Blue Ensign

Thanks Dave, Caroline, and Martin, I will eventually get something that suits my eye, trouble is that what is fudgeable at 1:64 scale is not so easy at 1:48 scale on a fully open deck. Now a break from guns. Post 79 Thinking about the Bowsprit At this point I am looking at the Bowsprit because it ultimately determines the position of the Bowsprit step and the Windlass. I am using 5/16" Boxwood square stock and the process starts by drilling three mortices in the inboard end and the sheave hole at the Bowsprit outboard end. The stick will be put in the lathe for tapering and I have followed the proportions given in Steel. The length is quartered from the broadest point (8mm) and tapers in the proportions:' 1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr End 60/61 11/12 4/5 5/9 The results are pretty close to the dimensions drawn in the Syren plans. 7434 To check progress during the tapering process the quarters and diameters are marked on a card. 7427(2) The lathe extension bed is required to take the length of the Bowsprit. 7441 The taper was produced using just sandpaper and constant checking of the quarter diameters. 7444 The next stage is getting the fit thro' the Bowsprit port and trialling the Bowsprit step set up. 7462 I have departed from the Syren instructions by having the retaining fid pass thro' the Bowsprit and standards. Came into my mind whether these were originally wood or iron. To my mind iron would make more sense for this important job of retaining the Bowsprit. 7463 By the same token it crossed my mind whether there would have been an iron Bowsprit retaining ring attached to the stem. 7466 The spare fid holes were punched with a square section needle file and finished off with a micro chisel. 7468 Seeing the Bowsprit in place indicates what the overall size of the model will be, representing a 51'6" length overall. I haven't decided yet whether I am going to rig Cheerful or have her as a hull model with stub mast and sprit, so it is important to me to have a removeable Bowsprit, hence not following Chuck's example for fitting between the Bowsprit Step standards. 7503 With the sprit in place the standards are glued and pinned to the deck. 7505 7505 Once dry the fids can be withdrawn and the sprit can be removed. The Starboard side long gun is secured in its port. I can now reurn to fiddling with the side tackles whilst Chuck makes a supply of 3mm blocks to complete the job. B.E. 30/03/2019

Caroline, in the end I didn't use the knights on my build, and removed them when I did my second stern modification. You are welcome to them, pm me your address and I will post them on. Regards, B.E.

Post 78 Arming Cheerful With the breeching ropes fitted to the guns it is at last time to fix the guns in position on the deck. 7410(2) A spot of pva on the wheels is sufficient to hold the guns in place at the ports and allow forming the shape of the ropes, and later fitting of the side tackles. 7415(2) Still in a state of indecision about the positioning of the Portside long gun, and why were the two forward second ports left free of guns? Whereas the Breeching rope attachment is a fairly straightforward procedure particularly if you follow Chuck's fine example, making up the side tackles by comparison is a bit of a pain. There are two single blocks each with a hook and the standing end of the lanyard spliced into the bulwark block. I am using Chuck's now discontinued 3mm black plastic hooks and 3mm Boxwood blocks. For the lanyards I am using Syren .012" (0.3mm ø line.) 7401(2) A further modification to the gun jig is required to assist rigging the tackles before they are transferred to the gun. The main issue with side tackles is getting them to look in scale both in relation to the carriages, and the breeching ropes. 7413 The 0.3mm ø line equates to a 2" circumference line which is the upper end of the rope size for guns of this calibre, and there is a sufficient visual difference on the model with the breeching lines. 0.25mm ø line equivalent to 1½" circ would also be fine and provide an even greater contrast with the breechings. Personally I wouldn't go with any greater line size, not least because fitting it thro' the 3mm block sheaves would prove testy. The first side tackles are fitted but I'm not sure I like the effect. 7422(2) 7421 7416 Probably to do with getting the lanyards to hang naturally. 1855 Not that this example on a twelve pounder on Victory is anything to write home about. 7424 I have to wait for a supply of blocks from Chuck so I'll have a play with the side tackles in the meantime. 7407(2) Completing the guns is probably one of the longest exercises of the build. I actually started the process in early January. B.E. 27/03/2019

I am also surprised that the academics seemed to think it a revelation find people of North African descent in England in Tudor times. It is interesting to try and establish the origins of the crew, but I did find the presentation overdone and somewhat irritating. Surely they were not unaware that there was sea trade between Europe and the Mediterranean which would always lead to a degree of mingling certainly in coastal areas, and of course seafarers of North Africa generally known as the Barbary pirates, were very active in European waters from the 16th century to feed the North African slave trade, something academics tend to shy away from in present times. B.E.

Beautifully done Ian, a fine build and great photo's, I would be more than happy to give your Cheerful house room. 🙂 B.E.

Thank you Dave, OC, and Thomas. @ Dave, I'm not thinking of fitting a spectacle plate, but that doesn't mean to say rudder tackles didn't feature on cutters of Cheerful's size. Loss of a rudder was a serious matter on any vessel, and Cheerful's rudder was not a lightweight item being in the order of 18' long x 3' maximum width. I've not seen such tackle represented on models of this type but I don't think anyone could gainsay you if you decided to add a ring to secure the rudder. Post 77 Rigging the guns Starting with the Breeching lines. 7201 I am using Chuck's syren line (.035"/.88mm ø Tan line) This equates to 5" circ line, about right for the ordnance. To start the process my gun jig modified to assist with the breech rope fitting is brought back into use. The first decision is how to seize the breeching line to the bulwark ring. 7227 7222 To apply the seizing I am using 0.1mm Morope polyester line, a needle proves very useful in this task. 7224 One of my concerns is not to have the bulwark breech seizing look too bulky. I trialled a couple of seizing arrangements but finally settled on a simple seizing which was the best to my eye at this scale. 7229 Forming the eye to fit around the the cascobal. 7246 7245 Pushing the loop over the cascobal has to be done with great care to avoid marking the blackening. 7308 I use rounded wooden toothpicks for this purpose. 7327 Trial fitting on deck. 7317 Nothing fixed at this stage, but one thing is clear, the gun needs to be secured in position in order to arrange the breeching line in the best fashion. I'll ponder on this whilst I complete the breeching lines, but I am leaning towards a spot of pva on the wheels to hold the guns in place. B.E. 22/03/2019

Hi Tony, I don't have any definitive information on rudder coats for open sterned cutters such as Cheerful. My reasoning is purely that she is single planked at the transom where the rudder head enters the deck and without the small deck that sometimes covers the rudder head. The cutter Alert has such a platform deck over the housing for the rudder head, but Peter Goodwin neither refers to or indicates the use a rudder coat either in words or drawings. Where such a deck is enclosed at the front with perhaps compartments for storage it would make sense to reduce if not eliminate entry of water. However, the contemporary models of Surly and Cheerful included by Chuck as part of his reference work also don't show this feature but that in itself is neither here nor there, rudder coats rarely feature on contemporary models. I think if I was building a model cutter with an enclosed rudder head I would probably fit a rudder coat, but simply because that makes sense to me. I did in fact fit a rudder coat to my model of Pickle including a cover inboard, and she is an open decked vessel, but it seemed appropriate at the time. Thank you for the appreciation of my rudder, I hadn't given any thought to serving the handle with fine line, but I think I will leave it with just a plain finish. Cheers, B.E.

Liking your progress Rob, I think you are right to feel satisfied with the results. 👍 B.E.

Cheers Michael, and thanks for the reminder about those teenytiny lines and knots.😉 Post 76 Completing the rudder I had completed the rudder and its ironwork earlier in the build but now I turn to adding the tiller. 4904 3017(1) 7156 I may be wrong but I don't think a rudder coat is necessary given that the rudder head doesn't pass betwixt decks. Onto the Tiller Chuck had suggested cutting the tiller from some 1/8th Boxwood sheet and I followed his example. There followed a period of shaping using a scalpel blade, files and sandpaper. I did the whole tiller from one piece including the ball on the end. 7185 The rudder was secured on the mill to cut the mortise for the tiller heel. The iron bands were added around the rudder head using Chuck's Laserboard fittings, the bolt heads represented by mini pva blobs allowed to dry before painting. 7151 The tiller is not glued into place, it is held by a snug fit of the tenon in the rudder mortise. In fitting the tiller I took care to ensure that the underside height at the forward end was 22mm (41" above deck.) Don't want the helmsman to be on tiptoes to steer the ship. Once again I found myself indecisive when it came to the decoration of the tiller; all natural, paint, part paint/natural, bloody decisions. 7189 In the end I decided, at least for the present, to paint the tiller arm red but varnish the handle section. 7198 7196 Back to gun rigging. B.E. 18/03/2019

Great detail shots there Rusty👍 Clearly show how good your work is. B.E.

Cheers guys for the appreciation and 'likes' 🙂 Post 75 Ordnance all in order The fiddly fittings are all completed, not the end of the process as the quoins have to be glued in position and then there's the tackle rigging, but a relief nonetheless. 7098 7113 For the first time the full complement in place on Cheerful. 7114 7116 7111 7107 7105 7104 Before I return the task of tackle rigging I will have a change of scene and complete the rudder and make the tiller. B.E. 15/03/2019

Bellona is a fine subject, the classic British 74. I also like subjects with plenty of reference history, in the case of Bellona there is the NMM model and the Anatomy of the ship book by Brian Lavery. Personally I am waiting for your cutter Alert, that too has an Anatomy series book by Peter Goodwin. Every success to you Chris. B.E.

Feel free Kevin, glad it helped. B.E.

Hi Kevin, Here is a shot of how the line is currently set up on Victory. (or was a few years ago) It passes thro' the Mizen channels and is secured with a knot. I recall that the guides at the time were unable to understand what I was talking about and let me get on the Poop to show them. Doesn't necessarily help matters but perhaps when required lines were attached held by the knot. . Regards, B.E.

Cheers Martin, keep at it I have🙂 Post 74 Continuing adventures with guns. So with renewed resolve I start to rethink my approach to fitting out these chunky little carronades. Method is everything to avoid frustration which ultimately results in giving up. Getting into a it'll be done when it's done mind set also helps. Most of the problems in adding additional features revolve around holding the parts and in my particular case tired old eyes, and to think I went larger scale to make things easier for myself. 6451 This time I start by threading the chain onto 0.3mm brass etched eyebolts and once I got the required length used one as a template to make the others. 6359 The finished chain length is 5mm. The eyebolt rings were cut and closed to reduce them in size but still secure the chain. I fashioned the keys and bolt but at a slightly smaller size. I think it was this feature that I was least happy with first time around. 6367 I also decided to pre-glue the keys into the bolt before fixing because once in place they are a fixed point to attach the chain. 6636 During the operations a jig to hold the gun helps to avoid handing. 6889 The chain is attached to the key using fine wire. 7035(2) Sealed with a spot of ca, a paint touch up, and the jobs complete. 7045(2) 7043(2) 7040(2) 6894 Making the capsquares for the long guns was somewhat trickier than for the carronades. There is little room at the forward end to drill and fit the retaining bolt and key. Now all this is a lot of extra work for a small feature, but we are all prisoners of our foibles, and this is yet another one of mine.🙄 Still I am happy with the result and there are only four guns left to do which I will complete at a leisurely pace over the course of next week. B.E. 10/03/2019

Nice work on the skylight and Binnacle Caroline, tricky little beasts to make aren't they. On the question of gun stowage my understanding is that lashing alongside was mostly used where space was at a premium such as in cabins.This was the case on Victory in the Masters cabin on the Quarterdeck. It is your option of course but I doubt this arrangement was used on a sloop such as Pegasus on the open gundeck with no port covers. If I was motivated to demonstrate such an arrangement I think I would restrict it to one gun only each side, but the aesthetics also need to be considered in terms of the model. Regards, B.E.

Beautiful shots of a beautiful build, well done Rusty, a great reference work to follow. B.E.

So true Wallace, satisfaction is the key, do it to a level that pleases me - satisfaction. Don't do it, a constant niggle that I failed and should have tried harder. @ Grant - Thanks Grant , I suspect you're right.😃 @ Dave, glad the blocks worked out; for the slings I fitted the horizontal bands and then used a needle to thread the verticals beneath the horizontals, and seized them with a false splice. I believe the buoys were tarred. I dipped mine in some Dark Jacobean wood stain. Not sure that wire will give the best appearance on the buoys. 4355 4363 4357. Hope these pics may help. Cheers Guys, B.,E.

Post 73 Completing the Guns (Part 2) I don't glue my barrels to the carriages, preferring to hold them in place with the capsquares. I had previously made the capsquares but these now need finishing with the holes drilled to take the joint bolts and eyebolts. So far so good. When I made the Pegasus guns I added the bolt that secures the cap square in place plus the key and chain. 005 050 These were at 1:64 scale, so replicating these fittings at 1:48 scale would be a doddle, - right, - wrong. I think going slightly larger is more difficult as detail becomes more apparent. At this point I hit a sort of wall and have been fiddling around ever since my last post. 6274 These are the makings to complete the carriage furniture. The capsquares, eyebolt hinges, and joint bolts are fairly easy. It's making the key and attaching the chain that tests my sanity and patience to the limit. The Chain is some tiny stuff I have in stock whose origin is now obscure. 48 links to the inch just about right for the purpose, but still quite tricky to attach to the key in particular. Working out an approach and method is the first hurdle, handling the tiny little beggars is the second. I have spent several days faffing around trying to fit these tiny additions, the chain links are so small that I have to seize them to the key and retaining eyebolt, using very fine wire, and the more the gun is handled the more the finish is affected. 6334(3) From 12" normal viewing the result doesn't look too bad, from some angles anyway. 6335 The joint bolt fashioned from a cut down eyebolt, I am fairly happy with. 6329 Not entirely sure about the height of the key bolt or the size of the key, this is the area that bothers me most. The difficulty is fashioning these in an even smaller size. A further test is how does the finished gun look in place, no good doing it if it detracts from the look. 6344 6342 6349 Is the overall result worth the effort, I'm not sure and grow less so with the prospect of a further eleven guns to dress. I will give it one last go before I start on any further guns. B.E. 26/02/2019

Thanks Dave, I agree narrow brass strip is the way to go for the metal stropped cat blocks, the tricky bit is getting the central disc where the sheave is located. I've made a few anchor buoys in my time and scratched the ones for Pegasus. For Cheerful tho' as they were available I took advantage of Chuck's little offerings. These will still need the serving and slings adding which is the fiddly bit. The buoys are an awkward shape not that conducive to serving and I find the line needs pva-ing as I work down the buoy. In fitting the slings I find a needle is of great benefit. Regards, B.E.

Thank you guys, @ John - only minor use was needed, and I also wore a mask. Post 72 Completing the guns. (Part 1) The first job is to apply the Royal monograms, using Chuck's delightful little offerings. 6208 A small detail that is missing from the guns are the vents, quite feasible to add at 1:48 scale. Easy enough to replicate on the long guns with a strip of brass drilled with a hole, but more difficult on the Carronades where the touch hole is in a casting atop the base rings. 6210 6211 I wouldn't have attempted this freehand but it can be done using the mill with a 0.5mm micro drill. Alternatively a small patch of 'lead' foil could be used to represent the covers to protect the touchhole. 6217 The blackening process is fairly slow because after each treatment tiny contaminated areas remain that require more delicate cleaning before re-dipping. 6230 However little by little an even finish is obtained. 6220 Here's a completed carronade after a light buff with a soft paintbrush. 6225 Once the cover is even the guns can be re dipped to intensify the depth of colour. 6254 Slightly darker after a further dip. 6247(2) The completed set The next step is to mount the guns, and that's a whole new exercise in fiddly detail. B.E. 22/02/2019

Post 71 Gun Blackening. I prefer to chemically blacken my guns rather that paint them but my first job is not to start blackening but to make the cap squares to hold the trunnions in place. 6174 A simple jig is made to hold a trunnion at the right depth and some brass strip is formed over this. 6176 It is important to use a pliable not too thick brass strip for this, otherwise the bending process can prove quite difficult. I am using some 0.25mm x 1.5mm brass fret strip left over from my Pegasus build. 6173 With the set made I can leave the finishing off until later. 6207 All the necessary stuff is assembled. I am using a 29/64" long gun to work out the procedure I will use. I am particularly interested in how the GR monogram will respond to the various procedures which will determine whether they are applied pre or post treatment. 6185 A medium sized monogram is blackened and fixed to the barrel using a spot of CA. This has been pre-blackened using some USA stuff called Birchwood Casey Super Black touch up pen which works very well but seems to be rather nasty stuff to the extent that its sale is banned in California. Still I will have very short exposure to this stuff. The barrel is scrubbed in soapy water, rinsed in distilled water, dipped in acid, rinsed again, immersed in the brass black, and rinsed again. 6197 You can see the unblackened area around the monogram which is due to ca contamination. The good news is that the monogram has not been affected by any of the processes. A scalpel blade point is used to scrape away the ca overspill and the process repeated. I found it easier to put tiny spots of ca onto the barrel directly and then place the very tiny cypher and apply a little pressure. 6199 6200 So this is the effect after two 3 minute immersions in diluted Carrs Metal Black to Brass. 6198 6202 Quite happy with the way things have gone and I will now carry on to complete the full complement of ordnance. As an aside if you compare the finish Chuck obtained using paint and weathering powders, what a great job he made of 'iron' ising his guns. B.E. 19/02/2019

Cheers Guys, and for all the 'like' hits, much appreciated. Post 70 Fixed Block This is a convenient point to make the fixed block for the stem to take the jib outhaul. Taking measurement off the plan the block is made from a scrap of 3mm thick boxwood sheet. 6136 I cut the profile on the little mill, and finished it with files and sanding sticks. 6138 6139(2) 6140(2) 6145 The sheave was made from a slice off some Ramin dowel. 6149 6147 The bench will now be cleared so I can get down to a spot of gun blackening. B.E. 17/02/2019

I have just ordered the Longboat kit, and as with Cheerful I will have your log and excellent work to follow as an example. Thanks Rusty. B.E.

Hi Chris, I've always been an admirer of your designed models but have accepted the timber limitations of mass produced kits which I have replaced mostly with Box. For double skinned kits Limewood is fine for the first planking, but as with my Pegasus build I replaced the second planking with a thin Boxwood strip obtained from: http://www.originalmarquetry.co.uk/product_details_335.htm This is fine for 1:64 scale models and the beauty is that it comes in varying widths to allow for shaping of hull and deck planks, and also very easy to work. This is what I would do on your proposed Alert if it becomes available, in the absence of better stuff. The inclusion of 'usual' kit wood, would not put me off buying the kit if I liked the look of it, but as a small enterprise I think you need to follow Chuck's lead and lean towards a more high end market. I consider myself an experienced kit basher rather than a scratch builder, altho' there is not much bashing required in my current Cheerful project. This is what attracted me to Chuck's Cheerful Kit. Well drawn plans. Well written online guide to building the model. Clear history of the subject model Provision of the main areas of the model in quality wood - keel, stem etc. Availability of kit specific timbers - Crown, Syren. Quality fittings and mini kits for those tricky to make items. All this makes for a pleasurable build experience and high satisfaction, eager for the next model. Regards, B.E.