CharlieZardoz

Hi all, this week has been about reorganizing my work space with the new tools provided. Part of this has been building a shelf for my various hulls. While I haven't posted this I actually spend alot of time making frames for various ships, modifying plans etc. The process is easy and in time while i plan to build them all my current environment doesn't give me alot of time and space for detail work as of yet. 
 
Hulls from bottom to top are 
30 ton revenue cutter Active (in the box)
Sultana
Halifax
Armed virginia sloop (just made based of ms purchased plans)
50 ton cutter (Monroe)
And 70 ton (Vigilant)
On the top marine model privateer which will probably become an Eagle class revenue cutter (in Chappelle's book the unidentified 75 footer of 1798).
 
I also have 2 frames on table the constructo Enterprise (aka Vixen) and Dikar Lawrence which i will also add to the lot at some point. Overall this will be a much better space for crafts when time allows. New laptop also helps me create laser programs for ship parts on the go! 😉

Hi all, this week has been about reorganizing my work space with the new tools provided. Part of this has been building a shelf for my various hulls. While I haven't posted this I actually spend alot of time making frames for various ships, modifying plans etc. The process is easy and in time while i plan to build them all my current environment doesn't give me alot of time and space for detail work as of yet. 
 
Hulls from bottom to top are 
30 ton revenue cutter Active (in the box)
Sultana
Halifax
Armed virginia sloop (just made based of ms purchased plans)
50 ton cutter (Monroe)
And 70 ton (Vigilant)
On the top marine model privateer which will probably become an Eagle class revenue cutter (in Chappelle's book the unidentified 75 footer of 1798).
 
I also have 2 frames on table the constructo Enterprise (aka Vixen) and Dikar Lawrence which i will also add to the lot at some point. Overall this will be a much better space for crafts when time allows. New laptop also helps me create laser programs for ship parts on the go! 😉

Hi all, this week has been about reorganizing my work space with the new tools provided. Part of this has been building a shelf for my various hulls. While I haven't posted this I actually spend alot of time making frames for various ships, modifying plans etc. The process is easy and in time while i plan to build them all my current environment doesn't give me alot of time and space for detail work as of yet. 
 
Hulls from bottom to top are 
30 ton revenue cutter Active (in the box)
Sultana
Halifax
Armed virginia sloop (just made based of ms purchased plans)
50 ton cutter (Monroe)
And 70 ton (Vigilant)
On the top marine model privateer which will probably become an Eagle class revenue cutter (in Chappelle's book the unidentified 75 footer of 1798).
 
I also have 2 frames on table the constructo Enterprise (aka Vixen) and Dikar Lawrence which i will also add to the lot at some point. Overall this will be a much better space for crafts when time allows. New laptop also helps me create laser programs for ship parts on the go! 😉

Hi all, just a quick update I realized that I kept coming into wood milling issues in an attempt to make the ship channels and subsequent cap strip. While I have a pretty extensive stock I can't account for all needed parts and with milled lumber suppliers now retired it was time for me to get a Byrnes table saw. I feel like I just brought myself a level forward.💪 While I will need time to learn its ways, I am so excited to have the freedom to mill at my leisure. The end goal is a 1mm by 1mm strip stay tuned! Thanks to Bob Hunt for connecting me to one that was made available 👌🙃🙏

Aha thank you very much and appreciate the compliments on both counts 😊 Sadly theatre (yes to the "re") is on pause for this year but art creation is not.
 
Ill post a new update shortly ive been mulling over the lifeboat question. Where would it go on such a ship? Not on deck it would interfere with the Canon. The back lacks enough structural support. If you look at this image of an 1829 cutter of similar design you can see the back had a higher rear bulwark.

(the pilot boat Achilles also had this feature) and no doubt the back could support davits for a life boat.

My opinion is that the Doughty cutters were likely highly modified after launch or at least their upper workings, so likely either the pivot gun or rope stanchion railings were tossed soon after. The increased bulwark on this 1829 cutter and less extreme bow also suggests this. Also they likely continued to vary as the years progressed 1815-1825? ones that launched later likely corrected the inadequacies of the earlier batches.
 
The original design with a low toe rail and rope stanchion...

 
And some variations with improved bulwarks below

 
This one above has a full solid bulwark some swivels as well as a raised pivot canon. 
This one above has canon ports which was probably common on the larger 80 ton versions however doubt that pivot would still be relevant?
 

And here's a version with a half bulwark added to the front. Which also would likely help with water washing on the deck. Another interesting variation.
 
Since I have 3 to work on for this diorama I am inclined to mixing it up a bit. But not sure which will have what yet. Open to opinions on the lifeboat question. Other than just tugging it along possibly a half bulwark in the back and then i can have the swivels as well. Considering Active was alone for the period immediately following the war of 1812 she must have been overworked and highly adaptable to any situation they found themselves in. 🤔
 
One thing I am certain about it that the toe rail bulwark probably had a cap rail. All the models show this however the Doughty plans do not. Most of the models show oar locks so logic dictates that there would need to be enough surface area to support them. 

Here is me testing out some bulwark heights now. 

Why yes cotton swabs really caught the winds back in those days 🤭
 
Regarding the saw I swear most earnestly I tried to keep this build simple but in truth even the simplest boat model may require fine detailing and I am not one to leave something just so/so when I know I can do better. 😉 and she gleams so nicely as well I didn't expect to get one at a super deal I can't help but feel it was destiny. 👌🌈

Hi all, just a quick update I realized that I kept coming into wood milling issues in an attempt to make the ship channels and subsequent cap strip. While I have a pretty extensive stock I can't account for all needed parts and with milled lumber suppliers now retired it was time for me to get a Byrnes table saw. I feel like I just brought myself a level forward.💪 While I will need time to learn its ways, I am so excited to have the freedom to mill at my leisure. The end goal is a 1mm by 1mm strip stay tuned! Thanks to Bob Hunt for connecting me to one that was made available 👌🙃🙏

Hi all, just a quick update I realized that I kept coming into wood milling issues in an attempt to make the ship channels and subsequent cap strip. While I have a pretty extensive stock I can't account for all needed parts and with milled lumber suppliers now retired it was time for me to get a Byrnes table saw. I feel like I just brought myself a level forward.💪 While I will need time to learn its ways, I am so excited to have the freedom to mill at my leisure. The end goal is a 1mm by 1mm strip stay tuned! Thanks to Bob Hunt for connecting me to one that was made available 👌🙃🙏

Hi all, just a quick update I realized that I kept coming into wood milling issues in an attempt to make the ship channels and subsequent cap strip. While I have a pretty extensive stock I can't account for all needed parts and with milled lumber suppliers now retired it was time for me to get a Byrnes table saw. I feel like I just brought myself a level forward.💪 While I will need time to learn its ways, I am so excited to have the freedom to mill at my leisure. The end goal is a 1mm by 1mm strip stay tuned! Thanks to Bob Hunt for connecting me to one that was made available 👌🙃🙏

Aha thank you very much and appreciate the compliments on both counts 😊 Sadly theatre (yes to the "re") is on pause for this year but art creation is not.
 
Ill post a new update shortly ive been mulling over the lifeboat question. Where would it go on such a ship? Not on deck it would interfere with the Canon. The back lacks enough structural support. If you look at this image of an 1829 cutter of similar design you can see the back had a higher rear bulwark.

(the pilot boat Achilles also had this feature) and no doubt the back could support davits for a life boat.

My opinion is that the Doughty cutters were likely highly modified after launch or at least their upper workings, so likely either the pivot gun or rope stanchion railings were tossed soon after. The increased bulwark on this 1829 cutter and less extreme bow also suggests this. Also they likely continued to vary as the years progressed 1815-1825? ones that launched later likely corrected the inadequacies of the earlier batches.
 
The original design with a low toe rail and rope stanchion...

 
And some variations with improved bulwarks below

 
This one above has a full solid bulwark some swivels as well as a raised pivot canon. 
This one above has canon ports which was probably common on the larger 80 ton versions however doubt that pivot would still be relevant?
 

And here's a version with a half bulwark added to the front. Which also would likely help with water washing on the deck. Another interesting variation.
 
Since I have 3 to work on for this diorama I am inclined to mixing it up a bit. But not sure which will have what yet. Open to opinions on the lifeboat question. Other than just tugging it along possibly a half bulwark in the back and then i can have the swivels as well. Considering Active was alone for the period immediately following the war of 1812 she must have been overworked and highly adaptable to any situation they found themselves in. 🤔
 
One thing I am certain about it that the toe rail bulwark probably had a cap rail. All the models show this however the Doughty plans do not. Most of the models show oar locks so logic dictates that there would need to be enough surface area to support them. 

Here is me testing out some bulwark heights now. 

Hi all, just a quick update I realized that I kept coming into wood milling issues in an attempt to make the ship channels and subsequent cap strip. While I have a pretty extensive stock I can't account for all needed parts and with milled lumber suppliers now retired it was time for me to get a Byrnes table saw. I feel like I just brought myself a level forward.💪 While I will need time to learn its ways, I am so excited to have the freedom to mill at my leisure. The end goal is a 1mm by 1mm strip stay tuned! Thanks to Bob Hunt for connecting me to one that was made available 👌🙃🙏

Hi all, just a quick update I realized that I kept coming into wood milling issues in an attempt to make the ship channels and subsequent cap strip. While I have a pretty extensive stock I can't account for all needed parts and with milled lumber suppliers now retired it was time for me to get a Byrnes table saw. I feel like I just brought myself a level forward.💪 While I will need time to learn its ways, I am so excited to have the freedom to mill at my leisure. The end goal is a 1mm by 1mm strip stay tuned! Thanks to Bob Hunt for connecting me to one that was made available 👌🙃🙏

The vigilant was renamed the Dallas and was twice the size of Active which was 30+ tons. So likely there was a 51 and 69 ton Dallas. 

I would highly recommend people giving Matt at Inlay Banding a look if you are looking for ebony, holly, or other woods:
 
http://inlaybanding.com
 
Matt was really great to work with, and did a custom order for me to exact specifications.  He was even able to get ebony sheets down to as little as 0.7mm.  Matt most does work for inlays and veneers, but I think he would make a great resource for ebony and other exotics (along with ebony, he does holly, maple, boxwood, satinwood, maple and others).  Now that Jeff is retired, I would highly recommend Matt is you are looking for ebony or other woods.

I was looking at the ship one morning and had a "OH God what have I done to her!" moment.  The varnish on the copper was ugly and needed to be removed.  600 cotton swabs and a whole 500mL bottle of 99% Isopropyl alcohol did the job.  Alcohol really does just melts acrylic varnish away.

After removal I used some more polish and shes bright and new.  The batens need some paint touch up's but aside from that I think I have redeemed her. 

 
 

Around 100 plus Awning stanchions, I ran out of  ones provided with the upgrade so used some I left over from Yamato 

Aha thank you very much and appreciate the compliments on both counts 😊 Sadly theatre (yes to the "re") is on pause for this year but art creation is not.
 
Ill post a new update shortly ive been mulling over the lifeboat question. Where would it go on such a ship? Not on deck it would interfere with the Canon. The back lacks enough structural support. If you look at this image of an 1829 cutter of similar design you can see the back had a higher rear bulwark.

(the pilot boat Achilles also had this feature) and no doubt the back could support davits for a life boat.

My opinion is that the Doughty cutters were likely highly modified after launch or at least their upper workings, so likely either the pivot gun or rope stanchion railings were tossed soon after. The increased bulwark on this 1829 cutter and less extreme bow also suggests this. Also they likely continued to vary as the years progressed 1815-1825? ones that launched later likely corrected the inadequacies of the earlier batches.
 
The original design with a low toe rail and rope stanchion...

 
And some variations with improved bulwarks below

 
This one above has a full solid bulwark some swivels as well as a raised pivot canon. 
This one above has canon ports which was probably common on the larger 80 ton versions however doubt that pivot would still be relevant?
 

And here's a version with a half bulwark added to the front. Which also would likely help with water washing on the deck. Another interesting variation.
 
Since I have 3 to work on for this diorama I am inclined to mixing it up a bit. But not sure which will have what yet. Open to opinions on the lifeboat question. Other than just tugging it along possibly a half bulwark in the back and then i can have the swivels as well. Considering Active was alone for the period immediately following the war of 1812 she must have been overworked and highly adaptable to any situation they found themselves in. 🤔
 
One thing I am certain about it that the toe rail bulwark probably had a cap rail. All the models show this however the Doughty plans do not. Most of the models show oar locks so logic dictates that there would need to be enough surface area to support them. 

Here is me testing out some bulwark heights now. 

Aha thank you very much and appreciate the compliments on both counts 😊 Sadly theatre (yes to the "re") is on pause for this year but art creation is not.
 
Ill post a new update shortly ive been mulling over the lifeboat question. Where would it go on such a ship? Not on deck it would interfere with the Canon. The back lacks enough structural support. If you look at this image of an 1829 cutter of similar design you can see the back had a higher rear bulwark.

(the pilot boat Achilles also had this feature) and no doubt the back could support davits for a life boat.

My opinion is that the Doughty cutters were likely highly modified after launch or at least their upper workings, so likely either the pivot gun or rope stanchion railings were tossed soon after. The increased bulwark on this 1829 cutter and less extreme bow also suggests this. Also they likely continued to vary as the years progressed 1815-1825? ones that launched later likely corrected the inadequacies of the earlier batches.
 
The original design with a low toe rail and rope stanchion...

 
And some variations with improved bulwarks below

 
This one above has a full solid bulwark some swivels as well as a raised pivot canon. 
This one above has canon ports which was probably common on the larger 80 ton versions however doubt that pivot would still be relevant?
 

And here's a version with a half bulwark added to the front. Which also would likely help with water washing on the deck. Another interesting variation.
 
Since I have 3 to work on for this diorama I am inclined to mixing it up a bit. But not sure which will have what yet. Open to opinions on the lifeboat question. Other than just tugging it along possibly a half bulwark in the back and then i can have the swivels as well. Considering Active was alone for the period immediately following the war of 1812 she must have been overworked and highly adaptable to any situation they found themselves in. 🤔
 
One thing I am certain about it that the toe rail bulwark probably had a cap rail. All the models show this however the Doughty plans do not. Most of the models show oar locks so logic dictates that there would need to be enough surface area to support them. 

Here is me testing out some bulwark heights now. 

Using a slicing style blade for the dremel I sliced about a quarter of an inch off the keelson. In hindsight it should have been from the deck however it ultimately worked out just as fine even if I now have lungs full of sawdust lol.  The box shows what fell in the rest blew out the window using a reverse fan

So here is my newest update. I spent a week or so reshaping the hull from the 31 ton at 1/48 scale (the kit) to a 51 ton 1/64 scale. This was a bit more challenging than one might think while both look similar there is actually quite a bit of difference in the incline. The 51 ton is flatter at 27 degrees while the 31 ton has more drag at 30 degrees. Fortunately the templates at modelshipwright are perfect as they indicate the height as well as correct shape. Also for a bit of fun I put the Sultana template next to the revenue cutter so you can see how different the shapes are.

The last part of this is the height. This is something I have to ponder the hull needs 1/4" taken off the top of the deck, You can see the amount needed when adding the transom, plus the image at the bow that stem piece must be slightly above the top of the deck. I'm not sure if I will shave from the top, bottom or cut the hull in half and do it that way. It has a very specific build in curve to the top so I am unsure if I want to alter that. That said I can recreate it using the plans, as you see in this pic the curve of the deck follows the line I have circled, the image itself stops at the top of the ships tiny bulwark/sheer. So more work to be done!

So now the keel fits. The hull is around 10.5" and for now is roughly shaped.

So after that came modifying the length. The front was relatively easy I then used the dremel to shorted the back and took off about an inch from the top and half inch from the bottom. The square tuck stern will of course be smoothed out but for now it gives me the angles which I can line up with the rudder and keel as so.

Greetings all! So just a quick status update as I've spent the week sanding down the 51 ton hull, which for now we will call Dallas. My first order of business was to sand the sides down and match the deck outline. This means lots of sawdust as you can see. Cover your eyes and mouth see how fashionable I look! (me doing Brundlefly impression "heeeelp me"!)

And that's pretty much where we are now. For this project my next step will be to start sanding down the 51 ton hull using the dremel and then cut out bread and butter slices for the 31 ton ship. The slices will be 15/16" in length to keep with the scale so my plan is to take my two inch by 3 inch block and cut it with a table saw the blade should sheer off the needed 1/8" in between then cut out the slices using the templates and a scroll saw then glue them together and shape them. Rough example below. So that's building a very similar ship in 2 different ways which should be quite educational. Stay tuned!