SawdustDave

Canopy Frame....
From the ships wheel, I am moving back to the companionway canopy frames.
I must comment here, for any future builder of the Constitution.... As easy as Ken made this fixture appear in his build log, DO NOT BE FOOLED!
This has got to be the most extreme difficulty level I have personally experienced in over 10 years of scratch building ship models....
If Ken's log had not made it look "easy as pie", I would have been happy to go with no canopy frames.  All your fault Ken..... yahahahaha!!!
My personal advise.... DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!
 
Having said all that.... here is the third canopy frame just completed.

Two more to go, then the sky light fixture.
 

Ships Wheel completed......
 
Actually, after viewing this photo, I realized I still must apply a few coats of poly to achieve more of a gloss finish.  Also have not added the rope to the drum.
Other than that, the wheel is fairly done.

Bilge pumps installed....

Bilge pump handles completed....
Since the bilge pumps are mounted on a slightly raised section of deck, I was able to create this as an off-ship module.  Not sure it could have been done on board.
The handles are now ready to be attached in a "stowed" position, and then I will glue the module in place.
Just now looking at this photo, I am considering trimming the stretcher boards serving as the base of each "A" frame.... leaving a small block footprint on each leg.
Probably not.... 


 

Another great learning opportunity for all MSW members.
Looking forward to watching this build unfold.
 

Thank you Alex for the fantastic "how to" class on deadeye fabrication. I am learning so much from your postings. Your photos are excellent.

Good to hear.  
My fondest memories.... working with you along with Rusty on Syren and Confederacy.
I see the Winchelsea as having the same or even greater potential as the Confederacy.
 
Dave
 

Wish I wasn't totally strapped to my Connie build right now.  Would dearly love to build this one along with you Chuck.  So I'll take a front row seat and learn.
Dave

Tried to get in on that little ramhead block I showed earlier.

 
Here's the ramhead block rigged for the foreyard halyard.... securing it down below the deck was quite a challenge.
Not real happy with it, but ain't about to re-do this little baby.

 
Finally fitted the water pumps. Seems like I built them forever ago.

Beginning with the fact that I finally have a rigged yard (Lanteen)....
 

 
Creating the Parral was probably the most challenging task related to this stage.

 
Note the addition of the Topmast Backstays (Main and Mizzen), which I discovered had not yet been completed.

 
The Garnet Tackle, seen here, was another little surprise task I discovered that I had not previously completed.

 
All in all, this was a fairly straight forward rigging task, made much tougher by the fact that I had not done that much rigging in over three years. I think I may be beginning to get a little feel back.
Not quite there yet.... but making progress.

Really surprised how quickly these little sculpie projects were completed. 
 

 
Just noticed, I still have to stick the little boomkin on.
 

 
Flags will finish them off.... then I've got to build a display base for the smaller one.
 

 
Note the difference in the white painting of the stern.  Although the smaller scale is more like the photo of the Mayflower II, I personally prefer the looks of the larger one. 

One anchor fitted.... three to go.
Shutting down for the night.
 

Flags finished....
 
Arrived yesterday - None the right size of course.  Nothing is ever that easy right?
No problem.... I scanned them all and printed onto paper.  Re-sized each to fit,. then used white paper glue to fold the two matching sides together.
After 80% dry, I played around with getting the appearance of being slightly lifted by a light breeze.

Working on the ID Plaque now, which will put the wraps on this build.
 
Good day for having a cold one to celebrate.

 
Dave
 

 

 

 

Back home.... Pain free....Hope to do some updates on SOS pretty soon.
Considerable progress made over the last couple of weeks, just didn't feel up to the posting routine.
Thank you one and all for all the best wishes. This has been quite an ordeal.
BTW.... Here's the last thing I saw in the waiting room lobby.... Thought I should share it with my MSW friends.

First Progress Report....

Great to be making sawdust again after finishing up the Sovereign of The Seas build.
Here's a little tip for scratch builders.... kit modelers seldom have to do this....
Cutting out parts on the band saw:
Rather than try to trace the shape of your parts onto a piece of lumber, it is much more accurate to glue the plan drawing directly onto the surface of your lumber and make your cuts after the glue has set for about 30 minutes.
This allows you to optimize the layout and reduce the material waste.
Also, the issue of tracing a part actually increases the size of the part for obvious reasons.
 
Seen here, I make a rough tracing of the part simply to define the area I want to spread the white glue.
Then apply white glue to the marked area and smooth out with your finger.
Then apply the drawing and smooth out with your finger.
Let it set up for about 30 minutes...........
 

 
Ready to make some sawdust!

As a favor to my very good friend Dr. Andrew Hendricks (my dermatologist), I have interrupted my scratch build of the USS Constitution for several days in order to repair this very old model of the Half Moon which was gifted to him by a friend in Italy.

The model is well over fifty years old, and the original builder is unknown.  In shipping from Italy to America, the poor job of packing and securing it in the crate resulted in considerable damage to the fragile rigging and a couple of masts.  Also, it appears the model had been stored is a very dusty place over the years.  It may have been the dirtiest model I have ever seen.
 
Dr. Hendricks is a major partner in a group of investors who, several years ago, raised over a million dollars for the building of a full size replica of this historic ship (Dr. Hendricks is seen in the middle of this photo).
Another model of the ship is seen behind the three investors. 
 


He gave me a call immediately after opening up the shipping container and discovering the condition of the model he was so looking forward to receiving.

Here's what he saw....


 

 

 
While the damage to the rigging was considerable, I found the the heavy line used managed to remain in tact without breaking, in spite of the age.  
Much of the breaking occurred at belaying points along the spars where small thread was used to attach rigging blocks.
After reattaching all of the rigging, I had to spend several hours on re-tensioning quite a few drooping lines.
 
Then there was the cleaning.....
Boy!  Was she incredibly filthy!
 

 

 
Here's a few shots of the finished restoration.
 

 

 
I did create the coat of arms shield for the city of Horne and also the single arched window to the transom.
 

 

Mounting the launches....
I should explain, I realize I will have to remove the launches from the davits in order to proceed with rigging the shrouds.  The reason for mounting them at this point is because I will be taking this model along with two or three others to my favorite annual model show at the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, N.C. next Saturday.
 
Note:  I took a couple of shots of the technique I developed for those little lifeline (man-rope) bags.
To achieve the look of a fabric bag, I used a white plastic table cloth from the supply of red/white/blue covers we decorated our patio tables with last 4th of July....purchased from WalMart.
The little balsa tear drop forms are wrapped with the "X" shapes with a tight twist at the top and tied off with white thread..... then trimmed at the top.
The finished bags were spaced evenly along the rope BEFORE attaching to the davit.... brass rings on each end.
It's a little tedious, but well worth the effort.

Now if someone would explain the reason for these bags.  I have my own wild guess, but have never run across this on other ships, and I'm curious to know the background from someone more familiar.  



 

Captains Gig mounted....
This morning I completed the temporary mounting of all three davit launches.  She's pretty much ready for the road trip.
Note:  I spent most of the day yesterday building a weatherproof cargo box for the back of my pickumup truck.  After the near disaster I had a couple of years ago, I assure you this box will not blow out the back on the highway..... no matter how fast I drive.  I did a road test this morning up to 90 mph.  Solid as a rock.

   

Glad to see you return in good health Patrick.
Beautiful job on your Vic.
 
Dave

Welcome back Vivian.  Love your beautiful work.

Welcome back Vivian.... we look forward to seeing new pics of your progress, once you are able to take them again.

Thank you
Thank you my friend.  Always great hearing from you.  Hoping you and Gwin are still doing well.

Always a pleasure to see Chuck bring his masterful touch to the development of another major creation.  Just wishing I were a younger artist and could participate in this build.  Working with Chuck really cranks up the creative juices in a modeler, for sure.
Happy to take a front chair to follow this build, while I enjoy building his English Pinnace.
Thanks Master Passaro, for allowing us mortals to follow along.

Dave

 

Always a pleasure to see Chuck bring his masterful touch to the development of another major creation.  Just wishing I were a younger artist and could participate in this build.  Working with Chuck really cranks up the creative juices in a modeler, for sure.
Happy to take a front chair to follow this build, while I enjoy building his English Pinnace.
Thanks Master Passaro, for allowing us mortals to follow along.

Dave

 

Always a pleasure to see Chuck bring his masterful touch to the development of another major creation.  Just wishing I were a younger artist and could participate in this build.  Working with Chuck really cranks up the creative juices in a modeler, for sure.
Happy to take a front chair to follow this build, while I enjoy building his English Pinnace.
Thanks Master Passaro, for allowing us mortals to follow along.

Dave