Louie da fly
-
Posts
7,712 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Gallery
Events
Everything posted by Louie da fly
-
Hullo from the Far Side of the World! The Thermopylae is a classic clipper, well worth building. By the time you've finished her you will be VERY familiar with what all the rigging does! You're bound to make mistakes - that's part of the journey - but most of them are repairable. (And at some point you'll probably realise what a boon wood filler is to the ship modeller). And yes, do start a build log. With lots of pictures!
-
That's quite a ship, with a long and glorious history. Though you're obviously going to find it more complex than PT 109, it will by no means be impossible. Just follow the steps, all the parts are already made (at least I hope they are!) and it's a matter of putting it together and you'll have a very impressive model. Read the build logs of others who've made this model - they will most likely give you ideas on how to progress with your build, and many of the problems you're likely to encounter may well have already been solved by others. But also, start your own build log, with LOTS of pictures! Depending on how seriously you want to get into it all, there are people on MSW who can give you advice on such things as the right colour scheme for the ship at the time you're portraying her, what equipment she might or might not have been carrying at the time . . . you name it. Or you can simply make her just as she's laid out in the kit. Your choice. Above all, have fun with it!
-
Is there an easy wooden tall ship out there to build?
Louie da fly replied to thegrindre's topic in Wood ship model kits
That sounds like a very good sequence. Ascending level of difficulty, absorbing and rewarding, will keep you off the streets, probably for the rest of your life . . . I'm looking forward to your African Queen. A fussy littel river steamer - wonderful! And wonderful memories of the movie. -
You're right, Chuck. Lisa is a carrack by the generally accepted definition. BUT . . . now we come up against the changes that language goes through from place to place and from era to era. Krewaal is a Northern corruption of the word caravel - but the ships called krewaal were nothing like Columbus' caravels. And the Mediterranean "cocca", whose name comes from "Cog", has probably only the stern rudder and the square sail in common with those of the north. There's an excellent paper which among other things deals with this issue. It's called "Bayonese cogs, Genoese carracks, English dromons and Iberian carvels: Tracing technology transfer in medieval Atlantic shipbuilding" by Daniel Zwick of the University of Kiel. If you put the title of the paper into Google you can find it easily - it's available free both on Researchgate and Academia.edu. I'd highly recommend you download and read it. I have it among my most valued reference material. Oh, and you might like to look at my Pinterest page - https://www.pinterest.com.au/lowe1847/boards/ - I've collected every contemporary representation I could find of cogs, carracks, nefs, Mediterranen lateeners and others, and put them into categories for easy reference - enjoy!
-
I think we all went through that feeling when we started out - it's natural enough, particularly when we mere mortals see some of the amazing builds that the really experienced modellers do. I know I still feel daunted by many of them, and very aware of my own shortcomings, and I've been on MSW for over 5 years! But I've never had an adverse comment, and certainly not ridicule - just supportive comments; and the occasional bit of "have you thought of doing it like this . . .?" which is usually very welcome. I have to say this is the best forum I've ever been on - others I've come across (which shall be nameless, but aren't to do with ship modelling) descend into namecalling and flame wars, which make one very unwilling to continue even with a subject you're really interested in. This has never happened on MSW in my experience - quite the contrary, everybody is supportive and those who are able to help, do so.
-
HMCSS Victoria 1855 by BANYAN - 1:72
Louie da fly replied to BANYAN's topic in - Build logs for subjects built 1851 - 1900
That's why I decided against casting them in resin - too expensive. Ah, well . . .- 993 replies
-
- 1
-
-
- gun dispatch vessel
- victoria
- (and 2 more)
-
HMCSS Victoria 1855 by BANYAN - 1:72
Louie da fly replied to BANYAN's topic in - Build logs for subjects built 1851 - 1900
Thanks, mate. I was just wondering if I'd have been better having my oarsmen printed rather than having to carve them individually - a bit late to be thinking of this, I realise . Anyhow, I suppose it would have been possible theoretically, but probably not practical.- 993 replies
-
- 3
-
-
- gun dispatch vessel
- victoria
- (and 2 more)
-
Hi Vivian, Did you ever get back to this build?
-
That's a particularly nice looking replica, Shotlocker! And your photos are beautifully detailed. I was just looking through my collection of contemporary illustrations of caravels, but unfortunately none of them are detailed enough to show the deadeyes. However, carracks (such as the Santa Maria) are contemporary with them and might cast a bit of light on the subject. The nearest Spanish carrack in date to Nina is this, dated 1475 - and it should be remembered that in 1492 the ships Columbus was given were rather old so this should be pretty close to the right date. It's from the votive screen at the church of San Pedro in Zumaia, commissioned by Captain Juan Martinez de Mendaro to commemorate his 1475 victory over a Portuguese fleet in the Strait of Gibraltar - see https://www.diariovasco.com/costa-urola/zumaia/tabla-votiva-parroquia-20191215002604-ntvo.html (quite a few pop-ups, unfortunately). This is the best image I can find, but it seems to show rounded triangular "heart" deadeyes similar to the ones you're making so it's likely you're on the right track.
-
Hi Keith, Great to see you're back working on Nina. Do you have any progress pics since your last post?
-
Hi Jorge, Did you follow up on this and get a kit? It's a beautiful vessel and makes an equally beautiful model. [edit] Oops! Just found your build log!
-
Is there an easy wooden tall ship out there to build?
Louie da fly replied to thegrindre's topic in Wood ship model kits
That's a good choice, with a gradually increasing level of difficulty. You'll find a lot of build logs for these vessels here on MSW, which should supply you with a lot of tips to help with your own build. What brand of kit will you be getting? -
And now all the oarsmen have been sanded smooth. What someone looking at the photo called a wooden orgy . . . My immediate next job is to make arms for them and then fit arms to each oarsman. This will be a somewhat involved process - not only because half are port and half starboard, but each has to have his arms in exactly the right place to hold the oar so the blade is in line with the others and with those of the lower bank. And I've made ringbolts for the tackle for the shrouds, which are tied down with blocks, not deadeyes. The ringbolts were done with a very wonky set of long-nosed pliers and some garden wire, then a blob of CA to hide the join and look like a swivel for the ring. To be trimmed to shape, painted black and inserted in the gunwale in due course. And I'm taking the time to take stock of where I go from here. I've started writing a "to-do" list sequencing everything yet to be done from now until the model is finished. There's still quite a lot to be done, but I do think I can see light at the end of the tunnel.
-
Hi Michael and welcome. Do you have a model you're thinking of building? Or perhaps you've already started one? If so, start a build log as well. It's a great way to get help and advice, as well as encouragement from the members here. And I get to look at more nice pictures of ship models under construction. Oh, and by the way, there's a very nice topsail schooner in Australia, a replica of a part of our history, called Enterprize. If you don't mind the unusual spelling, she might be worth a look.
-
That's great - but don't forget to start a build log of your own - both for the help and encouragement you'll get from other members as they look at it, but also to help others who may follow you doing the same model. Often your method of overcoming an obstacle will help someone else confronted by the same problem.
-
And when you start your model, please do start a build log. Partly because I love looking at photos of builds, partly because it's the best way to get feedback, help, advice and encouragement. But mostly because I like looking at the pictures . . .
-
Jii, when you've made your decision, you should start a build log - we love to see members' progress with their models and you can get advice from those who have gone before. Don't worry if you feel a bit daunted by it all - it happened to us all when we were first starting out. And don't worry too much about making mistakes. There's a lot of fun and fulfilment to be had, and even though you may be very aware of how it could have been better it's a learning process, and today's mistakes become lessons for your future builds.
-
This is such beautiful work, Johann.
-
Photos! We need photos! Seriously, start a build log under "kits" - we all love to follow and see how you're doing, and it's a good way to get tips and advice (and supportive comments!) to help you with your build. A lot of other people have made this model and if you hit any problems, they've probably already encountered them and can help you overcome them.
-
Hi Rick, I love the idea of your building a model of the African Queen (one of my favourite movies, where Bogart got to show he could play something other than a "tough guy"). You might get some help from these threads: and Regarding the live steam, is it your plan to install it in the model? The only problem I can foresee with that (apart from the whole thing of learning how to use live steam without blowing yourself up!) would be whether the relative sizes of the vessel and the engine/boiler would work together. Still, that's all part of the learning process, I suppose.
-
Looking very good, Cri-Cri. How are you planning to fix the lateen yards to the masts? I've just been going through that process myself, and you might like to look at the June 9 post here:
Our Emblem ®
