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wyz

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Everything posted by wyz

  1. It's coming along great. Love your precise joinery .... it's 1st class craftsmanship! Tom
  2. Atta boy Nils. Job done, and done really well. It's not surprising you had such a big following for this build. Yes, the model is great, but a big part of doing HMS Pegasus was how interactive you were with all those who took interest in your project. The sheer number of comments and the richness of the posts and replies says a lot on how much you are respected by the group. Your build log was wonderful. Thanks so much for sharing. Tom
  3. While the colors in the photos may not be accurate I rather like the warmer look. No matter what light you use to illuminate your model it will look really nice. Ok, scratch the black light and infra-red. ;-) Tom
  4. You're metalwork is something to behold. Beautiful! Glenn, you're setting the bar awfully darn high for anyone else wanting to build a riverboat.
  5. Really nice work marsalv. I always look forward to your posts. Tom
  6. Good first steps. I think I'll stay to watch this one. Pssst [beer can opening] Hmmmmmmm [motor adjusting the power assisted reclining chair] Now, where's the popcorn? Tom
  7. Real nice work Bob. The carronades look great and I too like the natural color of the gun carriages, I'm also starting to feel the effects of old age as it relates to model ship building. Arthritis in the hands and neck and difficulty seeing sometimes limit time spent in the shop, especially if its a repetitive task and I'm hunched over. Now where did I put that bottle Tylenol? Tom
  8. Peter, When I re-read my last post I thought " Oh brother, despite my good intentions that came out far too negative." That wasn't what I wanted to do, just to give you my honest feedback. I'm a straight shooter and tell it the way I see it; but sadly, tact, subtlety and finesse are not my strong suits. ;-) Mark is right, be the captain of your own ship and steer the course you desire. My place is to be supportive in your endeavors and help when I can. Tom
  9. Peter, I certainly understand the disappointment you are feeling now that some modelers here in MSW have questioned your decision to go with beech. You want to justify your choice. It is not my place, or anyone else's place, to tell you what to do, only to make recommendations based on experience. For you money comes into the equation, as does availability and the amount of time it takes to ship "across the pond". Also, you have already started the project by buying and having the wood milled, so this would cause even more reluctance to change. All of this is understandable, but to my way of thinking model ship building is an art, one where you have to invest a substantial amount of time on a project. I want that investment to pay off in something that is very pleasing to the eye. One of the ways that I can maximize my chances of making that happen is to use high quality materials, stuff that is IDEALLY SUITED for what I'm trying to achieve. Gaeten makes a great point that beech doesn't have a tight enough grain to keep an edge, thus limiting the kind of detail a modeler would be able to impart on their project. Mark and I have also expressed misgivings about the use of beech. I really hope other model builders here in MSW, who have built or are building a framed model, weigh in on the question. Their input might be helpful to you. Tom
  10. I'm not sure what Gaetan means when he says beech is a softwood. American beech (Fagus grandifolio), the only beech native to North America, is technically NOT a softwood (gymnosperm), but a hardwood (angiosperm or flowering plant). It has a specific gravity (density) of .74 which makes it a harder than average angiosperm. The pores and rays of beech are visible, certainly not inconspicuous. While the wood dries fairly rapidly it does have a strong tendency to warp, split, and surface check. Much care is needed in drying the wood as it is subject to large shrinkage. These characteristics, in my opinion, would not make American beech one of the more ideal woods for model framing. Tom
  11. Peter, I'm so glad to see another person build a Sphinx class post ship. Those 20 gunners were pretty little vessels and make a great subject for a model. One doesn't have to look any further than Alex Matvijet's log to see how gorgeous a model it makes. His build log is awesome and I always get a little excited to see a new post from him. I have a special interest in his posts as I too am building a Sphinx class ship, the HMS Camilla 1776. Unlike most other modelers I have chosen to build Camilla bread-and-butter style, where I glue 6 full hull lifts and 3 partial hull lifts of 1" thick yellow poplar together. I then carve the model with a variety of hand and power tools using 24-1/8" thick Baltic birch plywood templates to shape the hull. After shaping is complete I will then plank over the hull, inside and out, with Castello boxwood and Swiss pear wood. From your description this seems like a most ambitious project, showing the interior of the hull and activities that would have gone on inside the ship. Most model builders wouldn't do a framed model, or for that matter even a partially framed model, for their first try at scratch building, but only you know your level of model building competency. I guess you're a deep water sailor. ;-) If framing is what you want to show then I might recommend The Fully Framed Model (TFFM), a four volume set of books by David Antscherl and Greg Herbert, to help you out in building a sixth rate. Great books! The Sphinx Class was 108' between perpendiculars and the Swan class was 96', so they're reasonably close in size and both are sixth rates. Peter, You have to know I will be following your build very closely, and I wish you the best in this endeavor. Tom
  12. Christian, how big is the hull on this model (length between perpendiculars)? This is to 3/8"=1' correct? Tom
  13. Johann, you're quite a craftsman. The ship's boats turned out great. I look forward to more beautiful stuff from you in 2016, and hope this new year is all you want it to be. Tom
  14. Matti, I'm amazed at how much you've done in such a short period of time. You said you were retired with a lot of time to model, but even so you are FAST. I blink and you have something else made. And it's not just the speed you work at either as the model is turning out really nice. Just what's in that Finnish coffee? Tom
  15. Matrim, I've also used paper, paint in glue and dry charred bone black pigment mixed in the glue. For me the pigment in the glue gave me the best results. Paper looked nice and was thicker, but sadly the joint was weak. Greg makes a great point about pigment bleeding during the debonding process. Let's face it, sometimes you don't get something right on first try and have to take joints apart. Tom
  16. Ho Ho Ho and a Merry Christmas to Dan Vadas. One of the nicest gifts the MSW community received this past year was your build log of the HMS Vulture, a true tour de force on plank-on-frame construction. As someone with lesser skills I enjoyed it immensely and learned a lot. Thank you. Have a super holiday season and a fantastic 2016. I look forward to more wonderful posts from you this year. Tom
  17. A big holiday greeting goes out to you Paul. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and that 2016 is all you want it to be. Best wishes to you and those you love. I look forward to more posts from you as construction of La Salamandre continues. Tom
  18. Wow! What an undertaking with all those carvings. Most impressive! Have a great holiday Kay. I will surely look forward to more posts from you in 2016. Tom
  19. Merry Christmas Remco! .... and a late birthday greeting as well. I would be remiss in my holiday shout-outs to not include you. Thanks for all the jaw-dropping detail you have built into the Kingfisher. Build logs like yours are a wonderful gift to the MSW forum ..... a present we open up with each of your posts. That galley stove will always get a big WOW! from me. Good things to you in 2016.
  20. Here's a special holiday greeting for you Dave. You've been put through the ringer with the terrible ear infection this last year, so I wish you a VERY HEALTHY 2016. Hopefully that problem will soon be main mast down on the horizon astern. Yes, in your wake, not at it! ;-) I always hold a good thought for you. Have a Merry Christmas and the best 2016 for you and those you love. Tom
  21. Merry Christmas Ed! There are few here in the MSW build logs who have contributed so much to the advancement of the art of model shipbuilding. You are the quintessential teacher of the craft and have given to all to the nth degree. Modelers, from neophyte to advanced scratch builders, appreciate what you do and say. If it's not your books or your own build logs its your willingness to help others with their projects. What a beautiful gift that is to the model shipbuilding community. Thanks a ton! I wanted to wish you and all you love only the best this holiday season, and that you stay healthy and accomplish all your goals for 2016. Tom
  22. A special Christmas greeting to you Albert! Thanks for sharing your HMS Naiad build with the MSW group this year. I think it's pretty safe to say WE LOVE IT! Your clean and precise model shipbuilding style catches everyone's eye. It's a joy to watch you build. Thanks. Only the best to you and those you love this coming new year. Tom
  23. Merry Christmas Glenn! Your build log was a beautiful gift to the MSW followers this past year. Thank you. I hope in the new year you are happy, healthy, prosperous, and make great strides toward finishing this incredible model. Tom
  24. Wow Matti, you model ship build at warp speed; a lot done in a little time. Do you sleep? Eat in your shop? .....
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