also:

 

Since the last post, the cockpit sole was given the weathering treatment. The seat backrests are made but won't go on yet as they will restrict access for other pieces.

 
A feature of these yachts is the varnished removable hatches either side of the companionway storm boards, & other varnished details. They are a really nice part of the cockpit area & of course will draw the eye to them on the model. So, with some hesitation I started fitting these pieces, after varnishing them (shellac, to a satin finish). The deck also got painted, matt blue with gloss white edges. On the photo below, cover strips & edge details are still to be added.

 

 

 
This photo to show the finish, & the nice glow of the timber (Queensland Maple on the model, Teak on the yacht).

 
And the fore hatch also:

 

Since the last post, the cockpit sole was given the weathering treatment. The seat backrests are made but won't go on yet as they will restrict access for other pieces.

 
A feature of these yachts is the varnished removable hatches either side of the companionway storm boards, & other varnished details. They are a really nice part of the cockpit area & of course will draw the eye to them on the model. So, with some hesitation I started fitting these pieces, after varnishing them (shellac, to a satin finish). The deck also got painted, matt blue with gloss white edges. On the photo below, cover strips & edge details are still to be added.

 

 

 
This photo to show the finish, & the nice glow of the timber (Queensland Maple on the model, Teak on the yacht).

 
And the fore hatch also:

 

Since the last post, the cockpit sole was given the weathering treatment. The seat backrests are made but won't go on yet as they will restrict access for other pieces.

 
A feature of these yachts is the varnished removable hatches either side of the companionway storm boards, & other varnished details. They are a really nice part of the cockpit area & of course will draw the eye to them on the model. So, with some hesitation I started fitting these pieces, after varnishing them (shellac, to a satin finish). The deck also got painted, matt blue with gloss white edges. On the photo below, cover strips & edge details are still to be added.

 

 

 
This photo to show the finish, & the nice glow of the timber (Queensland Maple on the model, Teak on the yacht).

 
And the fore hatch also:

 

Since the last post, the cockpit sole was given the weathering treatment. The seat backrests are made but won't go on yet as they will restrict access for other pieces.

 
A feature of these yachts is the varnished removable hatches either side of the companionway storm boards, & other varnished details. They are a really nice part of the cockpit area & of course will draw the eye to them on the model. So, with some hesitation I started fitting these pieces, after varnishing them (shellac, to a satin finish). The deck also got painted, matt blue with gloss white edges. On the photo below, cover strips & edge details are still to be added.

 

 

 
This photo to show the finish, & the nice glow of the timber (Queensland Maple on the model, Teak on the yacht).

 
And the fore hatch also:

 

Since the last post, the cockpit sole was given the weathering treatment. The seat backrests are made but won't go on yet as they will restrict access for other pieces.

 
A feature of these yachts is the varnished removable hatches either side of the companionway storm boards, & other varnished details. They are a really nice part of the cockpit area & of course will draw the eye to them on the model. So, with some hesitation I started fitting these pieces, after varnishing them (shellac, to a satin finish). The deck also got painted, matt blue with gloss white edges. On the photo below, cover strips & edge details are still to be added.

 

 

 
This photo to show the finish, & the nice glow of the timber (Queensland Maple on the model, Teak on the yacht).

 
And the fore hatch also:

 

Since the last post, the cockpit sole was given the weathering treatment. The seat backrests are made but won't go on yet as they will restrict access for other pieces.

 
A feature of these yachts is the varnished removable hatches either side of the companionway storm boards, & other varnished details. They are a really nice part of the cockpit area & of course will draw the eye to them on the model. So, with some hesitation I started fitting these pieces, after varnishing them (shellac, to a satin finish). The deck also got painted, matt blue with gloss white edges. On the photo below, cover strips & edge details are still to be added.

 

 

 
This photo to show the finish, & the nice glow of the timber (Queensland Maple on the model, Teak on the yacht).

 
And the fore hatch also:

 

I worked on the cockpit footwell duckboarding over the weekend. I'd prefer to make it to an easier design, but this is what the boat has....

 
The frames were glued over cardboard templates:
 
The thickness is 0.3mm over sized, if you compare the completed to the actual the difference is obvious, but the completed piece on the model looks reasonably to scale, so I'm ok with that.
 
And parallel timber strips on the back, 2 x 2mm are slightly oversized, but should look to scale.
 
Then the facing strips, with timber strips as temporary spacers:

In the lengthwise dimension, the size of the timber strips wasn't naturally suited to the gap in the frames - so I adjusted the meeting frames to get even spacings in the boards. Here you can see the forwards panel completed to that stage & the after one has the meeting frame marked & about the be trimmed:

 
And here with the small infill pieces of timber all in & completed....slow & painstaking but it's done now. Happy with the result as well.

 
And in the boat. Next is to give it some weathering & also cut out for the mainsheet block, which is fixed off to the sole below the duckboards.

Since the last post, the cockpit sole was given the weathering treatment. The seat backrests are made but won't go on yet as they will restrict access for other pieces.

 
A feature of these yachts is the varnished removable hatches either side of the companionway storm boards, & other varnished details. They are a really nice part of the cockpit area & of course will draw the eye to them on the model. So, with some hesitation I started fitting these pieces, after varnishing them (shellac, to a satin finish). The deck also got painted, matt blue with gloss white edges. On the photo below, cover strips & edge details are still to be added.

 

 

 
This photo to show the finish, & the nice glow of the timber (Queensland Maple on the model, Teak on the yacht).

 
And the fore hatch also:

 

I worked on the cockpit footwell duckboarding over the weekend. I'd prefer to make it to an easier design, but this is what the boat has....

 
The frames were glued over cardboard templates:
 
The thickness is 0.3mm over sized, if you compare the completed to the actual the difference is obvious, but the completed piece on the model looks reasonably to scale, so I'm ok with that.
 
And parallel timber strips on the back, 2 x 2mm are slightly oversized, but should look to scale.
 
Then the facing strips, with timber strips as temporary spacers:

In the lengthwise dimension, the size of the timber strips wasn't naturally suited to the gap in the frames - so I adjusted the meeting frames to get even spacings in the boards. Here you can see the forwards panel completed to that stage & the after one has the meeting frame marked & about the be trimmed:

 
And here with the small infill pieces of timber all in & completed....slow & painstaking but it's done now. Happy with the result as well.

 
And in the boat. Next is to give it some weathering & also cut out for the mainsheet block, which is fixed off to the sole below the duckboards.

Later yesterday I wiped the dark grey paint onto the timber panel, the cockpit seating, to weather the timber. [On the paint, it was 3 shades of matt acrylic, Tamiya brand - some black, a fair bit of white & a fair bit of beige. It was dirty & still pretty dark.] The effect of the paint on the timber was a bit too strong, & gave it a bit of a wipe with a damp cloth but it didn't change much. The effect I wanted was understated rather than too much, & this was too much.
 
I was concerned that I'd have to sand while lot off & start again. Anyway, tonight I gave it a delicate sand with 180 grit & it was looking somewhat better but uneven & there were patches (sorry no photos, fear doesn't make me think of taking photos). I suspect that some of the glue I'd used for laminating the timber - CA - had dripped or smeared or whatever on the timber & had changed the rate of paint absorption. So I diluted some of the paint & with a small brush dabbed here & there, plus some more careful detail sanding, & it was starting to look ok. It was time to do the caulking lines, & I'm really happy with the result.
 

 

Once the backrests are done, I'll paint the whole lot with clear matt acrylic varnish, maybe 2 coats, then glue it all down. Or maybe varnish in parts, glue down the base & then the backrests.
 

A little more progress on the 'Duchess'.
 
All six yards are now crossed on the mainmast, so that leaves only six more square sails to rig. When I look at the model now, I sometimes think that she's getting towards completion; then I remember ratlines, braces, staysail sheets and deck details to complete and go back to wondering whether she'll ever get there! 😉
 
John
 

Small update on the upper deck layout.
 
During a week of vacation I asked and received information from the Mary Rose museum. Was there a capstan, and if so where?
Answer.
There is no real evidence that there was one, but also no evidence that there wasn't one. And the most logical place is behind the main mast.

Also received a pdf "Cabels and Cablets of the Mary Rose" which contains a lot of information about the layout of the upper deck and the anchor cables.
This results in the following setup (not a technical masterpiece as it is sketched on a beach chair, but reasonably clear).

Start upper deck.

 

Hi Vaddoc
 
Looks good, & I wish my work space was half as orderly as that. Out of curiosity, are you reinforcing the plank joins? Butt blocks on a yacht....

Thanks Mark and Jim and all that hit the like button.
 
A bit too early for an update but It's exciting seeing the shape of the hull slowly emerging.
Boats are such beautiful things!
 
Vaddoc

Hello,
the first stand (?) is installed. This is the fourth version of it. 😟  I worked here after a drawing from Frederik Johannessen, he reconstructed the ship.



And at least the whole ship

Hi Vaddoc
 
That's looking very good. The line of the planks looks lovely, a difficult thing to get right.
 
Mess = busy

Hi Vaddoc
 
That's looking very good. The line of the planks looks lovely, a difficult thing to get right.
 
Mess = busy

Hi Vaddoc
 
That's looking very good. The line of the planks looks lovely, a difficult thing to get right.
 
Mess = busy

Beautiful!
Rick

"Astonishing" is all I can say.
That last picture with your duckgratings in place really looks like the real thing. That weathering is brilliant. It's only the lack of finer detail in that picture that shows it's the model in progress rather than an example of the real thing! 

Yes, the adaptability of English is an enjoyable part of the language. There's some really nice colourful language in the book I'm currently reading: "The Shipping News", I'm not sure how close to you it's set. A v enjoyable book.
 
And, the gratings did turn out better than I had hoped, not having done them before.
Thanks,

Yes, the adaptability of English is an enjoyable part of the language. There's some really nice colourful language in the book I'm currently reading: "The Shipping News", I'm not sure how close to you it's set. A v enjoyable book.
 
And, the gratings did turn out better than I had hoped, not having done them before.
Thanks,