ccoyle

After a more than 20 year hiatus from building ships, I was asking myself if I wanted to get back into it or start a new photography hobby. Santa made it easy for me by bringing me AL Scottish Maid and a Canon Powershot to chronicle the progress. I haven't touched a kit for a long time, but it should come back to me like riding a bike. Hope y'all had a great Christmas!

If you're not particularly into metal work, iron work can often be simulated quite nicely by using strips of of black card stock. Bolt heads can be simulated by daubs of white glue applied with a toothpick.

Received my selection of books yesterday, all in good condition. Frank doesn't mess around when it comes to getting stuff shipped promptly!

Cheers guys,
 
I have been playing around with the machine, and here are some of the results. I have cut a dozen or so sets for  Alert kits, and designing 'fittings', such as 64th and 72nd scale open and closed heat blocks, and 64th and 72nd scale ladders, all in pearwood.
 
Not sure about the ladders, as the steps are already cut to length, so am wondering if I offer these with an option for the customer to ask me to do the length they need (to fit in the combings) and I do the steps to order, is that a good idea? I have already made the steps in 1mm incremental lengths. Do these look OK?

Wow - has it really been 2 years?
 
I finally decided that the only way I could move on was by not doing any more planking.  Since she is in the yard being repaired for the display I stopped where I thought it looked good and started the painting.  I plan to weather it some and then continue construction.
 

 

 

 

If you're not particularly into metal work, iron work can often be simulated quite nicely by using strips of of black card stock. Bolt heads can be simulated by daubs of white glue applied with a toothpick.

Thank you dear friends, I am pleased you like my work.

Have a beautiful Christmas and a lot of health and happiness.

This recent book on the Restoration Navy reappraises Samuel Pepys' role and the influence of his brother Prince James on the Restoration Navy. Now, this could have been presented in a dry and scholarly way, but Dr. David Davies' writing is lively and, at times, quite humorous. Nevertheless, while readable, the work is also scholarly with pages of end-notes and references. This book recently won the author the prestigious Anderson Medal for best non-fiction maritime writing, beating out 18 other entries. This book has also been awarded a Certificate of Merit from the Maritime Foundation in the Mountbatten Award ‘Best Book’ category, and their citation reads:
 

 
This carefully researched and readable history makes a major contribution to understanding the little known but influential roles played by Kings Charles II and James II in promoting the development of the Royal Navy through major reforms, innovation and exploration.  Historically authoritative, this original work provides an invaluable insight into the emerging concept of sea power.  The author’s lucid style and original approach makes this period in the evolution of the Royal Navy accessible to a wide audience.
 
Thoroughly recommended!

Děkujeme, že jste si udělali čas na sdílení vašich fotografií s námi. Jsou velmi ceněny.
 
Cheers!

Welcome and thanks for joining in! The Mercury is a beautiful kit subject, as is Pegasus. And, as you probably already know, we are very fortunate to have the designer of both kits, Chris Watton, as a regular contributor here, sharing updates on his new designs coming from Vanguard Models. look forward to seeing your work!
 
BTW, sharing photos is not difficult. Use the "choose files" link in the bar at the bottom of the reply window. Click on the files you want to upload. Each one will appear as a preview. When you're ready to add one to your post, simply click the "+" on the preview photo, and the pic will be inserted into your post.
 
Cheers!

Welcome aboard! You have so many interests to dabble in, I wonder that you have time for work! I look forward to seeing your projects.
 
Cheers!

Welcome aboard! You have so many interests to dabble in, I wonder that you have time for work! I look forward to seeing your projects.
 
Cheers!

Děkujeme, že jste si udělali čas na sdílení vašich fotografií s námi. Jsou velmi ceněny.
 
Cheers!

Been a while since I posted here (like 5 years!). Fast up-date: After putting the bulkheads in place (see first picture), I realized that the model would be too big for my son's house. So I put it aside and started all over again at a 1:96 scale which should produce a model about 2 feet long. That smaller scale prohibits my attempts at any small detail, but the finished product is a reasonable facsimile of a Sphynx class frigate. Anyway, I need help/advice. I'm working off of Alex Matvijets plans which I got through Chuck P. The rigging plan shows slings at the top of the fore, main and mizzen, and again at the top of the fore top and main top. James Lees says they are supposed to be there, but he never tells you what they are for. I know somebody here has the answer.

Welcome and thanks for joining in! The Mercury is a beautiful kit subject, as is Pegasus. And, as you probably already know, we are very fortunate to have the designer of both kits, Chris Watton, as a regular contributor here, sharing updates on his new designs coming from Vanguard Models. look forward to seeing your work!
 
BTW, sharing photos is not difficult. Use the "choose files" link in the bar at the bottom of the reply window. Click on the files you want to upload. Each one will appear as a preview. When you're ready to add one to your post, simply click the "+" on the preview photo, and the pic will be inserted into your post.
 
Cheers!

Thanks, Dirk!
A couple of hours ago we got boxes for kit

I have been a member here for a few years, but treating it more as a spectator sport than I should.  I’m hoping to post the beginning of my first builder log within a week or two, so thought I should introduce myself. 
 
I have been a model builder off and on throughout my 7 decades on the planet. I built lots of plastic models as a kid (mostly airplanes but also a few ships) and an occasional stick and tissue glider, as taught to me by my dad. My first wooden ship model was a solid hull America built in high school. I still have it, but it has not survived the decades well at all, and thus my most recent build was the MS kit yacht America (which I think is no longer available from MS).
 
Fast forward from high school to my late 30s, and I got back into the hobby of model building, first with three RC gliders. Revell’s 1:96 plastic Constitution followed, then a plank on bulkhead Bluenose (Artesania Latina), a canoe (Midwest), Endeavor (America’s Cup J Boat, an Italian kit), Brig Niagara (Model Shipways), and more recently Model Airways Wright [Brothers] Flyer and Yacht America. Somewhere along the way I finished a half-built Sopwith Camel (Hasagawa), after the father of a good friend of mine sadly passed away mid-build. Current build: BlueJacket’s Spray, the tiny boat Joshua Slocum soloed around the world.
 
My builds tend to take a while, since there is a lot of competition for my time.  I still work, slowly transitioning to part time (trust & estate lawyer), I am an avid cyclist, and my wife and I enjoy traveling, hiking, kayaking, biking, pickleball, skiing (especially XC), reading, and hanging out with our young adult kids.  And living in Spokane, Washington, we are of course avid Gonzaga basketball fans!

I finished the bollards on the aft deck.
 
 

Welcome, Harv. The nice thing about that kit is that it is a relatively easy hull form to plank and is also in a large scale -- makes fiddly bits easier to work with.
 
Cheers!

Hi All,
 
Thanks for all the likes and comments.  Well back in Perth for the Christmas break and first off made all the ladders in preparation for fitting the boat decks and central walkways.  Made a mess of the curved ladder 140P but will get lost in the clutter so not too bothered.

 
 
The fore and aft boat decks went on easily enough after careful positioning and the gratings glued into place.  I trimmed a section off the fore handrails where they clashed with the central walkway (not in place yet).

 
 
Before fitting the central walkway I wanted to check that I wouldn’t encounter any clashes with the funnel so made up the laser cut forms without glue.  I really enjoy using the LC forms as the fit is perfect.

 
 
Since I enjoyed assembling the rear funnel I made the fore one as well and placed to see the effect.  These will add another splash of colour being yellow.  For some reason I always imagined them to be a lot bigger than they are.

 
 
Central walkway in place and now time to place all the ladders.  I am guessing these go here as don’t mention or show in the diagrams.

 
Small one from the central walkway to the rear boat deck.

 
Ladders from ‘wings’ down to the main deck.

 
And finally an overhead shot of the boat decks and central walkway…dodgy curved ladder can be seen, oh well.

I have a couple more ladders to do I think but can't find any mention of them in the diagrams so will go through the parts sheets and see if anything jumps out.  But a bit over the ladders now so no rush.
 
Still got to after the new year before heading off so not sure what to work on now.  I might do all the little bits and pieces next or get stuck in to the last of the larger stuff.  Not really feeling it for the ships boats yet.
 
Cheers
Slog

To Dziadeczek: Yes, I am sure, this is a screen around the seat of ease, you can see under it the outlet (it was not always used there) which drains dirt to the sea - so as not to pollute the hull of the ship. I have these information from one of the greatest experts on ships construction and history. In Czech forum you can find him as Kpt.KL. 
The crew got inside through the top hole as they climbed down the shroud. During the battle this screen was removed. It is not positioned immediately above a gun port but is shifted a bit to the side.
 
Here are some Van de Velde drawings with various design of that thing:
 

 
And these smaller barrels could be intended for salted meat etc. as was mentioned above:
 

Hello dear friends,
thank you all very much for your kind words,praise and comments, that is a great honour for me and i do appreciate your support a lot.
Yesterday I finished ladders on shrouds, this is always so boring work for me, but this time I have decided to do it in the beginning....

 
 
 
 
 

Merry Christmas to all!!!

We started production our new kit! 
"MOREL" - Yefim Nikonov`s "Secret Vessel"
Scale 1/36
art. MK0203  

My laser machine arrived Friday, so the weekend was spent sorting out new workshop, which still needs finishing. However, I did use the machine, and I am very happy with the cutting and quality. I have cut another 12 complete sets of Alert parts (pearwood version), and parts fit together perfectly. It was one of the better machines on offer, though, with a top quality laser tube that's made in Germany. 
 
I did one set of Speedy 3mm MDF with part numbers laser etched in each part, and this seems to work very well. As I am no longer having to pay for a sub contractors time, I can now do this.
 
Still a lot of learning regarding the laser etching side though - tried a Speedy deck and completely nuked it! Still, I am very pleased I made the investment.

Děkujeme, že jste si udělali čas na sdílení vašich fotografií s námi. Jsou velmi ceněny.
 
Cheers!