rcmdrvr

Great topic.  As I visit the many websites of kit manufacturers and distributors I see an abundance of model of ships with sails.  I would like to see more kits of ships built after the golden age of sails.  The early steam ship era represents a large population of ships that would be interesting as models.  The first monitors, tugs, trawlers, riverboats, etc., would all be very interesting kits to build.
 
I am not a ship historian, but I think that the early steam era would provide some great models.

Great topic.  As I visit the many websites of kit manufacturers and distributors I see an abundance of model of ships with sails.  I would like to see more kits of ships built after the golden age of sails.  The early steam ship era represents a large population of ships that would be interesting as models.  The first monitors, tugs, trawlers, riverboats, etc., would all be very interesting kits to build.
 
I am not a ship historian, but I think that the early steam era would provide some great models.

Great topic.  As I visit the many websites of kit manufacturers and distributors I see an abundance of model of ships with sails.  I would like to see more kits of ships built after the golden age of sails.  The early steam ship era represents a large population of ships that would be interesting as models.  The first monitors, tugs, trawlers, riverboats, etc., would all be very interesting kits to build.
 
I am not a ship historian, but I think that the early steam era would provide some great models.

Great topic.  As I visit the many websites of kit manufacturers and distributors I see an abundance of model of ships with sails.  I would like to see more kits of ships built after the golden age of sails.  The early steam ship era represents a large population of ships that would be interesting as models.  The first monitors, tugs, trawlers, riverboats, etc., would all be very interesting kits to build.
 
I am not a ship historian, but I think that the early steam era would provide some great models.

Great topic.  As I visit the many websites of kit manufacturers and distributors I see an abundance of model of ships with sails.  I would like to see more kits of ships built after the golden age of sails.  The early steam ship era represents a large population of ships that would be interesting as models.  The first monitors, tugs, trawlers, riverboats, etc., would all be very interesting kits to build.
 
I am not a ship historian, but I think that the early steam era would provide some great models.

Great topic.  As I visit the many websites of kit manufacturers and distributors I see an abundance of model of ships with sails.  I would like to see more kits of ships built after the golden age of sails.  The early steam ship era represents a large population of ships that would be interesting as models.  The first monitors, tugs, trawlers, riverboats, etc., would all be very interesting kits to build.
 
I am not a ship historian, but I think that the early steam era would provide some great models.

Great topic.  As I visit the many websites of kit manufacturers and distributors I see an abundance of model of ships with sails.  I would like to see more kits of ships built after the golden age of sails.  The early steam ship era represents a large population of ships that would be interesting as models.  The first monitors, tugs, trawlers, riverboats, etc., would all be very interesting kits to build.
 
I am not a ship historian, but I think that the early steam era would provide some great models.

Great topic.  As I visit the many websites of kit manufacturers and distributors I see an abundance of model of ships with sails.  I would like to see more kits of ships built after the golden age of sails.  The early steam ship era represents a large population of ships that would be interesting as models.  The first monitors, tugs, trawlers, riverboats, etc., would all be very interesting kits to build.
 
I am not a ship historian, but I think that the early steam era would provide some great models.

Great topic.  As I visit the many websites of kit manufacturers and distributors I see an abundance of model of ships with sails.  I would like to see more kits of ships built after the golden age of sails.  The early steam ship era represents a large population of ships that would be interesting as models.  The first monitors, tugs, trawlers, riverboats, etc., would all be very interesting kits to build.
 
I am not a ship historian, but I think that the early steam era would provide some great models.

Great topic.  As I visit the many websites of kit manufacturers and distributors I see an abundance of model of ships with sails.  I would like to see more kits of ships built after the golden age of sails.  The early steam ship era represents a large population of ships that would be interesting as models.  The first monitors, tugs, trawlers, riverboats, etc., would all be very interesting kits to build.
 
I am not a ship historian, but I think that the early steam era would provide some great models.

I guess that I am not the best build log producer.  I have noticed that it has been quite a while since I last posted.  I continue with the task of rigging.  Wow!  Rigging has turned out to be a much more difficult task than I ever imagined.  You can spend several hours with cords, threads and tweezers; only to find you have built a single yard.
 
One of the first tasks I had to play with was tapering yards.  I tried multiple ideas that resulted in broken dowels all over the shop.  Finally, I found if I put the dowel in my hand drill and then slowly passed the end of the yard over my belt sander (affixed to the work bench) I could carefully taper the ends.  Not as exact as a lathe method but cheaper (I don't own a lathe).  Only a few dollars in shattered dowels.
 
The actual rigging is not difficult but tedious.  One problem I have not solved is getting a very sore back as I lean over the model for hours carefully threading and tying knots.  Looked on the internet for adjustable height tables but WOW are they ever costly.  Any solutions out there.
 
I have to admit to a mortal sin of ship building.  I have resorted to using CA to set the knots.  It does cause the ropes to become stiff, but it allows me to work on without knots unraveling.  I can also use simpler knots. 
 
I certainly have not been able to re-create the work of some of the building artists on this site, but I am happy and proud with my result.  Perhaps as my modeling skills develop I will be able to seize, tie and wrap with the best.
 
I have also had photography issues.  My shop is very small and now crowded with tools, work tables and now a model that is much larger than I anticipated.  I now find it very hard to take photos of the model.  I finally dragged it outside and photographed it against my white garage door.  Not great but I think you can see my work.  Here are the photos:

Continue to work on rigging.  I find I am spending a lot of time looking over plans and having to "guess" which block to attach where.  I have several sets of blocks that look the same.  I think I am making progress but certainly not performing at the level many other builders at this site do.  On the other side of the coin, wow, is this a learning experience.  First, I am trying out new skills.  I have not often taken on a project where I have a clip holding "ropes" between my lips, tweezers and other clamps in my hands and wishing I had two more appendages to hold more.  Second, I am quite taken by the engineering feats these ships were.  I am beginning to see how these ship's masts were held together.  While here are some shots of my work:

A few more

After the head boards came the stern trimming and the anchor davits.  A little metal work was required to complete the davits.  The die cut parts for the stern trimming did not fit the metal etch parts so I had to cut my own piece.  I did use the die cut parts as a pattern.

Here is the last photo of the second deck that shows the completed cabin, a ladder and what I believe was some form of shipboard storage.  Will have to do some research to determine what it represents.

I guess that I am not the best build log producer.  I have noticed that it has been quite a while since I last posted.  I continue with the task of rigging.  Wow!  Rigging has turned out to be a much more difficult task than I ever imagined.  You can spend several hours with cords, threads and tweezers; only to find you have built a single yard.
 
One of the first tasks I had to play with was tapering yards.  I tried multiple ideas that resulted in broken dowels all over the shop.  Finally, I found if I put the dowel in my hand drill and then slowly passed the end of the yard over my belt sander (affixed to the work bench) I could carefully taper the ends.  Not as exact as a lathe method but cheaper (I don't own a lathe).  Only a few dollars in shattered dowels.
 
The actual rigging is not difficult but tedious.  One problem I have not solved is getting a very sore back as I lean over the model for hours carefully threading and tying knots.  Looked on the internet for adjustable height tables but WOW are they ever costly.  Any solutions out there.
 
I have to admit to a mortal sin of ship building.  I have resorted to using CA to set the knots.  It does cause the ropes to become stiff, but it allows me to work on without knots unraveling.  I can also use simpler knots. 
 
I certainly have not been able to re-create the work of some of the building artists on this site, but I am happy and proud with my result.  Perhaps as my modeling skills develop I will be able to seize, tie and wrap with the best.
 
I have also had photography issues.  My shop is very small and now crowded with tools, work tables and now a model that is much larger than I anticipated.  I now find it very hard to take photos of the model.  I finally dragged it outside and photographed it against my white garage door.  Not great but I think you can see my work.  Here are the photos:

I guess that I am not the best build log producer.  I have noticed that it has been quite a while since I last posted.  I continue with the task of rigging.  Wow!  Rigging has turned out to be a much more difficult task than I ever imagined.  You can spend several hours with cords, threads and tweezers; only to find you have built a single yard.
 
One of the first tasks I had to play with was tapering yards.  I tried multiple ideas that resulted in broken dowels all over the shop.  Finally, I found if I put the dowel in my hand drill and then slowly passed the end of the yard over my belt sander (affixed to the work bench) I could carefully taper the ends.  Not as exact as a lathe method but cheaper (I don't own a lathe).  Only a few dollars in shattered dowels.
 
The actual rigging is not difficult but tedious.  One problem I have not solved is getting a very sore back as I lean over the model for hours carefully threading and tying knots.  Looked on the internet for adjustable height tables but WOW are they ever costly.  Any solutions out there.
 
I have to admit to a mortal sin of ship building.  I have resorted to using CA to set the knots.  It does cause the ropes to become stiff, but it allows me to work on without knots unraveling.  I can also use simpler knots. 
 
I certainly have not been able to re-create the work of some of the building artists on this site, but I am happy and proud with my result.  Perhaps as my modeling skills develop I will be able to seize, tie and wrap with the best.
 
I have also had photography issues.  My shop is very small and now crowded with tools, work tables and now a model that is much larger than I anticipated.  I now find it very hard to take photos of the model.  I finally dragged it outside and photographed it against my white garage door.  Not great but I think you can see my work.  Here are the photos:

There were a lot of small details that I failed to photograph; but I have declared the Sanson completed.  I built a stand out of some scrap lumber.  My photography is not very good but here is a few photos of the completed model.

Where did you get the crates?

Sorry I have not posted for awhile.  Work does continue.  I will try to get some photos up soon.  I wrapped my deadeyes with copper wire, slightly crimped the wires together and then twisted until I had a 1/2 "needle" extending down from the dead eye.  I this drilled out the platforms with holes large enough to accept the twisted wires.  The last step was to use rounded needle nose pliers to bend a loop under the platform to hold the deadeye in place.  My execution of this last task was not the best.
 
While this worked, I do believe there has to be a better way.

Well this was a productive weekend.  Able to get the basic rigging on the lower portions of the fore, main and mizzen mast.  As mentioned before, I am a bit lost, but forging forward.
 

Well, work continues.  I have now completed work on the life boats (did they call them life boats?).  The bottom boat and the larger of the two was plank on frame and not to difficult.  Some of the interior work was a bit tedious but I feel it came out OK.  Be careful of some of the walnut parts.  The grain runs across some of the smaller parts and can split if mis-handled.  The top boat was built by stacking elongated "donets".  The stack was then sanded and carved to shape.  I used a dremmel motor a lot on this boat.  Hint:  Don't glue the bottom of the boat to the donet stack until you have completed most of the shaping.
 
Rigging the two boats to the deck stands was a job.  As I progress, I see that rigging is a major task.  I have found that if I CA the end of the thread, it hardens into a needle that makes it easier to thread thru the blocks.
 
The last completed steps was mounting the boarding cannons.  There are ten all together.  Easy, relaxing work.
 
Well, it looks like masts is the next step.  I will try to be more frequent in my updates.

Well, it took longer than I thought but I have complete planking the top deck.  I believe I did an acceptable job.  I use a miter cut chopper (uses a razor blade) chop the planks to the same length (there are a couple of hundred).  I then outline the edge of each plank with permanent marker to simulate the caulking.  Finally, I build a jig to punch the nail holes which I marked with a lead pencil.  I kind of like the effect.  I have also put a coat of clear over the deck.

Continue to work on rigging.  I find I am spending a lot of time looking over plans and having to "guess" which block to attach where.  I have several sets of blocks that look the same.  I think I am making progress but certainly not performing at the level many other builders at this site do.  On the other side of the coin, wow, is this a learning experience.  First, I am trying out new skills.  I have not often taken on a project where I have a clip holding "ropes" between my lips, tweezers and other clamps in my hands and wishing I had two more appendages to hold more.  Second, I am quite taken by the engineering feats these ships were.  I am beginning to see how these ship's masts were held together.  While here are some shots of my work:

Well this was a productive weekend.  Able to get the basic rigging on the lower portions of the fore, main and mizzen mast.  As mentioned before, I am a bit lost, but forging forward.