Louie da fly

Hi mkmossop, I just came across this log after a reorganisation in the MSW site. That's a very cool Santa Maria. Did you ever finish it? If so, any chance of some photos?

Hi D_Mc, I've just been going through some old build logs and I came across yours, which I'd never seen before. Did you continue with this? For a first build it's very impressive. It would be great to see it finished.

Hi André, Haven't heard from you for quite a while. Are you still modelling? It'd be great to see your Santa Maria all completed - it was looking very good at last report.

G'day, Eddie. Haven't heard from you since 2017. Are you still out there? Any progress on your carrack since your last post?

Hi, Ships88. How's it all going? Do you think there's a chance of doing any more on your trireme? I was very much enjoying following your build log, but I can understand if other issues take priority. Best wishes,

The ringbolts are complete and painted black: And I've put them in position: And here are the cleats under way. The only problem is that as far as I've been able to discover there are absolutely no cleats in the archaeological record for Byzantine vessels, so how lines were belayed is a bit of a mystery. It seems likely to me that the simple cleat I've made would be of a type that would suggest itself to anybody wanting to tie down a rope, and in the absence of any better evidence I'm going with these. And I'm committed now - they're glued on with CA. Holes for the pins that will locate the cleats into the sides of the ship. The holes were made before shaping the cleats, to minimise the risk of splitting (some of them did anyway). And separated out into individual cleats: Brass sequin pin inserted in the hole . . . and cut to length. And cleats in place: I put them on an angle because of the limited space - either vertical or horizontal there just wasn't enough room to get a rope around the "horns". Had I thought ahead better, I wouldn't have put that railing on before the ringbolts and cleats. It made my job almost impossible - in fact I had to bore the holes for the cleat pins by hand, with an awl. And I've been making arms for the oarsmen. At the current state of things there are a total of 96 needed. On reflection, I've realised that this makes me an arms manufacturer . . .

There certainly would. Looking forward to seeing your log. As it's a kit of a ship from the 20th century, go to Build logs for Ship Model Kits - by era - launch date and from there to 1901 - Present Day and then to Before you post your build log please read this - Starting and naming your build log. Follow the instructions, add appropriate tags so your log can be found easily (How to use and create TAGS ) and as it's your first build on MSW, include a tag to say so (members are extra helpful to new people). And you're on your way! Have fun with it.

I was going to comment on how fast you'd been making progress - then I realised you'd posted all but the last photos on a single day, so I'm assuming there was a bit of a backlog of already completed work that the log was catching up with - unless of course you really are Superman (it's possible ). But that's really beautiful work - you can be justly proud of the work you've done. The only thing I'd comment on (and it's very minor, and probably too late to do anythig about it) is that the thread fixing the sails to the yards looks a bit intrusive in black - perhaps a more neutral colour would have been better? But that's like the motor magazine writers complaining about the placement of the ashtrays in the new model car - they have to find something to offset the completely positive review . . .

It would be Elizabeth, and as England had claimed to be the legitimate owners of the throne of France since the Hundred Years War, they also used the fleur de lis. They only relinquished that claim in (I think) the 19th century. However, it is just a decorator model - though one of the more attractive ones. It has quite elegant lines, and would probably be very decorative when repaired.

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!

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.

That planking's looking very good, Rodolfo.

Oh, everybody's a comedian . . .

That's why I decided against casting them in resin - too expensive. Ah, well . . .

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.

Hi Vivian, Did you ever get back to this build?

Exactly.

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!

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.