Moonbug

Good morning,
 
      Not a lot of photos to show just yet, but I've delved into the tedious job of coiling and tying off rope.  I started out by building a jig, and going with that particular method - but it's only useful in a couple of places where the coils are essentially sitting on their own, or hanging off a cleat or rail.  
 
 
 
     For most of the rope, that's attached to the end of a rigging line, I'm actually coiling by hand for each spot, so that it wraps around the end of the rigging properly and looks more natural.
 

 
    I am primarily using two types of glue. The Scenic glue that I mentioned before dries very clear and clean. As I said - it's NOT very tacky, so the coils need to be in place and how you want them laid out, then the glue is applied with a Q-tip, or sometimes small brush.  The glue behind it - sorry it's kinda blurry - is actually a styrofoam glue that I came across at my local hobby store.  It's VERY tacky - much like a rubber cement - so it's a bit messy, and quite honestly a pain in the butt.  HOWEVER, it's also very effective if you brush it on the back of a coil because it allows you to immediately shape the coil and place it where you want it. It holds very nicely, but then takes several minutes to dry giving you plenty of flexibility to make changes.
 

 
    Once again, I'm growing more enamored with the somewhat haphazard way the rope coils are looking.

Beautiful stuff mark!  That's really, really nice looking work.  Something to envy for sure for those of us who struggle mightily with hull planking.  
 
   And of course - particularly given my recent post regarding furling or unfurling the Santa Maria's main sail - I'm predisposed toward agreeing with the Admiral.  :-)
 
- Bug

Beautiful stuff mark!  That's really, really nice looking work.  Something to envy for sure for those of us who struggle mightily with hull planking.  
 
   And of course - particularly given my recent post regarding furling or unfurling the Santa Maria's main sail - I'm predisposed toward agreeing with the Admiral.  :-)
 
- Bug

Good morning,
 
      Not a lot of photos to show just yet, but I've delved into the tedious job of coiling and tying off rope.  I started out by building a jig, and going with that particular method - but it's only useful in a couple of places where the coils are essentially sitting on their own, or hanging off a cleat or rail.  
 
 
 
     For most of the rope, that's attached to the end of a rigging line, I'm actually coiling by hand for each spot, so that it wraps around the end of the rigging properly and looks more natural.
 

 
    I am primarily using two types of glue. The Scenic glue that I mentioned before dries very clear and clean. As I said - it's NOT very tacky, so the coils need to be in place and how you want them laid out, then the glue is applied with a Q-tip, or sometimes small brush.  The glue behind it - sorry it's kinda blurry - is actually a styrofoam glue that I came across at my local hobby store.  It's VERY tacky - much like a rubber cement - so it's a bit messy, and quite honestly a pain in the butt.  HOWEVER, it's also very effective if you brush it on the back of a coil because it allows you to immediately shape the coil and place it where you want it. It holds very nicely, but then takes several minutes to dry giving you plenty of flexibility to make changes.
 

 
    Once again, I'm growing more enamored with the somewhat haphazard way the rope coils are looking.

Here's a better picture of the styrofoam glue.
 

Good morning,
 
      Not a lot of photos to show just yet, but I've delved into the tedious job of coiling and tying off rope.  I started out by building a jig, and going with that particular method - but it's only useful in a couple of places where the coils are essentially sitting on their own, or hanging off a cleat or rail.  
 
 
 
     For most of the rope, that's attached to the end of a rigging line, I'm actually coiling by hand for each spot, so that it wraps around the end of the rigging properly and looks more natural.
 

 
    I am primarily using two types of glue. The Scenic glue that I mentioned before dries very clear and clean. As I said - it's NOT very tacky, so the coils need to be in place and how you want them laid out, then the glue is applied with a Q-tip, or sometimes small brush.  The glue behind it - sorry it's kinda blurry - is actually a styrofoam glue that I came across at my local hobby store.  It's VERY tacky - much like a rubber cement - so it's a bit messy, and quite honestly a pain in the butt.  HOWEVER, it's also very effective if you brush it on the back of a coil because it allows you to immediately shape the coil and place it where you want it. It holds very nicely, but then takes several minutes to dry giving you plenty of flexibility to make changes.
 

 
    Once again, I'm growing more enamored with the somewhat haphazard way the rope coils are looking.

Like most kits, the cannons included in the AL Santa Maria fell very short of authentic. Although the die-cast brass cannons themselves were pretty close, the base on which they were to rest were woefully inadequate. So, once again, I turned to Pastor's reference material.
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
However, this was also an area where I didn't mind shifting slightly from authenticity. I also like the cannons created by Garik Grigoryan used in his rendition of the Santa Maria. Although much of his Santa Maria is a little too elaborate for my taste, I really enjoy his miniature deck fixtures.
 
I started with my cannons by letting them soak to create a patina coating.  I then drilled out places to attached fixtures to the cannons. 
 
    
 
    
 
The handles and loops are shaped brass wiring. I then re-soaked the entire fixture to build up the patina once again. Unfortunately the patina didn't build up as nicely as I would have liked, so I added some paint and other methods for aging as well - which I will get to. 
 
    
 
I carved the base pieces out of solid blocks of wood using both hand tools and a dremel. After the bases were carved out to hold the cannon barrels, the feet and backing are added, each is stained. The metal strips are cut and molded brass strips. The rivets are straight pins cut short and inserted into pre-drilled holes through both the brass strips and wood. 
 
I then used this fantastic product I came across by Tamiya.
 
 

 
The trick is to add the fake soot and/or rust to a slightly damp product. In my case, I sprayed each piece with a thin coat of polyurethane then added the weathering product. Additionally, I painted the brass fittings that would not patina properly, then coated the entire fixture with the soot just before the paint dried entirely.  
 
    
 
I was very pleased with the final product. 

Good morning,
 
      Not a lot of photos to show just yet, but I've delved into the tedious job of coiling and tying off rope.  I started out by building a jig, and going with that particular method - but it's only useful in a couple of places where the coils are essentially sitting on their own, or hanging off a cleat or rail.  
 
 
 
     For most of the rope, that's attached to the end of a rigging line, I'm actually coiling by hand for each spot, so that it wraps around the end of the rigging properly and looks more natural.
 

 
    I am primarily using two types of glue. The Scenic glue that I mentioned before dries very clear and clean. As I said - it's NOT very tacky, so the coils need to be in place and how you want them laid out, then the glue is applied with a Q-tip, or sometimes small brush.  The glue behind it - sorry it's kinda blurry - is actually a styrofoam glue that I came across at my local hobby store.  It's VERY tacky - much like a rubber cement - so it's a bit messy, and quite honestly a pain in the butt.  HOWEVER, it's also very effective if you brush it on the back of a coil because it allows you to immediately shape the coil and place it where you want it. It holds very nicely, but then takes several minutes to dry giving you plenty of flexibility to make changes.
 

 
    Once again, I'm growing more enamored with the somewhat haphazard way the rope coils are looking.

Beautiful stuff mark!  That's really, really nice looking work.  Something to envy for sure for those of us who struggle mightily with hull planking.  
 
   And of course - particularly given my recent post regarding furling or unfurling the Santa Maria's main sail - I'm predisposed toward agreeing with the Admiral.  :-)
 
- Bug

Thanks gents!  And thanks for the comments Frank - really appreciate it.  That's what I love about MSW - so many great, unique builds, it's pretty easy to get lost for a while.  
 
    And always a good call to go with the Admiralty.  ;-)   
 
- Bug

Thanks gents!  And thanks for the comments Frank - really appreciate it.  That's what I love about MSW - so many great, unique builds, it's pretty easy to get lost for a while.  
 
    And always a good call to go with the Admiralty.  ;-)   
 
- Bug

Nice!  Great to see you back at it Sjors!  Well done!  
 
- Bug

Thanks gents!  And thanks for the comments Frank - really appreciate it.  That's what I love about MSW - so many great, unique builds, it's pretty easy to get lost for a while.  
 
    And always a good call to go with the Admiralty.  ;-)   
 
- Bug

Hey Joe,  thanks for the response.  I can't argue with logic - so that was my task this weekend.  I unfurled the sail, and took another look. Now, if I was going to go with unfurled, I'd also want to detach and re-sew the sail along with bonnets. I also considered whether or not I'd want to add one of the symbolic crosses on the sail as well.
 
    Turns out - I didn't really have to go to far to realize that I really liked the sails both ways.  So, I did what any normal, red blooded man would do - I asked the Admiral.  She liked the sail furled, and since I already have a couple around the house with sails down, she convinced me to go with the "just pulled into the bay" look.  :-)  
 
    The good news is - the entire exercise gave me the opportunity to re-furl the sail and little differently.  This time, I wrapped the sail a bit differently, and the sheets and clews are a little further out on the yard. I am much happier with this look, and I think it's ultimately more accurate.
 

Hey Joe,  thanks for the response.  I can't argue with logic - so that was my task this weekend.  I unfurled the sail, and took another look. Now, if I was going to go with unfurled, I'd also want to detach and re-sew the sail along with bonnets. I also considered whether or not I'd want to add one of the symbolic crosses on the sail as well.
 
    Turns out - I didn't really have to go to far to realize that I really liked the sails both ways.  So, I did what any normal, red blooded man would do - I asked the Admiral.  She liked the sail furled, and since I already have a couple around the house with sails down, she convinced me to go with the "just pulled into the bay" look.  :-)  
 
    The good news is - the entire exercise gave me the opportunity to re-furl the sail and little differently.  This time, I wrapped the sail a bit differently, and the sheets and clews are a little further out on the yard. I am much happier with this look, and I think it's ultimately more accurate.
 

Been working on finishing the rigging with deck accouterments, etc.  As I mentioned in the past, I'm such a huge fan of the kinda of 'underway' look of working rigging and "messy coils" that I decided that was going to be my style for this build.  Sure - doesn't say much toward the tidiness and efficiency of the crew.  But - I'm going to go with the idea that since Captain Christopher had such disdain for the big slow Santa Maria, that all the slackers ended up on that deck.  :-)  
 
Anyway, here's a sneak peak at my look:
 

Hey Joe,  thanks for the response.  I can't argue with logic - so that was my task this weekend.  I unfurled the sail, and took another look. Now, if I was going to go with unfurled, I'd also want to detach and re-sew the sail along with bonnets. I also considered whether or not I'd want to add one of the symbolic crosses on the sail as well.
 
    Turns out - I didn't really have to go to far to realize that I really liked the sails both ways.  So, I did what any normal, red blooded man would do - I asked the Admiral.  She liked the sail furled, and since I already have a couple around the house with sails down, she convinced me to go with the "just pulled into the bay" look.  :-)  
 
    The good news is - the entire exercise gave me the opportunity to re-furl the sail and little differently.  This time, I wrapped the sail a bit differently, and the sheets and clews are a little further out on the yard. I am much happier with this look, and I think it's ultimately more accurate.
 

Hey Joe,  thanks for the response.  I can't argue with logic - so that was my task this weekend.  I unfurled the sail, and took another look. Now, if I was going to go with unfurled, I'd also want to detach and re-sew the sail along with bonnets. I also considered whether or not I'd want to add one of the symbolic crosses on the sail as well.
 
    Turns out - I didn't really have to go to far to realize that I really liked the sails both ways.  So, I did what any normal, red blooded man would do - I asked the Admiral.  She liked the sail furled, and since I already have a couple around the house with sails down, she convinced me to go with the "just pulled into the bay" look.  :-)  
 
    The good news is - the entire exercise gave me the opportunity to re-furl the sail and little differently.  This time, I wrapped the sail a bit differently, and the sheets and clews are a little further out on the yard. I am much happier with this look, and I think it's ultimately more accurate.
 

Been working on finishing the rigging with deck accouterments, etc.  As I mentioned in the past, I'm such a huge fan of the kinda of 'underway' look of working rigging and "messy coils" that I decided that was going to be my style for this build.  Sure - doesn't say much toward the tidiness and efficiency of the crew.  But - I'm going to go with the idea that since Captain Christopher had such disdain for the big slow Santa Maria, that all the slackers ended up on that deck.  :-)  
 
Anyway, here's a sneak peak at my look:
 

Good morning,
 
      Pushing through the running rigging - on to the main mast. A bit more complicated parrel on this guy of course.  Like the others, it's bound in the front of the mast with two looped ropes running through one another and secured. This apparently gave the rig the opportunity to loosen and tighten - which I suspect is needed to get over the rope wraps around the main mast itself. 
 
     
 
Hoisted with two lines attached to the yard, then up through the crow's nest and through the two sheaves.  The line that secures the parrel is dropped down and secured at the base of the mast with a coil of rope.  This initial coil of rope is a bit haphazard - but gave me an inspiration for what will be most of the rope coils of the ship.  As it's an aged "working" ship, I'm going to go with "messy coils" instead of the clean and uniform look of the coils on the San Juan. Hopefully this will give it an underway look and not appear disorganized.
 
     
 
As with the other sails and yards, I fully rigged the main sail before furling it.  I followed closely the Pastor diagrams, and this was super fun.  It did however - for the first time - make me second guess my choice of furling the sails for a few moments. So I included a few photos of the sail down before it was finally furled.
 
        
 
You'll notice in the one shot a bottle of white "Scenic" glue.  I used this a lot when I did train sets, etc. It's a diluted white glue that - as it turns out - works wonderfully for coiled ropes, and other types of rigging.  It's not thick, and provides what is ultimately a very delicate adhesion. However, it dries very clear and does not appear to discolor the rigging after it dries.
 
    
 
Finally, somewhat regretfully, I furled the sails.  You'll also notice in the last photo that I have the rear deck raised. I'm going to figure out a small rigging system to be able to raise and lower that as needed.  Obviously not something that was on the original vessel.  *laff*
 
        

More Rigging - the Foremast.
 
Rigging the masts (somewhat out of order) based on Pastor's book required a bit more preplanning.  I did quite a bit when I laid out where the rails and cleats would go, but there was still some interesting challenges when it came to rigging in and around each of the masts.  It also got a little sketchy in terms of furling the sails.  So my methodology was to rig them down, then actually use the rigging to raise them, then furl them.  Challenging, but fun.
 

 
I created the parrels for the foremast, then attached and raised it using the pulley I built at the top of the foremast. Which I then tied off on the railing of the foredeck.  I'm going to go back and put a coil of rope every place a rig is tied off, but I went ahead and did this one now so I could get an idea of what the coils would look like.
 
          
  I attached the bridles and bowlines to a ring. There is some indication that these were attached to blocks instead of rings in some cases. In fact, there is a bit of conflicting information - about a 50/50 split on either rings or blocks.  Probably a captain's choice.  But this captain thinks that the rings look good - and I like the differentiation.  
 

 
The other thing I liked is the sheets and tacks attached to the clew with little toggles.  Loved the way this ended up and looked.  It also provided me with some great flexibility when it came to actually rigging the sails.
 
   
 
Then here are some generic shots of the rigging, first with the sail down - then after it had been furled.
 
       

And as an added bonus, a shot of the shipyard.  
 
Notice to the right, is my 11 year old daughter's little car kit.  She enjoys hanging out with Dad working as well.  I've started her addiction early...  
 
 

Here is a look at some of the mizzen rigging that I've done recently.  
 

 
Well, first - here are the sails.  I soaked them in tea to color and age them.  I wasn't sure at the time if I was going to have them down or furled. Had I gone with the former, I'd have likely evened out the color a bit more.  At any rate, I've since decided this will be my first build with fully furled sails.  It should also be noted that I've removed the weird, ugly green "rope" that AL loves to use on their sails - and replaced it with more natural looking ropes. Even furled, they should be a bit more accurate.  
 

 
I created the parrels on my own. I'll likely rough them up a bit later during the final detail phase.  I've rigged the parrels using Pastor's method - looping the rigging then securing it with two blocks and securing it to the ship via railing. 
 

 
Similarly, after going back and forth on several different methods of securing the standing rigging for the mizzen and foremast, I settled on two blocks.  This is outlined in several places, but it is certainly not definitive. It does however fit the time period, so I'm comfortable with it.
 

 
Then finally, the rigging on the ends of the mizzen.  The ropes tied off to the deck will ultimately be masked a bit with coils of rope.

I decided that the stern lantern on the Santa Maria was an opportunity for me to get a little more elaborate than was likely actually on the ship.  I started by having Chuck send me one of his Stern Lantern Kits so I wouldn't have to manufacture the little bits on my own.  Then I stained and prepped the pieces.
 

 
I put the basic pieces together, then started the modification process. I based my idea on a lantern I saw from one of the Russian model builders. I used thin wire and wrapped to pieces together to create a "roped" look, then filed down and flattened one side.  I glued these pieces to the corners of the lantern.
 

 
I painted and rubbed the lantern black, and used parts of brass nails to create the door handle and hinges.
 

 
Then I chopped off the ends of straight pins and mounted them on the top of the lamp to create "pillars" that extend above the lamp.
 

 
Finally, I used a 3mm wide brass strip and filed it down to create the cross on the top.
 

I'm headed on my way toward the running rigging, which means I really need to finish off most (if not all) of the deck fittings and other little details.  With that in mind, I took some time over the last week to finish off the launches as well and create some little pieces to add along the deck - particularly barrels and buckets.
 

 
Step one to finishing off the launches was to carve out and sand some oars.  I wanted at least a handful for each launch, so i created a bit of an assembly line with my handy faux mini belt sander and dremel.  These are pretty raw cuts of the oars, then I did a lot of little detail sanding.
 

 
Similar to the oars, I made a little bucket / barrel assembly line. The buckets are 5mm diameter downs trimmed to size then sanded down.  I used an X-acto knife to carve out lines to create simulated planks, etc, then very carefully hollowed out the buckets.
 

 
I left the extra trim on the sides then drilled out holes to thread in the rope handles.  The barrels were pretty straightforward as far as trimming and sanding.  They are wrapped with black electrical tape. A method I tried with my San Juan, the electricians tape is a great thickness and pretty easy to work with.  The "cork" is a hole drilled then filled with a toothpick and clipped off.   
 

 
The larger launch includes a mast and sail wrapped for storage.