DavidM

Chris actually does taper the sternpost in his instructions too.
 
You can see where he stopped his planking too. 
 

Ok, this will be my last log update before I post the finished photos in a few weeks.
 
I'm now on the rigging stage, but thought I'd keep you up to date with what to expect of HMS Flirt, when the kit is released.
 
Flirt will come with an optional launch, except for the Master Shipwright version which will have it as standard. This is built on an upside down jig and planked into 1mm x 2mm pear strips and then fitted out, including anchors, rudder, pikes, oars etc. I admit I loathe making these little things, but I'm happy with the result! The launch will only temporarily sat on the model as it will be removed for the kit instructions and box art.
 

 

 

 
 
Now it's time to concentrate my efforts on the lower mast tops. These are different in size, so it's important not to get them mixed up, as I almost did!

 

 
 
All mast sections are now tapered, squared-off etc. and then test fitted. 

 

 
 
More woodwork as the yards and booms are made. When finished, all parts are coated with polyurethane varnish and then masked before areas are sprayed in Plastikote Black. A further coat of varnish is applied over the black areas so they have the same sheen as the bare timber. Mast bands etc. are added using black cartridge paper. The masts and yards can finally be fitted out with blocks.

 

 

 

 

 
 
Rigging begins with the bowsprit, spritsail boom and boomkins. This differs a lot to the Speedy kit. Note also there is no flying jibboom on Flirt. There are different, significant changes between Flirt as she's depicted in her early rigging style, and the later rig depicted in the Speedy kit. The masts are then drilled to accept the yard pins which will help keep everything in place whilst I rig. The yards are only temporarily fitted for this post. 

The masts are then glued into position, pending the shrouds being fitted.

 

 
 
Catch you when I've rigged her...
 
😆

Fore Mast Gaff's Guy Pendants are now in place .. and I rigged a Main Sail Clew Sheet with its Block and Tackle under the boom, the end of which is rove through the Sheave in the boom and kept in place with a 'spike' (would be attached to the Clew of the Main sail if one were attached)
The Ballier is beginning to get 'Ropey' looking now   
 
All The Best Folks .. As Usual Thanks For Stopping By And Liking or Commenting .
 
Eamonn

Hey Gang ..  Did a bit more on the main Mast..  I got the Boom installed along with it's rigging today.. Had to have a couple of bashes at the Main Sheet Blocks (they refused to behave themselves  so I went away for an hour or two and when I returned , success    )
You can now get a much better feel for the Rig, as all its spars are in place and all that is left is the Shrouds/ Backstays and Guy Pendants, Oh and the Flag Halyard..
 
All The Best Folks and Thank You for taking the time to look in and comment or hit the like button, It is always appreciated !
 
Bye For Now
 
Eamonn
 

Ok Folks .. Both Gaffs are completed.. Next Up the Boom    (No drama This Time.. Honest  )
 
Thanks For Looking In..
 
Eamonn
Oh, there's a quick Deck Shot thrown in too .. 
 
 

Fixed the Deliberate Mistake .. And the Other one too! (Both Double Blocks on the Mast for the Gaff were wrove through the bottoms..  )  I always try to take a good look at the photos shortly after I post them, potential mistakes not obvious at the time can show up after during a later visit ... Now if I could just get in the habit of checking the photos at the taking stage !!    I guess they don't call them Gaffs for nothing   
 
E
 

Hi Gang .. I got the Gaff sorted .. well that was fun.. trying to connect the Parrel, the Gaff Hoist and the Gaff  Topping Lift pretty much at the same time .. Oh The Fun, and how I laughed when the Topping Lift Block on the Gaff itself popped out of its strop.. Am still drying my eyes from that one     Have to say though, am totally enjoying this part of the build, when the block popped out onto the carpet monster I just took out another  (Chucks wonderful blocks btw) opened out the holes a little and got it back in (spot welded it this time   )
 
The fore Stay is now resting in its proper place (or nearly so, as the Shrouds will sit under it) and the tweezers is there purely to add weight to the system, to kind of Bed Things In so to speak..
 
All The Best Folks Thank You For All The Comments And The Likes, Always Appreciated..
 
Eamonn
 
 

Ahh Thanks Guys, such a nice thing to hear! 😊 .. Sorry for not replying sooner but for some reason I missed your Posts ...  
 
Over the last couple of days I have been setting up the Gaffs, beginning with the Fore Mast one, locating the Parrel beads and getting the blocks ready.. Oh and almost completely forgetting the Mast Hoops for the Main Mast, bit embarrassing especially after all the effort I put into them.. Don't mind admitting to an 'Oh Poop!'    moment as I looked at the Main Mast to see if they could still be placed without having to de-construct .. Phew all good as I simply had to lift off the Schooner Stay and slip the Hoops down over the various blocks.. 😌
Whilst doing all this over the past few weeks I thought I'd best show a sample of just how far 'off the reservation' (Or 'Beyond The Pale' if you will, appropriate for where  live which is just outside the actual Pale  ) I now am by showing a photo of the Ballahoo Box Art Work for the Bow area, which hopefully will give the non Ballahoo Builders an idea of just why I'm sometimes taking so long to do even the simplest stuff.. and having to research practically every Stay etc ... Fundamentally it looks the same but ... the devil is in the detail .  
 
All The Best Folks
 
Eamonn @ Excuses Excuses Ship Yards  
 
Edit ..  Oh and check out those Anchor Stocks 😕 
 
 

Annnnd a bit more ...
 
Jib Stay Time ..  Made up and fitted the Jib Stay and its 'Stem Block' arrangement , fairly straightforward bit of rigging, attached to the fore mast as per the Schooner stay earlier, then out to the Bowsprit end and back to the 'Stem block' and inboard to be made off on a 'pin' ..  The photos should explain better   
Getting busy up forward now eh   I see that a wee bit of a spring clean is required before I go too much further, the macro shots really show the dust and imperfections that the naked eye struggles to even notice, still a good enough reason to clean and touch up the paint etc.
 
All The Best Folks And Thanks For Stopping By
 
Eamonn .. Owner Operator at Speedy Ship Yard & Riggers.. Our Motto..  'Trust Me.. We'll Have Her In The Water By Christmas' 🙄🙄😇😇
 
 
 

Another Bit Done ..
 
This time I attacked the Bow section in preparation for the Jib Stay (where it comes inboard) and a 'reinforcing' detail on the Bulwark Capping Forward where running rigging (I won't be using them) would come inboard from the Bowsprit ..
I drilled a hole in the upper Port Side Bow for the 'Jib' Stay to come inboard from the end of the Bowsprit and set up a belaying pin to receive it..  I will be attaching a block to the Bow (you will see the eyelet on the stem below the bowsprit for it) as part of run of this stay..
 
All The Best Folks ..
 
Eamonn

Hi Again Folks ..  Some slightly ( )  better photos this time..  Close Up of the Schooner Stay and todays work on the Fore Stay ..  I made the Mouse from a piece of left over dowel turned on the lathe ..  then served around it to form the bight (Loop) .. Attached the Deadeye and rove the Lanyard through it and the one previously done on the bow..
I noticed too late that the wee Man had fallen over in the background on one shot .. must have hit the grog too hard   
In the photo of the Top of the fore Mast (The photo with the Mouse) this isn't the final position of the Fore Stay, I have to do the Shrouds next then it will rest on these..
 
I also include a close up of the end fittings of the Bowsprit .. for no apparent reason  except that I don't think I had taken one before.
 
All The Best Folks
 
Eamonn
 

++++++Latest .. Hot Off The Press ++++++
 
Schooner stay In Place.. Not fully Tightened Yet.. Next Up Probably The Fore stay.
 
Had a 'Moment' when I was checking the Blocks (Opening out the wee holes a little ) on the Fore Mast  (I glued it a couple of days ago, Or So I Thought   ) suffice to say the whole mast moved Ahhhhhhh ! So back to the Gluing and waiting, then some more waiting as the glue set, so I used the time to get the Schooner Stay ready.. Then this morning I rigged it and took this awful photo of it    I will take better ones tomorrow when my nerves settle down from rigging it.. just kiddin.. 🙄😁  It didn't go too badly !
All The Best Folks
 
Eamonn
Oh, The Wee Man is there again for scale ..

OK Folks ..  I can't put it off any longer.. it's now Masting and Rigging Time !
 
Both Masts are now glued in place (Currently waiting for glue to dry) then it's onto Shrouds/Ratlines and the rest of the Standing Rigging ..  If you look closely at the fore part of the stand there is a wee 'Scale Man' I use to get a better feel for Sizes etc ..
 
The Clip on the bottom of the Rudder is to stop it rotating as I move the model around, as I have the Tiller 'Tied Off', learned that the hard way btw   ..
 
Feels Good to have The Ballier back on the Table !
 
All The Best For Now Folks & Thanks For dropping By.
 
Eamonn
 
 

Hi Folks ..  Well I have the Anchors pretty much completed (possibly only a bit of tidying up to do)
 
I did some research on the proper 'Knot/Bend/Hitch' to use and went with the Anchor Hitch/Bend (also called in some places The Fisherman's Bend amongst other names)  which is used on smaller Anchors (which of course Ballahoo's is)
 
Next up I shall put the Anchors in place and make up an Anchor Buoy and it's line ..
 
All The Best Folks
 
Eamonn

Looking forward to the photos David .. I haven't worked with Pear but I hear it is wonderful stuff (Nigel 'NMBrook' who posts/posted on here uses it a lot if I remember) I always fancied on Holly for deck work but couldn't source any so I too used Maple and I'm not disappointed .. I must see if I can locate any before starting my next build,  probably have a year or two to find it at the speed I operate 😖
The assembly instructions for Pickle are a serious step up from Ballahoo aren't they ?  I downloaded a copy some time ago to help out with my Ballahoo build.. Mind you Ballahoo's Instructions were pretty much 'There's a pile of wood now Make Ship from It.. Simples'  😉
 
All The Very Best David.. 
 
Eamonn

Hi Eamonn.  I'll send you a PM with some photos when I get more organised.  I've got some pear for the hull, maple for the deck and plenty of rope and blocks from Chuck so I'm looking forward to the build.
Kind Regards,
David

Hey There David ... Thanks again for looking in, it's nice to be back building again..  I really must post a photo of the new build space I created (massive clean up first though )
 
I would love to see what you have done with Pickle though .. Post a couple of photos on here if you like, I don't think anyone would mind! but as you know a Log is the way to go (We have all seen the brilliant job you did on Ballahoo in Completed Models Section, so deffo nothing to worry about) If you don't fancy on Posting on here could you pop a few photos into a PM to me.. As you know Pickle is one build I plan on doing as I love the smaller vessels (I saw a model of her in Portsmouth a couple of years ago, and there is a full size replica out there somewhere too.. both interestingly look different to the Caldercraft Kit Version, I wouldn't mind finding out why, I guess She evolved over her lifetime )
I'm back in work tomorrow so there won't be any major updates for a few days..
 
Thanks Again For Looking In
 
All The Best
 
Eamonn

Hi Eamonn; I'm pleased to see you back in your (new) shipyard.  Your Ballahoo is looking mighty impressive and, as ever, your log continues to both inspire and inform.  On a personal note, I've put my Sherbourne back on the shelf and have made a start on my Pickle (bulwarks completed and about to lay first plank of first planking). I haven't yet gained the confidence to open a build log!
Kind Regards,
David

Hi Folks ...   I decided to get the Anchors out and re-size the Stock ..  Ages ago now you may remember me mentioning that these were waaay off scale so after more exhaustive research (opening a folder I created called Anchor Dimensions.. knew it would come in handy) I have begun to resize the Stocks..  Original Kit supplied ones are 5.0 cm long and I need then 4.2 cm Long so I'm sanding 0.4 cm off each end (substantial difference when taking Scale into account)..  Each stock comes in two pieces which I glued (with pva) together for convenience of Sanding/Shaping.  I will separate them later and assemble the anchor properly being sure to leave the slight 'gap along middle' between the two sections as per Full Scale versions..
No Photos at the moment  .. I mean who wants to look at bits of wood gluing ...  I know I know.. Just Kiddin' it's kinda what we do 🙃 😉  OK I'll go take some ...  Oh, did I mention I finished the Mast Hoops last thing was giving them a light coat of Wipe On Poly.
 
All The Best and Thanks for Taking The Time To Drop By.
 
Eamonn
 

Hey Again Tom .. HMS Jalouse looks a nice boat ! The basics will be the same for her as Ballahoo (and most other kits for that matter) so you shouldn't have any problems there.. Just take your time (possibly not as much time as I did to be fair .. I think the actual war my boat was in ended quicker than my build time !) and have fun with it..  remember stuff may go wrong but there is little that can't be fixed and errors that seem dreadful at the time will hardly be noticed later (if noticed at all in fact)  Oh, if you wanna see a wonderful Build Log of a smaller boat check out Dirks Sherbourne (Dubz is his user name & Sherbourne is a Cutter)  Dirk takes you through step by step (as many on here do.. I had some brilliant help from the folks here) and remember techniques that apply to Ballahoo, Sherbourne or Syren etc will apply to Jalouse .. sooo keep Looking/Following other build logs and Builders ! And if in doubt scream and shout..  We will laugh take a look and help you out ! 😇😇
 
All The Best
 
Eamonn

Hey There Tom ... I tend to look at my Ballahoo and laugh as well ..😁😉 .  Tis nice to hear from a new visitor too and not so far away either.
 
One of the main things I learned here is to just get stuck into a build and not to over-think it toooo much (by all means research what you are trying to achieve but don't let doubts bog you down or stop you from making the first cut )  Find the right boat for you and get stuck in, there will always be someone on here who will have built it first, so read up on what they did (and didn't do!) and away you go.. Ballahoo was perfect for me as I love smaller craft and I decided to really go to town 'Super detailing' her,  though the bare kit makes a darn nice build anyhoo (See Ballahoo by DavidM, in completed kits) I got held up in my build with major home improvements and not having access to a build space or any tools/research material (all in storage) Thankfully I'm pretty much set up again and have been tipping n' tapping in the background here..
I can heartily recommend the Ballahoo as a first step.. and do set up a Build Log so others can follow long and help out as needed.. I happen to know an expert on the Ballahoo Main Boom circa 1805.. 🙃🙂 
 
All The Best Mate ..
 
Eamonn
 

Back Again Folks ....  
 
I sanded the Hoops I'll be using to pick my final 7 or 8 from (they are on the stirring stick with the black bit in centre of photo)  Those on the top are the recently made Cream Card/Paper versions I was going to use until I discovered the Video as posted yesterday..  Also in shot are my Wood Shavings, Pencil used and abused 😃 to shape the Shavings and a left over piece I cut the Hoops from on the lathe..  Oh I wrapped the pencil in Tin Foil (Cooking Foil) to stop the glue sticking to it (worked a treat,  no need for 'release agent' just Cooking Foil shinny side up)
I will put the Hoops in place as soon as I'm happy with them (possibly more sanding and a coat of Wipe On Poly to seal )
 
Thanks For Stopping By Folks
 
Eamonn
 

Hey There Jason ..  Ermmm  I may have slightly oversold my knowledge re Main Booms,  just slightly !  LOL (I would deffo recognise one though 😄 )
 
...  Here are a few photos.. Yup! Actual Photos Woo Hoo.
 
They are of The End of the Main Boom, a Sample Mast Hoop and The Boom support on the Mast with Mast Hoop for scale..
 
The photo of the Mast Hoop by itself is of the Hoop in its 'raw' state, made from wood shavings wrapped around a suitable sized dowel, in this case a round profile pencil, then glued..  Once the glue has set I put the whole assembly into a mini wood lathe and holding (carefully at both ends!) a craft knife I gently lowered the blade to the revolving pencil till the rings were separated..  It is un-sanded and pretty much straight from manufacture, I lightly cleaned it up and sanded it gently on the other photo, it still needs further sanding cleaning and staining.  I made approx 15 with this method in very short time, I will use the best 8 or so (further research needed here lol)
Any Questions please ask away.. Particularly about Ballahoo Schooner Booms circa 1805 😉  Spoiler Alert.. They are Wooden !
 
All The Very Best Folks And Thanks For Dropping By And Giving A Like..
 
Eamonn
 

Hi Folks..  Update Time Again ..  I have almost completed the Main Boom (after much research, then some more research for good measure.. am now widely acknowledged as the local authority on Schooner Booms circa 1805..  conclusion.. I can confirm they are the bits that stick out from the mast in a front/back direction 😉 😐) and decided to revisit my Mast Hoops, the original attempt was done quiet some time ago and though satisfied I'm by no means fully happy with them.. I have as we speak some newer versions done and variations on same using Cream coloured paper and also some long wood shavings made specifically.. (Hopes are high for the wood shavings.. there I said it !... Of course this has just put a jinx on them 😖 😇 )  I will post some photos shortly, or as soon as I clean off the work table cos right now the words Blast Radius apply to it with wood shavings all over the gaff (sic)
 
All The Best For Now
 
Eamonn .. The Ballahoo Main Boom Expert

Hi All .. I working away in the background here (On the Main Boom and its fittings at the moment) and researching Rigging on these schooners .. I was getting stuck into this a few years ago when I had to pack all away to get on with Home renovations.
This is definitely an occasion where MSW comes in handy as I have been going back over my discussions with Jim_Smits (Who completed a flippin' wonderful Ballahoo, take a looksie folks if you haven't already done so) and as a result am a bit happier at where I left off all those years ago... 🙂  Now I can research properly and see what level of detail I wish to include in the Standing Rigging.. Dirk (Dubz) has made me want to step it up a few levels (Thanks Dirk .. 🙄 by the way) so it may be time to dust off the ol' Serving Machine ..
 
Won't post any photos of my work on the Boom as tis only a wee bit of wood work etc ..  I'll wait till there is something more substantial 😉
 
All The Very Best Folks

Eamonn