Jack12477

Cutter Hawke 1777, NMM Object ID SLR0314
Next of the models I saw is the model referenced by Goodwin in the AOTS book on the cutter Alert. Unfortunately, when the model was taken out Dave Lindridge noticed that someone had damaged the topsail and had put it back in position totally out of place. This is something they will fix, but as the details are so interesting I am still posting the pics for those who have a particular interest in the Alert. As I mentioned previously, this was the only cutter with the topmast aft of the main mast.
 
It is interesting that there are many details quite at variance with the Alert shown by Goodwin. See, for example, the shrouds.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Tony

John,
 
Well said, as goes for Mark.

Well said John.  I think most of us feel the same way but have never expressed it.  I know I feel that way and haven't said it.

Danny,
 
Mine is just one voice adding to a chorus of praise.
 
I don't know if you ever saw the film "As Good as it Gets" but in a key moment Jack Nicholson tells Helen Hunt that she makes him want to be a better man.
 
You make me want to be a better modeler! As they say, "A man's reach should exceed his grasp". You make me want to be a better modeler. I don't know if I can ever reach your level of accomplishment, but I will try and I will always owe you that.
 
Best,
John

And Heeeeeeeeeeere's Sjors!  Sjors is back, hurray!  That's a whale of a wale Sjors and now to the other side.  Cannons look awesome too.
 
Cheers,

thanks John........had to think a bit,  but it worked out 
 
I didn't get to do much yesterday.......the bow vents were cemented in place.  I have to make two more.
 

 
the starboard counter weight was hung on it's chain.  this is Model Master flat black.......I was hoping it would be less glossy.
 

 

 

 
...then the port side was hung.   I tried to keep them pointing toward the front,  but I think as time goes by, and the model is moved,  they are going to settle any way they want      I had dabbed a small section of chain with white glue,  and fashioned it into a pile.   after making another hook,  the stanchion was set up.
 

 

 
this is the last day of my vacation / time off....sad to think it's over.    quite a bit was done during this span,  but she's not finished yet.    the day is still young though 
 
 

In order for me to understand better the rigging practices for cutters of the 18th Century, I wrote to the National Maritime Museum asking if I could see some of the cutter models they have in storage, now that they no longer have a model display at the Museum in Greenwich.
 
Nick Ball, the Assistant Curator of Ship Models, wrote back very quickly saying that I would be welcome to visit and could see all of the models I had requested which are now stored at the Royal Historic Dockyard in Chatham -- except for one which was stored in another location less accessible to the occasional visitor.
 
He, together with Dave Lindridge the Store Manager, gave me a very generous amount of time to look at and photograph the models that they had taken out for inspection – during which they provided a lively discussion about their jobs and the models they were showing. In fact Nick said he was pleased to show visitors the models because it gave him more of an opportunity to review models in their vast collection.
 
I asked Nick about permission to post my pictures and he told me it was fine as long as I made it clear the pictures were from the NMM collection. He also asked to be provided to the links of the photos as he himself (as a trained naval archaeologist) was very keen on the details and would enjoy any discussion that ensued.
 
I will post the photos of the individual models under different messages, this post deals only with the first of the models.
 
I just need to add that I am enormously grateful to Nick and Dave for their patience and generosity with their time for this visit, which for me was invaluable.
 
1763 cutter NMM ID SLR0510
 
First off is their cutter referenced in the NMM as Object ID SLR0510. It is described there as “a full hull model of a cutter (circa 1763) Scale: 1:48. The vessel measures 53 feet on the main deck by 20 feet in the beam and is armed with twelve 3-pounders. The model was donated unfinished and was completed in the Museum in 1960”.
 

 
For me there were four main points of interest, apart from the fact that it is dated the same year as my Sherbourne.
 
The first is that the fore belaying pins are arranged fore-aft beside the bowsprit. Gregor, Dirk, Kester and I have been trying to figure out how the belaying pins would be set given that the kit of the Sherbourne provides no plans for such a belaying rack. Each of us have provided our own particular possibility – with Dirk going for an arrangement such as that on the AOTS book of the Alert, and Gregor going for a rack right on the stem. I had made a rack that was parallel to the windlass.
 
However, now I have seen the arrangement on the NMM cutter SLR0510, and, as you will see, the 12-gun cutter I saw had the same arrangement, I have changed my own rack accordingly.
 

 

 
The second is that the topmast is fore of the main mast. I had understood that earlier in the century the practice was to place the topmast aft of the main mast. In fact the cutter Hawke (which I also saw at Chatham and whose pictures follow in a subsequent post) was the only one of these models to place the topmast aft of the main mast.
 

 

 
The third point of interest was the windlass. The original NMM plans for the Sherbourne showed this type of windlass, and Gregor has already made one in the same style, and I followed his example – rather than following the type of windlass provided for in the Sherbourne kit.
 

 

 
The fourth point of interest is that, like the Trial that you'll see in a subsequent post, the lower hull is painted up to the wales, and not to a waterline.
 

 
The following were the other pictures I took of the1763 cutter, all of which will have details which will be picked up by those more knowledgeable than I am!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Tony

CaptainSteve, I'll take a seat on the poop deck and watch the build too.

Famous last words Chuck! I somehow suspect that after the show/conference, you will be needing to do some major re-stocking of your inventory! Which of course, is a nice problem to have.

No update but I did want to let folks know I completed the last chapter of the monograph.   It is uploaded on my website here for folks building it along with me.
 
http://www.syrenshipmodelcompany.com/revenue-cutter-cheerful-1806.php
 
This has been a busy few weeks but I am now up to date with all my writing and have  fully stocked my parts inventory.   After this weekend's joint clubs show and conference (new london CT) I will have plenty of time to work on the model.  I am so looking forward to next week and will begin working on the inside bulwarks as soon I get back.
 
I can't believe I am caught up with everything!!!   Now its time for some fun 

thanks very much for the kind words and the likes!  what I was looking for,  by making them from metal,  is the weight factor.   I was looking at both of the instructions I have on this vessel,   they are made of wood.   on the # 608 static version of this vessel,  chain is not used,  and the lack of weight made the rigging look limp,  with no tension at all.  they might be a tad over scale,  but comparing them in place,  they fit OK.......so I'm not complaining 
 
thanks for the picture Piet  {I envy the heck out of you right now}.   don't be angry with me........but I wrote about you in my Word Press log:
 
https://gundalowdrydock.wordpress.com/2015/04/21/the-andrea-gail-120-scale-part-81/
 
I looked at Dave's Blogger site,  hoping he posted pictures of the gala....I would have posted it as well.   again......what Dave and you achieved there,  is to be commended,  and if there's any way I can spread the word,  I'd do it in a heartbeat!  I hope I can attend one in the near future...I don't see this as a 'one time event'!
 
models done out of the box can be just as good,  but it does show just how generic kits can be.   it is as I've always said....they make the kit......and when that kit crosses your threshold,  it becomes your kit...you are the builder.  imagination goes a long way at this point......and I don't think ability has anything to do with it.   to see what is shown...to research what certain aspects do...even a newbie can expand on the subject and surpass what the kit supplies.
     I'm not talking from a swelled head........I'm just a regular guy.....not an expert by any stretch.   I would try and add the extra detail to plastic kits,  but it wasn't till I did my first wooden kit,  that I felt the freedom,  that these kit offer.  I've seen some very interesting and beautiful models created here,  and I guess you can say I learned something from all of them.  I'll probably never learn everything there is to learn.......but I'm sure going to have fun trying 
     I thank you folks for your kind comments.......and giving me the sense that I've raised the bar.  I don't think I have,  really.......I'm doing just as I always do.......this particular build simply made it easier for me to reach out a bit more.  I'm sure the next build will put me right back where I was....and I'll be just as happy.  keep on thinking free 

For all of you guys that have any or all of the Jim Tools, I found the perfect adapter for the vac hook-up for connecting directly to a 2-1/2" hose. It's made by Ridged Tools and costs about $10. You'll find it in the Ridged Vac Accessories section in about any "big-box" store, in my case Home Depot. Its called the Universal Power Tool Adapter. It's made of rubber and easy to cut. I cut the 2 smaller sections off it and the one that's left fits right inside the adapter on any of Jim's machines. I imagine the next biggest size would fit right over the adapter as well, but the one I picked fits like a glove. The part # for it is VT1407.

Very nice Denis !!!!
 
And for all the American, Russian or where they are from......IRL means..... In Real Life !!!!!!
Or in our circumstance by Skype !
 
And Pfffffffffff is a normal, Dutch word !!!!!!!!!!
 
Pffffffffffffff
 
Sjors

Great looking pieces of metal-work Popeye!  Isn't metal work fun and easy?  Those metal pieces are much closer to the real thing and in scale then you could ever achieve with wood.  Sometimes we must go to metal to make it look right and you have done so marvelously.  Bravo!!!
 
A few posts back I mentioned that there were a few shrimp and fishing boats at the show in Fayetteville but kinda naked compared to yours.  They are very nice looking models but after seeing what you have been doing on yours I was missing something.  I was expecting more stuff on them.
 
Okay, I have taken a picture of them and thought post it here for all yuns to see and compare.  Now y'all can see what a added detail does to a model.
 

 
Again, I'm not even implying mediocrity or ho hum workmanship, far from that but I expected more detail on working boats.
 
 
Well done Denis!
 
Cheers,

Thanks for the replies guys .
 
Main Stay Tackles
 
These are used when loading into the hold, and also for launching the cutter. There is one above each hatch. The lines will tighten later when the hooks are attached to the cutter :
 

 
They consist of a double and a single block on each. The lower single block has a thimble and eye seized into it. A large hook goes through the thimble :
 

 

 

 
The standing end of the pendant lashed to the stay :
 

 
 Danny

Hi Greg
 
Dennis beat me to it.  We've heard about the storm as well and I can only say that I'm glad you got through it okay.  
 
 
Dennis - If this is the end, then I'm going to sadly miss your AG build log.  I kinda got addicted!!!!  Maybe I need therapy, but it was, as they say in the classics, a "damn good build".
 
I can't wait to see Mo and Curly come to life.
 
All the best!
 
Patrick

Nope.. it really is planking... just very small planks.
 
The trashcan is there for this end of the house and all my scrap when the scrapbox gets full... 

CaptainSteve, I'll take a seat on the poop deck and watch the build too.

CaptainSteve, I'll take a seat on the poop deck and watch the build too.

Nice horseshoes, sir...  well done.  Copper paint maybe?
 
As for a full gundeck... have a look at the other Connie builds.   A lot gets hidden with full planking and decks.. However, you and a few thousand of us will know what's there. 
 
 
Oh.. and tell xken that there's no sacred cows except to be nice and have fun....

For those o' ye who ha' not a-followed Our Hero through his Bounty Launch build, and be yet to discover the vagaries of CaptainSteve, then ye shall soon learn-eth that he doth have a tendency to go off on tangents, at times.
 
Most verily, this be one o' those times !!!
 
"If you wouldst recall," CaptainSteve didst begin-eth, "'t'other eve there be three drink can ring-pulls a-sitting on me work-bench ..."
These were not there, as one might assume, simply because Our Hero got lazy and couldst naught be bothered to clean up after his-self.
 
"I be a-seein' this pic," he were to announce-eth, "in me copy of Marquardt's AOTS."

 
It got Our Hero to thinkin', and this eve he were to take-eth up his Dremel and his pin-drill.

 
"Now, they be a-lookin' like this !!" CaptainSteve stated, somewhat emphatically.

 
Hmmm ... 'pon reflection Our Hero may consider a re-do ...

Kudos to Matt and the Nutz Brothers for planning ahead.    Very sensible chaps indeed.
 
Now, I don't think even the Connie has enough decks for me to swab to cover the weekly entrance fee to the posh seats, even if snacks are included!  But, never mind, there is space back here so let me see if all is ready.
 
1) Comfy camping chair w integrated adult beverage holder.
2) Binos so I don't miss any of the action
3) Cooler packed w lots of beverages  to share including my favorite single malt and of course some Jim Beam for our host.
4) Snacks...hopefully the Nutz Brothers are OK w peanuts. 
 
Yep..all looks good and the cap is of the first beer...work is done for the day....and so life is good!  Looking forward to the build! 
 

 
Cheers,.
 
Nigel.

Nice recovery, my friend!  The details you put into these are absolutely mind boggling (however, before you get a swelled head, it does not really take much to boggle my mind....)
 
As to our Dutch friend and his IRL - I suppose that is better than the other Dutch word he taught me
 
Pfffffffffffttttttt!
 
Cary on - we all wonder what is next!
 
:im Not Worthy:

Thank you for the comments and the "likes".
 
 
It was a minor point, Carl.. a fiddly place in the curve.  A bit of sandpaper took care of it.    I did rip off the channel wales and have put them back on (properly) this time.  I guess I'm being too,,, hmm..  focused... yeah... focused.  The planking on the outside of the bulwarks is moving forward.
 
 
Sam,
She's about 2 /1/2 feet long at this point.  Bathtub?  Maybe I ought to build one really big and opt for a swimming pool?  I wonder if the Admiral would buy into that...?  Maybe. 
 
 
You're right...  I keep forgetting it's in the picture.    :D  
 
Back to planking.

Thank all of you my friends for your kind words.
 
It's time now for me to search for some water or alcohol based dye for my display board side molding. I also want to make a few extra things for the display, like a few crates of Heineken beer, another anchor, a few more mines and crew members of course.
 
For all practical purposes the model is finished and am now figuring out how to take the photos.  I plan to make a few prints on glossies to give to the museum in Holland.
 
So, till then,
 
Cheers