Chuck Seiler

We lost one of the good ones.. he was good friend and a master when it came to taking a concept or a idea and making it a reality. He will be missed.  

I can not explain how devastated I am to be announcing this.  My dear and close friend Jim Byrnes has passed away way too soon.   Many have you know and have met Jim.  He was a fantastic guy and true original.   Many of you own his tools which are second to none in the hobby.    I have been speaking with his wife Donna who many of you also know.  Jim was diagnosed with ALS in February.  ALS is a nasty disease and there is no cure.  Jim had a particularly aggressive type of ALS and he passed away last month in October.  He was just 64 years old.
 
This news will be devastating to many...but Donna has asked if everyone would have patience and give here and their family time to grieve.  As you might expect,  the business will continue to be shut down,  but will reopen at some time in the near future.  Donna will continue supporting the hobby and their customers when the time is right.   But please have patience and allow the family to grieve at this sad time.  Donna will let me know when the shop will reopen.  I will make an announcement at that time.  
 
I am so devastated by this...I just spoke to him not too long ago and it breaks my heart.  His obituary is below.
 
Jim is survived by his wife, Donna; son, James William (Krystal) and grandchildren Julian and Sloane; brother, Peter (Cindy) Byrnes and sisters, Mary (James) Hayman, Catherine Byrnes, Veronica Byrnes and Elaine Byrnes (Robert Campbell); brother-in-law, Eddie (Marcia) Grissom; brother-in-law, Frank Marzovilla, and many cherished nieces and nephews. Not to be forgotten is his beloved English Springer Spaniel, Becky, who is waiting every day for him to come home to her!

He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Lorraine Byrnes; brother, Robert Byrnes; nephew, Michael Byrnes; brother-in-law, Pete Stuffer; and mother-in-law, Opal Grissom.

Along with restoring vintage cars, from a very young age Jim had a true passion for model ship-building. For many years he had done extensive research on the U.S.S. Constitution and was in the final phase of completing his scratch build of the Constitution as it was originally launched in 1797. Following a career of working with Defense contract companies, Jim worked many years with and became a partner with Conceptual Engineering in Sanford FL. In 2002 Jim and Donna formed Model Machines LLC. Jim designed and developed small modeler’s machines that are now purchased worldwide and used in many high school and college machine shops and in museums for their restorations. There have been numerous reviews and articles written about Jim which were published in various modelers’ magazines. Modelers using Jim’s machines range from ship, railroad, doll houses, doll house furniture, pen turners, segmented bowls and architects. In recent years guitar, harp and violin makers were added to this list. Jim was a remarkable craftsman and had many more machines in development stage for modelers. He was always ready to help and mentor others, many of whom soon became his very close friends.

 Jim was also a member of the Nautical Research Guild and attended conferences throughout the U.S. for 20 years, developing many close friendships within this organization.

Jim was a humble, quiet man who was deeply loved and will be missed by so many. Our hearts, as a family, are broken. Thru this profound loss, if we can ask one thing from this place of despair, it would be to embrace your loved ones every chance you get.
 
 

Sounds like you're a heavy coffee drinker. I've broken a lot of mugs over the years, but I've yet to wear one out!  

Good job!! 

My experience is kind of a blend of KGSTAKES and Jacques.  I went with the pen because I thought it would be easier touching up small parts rather than applying stain-from-the-can with a toothpick.  The color is not bad, but as I said, my experience is that it is different from the can.  Also, as pointed out, if you press too hard it comes out too much.  I had to press down off-work to get it flowing, then go to the piece.
 
Whatever works.

My experience is kind of a blend of KGSTAKES and Jacques.  I went with the pen because I thought it would be easier touching up small parts rather than applying stain-from-the-can with a toothpick.  The color is not bad, but as I said, my experience is that it is different from the can.  Also, as pointed out, if you press too hard it comes out too much.  I had to press down off-work to get it flowing, then go to the piece.
 
Whatever works.

Very nice.  What wood are you using for planking and doors, etc?

I see, the inaccuracies are within the plan itself.
 
Very true.  It is very frustrating when you have what appears to be a good set of plans, but AFTER you start working on it you find the various parts of the plan are not reconciled with each other.  I guess learning that, and learning what things you need to verify early on are part of the 'gaining experience' process.
 
Looking good so far.

My experience is kind of a blend of KGSTAKES and Jacques.  I went with the pen because I thought it would be easier touching up small parts rather than applying stain-from-the-can with a toothpick.  The color is not bad, but as I said, my experience is that it is different from the can.  Also, as pointed out, if you press too hard it comes out too much.  I had to press down off-work to get it flowing, then go to the piece.
 
Whatever works.

I have used them.  The one I used was not wax, but indeed stain.  The problem was the stain in the pen was not the same color as the stain in the can, even though they had the same name (golden oak).  I agree with Gregory, go with the original 'in the can' stain.

My experience is kind of a blend of KGSTAKES and Jacques.  I went with the pen because I thought it would be easier touching up small parts rather than applying stain-from-the-can with a toothpick.  The color is not bad, but as I said, my experience is that it is different from the can.  Also, as pointed out, if you press too hard it comes out too much.  I had to press down off-work to get it flowing, then go to the piece.
 
Whatever works.

Two halves were nothing comparing to rounded stern it could have been better, but next time it will be.
Thank you all for kind words here is continuation of the work.
 


 

Very impressive work. I've tried a couple of models built on a plug and always found difficulty in getting the two halves exactly the same. You seem to have succeeded admirably. And you've done a superb job on the (difficult) rounded stern. Very precise work.
 
Steven

I see, the inaccuracies are within the plan itself.
 
Very true.  It is very frustrating when you have what appears to be a good set of plans, but AFTER you start working on it you find the various parts of the plan are not reconciled with each other.  I guess learning that, and learning what things you need to verify early on are part of the 'gaining experience' process.
 
Looking good so far.

I have used them.  The one I used was not wax, but indeed stain.  The problem was the stain in the pen was not the same color as the stain in the can, even though they had the same name (golden oak).  I agree with Gregory, go with the original 'in the can' stain.

I have used them.  The one I used was not wax, but indeed stain.  The problem was the stain in the pen was not the same color as the stain in the can, even though they had the same name (golden oak).  I agree with Gregory, go with the original 'in the can' stain.

Gusar,
 
    Please define 'inaccuracies'.  Since there is no record of the details of the Santa Maria, there is alot of leeway in the building process. 
 
    The build looks good so far.  What other builds have you done?

I did two Adriatic Trabaccolo, and one fishing boat.

Hi Chuck,
I will list some of inaccuracies or mistakes I found.
When you compare body plan with sheer and half-breadth plan and measure everything this what you get. This is in milimeters. I took that sheer and half-breadth plan are more accurate.
 

One ladder not two.
 


 
Had to add the this for main yard hoisting.
 

Cleats are on wrong places, found out later when started putting the shrouds
 
 
 

 
Absolutely no cleats for fastening all the ropes, also lack of better explanation of how forecastle is constructed.
 
Two different fore stay versions
 
Spritsail is too large, spritsail on the previous picture is better
 

This framing is not in an alignment with other plans, so much correction is need if you want to make admiralty model or just to match visible frames with other plans.
There are some other mistakes I can't remember now, for example anchor is too big for the scale so adjustments are needed. Much care is to be taken studying plans before starting the build. I don't have so much experience so i didn't see all of this in advance. 

Many thanks.  Camber is currently the correct term for the transverse curve (down on the sides) of the deck, correct?  I seem to remember that from my navy days as well.

Is this correct?  I've long understood camber to be the transversal curve of the deck, while the longitudinal curve is sheer.

Many thanks.  Camber is currently the correct term for the transverse curve (down on the sides) of the deck, correct?  I seem to remember that from my navy days as well.

Many thanks.  Camber is currently the correct term for the transverse curve (down on the sides) of the deck, correct?  I seem to remember that from my navy days as well.

Is this correct?  I've long understood camber to be the transversal curve of the deck, while the longitudinal curve is sheer.