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jwvolz

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Everything posted by jwvolz

  1. Thanks Mike. Obviously I haven't gotten to the walnut yet but was thinking of possibly going with boxwood for the outer planking (at least above the waterline). The only thing holding me back is so many of the other fittings and CNC cut items will all be walnut, and I'm not sure how I feel about mixing and matching, and I don't feel like replacing all of those items. I definitely plan to replace the deck material, likely with Holly. Some of that walnut ply will be a challenge, no doubt. My birthday is in 12 days, AOTS book already on the list...
  2. Thanks Andy. Looks pretty good with the quarterdeck false deck, may need a little tweak, but not as bad as I first thought.
  3. Just spotted a possible issue. The four stern extensions don't stick out the same distance. I made sure everything was square and even, and got the two outer ones angled ins lightly as is proper, but not sure why they are protruding differently. The outer two are not out as far as the inner. All are flush with the last bulkhead. It would be easy enough to shim them, and as it is now it doesn't look like the transom would lay flat.
  4. Thanks Timmo and Joe. I'll likely be back on copper after this one Timmo, but it sure is nice to have the break! Well between last night and getting up early this morning I have all of the bulkheads and the stern extensions installed and beveled. Fit was very good and things went smoothly. It may be a couple of days before I make any further progress. The gun port template sheet is pretty warped and will require straightening for a few days before I can use it. That, and my son has a baseball game tomorrow as well as it being i Mother's day, that should just about do it for the weekend!
  5. Thanks Frank. Yes, it's a very nice kit. I'm pretty impressed with the quality of the components,instructions and plans. Highly recommeded.
  6. I was looking for something a bit different for my next build, and most assuredly did not want to copper, having done so on my last three builds, so after much thought I have settled on the Caldercraft Granado. There are some nice builds of her going on her on MSW which have given me some great ideas and nice inspiration. The kit is very nice right out of the box, with decent looking wood, nice fittings and excellent plans and instructions. I have yet to decide how far I'm going to go with changes and alterations wood wise, but I have some time to decide on that. So...let's get started! She's upright on her building board with rabbet and bearding line cut and the first few bulkheads installed. I'm glad we saved (my now teenaged sons') Legos! Nothing too exciting yet...
  7. Wow Ian those are ugly. I purchased my Unicorn in about 1995 and the cannons were very nicely done, nothing like that. Your build continues to look very nice.
  8. Looking very nice Timmo. My Granado kit arrived the other day and I've going through the contents over the weekend. I'm very impressed with the quality. I hope to start on her next weekend, and will be using some of the great ideas I've gotten from your build.
  9. Model Expo has them as does Caldercradt, whoe fittings you can buy from Cornwall Model Boats: http://www.modelexpo-online.com/search.asp?SKW=cat1_MR%20cat2_S@ http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/acatalog/caldercraft_belayingpins.html
  10. I like the paintwork on the gun carriges Timmo. Very nice. My Granado kit should arrive on my doorstep Thursday, and I can't wait to start her! I'm certainly going to be borrowing some of your fantastic ideas.
  11. The Search for Speed Under Sail and The Baltimore Clipper, It's Origin and Development both by Howard Chapelle have a good bit about American Privateer craft. Not a book, but the April issue of Naval History has a focus on War of 1812 privateers.
  12. Thin styrene would be a good approach too. Easy to cut cleanly, obviously takes paint well, nice and smooth. Evergreen makes some pretty thin material.
  13. Great shot of the Letter of Marque Tim, thanks for that! I've kind of narrowed down the next build to probably either the Caldercraft Granado, or the Cruizer, with some modifications to possibly make maybe HMS Reindeer, Penguin, Frolic or Grasshopper. I still have a lot of digging to do research wise on those vessels, so that may have to wait in line a bit. I'm also rather intrigued by the Caldercraft Pickle, which looks like a very nice kit, and a fun build. I'm a bit partial to topsail schooners... The stern davit was a simple modification, and the Caldercraft range of resin ship's boats look like a nice option to add some detail to. I think I'll have to look into them in the future.
  14. Thank you all, very much. Tim: The davits are a bit of creative license on my part, but the Merritt Edson model of the PDN in the Smithsonian has the stern davits, and I think it was likely she had them. They are not on the Model Shipways plans. I fabricated them from square walnut stock 4x4mm in size. I overlapped two pieces by about a third of their length, and then clamped them together and filed and sanded the curve to shape. The ships boats are built from a plastic shell from one of the Eurpoean kit manufacturers that I can't recall; ME used to carry them. I hollowed them out as thin as I could, planked the outside and then made the ribs/stringers/thwarts etc.. from scratch. Here's a closer photo of the davits/boat:
  15. Well, she's finished. Overall I'm pretty pleased with how it came out. I'll put additional photos in the gallery shortly. Now, what to build next...
  16. OK, thanks. I'll look out for it on my next visit.
  17. To any considering Alcad paints, be sure the surface you apply them to is absolutely blemish-free, as they go on very thin and show every imperfection underneath. I've never tried them on wood, only styrene. Also keep in mind they are nearly impossible to hand-brush since they dry so quickly. They are designed for airbrushing.
  18. Interesting druxey, thanks for that. Is it a specific brig or a generic representation of the Cruizer class? Main level or upstairs with the ship model collection?
  19. I'm starting to lean toward HMS Grasshopper. I'm saying this based on the brig Irene (ex-Grasshopper) model in the Naval Academy Museum, which shows both the fore and aft platforms. I doubt the Batavians would have gone to the trouble of adding those after her capture... I forget who built that beautiful model, but I'm assuming they did their homework. I'll need to stop back in there and get some better photos next time I'm down that way.
  20. Well Dave...Maybe I am more confused now. Really though, that info does help, and does square with some of the things I have been researching. OK, let's narrow it down then: among the Frolic, Reindeer, Avon, Epervier, Peacock, Penguin, you know, the "famous" ones, is it known if any of those had either the fore platform or the stern one or both? I'll gladly build one of those, if I can verify some of these pesky facts.
  21. Here's the profile plan of the Gannet/Belette(2nd of that name) which seems to show the bow platform, but not the one at the stern. The more digging I do, the more confusing this is...
  22. Exactly, the raised platforms above the deck. I had read that some of the Cruzier class brigs had both platforms as per the photo of the model below. Just trying to figure out how to determine which ones, and what the best route would be to take to model using either the Caldercraft Snake or Crusier as a starting point.
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