jwvolz

The kit looks very nice Mike, and great start on the research. 
 
I'll enjoy following along. 

Spent some time today taking advantage of the nice weather to be able to make progressive passes of puttying, sanding, and priming.  I don't have a formal paint booth so the priming needs to be done outside.  As the weather gets worse I'll probably need to get some form of paint booth setup - I welcome suggestions people have.  Unfortunately I over sanded a bit on the bow so it took a bit of time to re-work but I think the end result isn't bad.

After a number of passes I think the hull looks fair and smooth enough.
 
Once the hull was ready, I mounted the cannons, cannon port covers,  pilot house, and grates. 

I also added the striping tape to the stack as the instructions suggest. 

Bob, it's #561, which encompasses all three sheets available. One is the line drawings, and the other two are the sail /rigging plans noted. They each have separate prices, but I believe in most cases they are only sold in sets, so it would be $30.00+$5.00 shipping.
 
e-mail is shipplans@si.edu   and they can confirm all this. 
 
I know they operate in an archaic world of only accepting check or money order and you have to order via snail mail. 
 
. 

Bob, you might want to look into the Smithsonian plans for the Merrit Edson model in their collection. The book The Search for Speed Under Sail by Chapelle has a few of the plates in a smaller size, but not clear enough to rig from. 
 
My copy of the Smithsonian catalog shows these two rigging sheets available, conveniently in 3/16 scale. They are $10.00 each. 
 
I used the Chapelle book as best I could as a guide to rig my PdN. Not perfect, and hard to see but better than just he MS plans. 

Bob, it's #561, which encompasses all three sheets available. One is the line drawings, and the other two are the sail /rigging plans noted. They each have separate prices, but I believe in most cases they are only sold in sets, so it would be $30.00+$5.00 shipping.
 
e-mail is shipplans@si.edu   and they can confirm all this. 
 
I know they operate in an archaic world of only accepting check or money order and you have to order via snail mail. 
 
. 

Bob, you might want to look into the Smithsonian plans for the Merrit Edson model in their collection. The book The Search for Speed Under Sail by Chapelle has a few of the plates in a smaller size, but not clear enough to rig from. 
 
My copy of the Smithsonian catalog shows these two rigging sheets available, conveniently in 3/16 scale. They are $10.00 each. 
 
I used the Chapelle book as best I could as a guide to rig my PdN. Not perfect, and hard to see but better than just he MS plans. 

Bob, it's #561, which encompasses all three sheets available. One is the line drawings, and the other two are the sail /rigging plans noted. They each have separate prices, but I believe in most cases they are only sold in sets, so it would be $30.00+$5.00 shipping.
 
e-mail is shipplans@si.edu   and they can confirm all this. 
 
I know they operate in an archaic world of only accepting check or money order and you have to order via snail mail. 
 
. 

Bob, you might want to look into the Smithsonian plans for the Merrit Edson model in their collection. The book The Search for Speed Under Sail by Chapelle has a few of the plates in a smaller size, but not clear enough to rig from. 
 
My copy of the Smithsonian catalog shows these two rigging sheets available, conveniently in 3/16 scale. They are $10.00 each. 
 
I used the Chapelle book as best I could as a guide to rig my PdN. Not perfect, and hard to see but better than just he MS plans. 

Trimming the gun ports is really hard, the walnut just wants to crack at every opportunity.  Now I just have to plank the inside and trim that too!

So the crew is coming slowly on board. Some minor work is done and the anchors are prepared to be installed.
 
We are waiting General Lafayette and the Captain. De La Touche before embarking..
 
 
Here some pictures of the crew... still is more crew to come.

So main galand and top galand in position

Glad to know I've got company in the nuthouse!  
 
So after finishing the edges of the deck and cleaning up the mess I dived right into photoetch and sealed it away behind a layer of Tamiya primer. Starboard is done; only the port side stern left to do. 
 

 

 

 

 

 
I picked white to make any remaining detail issues pop out so I can address them before the final color goes on. I think the porthole frames came out a little too thick but such is life; hoping I can paint the insides black after final pain to help the look. Still so much work to do!  

Bob, it's #561, which encompasses all three sheets available. One is the line drawings, and the other two are the sail /rigging plans noted. They each have separate prices, but I believe in most cases they are only sold in sets, so it would be $30.00+$5.00 shipping.
 
e-mail is shipplans@si.edu   and they can confirm all this. 
 
I know they operate in an archaic world of only accepting check or money order and you have to order via snail mail. 
 
. 

Bob, you might want to look into the Smithsonian plans for the Merrit Edson model in their collection. The book The Search for Speed Under Sail by Chapelle has a few of the plates in a smaller size, but not clear enough to rig from. 
 
My copy of the Smithsonian catalog shows these two rigging sheets available, conveniently in 3/16 scale. They are $10.00 each. 
 
I used the Chapelle book as best I could as a guide to rig my PdN. Not perfect, and hard to see but better than just he MS plans. 

Just catching up on your build. Very nice work Peter!

Bob, it's #561, which encompasses all three sheets available. One is the line drawings, and the other two are the sail /rigging plans noted. They each have separate prices, but I believe in most cases they are only sold in sets, so it would be $30.00+$5.00 shipping.
 
e-mail is shipplans@si.edu   and they can confirm all this. 
 
I know they operate in an archaic world of only accepting check or money order and you have to order via snail mail. 
 
. 

Bob, you might want to look into the Smithsonian plans for the Merrit Edson model in their collection. The book The Search for Speed Under Sail by Chapelle has a few of the plates in a smaller size, but not clear enough to rig from. 
 
My copy of the Smithsonian catalog shows these two rigging sheets available, conveniently in 3/16 scale. They are $10.00 each. 
 
I used the Chapelle book as best I could as a guide to rig my PdN. Not perfect, and hard to see but better than just he MS plans. 

Bob, you might want to look into the Smithsonian plans for the Merrit Edson model in their collection. The book The Search for Speed Under Sail by Chapelle has a few of the plates in a smaller size, but not clear enough to rig from. 
 
My copy of the Smithsonian catalog shows these two rigging sheets available, conveniently in 3/16 scale. They are $10.00 each. 
 
I used the Chapelle book as best I could as a guide to rig my PdN. Not perfect, and hard to see but better than just he MS plans. 

Bob, you might want to look into the Smithsonian plans for the Merrit Edson model in their collection. The book The Search for Speed Under Sail by Chapelle has a few of the plates in a smaller size, but not clear enough to rig from. 
 
My copy of the Smithsonian catalog shows these two rigging sheets available, conveniently in 3/16 scale. They are $10.00 each. 
 
I used the Chapelle book as best I could as a guide to rig my PdN. Not perfect, and hard to see but better than just he MS plans. 

Bob, you might want to look into the Smithsonian plans for the Merrit Edson model in their collection. The book The Search for Speed Under Sail by Chapelle has a few of the plates in a smaller size, but not clear enough to rig from. 
 
My copy of the Smithsonian catalog shows these two rigging sheets available, conveniently in 3/16 scale. They are $10.00 each. 
 
I used the Chapelle book as best I could as a guide to rig my PdN. Not perfect, and hard to see but better than just he MS plans. 

Interim update:
 
Anchor chain is on finally, been putting this off but really had to get it done so I could permanently 'right-side' the model...its amazing how many configurations there are on models and there really doesn't seem to be a standard way.

 
Next up, as a break from the repetitious chore of the gun carriages, was to finish the pumps.  I'd been overthinking how to cover the curved surface of the pump covers.  In the end, 1x2mm strip was used, with one side angled - wasn't as bad as I thought.  Once attached, the thickness was sanded down to try to get a more scale look.  Winch bearingsfor the pumps were shaped from strip and painted 'dark iron'.  Brown paint was used to simulate the leather washer for the cistern plugs.  These will be a little obscured eventually, but I think these details will be visible.
 

 
Once the pumps were completed, the next logical step is to figure out how to support these at the main hatch.  The kits indicates using wooden strip for this, but contemporary models show an iron bracket and this is what I' like to try to replicate as it seems more appropriate.  The main part of the bracket was made using an RB models stanchion, bent to shape and with the hole enlarged with a 0.8mm drill bit to accept the winches that will eventually be installed.  The height of these needs to be the same as the winch bearings so that the winch will be parallel to the deck, and they need to be parallel to the deck and over the coamings so the main hatch is not obscured - so this essentially determines the lateral placement of the pumps.  I will add an additional bracket which would have been necessary for strength, and you can see a trial made up from some scrap PE to illustrate which I think will do the trick.
 
I found thinking this through all rather intriguing as there seem to be some obvious problems.  For anyone coming from the lower deck, the ladder feads directly over the main hatch grating, and the winch brackets definitely seem to get in the way a bit here here, in addition to having to navigating the pump winches.  I can't figure out for the life of me why the ladders don't lead up forward rather than aft as this would seem to be much more practical, but this orientation is clearly shown on the original plans, AOTS Diana, as well as contemporary models...if anyone knows why, please say so!
 
Now that the positioning of the pump winches is known, the placement of the pillars for the main topsail sheet and main jeer bitts can be determined...which will probably be the next diversion.
 

After a break of about 2 months enforced by several unexpected events I finally found some time and built the 3 remaining hammock nettings. I already described that the ‘unframed’ sides of the nettings were attached via black 100wt silk thread and CA glue to the rope which spans from the boarding panel to the last hammock crane. I neglected to say that it was not quite easy to get a clean finish there. At least I was not able to cut off the net along the rope in a satisfactory manner using fine scissors (img 1, left side). Part of the net was always protruding beyond the rope. I finally ‘stiffened’ the protruding ends with CA glue and removed them via a rotary tool with a fine diamond burr (img 1, right side). After a little touch up with black paint the result turned out acceptable (img 2, 3).
 
Thomas
 

Image 1
 

Image 2
 

Image 3
 
 

Just catching up on your build. Very nice work Peter!

Thanks Messis, and also thanks for the likes.
A small update this time. I lashed the long boat and the sweeps down on the gallow bits. I haven't glued them yet. I have a feeling that during the rigging stage it may be handy to temporarily take the long boat off the ship to create some needed space for my hands.
I also added the rudder pendants and added a few rope coils. And the netting is done. The netting was tricky as at one stage I pulled a eye bolt out of the boarding panel (with half the netting in place) and with another section I had to re glue the boarding panel all together. In the end it didn't end up being perfect but I'm happy with the result. I also had a bit of a play placing the anchor ropes.
This completes the hull so it looks like I will make a start on the bowsprit next.
Just a few photo's this time.

Thanks for all the likes again.
Just a bit of progress on the long boat (I used some black heat shrink for the Gudgeons).
Still have to add the knees on the Thwarts and figure out how to make the iron step on the bowsprit. I am also not 100% happy with the windlass yet and may give that one another go. But in general I'm pretty happy how she looks...
The two last photo's were made after dark in the shed so the colour is a bit all over the place.