MEDDO

So I have been away for a while.  My practice went through a massive expansion/contraction/expansion etc etc.  Ended up working way too much.  I also got somewhat distracted for the last few months building a kayak.  I am finishing that up and am cleaning up the shipyard so I can start working again.  Here is a picture of where I am now.  
 
I like the new site design and wanted to see if I remembered how to get pictures uploaded etc.

I been able to get a few more steps done.  
 
Catheads.  Weird the instructions only had a single layer for the catheads.  Every picture and the plans had these double thick so I had to freehand cut out 2 more then drill the sheave holes in them.  They seem to have come out fairly well.
 

 
Caprails to cover the frame ends.
 

 

 
Railing supports.  These were pretty hard to fit as the pre-drilled/milled holes they fit into in the cap rail were way too small. I didn't notice this until the cap rails were already installed.  This made opening them up very difficult.  After a bunch of micro scalpel work they sit in pretty well.
 

 
Railings.  These were 2 layers.  The first layer had holes in it to attach to the posts.  A top finish layer was then glued on top of it to make a smooth run down the rail.
 

 
Here is the state of the build with a few pieces of deck furniture dry fitted on.
 

I really like this idea for a stand/presentation. 

I really like this idea for a stand/presentation. 

The display base is inspired by the Brig Syren's longboat lashed to its deck. I used Chuck's practicum as a guide for designing the gallows bits and tried to proportion the measurements. Attached is a photo of the measurements I used. I ended up using the 3/16" planking stock from the Pinnace kit. I plan to use maple for that kit anyway.
 
The kit supplied display board was warped and unusable so I used a 4"x8" basswood board, which was planked over with the 3/16" stock. This display will allow me to present the oars on the gallows bits. Haven't decided if I will "lash" the boat as well. I'm considering adding "iron" rings to the base/deck as well. Any thoughts??
Steve 

Here's part II
Last pic is dedicated to 1) MSW Staff : congrats regarding the software update and Ray : consulting his buildlog (HMS Diana fvinished +/- a year ago) made things more easier and comprehensable., Cheers Ray

Thx Sjors
 
I am half way with the yards now. The rest of the yards will be easier.
 
Some pictures..........
 
 

Yes Steve, you can't start a build without a shout out to Lego 

Ah I see the compulsory lego shot no build gets off to a good start without this

I've installed the bulkheads and the sternpost.  Some of the bulkheads were very snug and I had to do some sanding to get them to fit properly.  They went together quite nicely.
 

"Well... this is a fine mess I've gotten myself into, Ollie.....  " -Stan Laurel
 
I finally got the pictures off the camera, sized.  These are as she sits right now and for the last 2 days.   The information from Gerard gives me pause and some deep thought.   Right now, I'm wondering if I can "fix" this such that the planking butts are random without causing undo harm to the beams, my sanity, etc.
 
 
The catch is the quarterdeck ends just after the main mast.   I could random butt joint from here forward as the butt joints where the cannon and mastershipwright are would not be seen from above but the ones at the main mast area will be visible.  Forward, the butt joints show up well before the forecastle so they'd be out in the open also.   There are ladders, ship's boats, and cannon in the open area between quarter and foredeck but not enough "things" to hide the joints.
 
I'm going to think this through and fiddle with the drawings and if I think I can pull this off (maybe strip back some of the planks) and make it "random" I will.   i'll try to salvage as much of the planks as I can since I already have the rest of the gundeck planks cut and hate the idea of tossing them all out.  If I can't.... I'll just have to go with what I have.
 
Any thoughts, advice, etc. will be considered and appreciated.
 
Anyway... pictures.    The dummy cannon is being used to see if there's any problem with gunports and decking.  So far, so good, or so I thought.  
 



 
 
 
 
 

After seeing how well the Rattlesnake came out I am looking forward to this one.  My Constitution is on semi-permanent hold as I get back into modeling and finish up the Halifax.  Interested in seeing your progress with the Hunt practicum as well.

I've now made up, mounted and rigged the main topgallant yard. 
 
This is a simple yard, being round in section throughout. Only tapering was required, before adding the cleats, foot ropes, and the blocks for the lifts, clews and braces. Lines were also added for the truss and tie. After mounting, the rigging was completed for the truss, lifts, tie, clews, and the sheets/ topsail lifts. The lifts and tie were tied off at the main top and coils added.
 
The area at the deck was a jumble of lines that required, as B.E. has put it, "tidying up". I finished tying off all of the lines at the bitts, cleats and kevels and added rope coils. This completed the running rigging of the main mast yards, with the exception of their braces and the lower sheets and tacks, which will be done at a later point.
 
Now, it's on to the mizzen.
 
Bob
 
 
 

Here is the Eagle as she sits in the dock today. The upper mast sections for the foremast are still to be done. On the spanker mast I decided to go with 12 rings. This was based on the Model Expo Niagara. It was slightly less than what I had calculated but given the boom and the angle of the gaff was well within the tolerances. Since the Niagara was what Dr. Crisman used as his basis for rigging, this is the rig I turn to when questions arise in my build.
 
Once the foremast is complete, I will start on the bowsprit assembly. The masts are currently just lightly wedged in place so ignore any misalignment. The final angles will be set with the shrouds. The mast sections are also not glued together. I plan on rigging the masts in place. Of course, as always, my plans are subject to change!
 

 

 

 

I not only like to rig my ships, but I also enjoy making my line. I am presently working on Model Shipways Constitution. I have pre hung as much of the rigging as I could before installing the masts. 

I've been working on a little bit of double duty as I get closer to the finish of the Confederacy.  I've started the ships boats, but have also been working on anchors and small details of the ship. 
 
   Nothing particularly complicated with the anchors. As with most of the laser cut parts, the anchor stocks are pretty beefy and required a fair amount of sanding.  I used pin files to notch them of course, but the wood itself is soft, so I used nothing grittier than 400 grain sandpaper to ease them down bit by bit and bevel them.
 

 
   Pretty standard stuff with the bolts, just clipped off some nails and blackened them.
 

 
Likewise with the bands - once again the instructions call for card stock, which I think is a perfectly viable option and probably even simulates a better thickness to the bands.  But I love the look of using metal instead, so I trimmed some more strips and blackened them as well.
 

 
   After test fitting both the anchors I stained them up - then finished off the rings and served them with thread.
 

 
My intent was to just lash the anchors to the model - as Chuck points out in his primer, that was the case with Navy Board style models (even though I've taken some liberties elsewhere.  After lashing the starboard anchor, I realized that because I added a couple extra upper deck cannon to the port side - simply lashing the anchor would interfere!
 


    So here's where I went rogue... I decide to keep the starboard lashed, but rig the port side to the cathead.  Crazy talk!  I pulled a page from Mastini's book since I couldn't really remember the details, carved out and constructed a pulley and rigged her up.  This will be the back side of the model, so I didn't go full-on with details - but I think it looks fair and adds a interesting wrinkle.
 

 
  I also got the chance to mount the waist stanchions and railings.
 

 
  Finally - an important transition!  I made the switch from the Dremel workbench to the stand.  She's getting closer...  
 

Hi everyone!!
 
After almost seven months, finally I finished all the deck furniture and glue them in their proper place. Here some pictures:
 

 
Next step, start with the masts.
 
Saludos, Karl
 
 
 
 

Hola:
 
Continuing with some details:
 
Modeling, painting and installing the Fairlead:
 

 
Later I made some tests to paint the Baltimore´s Emblem that are laid on the transom, but it's really difficult to work in detail on this scale. Therefore I got the idea to do it on the computer: copying the shield and reducing it to the appropriate scale. And after several tries I obtained an acceptable result. Here you can see the hand made try and the printed one attached on the wood form
 

 
Because Guaymas is a little city, it is quite impossible to obtain the appropriate dry transfer letters to make the ship´s names, so, following the same procedure I used my computer to do them:
 


 
Saludos
 
 
 

Wonderful way to finish.  The case, table and ship look great.

Wonderful way to finish.  The case, table and ship look great.

FINISHED
 
Well here they are, the last planned official images of my Rattlesnake, safe and snug in her case. For those who followed my loooonnnnnng and s l o w build over the past seven years, once again, thank you for being so patient and thank you for all the “likes.” 

I love the Pride.  I am originally from Baltimore and love seeing her when I return.
 
Never be hesitant to post.  We all have had mistakes and things we wish to do better.  The community here is wonderful and supportive and will help out at any time.  
 
This is on my (extensive) future build list so I look forward to more of your updates.

Thanks Nils.  Seeing all the open and partially planked builds here are an inspiration.
 
 
 
Thank you Pete.

I been able to get a few more steps done.  
 
Catheads.  Weird the instructions only had a single layer for the catheads.  Every picture and the plans had these double thick so I had to freehand cut out 2 more then drill the sheave holes in them.  They seem to have come out fairly well.
 

 
Caprails to cover the frame ends.
 

 

 
Railing supports.  These were pretty hard to fit as the pre-drilled/milled holes they fit into in the cap rail were way too small. I didn't notice this until the cap rails were already installed.  This made opening them up very difficult.  After a bunch of micro scalpel work they sit in pretty well.
 

 
Railings.  These were 2 layers.  The first layer had holes in it to attach to the posts.  A top finish layer was then glued on top of it to make a smooth run down the rail.
 

 
Here is the state of the build with a few pieces of deck furniture dry fitted on.
 

Here is a picture from The Colonial Schooner 1763-1775 by H. Hahn.  (this is the copy I have been using to supplement this build)
 
Once the rails are in the scale seems to be a bit better.