Ian B

Well after a long time I have finished the planking and ready for the decking. The planking pattern is not 100% right and the picture makes her look like the sides are uneven ---but they are smooth honest LOL  ---she looks fine to me and I want that slightly beaten weathered look   I will now start the decking after that I promised myself I would order all the nice stuff (cannons etc)  from Chuck ..

love the port lids, sorry to be a pain but can you show the reverse side of the lid to see how you constructed it?
 
thanks

Hi all,
  A small update on the boiler construction...started off by applying the brass parts to the boiler doors, just pre-bent and attached with ca per the kit instructions, you'll notice them are still brass in the first pic...I've gone with a painted finish on most of the the metal parts.  I tried Blacken-it but had no luck, I'm gonna have to practice with that stuff.
 
   Anyway, I decided to construct the sight tube from some clear tubing I have in the junk box, so a piece was cut to the appropriate length and test fit...the fittings will receive a trim later.
 
  The boiler itself was up next, I wanted to continue the theme of a lightly weathered look so I applied a dark wash to the boiler and steam dome sub-assemblies, these parts were then sealed with natural Min-wax stain and left to dry...then all was sanded with 220 grit to expose some lighter sections.  Its a technique I've used before...(applique armor on WW2 Shermans) and works pretty well.
 
  The bands were added to the boiler subs and the steam dome top added, and the stand parts added.  Still have some touch up painting and dry brushing to do, but that's all for today. Pics follow, as always thanks for your time and attention:

Stunningly beautiful Keith.  Congratulations on finishing this model to perfection.

I have now finished - it took a bit if time to get the sheets and halliards tidy but a couple of simple jigs helped. 
 
Here are a selection of photos of the finished model. I will post a few more tomorrow.
 

Hey Chuck, got the cannonballs in place..

I shall have a look at the Amazon offering -thanks

I shall have a look at the Amazon offering -thanks

Hi
 
I have just read 380 pages of pure pleasure, it was like a ship spotters guide to models from MSW. So many of the ships mentioned on the MSW website appear in this book. Tactics, sailing and fighting techniques, maps and diagrams and the tales of those who served in them-- not Only Royal Navy but US, French Dutch and Spanish ships of the same period... a true insight to that period of sea warfare.  I have read lots of books on this topic but this one trumps them all.  and 'no'  I have no link with the book, publisher or Author LOL!!

Hi All

 

Here we are again.  Don’t know why but progress has seemed slow since the last post, but at last I think I’ve now reached the interesting stage where I can start adding detail to the model.

 

I finished planking the bulwarks apart from a little bit at the stern, mainly because I haven’t figured out how I want to do it yet, then on to the capping rails.  Seemed to take an age but was worth taking my time with, the hull looks so much nicer now all the gaps and joins are covered up.

 



 



 



 

 

I followed up with the etched brass door frames and doors, and stern window framing.  I started by spraying the frames yellow with acrylic, then hand painted the doors with brown enamel, not so much by choice (I’m not the biggest fan of Humbrol) but I went to the shop to get some green for the Stern Gallery and Prow and completely forgot the brown.  I think I’ve mentioned before, the paint I’ve been using is from the Citadel range, it’s the first time I’ve tried spraying it but it went on beautifully, thinned with water and the tiniest amount of washing up liquid to break the surface tension.  The hinges and door handles I blackened using Birchwood Casey Brass Black.

 



 



 



 

Now the job I’ve seemed to be putting off, the lower three whales.  The lower most whale I spent quite some time bending so it would lay flat against the hull, and once I was happy with the fit, I sprayed them using the Citadel Chaos Black aerosol before fitting (I can’t recommend it highly enough).  I also fit the hawse hole boards at the bow, bit nerve racking drilling the holes.

 

 

That’s about where I am at the moment, so its on with the stern gallery and prow before I tackle the deck fittings etc. 

 

 

Couple of little asides, went to a car boot sale last weekend, picked up a couple of little gems, a set of travel sized ceramic hair straighteners, forget the commercial plank benders thats the way to go, just damp the wood and run it through the tongs and a perfect curve. The other was a cribbage board, I can think of a hundred and one uses for it, everything from a drying rack to a bending jig to a rigging stand, I’m sure you’ll see it pop up quite often during the build log. And finally all 22 volumes of the Seafarer book series all in mint condition. The whole lot less than £20, (just love bargains).  I’ve added a couple of photos of these in action, the reason they work so well is I’m getting even heat on both sides of the wood (the cribbage board is metal faced so it retains the heat).

 



 



 



 



 

Second little aside, I’ve ordered my machines, and yes, I have gone the Byrnes route, and yes, I’ve ordered the disc sander and thicknesser as well. Think Xmas is coming early this year.

 

Hi Greg,
 
Looks great as always.  I am having trouble finding those aftermarket armament pieces.  Would you consider writing a post where you make a table of all of the aftermarket parts that you used, and provide a link to find them?
 
Thanks!

I have just loved watching this project-- I had no interest in plastic model ship building but thought I would follow out of curiosity. AND NOW---- I so now want to rush out and build this model myself...Brilliant detailing -- so when its finished what's next to wet our appetites ? 

I have just loved watching this project-- I had no interest in plastic model ship building but thought I would follow out of curiosity. AND NOW---- I so now want to rush out and build this model myself...Brilliant detailing -- so when its finished what's next to wet our appetites ? 

Beautiful work on the capstan Ian.
 
B.E.

I am fascinated by this log the detail you are injecting is superb It is the first time I have followed a plastic based build and am really tempted to do one myself when the current builds are complete. , thanks Greg - 

I am fascinated by this log the detail you are injecting is superb It is the first time I have followed a plastic based build and am really tempted to do one myself when the current builds are complete. , thanks Greg - 

Looking great Bob , very tidy. I am exactly at the same stage of planking and about to start from the keel up....

Looking great Bob , very tidy. I am exactly at the same stage of planking and about to start from the keel up....

Looking great Bob , very tidy. I am exactly at the same stage of planking and about to start from the keel up....

Looking great Bob , very tidy. I am exactly at the same stage of planking and about to start from the keel up....

amazing work on the whole steering and wheel -- great detail and looking forward to the 'how too' post to make it.

amazing work on the whole steering and wheel -- great detail and looking forward to the 'how too' post to make it.

amazing work on the whole steering and wheel -- great detail and looking forward to the 'how too' post to make it.

amazing work on the whole steering and wheel -- great detail and looking forward to the 'how too' post to make it.

amazing work on the whole steering and wheel -- great detail and looking forward to the 'how too' post to make it.