jwvolz

Rigged the spreaders and the spring stay. The spreader lifts are fully served and secured with lanyards. Lots and lots of serving...

Ensign...conclusion:
A tiny bit of steam was used to soften the ensign while various "rounded implements" with different radii (dowel, metal file shafts etc.) were used to try and introduce various folds.  I'd love to be able to describe a reproduceable scientific process, but thats not what happened.  It was really just a continual serious of tweaks, leaving to dry and most importantly trying not to introduce creases.  Steam worked fine to initially soften and allow the structural folds to be introduced, but isn't really a good ongoing solution as it tends to undo any previous work.  Real care is also needed to not 'over wet' the painted flag, not sure I was completely successful here.  Final tweaking was done by wetting very gently any tools used and trying to hold in position while it dried and the fold takes.

...and with that milestone, I'm declaring this build FINISHED!  
 
This was my first wooden ship build, and first model I've built for over 30 years.  Its taken probably 8 years to get this far off an on (probably 7 years more than it should), but I have to say I'm glad I was able to finish her.  I've come to realize that I enjoy the journey more than the destination, and I certainly experienced moments when I could easily have put her aside permanently, mainly due to me recognizing unfixable mistakes or compromises that that could so easily been enhanced had I known more at the time.  Given the length of time taken to complete, this progression in knowledge and execution is very apparent to me, but I hope is less apparent to others.  All in all, this was a most enjoyable project that exposed me to the necessary knowledge and techniques that I hope build on and leverage in the future.  I still need to make up a protective case, and will probably continue to see needed fixes and touchups before she (hopefully) is put in a place of rest.  I would like to thank this entire community for the ongoing help, support and encouragement - without which I would not have reached this point.
 
Few pictures to celebrate, apologies that these aren't exactly studio quality.

 

Good start Rich. While you still can, I'd advise balsa between every bulkhead. It isn't so much for fairing purposes amidship, but to give you a solid surface for deck planking. The deck planks in the kit are likely fairly narrow and will lay much better over a solid surface. It also allows scale lengths and butt shifts without having to worry about landing on an existing bulkhead. 
 
See my current Benjamin Latham build log for an example. Even though that kit is 1/48 it has 1/16" deck planks. 

GuntherMT, thanks for the tip. I have done something similar in the past with larger woodworking projects, and will give it a try here.
 
I finished up the planking on the port side today. I did end up with a bigger gap on the last row, but was able to fill it like I did the starboard side. I had plenty of small cut-off scraps, so I would find a bit that was just a tiny bit oversized and then press it in with glue and the trim iron for nice tight fit.
 
 
 
Both sides have been lightly sanded. I will try filling in some of the remaining gaps next.
 

Some progress on the longboat: Planking and clean-up is finished (imgs 1-3), hull is painted (imgs 4-5), floor boards, front grating and thwarts are done (imgs 6-7), chocks are mounted on the gallows bits (img 8), and the windlass is installed (img 9). Img 10 gives an overall impression of the Syren with the (unfinished) longboat in place.
 
Thomas
 

Image 1
 

Image 2
 

Image 3
 

Image 4
 

Image 5
 

Image 6
 

Image 7
 

Image 8
 

Image 9
 

Image 10
 
 

The following have now been completed: 1) painting and installation of the PE decoration on the hull; 2) painting, glazing and installation of the quarter galleries; 3) installation of the channels; 4) installation of the hull steps.
 
The gold paint that I have used is an antique or old gold and is not as bright as others have used. I prefer a subdued look, but I can understand how others  prefer the "pop" of a brighter gold. Although I am intrigued by use of floor polish to attach the PE, I chose to use a method that I have used before. I used the same Micro Krystal Klear that I use for glazing as an adhesive to attach the PE. It is very easy to  use and leaves no visible  residue. I completed the process by applying a coat of Wipe-on Poly over the entire area.
 
On the quarter galleries, I again used blue, rather than red, as the background color.
 
I have also begun work on the head, but will leave that for the next update.
 
Bob

Rigged the spreaders and the spring stay. The spreader lifts are fully served and secured with lanyards. Lots and lots of serving...

Very, very nice work Rusty.

Very, very nice work Rusty.

I've started making the Duchess shine with some of her fancy window and port decorations.
 
All were glued in place with a touch of CA glue.  
 

 
And here is the first of the photoetched decorations. Being the cautious type a tiny drop of CA was placed on the backside tacking them in place. Two coats of Future (Now Pledge Revive It) were applied and must say I'm happy with it so far.
 

While various parts are drying I assembled the mid deck bulkhead.
 
Everything fit perfectly.
 

 

Joe, I'm ashamed to say I've only just seen your build here.  You are doing an outstanding job, and your rigging looks fantastic.  Taking the time to serve all those lines is definitely worth it, and something that is maybe possible (and remain sane) on a ship with less rigging than the typical man o' war.
 

Exceptionally neat rigging. Wow.

That's some really nice rigging Joe, excellent job!  

Looks fantastic, Joe!

Rigged the spreaders and the spring stay. The spreader lifts are fully served and secured with lanyards. Lots and lots of serving...

Worked on the stays and topmast hardware.
 
At least the stays are only served at either end, unlike full length on the shrouds; still a lot of serving. Made shackles from brass wire as well as the topmast crane. Bails for the stay and figure 8 links for the topmast stays are also made from brass wire. The small gray circles in a few of the pictures are Grandt line bolts/washers, used to simulate anywhere a bolt head would be. They add a lot in this scale. You can see them painted in a few of the other photos, especially on the mast cheeks. The Model Shipways plans are very good with this detail. 

Rigged the spreaders and the spring stay. The spreader lifts are fully served and secured with lanyards. Lots and lots of serving...

Shrouds are installed as well as all of the bowsprit rigging. All of the shrouds (masts and bowsprit) are served over their entire length. It seems to take forever and gets a bit tedious, but it does add a lot going to the effort to do it. The pin racks have also been installed between the deadeyes and seized. 

Rigged the spreaders and the spring stay. The spreader lifts are fully served and secured with lanyards. Lots and lots of serving...

Finished the seine boat. I did not take in-progress pictures past that initial one on the build board. Let's just say the process between there and finished was not pretty, but in the end came out reasonably well. The plans themselves are very good, it's the method MS gives you to get there that isn't...
 
There is still a good bit of finished detail to add, but I'll leave that for later on at this point. 

Not a big update, but bulwarks planked to the main rail. Now working on the deck. 

The false stanchions are complete. They're a bit time consuming, as each has a different inboard and outboard shape to follow the curve of the hull. Next to plank up the remaining area of the hull tot the top of the extensions. 

Shrouds are installed as well as all of the bowsprit rigging. All of the shrouds (masts and bowsprit) are served over their entire length. It seems to take forever and gets a bit tedious, but it does add a lot going to the effort to do it. The pin racks have also been installed between the deadeyes and seized. 

Worked on the stays and topmast hardware.
 
At least the stays are only served at either end, unlike full length on the shrouds; still a lot of serving. Made shackles from brass wire as well as the topmast crane. Bails for the stay and figure 8 links for the topmast stays are also made from brass wire. The small gray circles in a few of the pictures are Grandt line bolts/washers, used to simulate anywhere a bolt head would be. They add a lot in this scale. You can see them painted in a few of the other photos, especially on the mast cheeks. The Model Shipways plans are very good with this detail.