Rich_engr
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Everything posted by Rich_engr
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Ken- thanks. Keep checking- once I get it "right" there'll be tons of pictures up. I'm anxious to press ahead and get them rigged, but it just doesn't look quite right since they have this ugly-looking sigma shape to them (when looking from the side)... Course, if I have to redo them, it shouldn't take that long (luckily I have tons of extra rope I made for the breech lines). -
Is there a similar illustration for 12 pounder caronnades? I am wondering how far inboard the upper slides go when loading or during recoil? I already made the breech lines for my guns (MS Niagara- see the last page of my build log), but I think I made them a bit too short. My thinking was when they are fully pulled back for loading, the edge of the upper slide is even with the lower carriage. If the top slide overhangs the carriage, then the lines will need to be longer. I might have to redo all 18 of them if my assumption was incorrect (probably set me back a week or so)....
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Guys- thanks for checking in! Yeah, even though she's been in the making for a long, long time, I truly appreciate the compliments since she's my first. Learned a LOT thus far, and TONS more to learn still! Larry- that's exactly what I did. To get out of the planking/wood monotony that never seemed to end, I started the guns (carriages, hardware, rigging, etc.). Not only was it a nice change of pace, but once the deck was laid and some eyebolts and cleats were installed, the guns were ready for immediate installation. I figure it'll take me about a week or so to get them all rigged and set, after which I'll install the pinrails and begin work on the deck structures, bilge, etc., then it's the channels and chain plates. The WVH would be a gorgeous, ambitious build- that'd be a fantastic piece for one's collection! I think I'll stick with the Syren for my next one- another 2 masts to really get my skills in place before trying a 3-masted one (Fly, Surprise, maybe a Conny). Nevertheless, I doubt I could handle more than one build at a time- it'd be a logistical nightmare considering time and space constraints (and the "pet issue")... lol Well, it's back to the hunt today and the gym this afternoon (could finish the yard work, but not with it hitting 101 today and 104 tomorrow!)
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Correct- bright means no paint (usually for woods only, since metals get painted somehow). I like the color scheme on the kit, but I just wish my painting skills were a tad better (and getting used to the consistency of the paints). But next kit will probably be just stained and minor painting (similar to the Syren- I LOVE how that looks).
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Ken, yes, I painted them (light buff). I will have to retouch them since the britannia metal doesn't like paint too well... The mooring cleats were the 3/32" wood, so they were easy to paint (black).
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Ok... finally had the grilled veggies and various enchiladas with the neighbors. Now, for some PICTURE UPDATES!!!!! yaaayy!! Here's what I've been up to lately: Breech lines are installed on the guns and they're ready for installation. Also, I made the remaining pigtails for the gun tackle. All cleats and mooring cleats are installed on the hull and bulwarks. A couple of weeks ago I installed the rudder (minus rigging). This is what I accomplished this evening: Finally, a closeup (I think I may go with just the breech and train tackle, because it's rather crowded with the upper carriage side tackle): Also, I hope I didn't make the breech lines too short- they're very springy and it doesn't look like there's too much extra slack (made each one about 4 inches from ring to ring). Maybe tomorrow evening after job hunting I'll try to have at least one gun fully figured out and rigged properly, and if it's acceptable I'll move on to the rest.
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Lol- no shrimp on the barby~ Unfortunately, I didn't have time to grill, but we'll be doing it tomorrow instead... good thing it was delayed, since the grill ran out of gas this evening while making some bbq ribs! So grilled veggies tomorrow!! Not much activity on the build the past few days- tonight I am installing the mooring cleats and prepping the guns (checking the alignment, etc.). Once they're in I'll get some pics up before they're fully rigged. But, in between job searching and the build, I'm trying to keep my skills sharp by teaching myself some new things (radar and more satcom stuff) and refreshing stuff I learned in college- to help broaden my possibilities. (Btw, there's a goldmine of courses from MIT that are free to download, complete with videos, notes, tests, and problem sets!) So keeping busy and pressing ahead!!!
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I agree with Larry- very crisp and clean. I think your gun ports (and Larry's thus far) have turned out better/more square than mine! Don't worry about slow- I think we're all in the same boat there (get it- same boat! hahaha!!!). Aside from some of the minor frustrations, I think all of us are verrrrry relaxed when working on our builds (Hey maaannn- I'm the Dude! Lebowski) lol!
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Brian, Thank you for awesome compliment! Sure, it's hard as h#ll out there to keep positive and upbeat, and there's a lot of competition and things working against us, but focusing on the positive and staying strong creates the energy that will help manifest the desired outcome (focusing on the negative will only bring bad results and failure). To quote Tony Robbins, "energy flows where the mind goes." Think, feel, be, and exist in a positive state, and awesome things will happen. Btw, I HIGHLY recommend going to one of his events- very life-changing and self-empowering! As for pictures, maybe in the next few days (have to grill veggies for a neighborhood bbq tonight, and actually get some work done on the guns first!) You guys rock!!!
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Nice approach Larry- I never thought of using the dremel and a pointed cutting bit for making the gun and sweep ports. I just made individual planks for each hole (then sanding/filing to final size), instead of laying one single plank the whole length and then cutting out... which is probably why it took me forever... lol! oh well- next time. Glad that you're making good progress- you're catching up and learning rather quickly!!! (Regarding my build, I tend to learn from others after-the-fact. haha!! But I'll get 'em next time!) Keep up the great work!
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Lol- thanks Larry! Yes, I'll get some pictures up soon (maybe after I get a few guns installed and rigged)- sounds like Sjors! lol But for now, my Niagara is my quiet, re-centering man cave that I will retreat to in the late evenings before bed. It's good to let the mind go, relax, and forget about the day's inactivity/lack of calls, and try to re-strategize for the next day. Only by a strategically-focused plan will I succeed! (This is chess, not checkers or tic-tac-toe.) Fingers working nimbly with rigging and some wood can do wonders for the mind and clarity of thought.
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Ok- strong lead was a no. I was a really strong candidate (95% what they needed), but lacked some design experience they required... grr.. but they'll keep me at the top of the list in case something similar opens up. Still no activity- working with a recruiter and searching around myself. Thinking of trying to teach myself some of the design software (looking for free downloads, tutorials, etc.)... Regarding the build, in the evenings I was able to install the breech lines on all of the carronades (was able to do about 5-7 a night before bed, which is a lot faster than I thought, once I got my rhythm). So next up is going to be finishing the rest of the tackle and figuring out the exact placement of the guns & tackle and installing them!! I still have to assemble the long guns and make their tackle. After that, its on to the deck structures, then channels & chainplates (that'll be interesting, especially from the "stories" I've read about making them! lol!). Now, if I only had as much progress in the job hunt (despite my efforts and time) as I have with my build (which has only amounted to maybe 2-4 hours a week), I'd be in fantastic shape!!!! [Hrm... less time = more progress... by that logic I should stop looking for work and I'll miraculously be employed, right?!? Same thing for winning the lottery! lmao!!]
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Question on false seizing / zip seizing
Rich_engr replied to slagoon's topic in Masting, rigging and sails
Wow- I gotta try zip seizing now, because I've been doing the old-school, long-handed way of wrapping the spool of thread around the line to be seized, turn-by-turn... doh!! -
Question on channels and chain plates
Rich_engr replied to src's topic in Masting, rigging and sails
Wow- never heard of the "air space." But, not to get too mathematical here (remembering my college work back in the day), the channel was designed to be static, not dynamic (fixed forces, as opposed to acceleration/movement involved). I recall back to my Statics Engineering course, and there are only 2 formulas to remember: 1. The sum of the forces (in any direction) equals zero, and 2. The sum of the moments (applied torques) also equals zero. If you draw a free-body diagram of the channel, showing the shrouds and chainplates (tension along themselves), the vector components of the forces cause the channel to be in compression. Then, if you have a net tension in the +y-direction (ie, up the shrouds), in order to counter this you'd add a support strap below (to pull down and balance this force). In a similar fashion, reverse this logic if the chainplates exhibit a net tension downwards by adding a wooden brace underneath the channel, or a tension rod above it). This makes me wonder- when they were rigging the ships back then, did they have some device to measure the forces/tension in the shrouds (like a fish scale)? Definitely gotta give the old shipwrights and riggers credit for knowing these problems and being able to solve them (without a calculator or an IPhone app)! If they didn't know this, I doubt their ships would have made it across the ocean to the New World! -
Larry- thanks!!! Yes, I have thought about bringing up my hobby (or insanity, as we on the inside call it), and I do have the pics of my build on my phone (blackberry takes FAR better pictures than the PowerShot). I've showed some of the cannons dry-rigged to a few coworkers before, and they were very impressed, so hopefully it would be a slick little show-n-tell with potential employers (which would be professional engineers btw) to demonstrate my long-term dedication, patience, attention to detail, and willingness to learn and keep the mind sharp. Also, one could demonstrate their creativity and problem-solving skills, in addition to showcasing the logic and reasoning necessary for both short-term goals (a plank or stropping a block), and long-term strategic goals (finish the hull, complete the rigging). Lots of info about a person's skills and talents can be gleaned from a build. As for the build, I did manage to finish installing the rudder (minus the chains and tiller) the other day, and today I made the horse for the boom sheet/double-block, and made the capstan handles. Tomorrow I plan on having these items installed. Hunt-wise, I still have one strong lead, but the recruiter has been busy travelling and getting additional req's open for the company, so it's a little difficult to get in touch, and nothing yet on the others... hanging in there still and exploring my options!!
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Ooooooooh- paint and planks!!! Ooooohhhh!!! donut!!! lol!! It's amazing how awesome she looks with some paint on her- glad that you're getting some bits done here and there while moving! Even a simple plank, or shaping a piece, or painting a stripe feels good and let's the regular stress wash away, if just for a brief moment of peace (or shall I say, piece). Good work!!!
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Nice progress!!! Definitely coming along there! I agree with Larry- the toprail issue might be intrinsic to the kit (I had to slightly shim around that joint as well). The gun/sweep ports were fun/tedious to do, but your approach is sound (use a 3/16 block to gauge the hole when assembling). I had to redo mine, since I just installed the framing, then sanded/filed them square, only to find that I over-sized them (which is why you see the 1/32 strips as framing on my sweep ports). lol! Still, slow and easy is the best way. As an idea, it might be easier to go ahead and paint the waterway and plankshear before doing the inboard planking- masking will be a pain!! (know this from experience)
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Gentlemen: Thank you for the support and kind remarks! I am so thankful to have the kind of support on here that is very welcome and appreciated by me in times like this! Understanding the world of HR and hiring politics is like trying to know the inner workings of the Illuminati! lol! But I understand the legal issues (EEOC, discrimination, etc.). Still, I'm trying to be positive and focused while keeping my goals in mind, which runs in parallel with my approach to my build. (True, both can at times be equally stressful, but I doubt that I'd go back to my job search or work to get a break from my build! haha!!) Still, I'm focusing on what really matters at this time, and when I get a chance or need to chill out, that's where this build plays a big role (or getting the house fixed up and ready to move). Regarding the build, I almost have the rudder fully installed (few more nails/rivets), and after that I'll fab the tiller bar and associated rigging. I also have to make the capstan bars and have them stowed along the aft bulwarks. I'm trying to get as much of the small, inaccessible stuff as possible in place before rigging the guns and adding the deck structures. After all of that's done, it'll be onto shaping the masts and bowsprit, then the fun really begins!
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I'd agree: entry level would require less time than an intermediate/advanced. It all depends on the level of detail you want to incorporate, and what you feel comfortable with. One could build a Vic or Conny as a beginner, but the learning curve would be considerably steeper and would take longer (more chance of getting discouraged), or one could build an AVS, Sultana, etc., and produce a fine model in a fairly reasonable amount of time (and time itself is relative). Then there's the ambitious, yet newbie such as myself, beginning with a Niagara (or Syren, etc.), where the learning curve is moderately steep, and it takes a good bit longer (in my case anyway), but where you learn the skills necessary for something more advanced later on. But I would have to say that as a beginner, one should first view the various build logs here to get a sense of what wooden ship building requires, and use their own judgment as to what they could handle first off, then progress. I'd rather start off simple/moderate challenge, than jump in with a 1st rate and get discouraged or frustrated, especially when one considers the cost of the kit and the time involved. Just my 2 cents~~
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Ok... been almost 3 weeks waiting for the phone interview... (To HR: if it's a NO and you are not hiring, then just tell me so, because the waiting is very difficult!). Trying to re-strategize my job hunt... So, to chill my mind a bit, I managed to paint the mooring chocks and install them, painted the rudder, attached the pintles, and I should have it mounted to the hull later this evening... At least I got something done this week (not counting dishes, the lawn, and laundry. lol!) BTW, where have the rest of the Niagara club been??? Haven't seem too much activity lately.
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Another quickie: In between recruiters calling today (should have a phone interview sometime this week, and one really awesome recruiter who takes the time to know her clients), and laundry, I managed to redo (again, for the umpteenth time) the stern mooring blocks. (It's amazing what a difference using the right size drill bit can make!)
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Quick update: Pintles and gudgeons are blackened (actually more of the rust color like the gun hardware), and made the rear mooring cleats/blocks (after 3 tries for each). Not much progress, but every small piece here-and-there helps. On the job hunt: interview on Mon went well, but waiting to hear back (it's a different part of engineering for me, but who knows- they def need the help). Also, had a phone one on Fri that was great, but I'm lacking some of the experience they need, so that was a no (was hoping for that one, since they did some really cool stuff). And I'm still trying to get back with another HR rep for a 3rd place (which is right up my alley)... Still hunting and praying!
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Regarding waxing the lines, when I run the synthetic line supplied in the kit (nylon??) through the block of beeswax (as shown in bogey's post), the wax gets all flaky/dusty, and it doesn't seem like much sticks or relaxes the line enough... Should I try melting the wax first, or is wax not the best thing for synthetic lines?? I really don't want to have to go and purchase all new lines, especially since I've already made over a hundred feet of rope with it and seized a ton of blocks!!
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Yeah- ouch! Cut fingers really sucks for modeling (I sliced one down to the nailbed with a cleaver while chopping cabbage 3 months ago- nail is still messed up). But heal up Sailor, and you'll be back to it in no time!
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Currently I'm blackening the hardware for the rudder. Due to upcoming phone interviews AND an actual in-person interview on Monday, I doubt there'll be much building going on over the next few days (which is fine by me)!! But, next up will be shaping the tiller bar and painting the rudder. One thing I did notice is that I may have put the waterline a hair too low, since the line goes right through the top hinge of the rudder... probably won't be perfect, but I'll just have to deal with it (otherwise it'd be re-painting the hull just above and below the waterline to correct this, which is a can of stink worms that I'm not going to attempt to open!!!!!) Yay!!!
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