ChrisLBren

Probably the most difficult part to produce so far - Wing Transom.  I used every tool in my shop (mill, all the sanders and chisels).  I left off the dove tails in the rear of the part as it may make aligning the legs of the stern trickier later.  They really aren't necessary for the structure and the risk of screwing up my third attempt at this part isn't worth it ! 

Probably the most difficult part to produce so far - Wing Transom.  I used every tool in my shop (mill, all the sanders and chisels).  I left off the dove tails in the rear of the part as it may make aligning the legs of the stern trickier later.  They really aren't necessary for the structure and the risk of screwing up my third attempt at this part isn't worth it ! 

Probably the most difficult part to produce so far - Wing Transom.  I used every tool in my shop (mill, all the sanders and chisels).  I left off the dove tails in the rear of the part as it may make aligning the legs of the stern trickier later.  They really aren't necessary for the structure and the risk of screwing up my third attempt at this part isn't worth it ! 

Hi Mark,
Or you could go with 1/36th and build the Amarante if you're not scared of some carving.  Personally I love the larger scales and this is one of Gerard's best.  It about 34 inches unmasted.  

After 2 months of consistent work - 63 frames are cut and assembled and ready for sanding/bevels. One partial stern frame remains to be assembled later.  I need to tweak both the stern keel parts to make sure everything fits snug and re do bow parts part h and i.  Then to cut the rabbet.  Thanks for stopping by. 

Happy Labor Day group.  Quick update - halfway there - 32 frames of 64 completed (each consisting of 12 parts).  I am very happy I bought a flitch of Pear back in 2017 as the price has doubled and framing consumes quite a bit of wood at this scale.  

Greetings Group,
 
I restarted this build in earnest beginning of August and have completed 20 frames (roughly 1/3rd of the total frames).  The frames have not been sanded or bias added, simply assembled (each frame is 12 parts and stacked) with some extra "fat along the bold line of the frame patterns.  
 
I carve out early a couple hours early 430 AM - 630AM before the kids go to school and my day starts - has been working really well so far !

Greetings MSW.    I am back after completing Chuck's Confederacy scratch after a 7 year build finished in 2016.  (he did give me some cheats on the figurehead and some sculptures....)  She is an incredibly designed kit - I learned a ton - and ironically it was built in several apartments while single with nothing but a crappy Delta scroll saw and an old Preac table saw, along with Xacto knifes.  Jeff Hayes perfectly milled wood helped a ton !  And then I got married and my twins were born which slowed down everything in 2013. 
 
I have always wanted to build a fully framed French ship and collected a full library of Ancre subjects (the 74 Gun Series, Monographs of the 74 timbers, Commerce de Marseille, and La Renommee).    So  after buying a house in the suburbs - I built out a workshop.  I gathered the necessary tools over the past few years -  Byrnes Table Saw, Thickness Sander, Disc Sander,  Proxxon Mill, Proxxon Planer, Wood River spindle sander and a Dewalt full size table saw to reduce my flitch of pear wood to usable size.  I have also collected Lie Nielsen chisels and its Lee Valley Sharpening system.  
 
So it seems I can't fail right ?  
 
I did...
 
Call it being a Dad of young twins or just sheer intimidation.  I could not complete the stem for La Renommee to my standard so I quit.  I then decided - maybe a simpler subject would work - so I began construction on La Jacinthe in 1/32 scale.  Not only did I have issues with consistency of enlarging the plans (thanks FedEx/UPS store) - I grew bored with its construction - I have already successfully completed several plank on bulkhead models. 
 
So I returned to the enlarged plans that Delacroix sent me for Le Gros Ventre in 1/36 scale - a noble subject - with nice lines, simpler sculptures and yet a serious challenge.  I have heard from several members on this forum that building fully framed in larger scale is easier...
 
So here is the start of my build log - it will be messy showing all of the mistakes in order to build a fully framed model.  Here are my results after 2 months of work - the last photo showing my useable parts.

Keel section is complete (and shortened a wee bit on plan sheet 4 - its one of the only errors in the Mono)- thanks to the Taig for the rabbet, and a lot of hand sanding.  Next up the wing transom and tricky stern parts.

Thanks Greg !  Yes I am - my schedule is grab some coffee and work 430am-630am while everyone else in the family is asleep (my workshop is in the basement which helps with the noise)  I really treasure this time doing a little everyday and just enjoying the process to begin my day.  

Keel section is complete (and shortened a wee bit on plan sheet 4 - its one of the only errors in the Mono)- thanks to the Taig for the rabbet, and a lot of hand sanding.  Next up the wing transom and tricky stern parts.

Good Morning !
 
The construction site is now completed.  It is composed of a Melamine board 48 by 16 by 3/4 thick I liquid nailed to 1/1/4 Red Oak Stair Balusters.  It is dead level.  The rest of the structure is 3/4 MDF and 1/4 MDF for the upper platform with the usual 1/4 threaded rods.  I abandoned both the 3/4 inch birch plywood board screwed into the same oak balusters - it was not as level - and a 3/4 thick MDF board glued to 3/4 square battens.  I will use the 3/4 MDF as a moveable platform for the plans.  
 
My Taig milled arrived this week as well.  I chose the Taig as I was able to purchase a refurbished unit with the same warranty as new for a discount to list.  It comes stock to run at 10000rpm to cut wood with the upgraded motor.  I love its weight as 80lbs and the x travels a full 12 inches.  Its an amazing tool built with the same craftsmanship as my Byrnes machines.   Most of the Sherline accessories will fit it.  While not necessary to build this ship (I do love collecting tools though!) - it will certainly make the complicated and large structures of the bow and stern at this scale hopefully easier to realize.  Its first task will be to cut the rabbets into the keel parts.    



 

Thanks Greg !  Yes I am - my schedule is grab some coffee and work 430am-630am while everyone else in the family is asleep (my workshop is in the basement which helps with the noise)  I really treasure this time doing a little everyday and just enjoying the process to begin my day.  

Keel section is complete (and shortened a wee bit on plan sheet 4 - its one of the only errors in the Mono)- thanks to the Taig for the rabbet, and a lot of hand sanding.  Next up the wing transom and tricky stern parts.

Thanks Patrick !  And for all of the likes everyone. 

Thanks Greg !  Yes I am - my schedule is grab some coffee and work 430am-630am while everyone else in the family is asleep (my workshop is in the basement which helps with the noise)  I really treasure this time doing a little everyday and just enjoying the process to begin my day.  

Thanks Greg !  Yes I am - my schedule is grab some coffee and work 430am-630am while everyone else in the family is asleep (my workshop is in the basement which helps with the noise)  I really treasure this time doing a little everyday and just enjoying the process to begin my day.  

Keel section is complete (and shortened a wee bit on plan sheet 4 - its one of the only errors in the Mono)- thanks to the Taig for the rabbet, and a lot of hand sanding.  Next up the wing transom and tricky stern parts.

Hi Mark,
Or you could go with 1/36th and build the Amarante if you're not scared of some carving.  Personally I love the larger scales and this is one of Gerard's best.  It about 34 inches unmasted.  

Hi Mark,
Or you could go with 1/36th and build the Amarante if you're not scared of some carving.  Personally I love the larger scales and this is one of Gerard's best.  It about 34 inches unmasted.  

Hi Mark,
Or you could go with 1/36th and build the Amarante if you're not scared of some carving.  Personally I love the larger scales and this is one of Gerard's best.  It about 34 inches unmasted.  

Thanks Greg !  Yes I am - my schedule is grab some coffee and work 430am-630am while everyone else in the family is asleep (my workshop is in the basement which helps with the noise)  I really treasure this time doing a little everyday and just enjoying the process to begin my day.  

Thanks Greg !  Yes I am - my schedule is grab some coffee and work 430am-630am while everyone else in the family is asleep (my workshop is in the basement which helps with the noise)  I really treasure this time doing a little everyday and just enjoying the process to begin my day.  

Keel section is complete (and shortened a wee bit on plan sheet 4 - its one of the only errors in the Mono)- thanks to the Taig for the rabbet, and a lot of hand sanding.  Next up the wing transom and tricky stern parts.

Keel section is complete (and shortened a wee bit on plan sheet 4 - its one of the only errors in the Mono)- thanks to the Taig for the rabbet, and a lot of hand sanding.  Next up the wing transom and tricky stern parts.