Cuda1949

My first shot at a rudder and the pin racks.

Curious what’s in a boatbuilder’s library?

I tried again with two sheets this time so I could mix and match pieces to break up grain patterns. I used birch instead of the kit’s oak. I taped one sheet on top of another and cut them with an x-acto blade at the same time.


 

Finished the three life boats and sewed covers on top to replicate canvas covers. Lesson learned do all your deck work first the attach your rigging. Life boats are in place and tied down. Now on to the final running rigging. 

Finished the three life boats and sewed covers on top to replicate canvas covers. Lesson learned do all your deck work first the attach your rigging. Life boats are in place and tied down. Now on to the final running rigging. 

Many moons ago, and now lost in the mists of time (MSW 1.0... I don’t even remember my screen name), I began a Model Shipways Bluenose 1:64, build log and all. Using Bob Hunt’s practicum (which I can’t find in my stuff) I planked and painted the hull, and was really proud of it. Then I started building the “furniture”. Got bogged down building those #@&*% dories, and then life happened. The Admiral’s Doctoral dissertation, the crew went to High school, learned to sail a real boat, a 600 mile relocation, revolving door jobs...you know the drill. Well, it took me almost 7 years to figure out that I could just pause those blasted dories, move on to something else and get moving on it again. So here I am, back in the shipyard. I am so glad to see some familiar names, lots of new members, and that the spirit of cooperation and camaraderie that was always a hallmark of MSW, continues. 
 
Slainte!
Jim
 
 

Not to bad for my first model. Not to mention, it had to be repaired about four times from breakage.

Aw come on, you got plenty of time, you just do what I do and ignore other things to do it.

Okay back at it. Today I started building my life boats using basswood that I shaped sanded. I am in the process of planking them. I plan to cover the tops with white canvas material and then mounting them on the ship. I also built the braces or stands for the lifeboats as well as a jig for bending the planks. I have also continued doing the running rigging, I learned a valuable lesson from this to have everything done on the deck prior to rigging the ship. 

Okay back at it. Today I started building my life boats using basswood that I shaped sanded. I am in the process of planking them. I plan to cover the tops with white canvas material and then mounting them on the ship. I also built the braces or stands for the lifeboats as well as a jig for bending the planks. I have also continued doing the running rigging, I learned a valuable lesson from this to have everything done on the deck prior to rigging the ship. 

Now that I've got a reasonably accurate table saw and the padauk planks are cut, it's back to work.
 
The recessed helm station on the Spirit 130 has been bothering me.  It seems with the raised cabin and a single wheel, the helmsperson would have a tough time seeing what's ahead.  So I filled it in with balsa to see how it would look without it.
 
I made up the aft crew seat similar to what is on the Spirit 130.  The other seating and the flooring didn't have the dark trim.

But the dark separation between the planks didn't show upon the flooring or forward seating.  Don't know why.
 

Hi there is not much to see since last but a few yards more it is.
 
 

 

Hi to everyone on board the forum. I’m new to model ship building, so new that I have yet to start my first ship. I have enjoyed model rocketry for many years and have many great builds that not only look good but fly just as well. Most of the time, anyway.
I’m a Navy veteran (submarine service) and have always had an interest in naval exploration and adventure. Especially 18th and 19th century arctic exploration.
Having grown up in SE Connecticut, I have been to Mystic Seaport many times and loved seeing that great museum.
I was recently in Boston and toured the USS Constitution. I thought that it would be nice to have a model of that beautiful ship. I then thought it would be a better idea to make that model myself.
no, I am not planning on jumping in with the Constitution. I am a realist about my abilities and know that I need to develop new skills I never needed building rockets. I’ve included a picture of my workshop that I took before and after cleanup (the cylinder is a cat scratcher for my daughter’s cats. The careful observer will notice the Lindbergh Americas Cup racer in that “before” picture. A plastic model that I plan to build as my starter.
I plan to next build the Model Shipways Katy C Virginia Pilot boat. 
I eventually want to work my way up to the Charles W Morgan. Then, maybe, I can feel like I can do justice to the Constitution.
I've also included a picture of me and my Nephew on the deck of that great ship.
I’ve been reading here and other places about rope making, planking, rigging, etc... trying to learn the terminology and tricks of the trade.
I may not have a build log for a little while but I hope to be ready to start soon. I’ll be around learning from you on the forum until I feel ready to start.
 

Welcome aboard! I built model rockets back in my youth. After each successful launch, I would paint a ring around the rocket's nose. The most rings any rocket ever received was five -- usually they met some sad (but often memorable) end before then.
 
Cheers!

It has been taking me quite awhile to get the batons marking the bottom of the wales and the top of the gun port sills.  I’m trying to match the plans and it seems like I get what I think is right and the next day it’s off. So I decided that I won’t install the port sills until I can get the batons to be placed correctly for two days in a row.  At this point, my bulkheads look like a pin cushion.
 



 
Finally, I got the measurements correct over two days.  So I began framing the gun ports. They should be square and have good corners.  Also, they should be placed equdistant apart. I think I’m good. Next up is to mix some red paint that comes close to matching the color on the replica.
 

 

 

The placement of the batons marking the location of the wales had to be redone.  I took the model to our club’s monthly workshop, and the batons at the bow were determined to be too high.  I also redid the ‘working platform’ so that the keel was flat on the base making measuring easier. I redid the baton marking the bottom of the wales and it does look closer to the plans.  I’m told that I could make the ‘point’ at the bow even a little lower (maybe 1/16 of an inch).
 

 
 
 
Next I have to determine the exact location of the deck so I can establish the position of the gun port sills.  These tasks are taking a lot of time, but I feel it will be extremely important as the building of the model progresses.
 

I’ve ‘completed’ the fairing of the hull.  And I added battens to determine the location of the wales.  The wales will be between the two battens. I discovered that I wasn’t as careful with the placement of the bulkheads, so I have to do more sanding to fix everything.  I’m in the process of determining the location of the gun ports. It’s a slow process. Eventually, everything will have to line up perfectly.
 

 

Happy New Year!
Even during the holidays, I managed to sneak some time in the shipyard.  I laid out the stern framing using some leftover cherry and balsa filler.  I probably will need more sanding, but I’ll do that as part of the fairing of the hull.  I still have lots of sanding dust to make.
 

I completed the ‘below deck’ planking and threw in some furniture just for fun.  I don’t know if anyone will be able to see the furniture once the hull is planked and the stair/ladder is added.  But, I’ll know it’s there and I know how to look and see it. There is another stairway from the quarter deck down to where the officer’s quarters are, so I added some doors to those ‘rooms’.  I attach some photos. Next up is the create stern framing and then I’ll be able to begin fairing the hull.
 


 

 

While I was preparing to start gluing the bulkheads on to the frame, I noticed that, on the plans, there is a ladder going from the deck down below.  I felt that the ladder should be shown on the model. Therefore, I had to make some adjustments to the appropriate bulkheads and add a lower ‘deck’. The deck is only partial, but it will be visible if you look down the hatch.  Also, the ladder is rignt next to the mast so I added wooden mast steps. I also carved some barrels, which I haven’t decided if I’ll use or not.  
 

 

 

Work on the model continues and a rather slow pace.  I’ve cut out the bulkheads and keel former. I should point out that I didn’t cut out the notch for the mast at this time.  Also, the bulkheads are over large. The upper portion does not have the space removed down the middle to the deck. I’ll do that once the bulkheads are fitted to the keel former.  I want to see how everything looks before cutting off too much wood. Better to be too big than too small. The pieces look O.K. to me so far.
 

 
I also fitted the fore-most bulkhead to the keel former and it checks out so far.  I made sure the L.W.L. and deck levels line up. Many more bulkheads to go.
 

I finished cutting out the bulkheads.  The top parts are left too high; better too big than too small.  I also put lines for the wales that should help later. Not much to say, but next I’ll work on the uppers. 
 

 

Thanks! I do feel better now. I really should have noticed that when I visited that glorious ship. I have photos which do indeed show the wood on iron construction. Speaking of photos, I took a fair number of Cutty Sark when we visited. Is there a particular place on this forum where I could post them for any interested?
If you love ships that much, please do plan a trip to London before you build your model. It was a highly emotional experience for me, bringing me nearly to tears, having read so much about sailing ships for nearly 60 years. We got one of those Red Bus get on- get off tour tickets (highly recommended) and it included a ferry trip down the Thames to Greenwich. We passed one of two existing replicas of The Golden Hind along the way.
Cutty Sark is no longer in regular drydock. She's ingeniously suspended in mid air by a great many supports for even weight distribution along the hull. This gives the visitor the unique opportunity to keelhaul himself, that is, walk from bow to stern UNDER the keel! I could go on and on but the bottom (no pun intended) is GO. You'll remember the experience forever.
 

Yes it is 😁
I like the difference in colour of the wood 
I also liked the way you planked the hull 👍
 
Regards
Richard
 
 

More playing around with the deck patterns.  With this plan I'd be using the padauk to surround the hatches, to break up the monotony a bit. 


I like the cleaner look of this layout but am still not committed.  Isn't it a woman's prerogative to change her mind?