hof00

Hi Chap, Sorry to hear that life got in the way, happens I guess. I sincerely hope that you can get back to completing your fabulous Cutty!! On a positive note, your model will wait patiently for your attentions. I hope that the description for the Plate Embossing machine was adequate. I'll get some photos up in the next day or so for some progress of the Flying Cloud. (It certainly has not been a very easy journey thus far.... 🙂) Cheers and Regards, Harry.

Hi Chap, How's it going and how's your "Cutty?" finished yet? (I have been wondering how your project had been going 🙂) Plate Embosser? I was not looking forward to describing this fairly rudimentary experiment.... O.K I started with the A/L 17.0 X 5.0mm Plates Marker, this worked well but was very difficult to keep "On-Track." My thought was to guide the Copper strip and pull it though a guide of some sort. The A/L Tool Wheels/Spacers add up to 5.0mm in thickness, all good but there are three PE pieces spaced around the circumference of the wheels that keep the wheels in line but also mark each plate as the wheels rotate. These three PE pieces protrude about 1.0mm each side of the wheels. I made up a couple of supports for the Plate Marker and decided to mount a square rod for the body of the Marker to slip onto so that I could remove the Marker if so desired, I also did not want to alter the integrity of the Marker at all. I attached to supports to a random length of hard wood and made the Marked Pivot so the Marker would engage at about 45" I attached guide strips along the length of the guide at 7.0mm in width and a couple of 1.0 X 1.0mm strips inside these creating a 5.0 X 1.0mm Chamel for the tape to ride in. (Clear as mud so far? 🙂) I now had to figure out how to ensure clearance for the afore mentioned PE bits so the wheels would rotate, removed about 10.00mm of the 1.0mm guide strips where the wheels rotate.. Also in mind was a slippery surface for the tape to slide on so used some 6.0mm Tamiya masking with candle wax rubbed on, paraffin wax I guess.... So, to try the device.... I had seen a chap building a "Victory" on You-Tube who laminated his 0.mm Copper tape to bump up the thickness to 0.2mm so that the copper is a little stiffer. I did this also. I Pulled my first, (Of many), test strips through applying downward pressure on the tool, not bad but the strip still wandered, I decided on an additional guide to ride on top of the tape so the Feed-In was flat and within the guide channel, a piece of 5.0mm thick wood fit the bill with the Masking/Wax treatment, to ensure this didn't slide forward and jam the wheel, I but a Brass rod through the front of this so that it "Stops" on the Pivot Uprights, clear of the tape channel and just rear of the wheels. Try again with pressure on the tool and pressure on the tape guide block, better but not perfect, I had to shim my guide rails with lengths of Tamiya tape on one side to get the "Track" centered. So, there you go, it seems to work. Someone with a good Lathe/Mill, (Yourself?), could probably knock out something better. 🙂 Happy to take some more photos of the device if you so wish. The build continues, currently working on Masts/Yards, I got sidetracked but it doesn't matter, it all has to be done anyway.... 🙂 If you are going to attempt this model, be aware of the issues I encountered, maybe my kit was a Monday morning/Friday afternoon production run? To be fair, I purchased mine maybe 15 years ago? (Old release.) Looking forward to seeing your Cutty progress at some stage. (No pressure!!) Really good to have your communique!! PS. Happy New Year to you and yours!! Kindest Regards, Harry.

Hi All, Update Time.... Channels installed Figurehead cleaned up, painted and placed Cat Heads in position (Not yet attached) Mast Tops made (One thing led to another and I decided to make the Masts.... After this I thought I'd turn the rest of the Spars/Yards/Stunsail Booms. Again, as I was well aware, not enough Dowel material at all.... I had a stock of Dowel, (Clear Pine), that some components were turned from.) I tinkered with my Plate Embossing device; after mucking around for a while yesterday I achieved a few runs of acceptable Plates Time to carry on, much to do!! 🙂 Wishing you all a great Christmas/New Year!! Cheers....HOF. Photos:

Hi All, Small update: Water Casks completed, six of them - 3 Port and 3 Starboard. (My photos are a little out of focus so apologies for that.) Cheers....HOF. Photos:

Hi All, Small update: Catheads prepared Fore Deck Mooring Bitts prepared Fore and Main Mast Fife Rails prepared Master Blank for Water Casks prepared and planked (This will be cut into six 21.0mm lengths, Strapped and Deck Supports manufactured.) Fore and Main Hatches will be re-built Main Mast "Step" (Housing) improved In all, it's starting to look a little more like a ship!! Plenty more to go.... 🙂 Cheers.... HOF. Photos:

Thanks Rob, Many thanks for the Heads-Up!! Would you have any links to the info? To date, I am using Scott Branders plans as reference. Cheers and Regards, Harry.

Hi All, Small update: Inboard Bulwark Planking completed (Maple) Remainder of Waterways installed Main Rail installed It certainly helped to have components for the Main Rail pre-bent to more or less conform to the Bulwarks. The Main Rail still required some small persuasion to conform to the curves. Next task.... Undecided at the mo. Thoughts: are: Drill holes for Pedestal Rods Poop Deck Rail Deck Fittings, Bitts/Fife Rails Water Casks That's me for today. 🙂 Cheers....HOF. Photos:

Hi All, Bit of an update.... Bow and Stern Main Rail Prepped (Stern: 4 X laminations 1.0 X 1.0mm Not yet trimmed to length) Waterways, Bulwark Planking, Bulwark Stanchions and Pin Rails installed (Main Deck) Bulwark "Clamp" installed Remainder of Bulwarks to be Planked/Waterways installed, Bow, Main and Poop. I'll see how this progresses tomorrow. Cheers....HOF. Photos:

Thanks Gregory. Speaking for myself, I bought the old version.... Cheers....HOF.

HJ Jami/Ian, Sorry to hear of the missing parts.... I do not believe that Mamoli is a company any longer, I may be wrong, but I believe that a fire ended thier business, I think that you may be able to source Chain Plats as a Photo Etch accessory and is something that I want to have a look at also at some stage. Unsure of what company might deal with this but worth a look? I have also seen You-Tube videos on hot to make them, they don't look too difficult, maybe with a little practice. I wish you all the best with your endeavors.. Cheers and Regards, Harry.

Ditto to the above!! I'm interested with the Trumpeter version which I have in storage. I completed the "Partworks" (Amati) version but feel the Trumpeter version has more detail, esp. with the upgrade stets. (Maybe I'll get to this one day.... 🙂) Cheers..... HOF.

Thank you both for your kind words, very much appreciated. Yup, the Keel issues are now but a memory.... 🙂 Over the past few days I have been tinkering, thinking about the next logical steps. I assembled the Chain Plates, accounting for all of them. (I think I'll have to solder the middle link joint) Inside Bulwark Planking/Stanchions and Pin Rails have to be next. All good fun!! Cheers and Regards, Harry.

Thanks Gents!! Cheers and Regards, Harry.

Hi All, Small update: Second Planking complete (Perhaps a "Tickle" here and there) Rudder Blank constructed So, the more I get into this model, the more I come to realize that it's more of a scratch build than a kit. I'm o.k. with this. There is "Sod" all in the way of materials, (As I have bemoaned about many times before), I had to have a damn good search for 0.5 X 3.0 MM Planking Material below the turn of the Bilges.... I milled my own 4.0 X 4.0mm wood for the Rudder laminations and other stock milled for Bitts, Etc. I am unsure what I will approach next, but I have plenty to do.... 🙂 Onward, I guess. Cheers.... HOF. Photos:

Thanks Chap. 🙂

Thank you, Sir, It seems to be getting somewhere.... 🙂 Cheers and Regards, Harry.

Hi All, It's been a few weeks since I updated this log, so here it is.... Main Deck Planking completed Hull Planking done up to and including Wales Bowsprit Jibboom tapered and test fitted Houses pretty much done Companionways and Skylights almost complete Additional comments: Hull Planking is multi shaded Walnut, but I am not too concerned as it will be painted Black Pin-Rails in Instructions and on Plan are more "Isolated" "Pin-Pads" and do not run the length of the Main Deck. To overcome this, I laminated and clamped two 2.0 X 1.5mm Strips on ech side, laminated in situ and removed once dry. I think that this will be much better House Planking is two shades of Walnut, the lighter is Kit supplied and I am being really frugal with this material as the Kit has already demonstrated the lack of material. The Kit supplied lighter Walnut is also for Planking below the Wales I used the kit supplied Window Frames, (Metal), but used the Doors I made previously and relented, painting the Frames White. Windows and Doors each have 0.16mm thick Acetate on the rears painted Tamiya Clear Blue. Glued onto the Houses using thinned Mig Ammo Ultra Glue So, I think that's all up to date for the mo.... 🙂 Comments/Suggestions always welcome. Cheers.... HOF. Photos:

Hi All, Update: First External Bulwark Planking started. (5.0 X 1.0mm around the Bulwark tops and four rows 3.0 X 1.0mm Focsle Bulwarks) Focsle and Poop Bulkhead extensions removed Focsle and Poop Decks planked (Inboard Bulwark planking to be done at a later stage) Fore and Main Hatches assembled (I am unsure if I like these, I may have to re make these) Wood quality and quantity remains an issue and I have resorted to mill/resaw my own dwindling supply.... 🙂 On a positive note, I feel a sense of progress. Cheers.... HOF. Photos:

Thank you, kindly Sir!! I very much appreciate your input and interest with my build. There are discrepancies with the kit, for instance, Hatch Cover Planking, on the plans, runs lengthwise but should run across the width of the Hatches. With the research material I have, there are 20 planks across the Main and 16 on the Fore hatch. With my build, I have room for 10 (X2) Planks across the Main and 7 (X 2) across the Fore. The Planking width that I am going to use is 3.0mm wide, this should give me some wriggle room to represent Lifting Rings on each Hatch Plank. So, a compromise.... What works and hopefully what looks the part.... 🙂 The information that you have provided is very comprehensive and I am certainly taking this into account. Please continue to comment. Cheers and Regards, Harry.

Thanks Gorge, I intend to add the detail you mention. Cheers and Regards, Harry.

Hi All, Small update: Started constructing the "Houses" to give me a little break from the Hull Planking. (Second Cover) The work helps me to have a really good think about the best way to approach things. 🙂 I milled my own Walnut for planking as, as I have mentioned more than once, there is stuff all spare material in the kit....🙂 I have also made Frames for the Fore and Main Hatches, maybe I'll have a wee play with these items tomorrow. Regarding my 1/78 Cutty Sark, components were significantly larger, item at 2/96 are a bit more challenging, Micro Joinery? I do enjoy the Deck "Furniture...." Cheers....HOF. Photos:

Hi Clipper Fan, Many thanks once again for the Detail, descriptions and photos, much appreciated. I welcome the constructive critique. I agree that the Naval Hoods would look good, I need to give this some consideration. The Bowsprit entry Hole may/should be square, I get the reasoning for this but I feel that it is a little too late to perform "Surgery." I am also bound by kit constraints and the materials I have at hand. So, onwards.... Cheers and Regards, Harry.

@ClipperFan I guess, looking again at the plan, there are 24 Stanchions per side. To stop being lazy, I should represent these with something like 0.5 X 1.5mm strip wood? Does this sound viable at 1/96? Cheers.

Hi There, This diagram may help to explain.... These are the Stanchions that go from Deck to Pin Rail. Flying_Cloud_Bradner_hull-side.graffle (sobco.com) Trouble is, what do they actually look like? (Profile?) and exactly how many are there? 24 or 48 per side? Cheers and Regards, Harry.

Hi All, It's been a few weeks since my last update as I have been otherwise occupied with the first Hull Planking. Firstly, for anyone that may be thinking about building this kit, be very, very frugal with the material provided.... I ended up using my longer Planking offcuts to complete. (I feel that this will be the case for all subsequent material supplied, in fact, I know this to be the case.... 🙂 Anyway, enough griping about things.... I feel that there were a few errors on my behalf, (The "Operator"), prior to laying the Strakes, I ended up using filler to get good and smooth lines, most of the filler being sanded away, (A good thing), but I would have preferred not to use any filler at all. The attached photos show the Hull as it stands this morning, I have to pay a little more attention to the Stern to complete. I believe that the best way forward now is to continue with the second cover before I remove the Bulwark extensions to enable me to complete the Deck and Internal Bulwark planking. (I figure it is a good thing to have the Bulwark Extensions in situ while I ham handling the Hull so much.) I am thinking I will build the "Houses" next to give me a break from the Hull. 🙂 Cheers....HOF. Photos for your appraisal and critique.