Louie da fly

The door does look rather big. Have you measured what size it would be full scale?

A hoe on the feet - that's very graphic. I can almost feel the pain. The second doesn't mean quite exactly the same thing, but quite close. It means that you've done something that will cause you trouble later. I often think this about parents who want to avoid trouble so they give in when their children act badly, instead of insisting on reasonable behaviour. They're making a rod for their own backs because now the child knows he or she can manipulate the parents, and the way to get what they want in future is to misbehave. Shooting yourself in the foot means you made a mistake that's causing you trouble - usually now.

I'd be interested. I wouldn't mind having a ropewalk, but I don't want to pay a fortune for it, and that looks very straightforward t make ( I may regret having written that! )

What a wonderful description - is that a common Italian saying? In English we'd probably say "I've shot myself in the foot", or perhaps "I've made a rod for my own back" - which mean pretty much the same thing. And I do like what you've done with the rails. That's very impressive.

Wagga Wagga (usually just called Wagga), but Woy Woy is kept in full. Woolloomooloo. Wollongong. Cootamundra (it's on the Gooramundry Creek - presumably these were both approximations of how the name was really pronounced). Wendouree (that's the lake we have at Ballarat - the story is that it's the local aboriginal word for "go away", presumably what one of the locals said on being asked the name of the lake - though it occurs to me that it might not have been that polite.)

All a-tanto . . .

I've added the other plank for the garboard strake on the port side. I've been using the "Half Hull Planking Project" as a guide, working very slowly and fumblingly. I've planked before but I still don't think I really know what I'm doing. I'd shaved the deadwood down to allow me to add the plank but I couldn't take too much off in case it weakened the structure. I used a very thin plank so it didn't stick out too much, and I'll sand it down flush later. Here's the after end of the plank already glued down and the forward end clamped in place, where it twists to be in line with the forward plank. The join is just to the left of the left-hand peg. And here is the forward garboard plank for the starboard side. I cut the forward end of each garboard strake off at right angles (instead of it coming to a sharp point) to allow for "nailing". And the after plank. The join is at frame 7. On checking the two sides against each other, and the forward and after planks, I discovered I needed to trim the starboard planks to make a smoother run and mirror the starboard and port sides more exactly. Then time to make the forward plank for the starboard side. I followed the "Half Planking" tutorial, made a cardboard template which followed the outer line of the garboard pretty closely, but I had to make a notch near the end to slip it up to the cut-off end of the garboard. All looking good till I put it in place. Something definitely wrong here. You can see the notch in the red circle, but the plank seems to be curving away from the garboard instead of toward it. After a bit of thought I realised I'd made a real duffer's mistake. I put the notch on the wrong side - I must have had the strake turned upside down when I cut it. As you can see - here is the plank right side up. It needs to be adjusted a bit at the forward end but otherwise fits quite well. But now the notch is on the wrong side . . . As Effie from the TV series Acropolis Now would say "How embarrassment!" Ah, well - I'll just have to make another one . . .

Perish the thought! The truth is that nobody knows what kind of anchors cogs had - the information just isn't there and won't be until a cog is found with its anchors. The only thing we can do in the meantime is extrapolate from what is known.

Ha ha, bloody ha ha ha . . .

I'm shocked - shocked - at such a wanton mis-use of such a brilliant model. You should be ashamed of yourself, sir! (emoji added to indicate irony). P.S. How do you get all the crumbs out?

You're off to a very good start, Cap'n. It'll be worth watching where it goes from here.

I couldn't agree more. All that work has really produced superb results. That's such a beautiful shape.

You're the expert in weathering 20th century warships, Greg. Every time I think you couldn't do any better, you crank it up another notch!

Admit it - that's not a real name - you made it up, didn't you. Not like normal names, like Gidgegannup, Wyalkatchem or Mukinbudin . . .

I was born in Adelaide but grew up in Perth. The trip to Adelaide is do-able in a day and we've been a few times (our daughter was living at the tip of the Yorke peninsula, another 4 hours drive away). Adelaide's very beautiful, and definitely worth going back to (although I did get a bit tired of brushwood fences). That would be the King Bakery at the bottom of the main drag? Best vanilla slices in the universe. The funny thing about Louie is you can't help liking him even though the TV ad is for a flyspray. He's a bit of a larrikin - somehow appeals to me. You'd be the right age to remember Mr Squiggle, too, I expect.

Beautiful work on the anchor, Silverman. And that lego ropewalk is brilliant! I'm very envious. Do you have plans or instructions on how to make one?

Looking good, Kondzik!

That paintwork and nailing looks really good, Silverman. Your best bet (lacking archaeological finds of anchors) is to look at contemporary pics and work out an appropriate size by proportion in relation to the vessels pictured. And they'll also give you an idea of the shape of the anchors. Unfortunately I don't know any contemporary pics of cogs that have anchors. But there are a small number on my "Early 15th century" Pinterest page https://www.pinterest.com.au/lowe1847/early-15th-century-ships/ and a couple in the "Nef" page - https://www.pinterest.com.au/lowe1847/mediaeval-nefs/ That's the best I can do, I'm afraid.

Welcome to MSW, Mark! When you decide which kit to build, I'd highly recommend you start a build log - instructions here: https://modelshipworld.com/topic/24705-before-you-post-your-build-log-please-read-this-starting-and-naming-your-build-log/ It's a great way to get help and advice and encouragement. And don't get too intimidated by the excellence of some of the builds on MSW - the skill level ranges from complete duffer to total expert. We're all about helping, not criticising - we all had to start sometime, and we all make mistakes (even the demigods of modelling - they just make much more interesting ones than us mere mortals).

Welcome to MSW, Mike, from another Aussie (but still at home). Sounds like you're on the right track. I hope the withdrawals don't get you too much before the next model arrives (I've just finished my dromon build and already experiencing withdrawal - fortunately I've got another one to get on with.) Where are you in Yorkshire? I went to York back in 2000 and fell in love with the place. Did some travelling around as well, but not all of Yorkshire by any means. I grew up in Perth and have lived in Sydney, Cootamundra, Port Hedland, Mildura, Frankston, Research (yes that's really its name) and now in Ballarat. Where in Oz are you from?

Looking good, Racedees. You're making very good progress. Yes, it's the ship's figurehead, but in the case of the Victory the figurehead is a shield with cherubs as supporters. It's the coat of arms of the House of Hanover, the family of George III, who was king of England at the time of the battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

Welcome to MSW, Tom. I'd highly recommend you start a build log (Meddo put the instructions in his post above). It's a great way to get help, advice and encouragement. And the rest of us get to see your model under construction. (By the way, a lot of people are a bit wary about starting a build log for fear their work isn't up to the standard of others here. Rest assured, the range of skill on MSW is from total beginners to demigods who write books on how to make models. And it's all about encouragement and help, not criticism. So have a go, get a log going and post some pics. And enjoy yourself! That's what it's all about, after all.

That's right. It's best to check for yourself, and just because someone drew reconstruction plans doesn't mean they didn't make mistakes! Use your own judgment and make your own decisions.

Gee! I've barely finished after five years of work and you guys want me to rush into a new model! Gimme a break!

Looking very good, Julian. nice crisp work. Yep, know the feeling . . . happened repeatedly with the railing on my dromon. (In retrospect I shouldn't have put it on so early in the build . . .)