Ryland Craze

Here are some photos of the NRG Conference in Charleston, South Carolina:
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a great time for all that attended the Conference.  I really enjoyed the trip to Patriots Point on Wednesday and the tour of Fort Sumter and the Hunley on Friday.  The presentations were excellent and the presenters definitely had a lot of enthusiasm for their topics.  There were also about twenty ship models on display.  The best part was meeting up with old friends and making new ones.  There were also a lot on Model Ship World members in attendance.  Like Tim, I am looking forward to St. Louis in 2014.

Here are some photos of the NRG Conference in Charleston, South Carolina:
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for posting pictures of what the rest of us have missed!

Here are some photos of the NRG Conference in Charleston, South Carolina:
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a great time for all that attended the Conference.  I really enjoyed the trip to Patriots Point on Wednesday and the tour of Fort Sumter and the Hunley on Friday.  The presentations were excellent and the presenters definitely had a lot of enthusiasm for their topics.  There were also about twenty ship models on display.  The best part was meeting up with old friends and making new ones.  There were also a lot on Model Ship World members in attendance.  Like Tim, I am looking forward to St. Louis in 2014.

It was a great time for all that attended the Conference.  I really enjoyed the trip to Patriots Point on Wednesday and the tour of Fort Sumter and the Hunley on Friday.  The presentations were excellent and the presenters definitely had a lot of enthusiasm for their topics.  There were also about twenty ship models on display.  The best part was meeting up with old friends and making new ones.  There were also a lot on Model Ship World members in attendance.  Like Tim, I am looking forward to St. Louis in 2014.

David,
 
I second that!  I believe the conference was a great success, the topics were very good and the speakers were outstanding!  I look forward to the 2014 conference in St. Louis.   
 
Cheers,
Tim

As far as I was concerned the conference was a success.  Really great speakers who were worth the trip.  It was fun to meet old friends and trade ideas and new techniques.  Too bad there was no attendance sheet this year so you knew who all came.
David B

The NRG is excited to launch our latest program focusing on advancing the art of ship modeling through research.  The Ship Model Grant Program was developed to provide ship modelers of all levels easy access to fully developed modeling projects.  We are seeking NRG members who can develop a thoroughly researched set of plans and accompanying monograph for smaller vessels and projects.  The details of the Grant program are provided below.   After work has been completed for all of the materials, the NRG will print the plans and offer them to ship modeling community at large.  The accompanying monograph will be produced in electronic format and supplied as a CD along with the plans.
 

 
To kick off the program, the NRG has selected the first project.  This first NRG Monograph will contain the plans for a plank-on-bulkhead model of the Hudson River Sloop “First Effort” built in 1830 (pictured above).  We have selected this project to set a standard for the size and scope of the projects intended for Grant program.  If you are an NRG member who would like to work with the NRG to develop other projects like this, read the details below and submit a proposal.  Should you have any questions about the program please contact Chuck Passaro at cpassaro@verizon.net.  The NRG Grant Program rules and details can also be downloaded from our website.  Visit www.thenrg.org today.
 
The NRG Ship Model Project Grant Program
 
Request for Proposals: The Nautical Research Guild (NRG) is issuing a request for proposals for consideration of funding projects which advance the art of ship modeling through research.
 
Eligibility:  The Nautical Research Guild Grant Program is open to NRG members only.
 
Project Description:   The NRG will award $750 to $2500 for individual projects that provide original research and plans for small ship modeling projects.  In addition, up to 10% of each sale will be awarded for the exclusive rights to publish and sell the completed published work in either print or electronic format.  Grant amounts will be determined by the NRG Board of Directors based on the size and scope of the accepted proposal.  Finished monographs and plans will be offered and branded by the NRG and copyrights will be maintained by the NRG.  All credit will be given to the author.
Each project proposed must be model ship related with research obtained from primary or secondary sources. Projects are to be for scratch built/semi-scratch built models.  Monographs must contain a section on history and research as well as a “how-to” for the model builder.  The monograph must also be accompanied with a set of plans to allow building of the project, produced electronically with the intention of being printed by the NRG for sale.
 
Project Specifications:
Plank on bulkhead, plank on frame, and solid hull are all acceptable building methods.
 
Other building methods will be reviewed by the Board for appropriateness.
The recipient must include plans to build the model and a corresponding monograph of 70 to 100 pages depending on the scope of the subject matter, with bibliography of all sources used.
 
Preference will be given to smaller projects: For example small cutters, launches, brigs, sloops, tugs, cross section models, battle stations, dioramas etc.  The NRG is NOT looking for larger vessels such as frigates, ship of the line, battleships etc.
 
Projects should take the average builder between 3 to 8 months to complete.
 
Projects can be directed toward the beginner, intermediate or advanced ship
modelers.
 
The monograph must be delivered in MS word format and the plans delivered in PDF format.
 
Grant awards will be administered in installments with the dates and amounts of payment determined by the NRG, and final payment being made upon delivery and review of the project by the NRG Board.
 
The NRG reserves the right to stop further payments and advancement of the project upon assessing the author’s progress.
 
Failure to complete the project in a timely manner may result in the cancellation of the project by the Board without further payment.
 
All proposals must be sent to :  Nautical Research Guild, 237 S Lincoln St, Westmont, IL 60559 or by email to info@thenauticalresearchguild.org
 
Information Required at the Time of Submission:
 
Proposal must include applicant Name, Address, Phone and E-Mail address.
 
Project Abstract:  Applicants must submit an abstract of less than 200 words describing the proposed project, including what level of builder it will be directed towards. Identify how it will enhance the knowledge and skill of the model builder.
 
Approach: List all equipment and materials required to complete the project.
Milestone Schedule: An activity schedule should be submitted for the duration of your research for project delivery.  Starting with month one and concluding with the project delivery date.  Expect to give the Board frequent updates based on this schedule (i.e. monthly, quarterly etc.)  Grant projects must NOT take the applicant longer than 14 months to complete once accepted.
 
Cost Summary: Detail all costs to be incurred for the project up to its delivery, including but not limited to equipment purchases, materials, information technology needs and software, travel, and research.  Prepare your budget carefully and make it as detailed as possible. 

Nope...we really dont have a timeline but I can tell you that the plans are all drafted and the model prototype is currently under construction.   If you are are a member of the guild,  we will be providing updates on teh status of these projects in the Journal and in the newsletter.  
 
But we arent finished announcing our new programs yet.   There is one more that we will be announcing very soon.  So stay tuned.   Greg Herbert is heading up teh other program so I will let him announce that one.   The Board is very excited and passionate about the new direction the Guild is going in.   Should anyone have a question,  dont hesitate to ask me.
 
Chuck

I took a long break from the longboat while I went back to the rigging of my SFII, now that build is in dry dock awaiting parts so I am back to the longboat.
Worked on the mast this week, got it cut and tapered, and the sheaves drilled in it
Then went to work on the "iron" bands. This was only my 2nd attempt at soldering, I originally bade the bands and tried using CA, but I worried, from previous experience, that the glue would not hold up to the pressure of the lines so I decided to remake them and solder them together.
 
"raw" soldered bands

 
I then drilled the holes needed in the bands, cut them to size and tried my hand at blackening them...I think they turned out pretty darn good for me

 
Next was painting the mast

 
I also spent time this week, getting the longboat mounted on the pedestals and making sure it was level

 
The mast step I fashioned...probably cant tell from the photo but I did NOT want the mast just glued to the top of the step, and I feared a tenon would still not be structurally sound enough, so my step is a bit thicker than 1/16 and I drilled a hole through the center so my mast sits down inside the step. I feel this will give it better stability when I start pulling rope through it it and placing pressure on it.

 
how she sits now

Cheeks are finished and mounted. Using pear wood it was difficult to apply the impression method to the lower parts of the cheeks with satisfactory results. So I built each part out of three layers, the middle one being about the thickness of the middle “molding line” (Img 1/ Fig 1).  Gluing the 3 pieces together generates natural guides for the molding lines which can be opened up with a carving knife to match the upper part of the cheek (Img 1/ Fig 2). The tricky piece is the transition from the upper to the lower cheek. After fitting both parts to the model I glued them together without permanently mounting them to the Syren. In this way it was much easier to clean up the transitions (Img 1/ Fig 3).  The final result now permanently attached to my Syren is shown in Img 2 – 4.
 

Image 1
 

Image 2
 
[
Image 3
 

Image 4
 
 

Grant and Bob thanks for your opinion on the treenails. I too like the larger one.
To me it’s better on the eye. I’ll hold off for a while on making a final decision though.
 
Here I’ve made the false keel. It calls for the top edges to be beveled and to do this I used
the Byrnes table saw with my new tilting table. Once I figured out the angle it worked great.
No surprise there.
 

 

 
I then glued the false keel in place. I used a second piece clamping the ends to hold it in
place. I also put a ¼” thick piece in the middle between the false keel and the second
piece to put pressure there until the glue dried.
 

 
 
Next up will be making the deck clamps and floor riders.

I've now done the upper hull planking on the port side. The planking is boxwood with caulking simulated by using pencil on one side and one end of each plank. The planking that I've done has only been rough sanded to this point and no finish will be applied until the planking is complete.
 
 All was going pretty well until I got to the planking of the quarterdeck area. The kit then hit me with yet another unpleasant surprise. The bulkhead extensions (or arms?) turned out to all be too short ( as well as of varying sizes, which I already knew). This required a lot of fiddly work to increase the height. My use of isopropyl to remove unsatisfactory work is now nearing record proportions. The good news is that the previous adjustments that I made to the defective framing parts has resulted -- at least so far-- in pretty good looking lines. The true test for that, of course, will come in the lower hull. I'm also pleased with the modification that I made to the bow framing and the knight heads.
 
Now it's on to the starboard side. Hopefully, it will be a little easier, having figured out the problems on the first side. I'm also debating with myself about tree nailing. At this scale, it's beyond my ability to do real treenails, but simulated ones, using filler, may be possible. The question is whether they would be worthwhile even if possible.
 
Bob
 
 

Well, a few days has turned into a few weeks.  I received my cup burrs.  They do a nice job of smoothing the ends of brass "bolts".  There are several sizes available, depending on the gauge of the wire.  I purchased my from Widget Supply, a company that sells hobby supplies.  While on the site I found a great sanding devise, a 1/2" disc sander for the Dremel with several grits.  I used to get these from Micromark, but they stopped selling them last year.  The disc sander is perfect for outside tapers and when you want a less aggressive sander than the drum sander.  I have no connection to the company, simply a pleased customer.
 

 
I have installed beam set 4.  Notches have been cut into the bulkhead walls for the carlings and ledges.  I am much happier with the bolt head on the fore mast partner after rounding them up and painting them.  Blackening was not possible in situ and I was pleased with how it turned out.  The hole in the deck aft of beam 5 is for the pin of the bit.
 

 

Hi Mike,
 
No problem - here you go:
 





 
And this is the model in her crate, almost ready to be shipped - Victory would be too large (500mm longer and much wider) which is why we have to hire a van and drive...