toms10

Made a little more progress this weekend with the mizzenmast staysails, top gallant and top sails. I need to mount the crossjack then finally the mizzen sail. 



 

Currently debating whether I will put up the mizzen staysail or not. I left off the lowest staysails at the main and foremast so as not to cover up the deck detail. The gap from the deck to the bottom mizzen top mast staysail is higher than the other masts so it kind of seems out of balance.  Maybe it will even out when the crossjack is put up. Problem is it will be very difficult to get in there to install all the necessary blocks for the rigging now. 
 
Finally I need to go back and tie up the braces and make what seems like a thousand rope coils for the belaying pins and various odds and ends… all by mid September so it is ready for the Northeast conference 
 
Tom

What a fantastic work. It looks museum-worthy!

Hi all,
It has been a while since I posted but I am still picking away it when I can. Still have lines hanging all over the place but making progress. All the main staysails and mast sails are up with most of the lines rigged. Getting ready to move on to the mizzenmast area next. 

 
i need to pick up the pace if I am to get it finished for the Northeast conference at the beginning of October!  Funny thing though, the more things I knock off my “chores around the house” list the longer it gets!😜 That “work for a living” thing seems to be getting in the way a lot too!🤣😜
 
Tom

Made a little more progress this weekend with the mizzenmast staysails, top gallant and top sails. I need to mount the crossjack then finally the mizzen sail. 



 

Currently debating whether I will put up the mizzen staysail or not. I left off the lowest staysails at the main and foremast so as not to cover up the deck detail. The gap from the deck to the bottom mizzen top mast staysail is higher than the other masts so it kind of seems out of balance.  Maybe it will even out when the crossjack is put up. Problem is it will be very difficult to get in there to install all the necessary blocks for the rigging now. 
 
Finally I need to go back and tie up the braces and make what seems like a thousand rope coils for the belaying pins and various odds and ends… all by mid September so it is ready for the Northeast conference 
 
Tom

Made a little more progress this weekend with the mizzenmast staysails, top gallant and top sails. I need to mount the crossjack then finally the mizzen sail. 



 

Currently debating whether I will put up the mizzen staysail or not. I left off the lowest staysails at the main and foremast so as not to cover up the deck detail. The gap from the deck to the bottom mizzen top mast staysail is higher than the other masts so it kind of seems out of balance.  Maybe it will even out when the crossjack is put up. Problem is it will be very difficult to get in there to install all the necessary blocks for the rigging now. 
 
Finally I need to go back and tie up the braces and make what seems like a thousand rope coils for the belaying pins and various odds and ends… all by mid September so it is ready for the Northeast conference 
 
Tom

Made a little more progress this weekend with the mizzenmast staysails, top gallant and top sails. I need to mount the crossjack then finally the mizzen sail. 



 

Currently debating whether I will put up the mizzen staysail or not. I left off the lowest staysails at the main and foremast so as not to cover up the deck detail. The gap from the deck to the bottom mizzen top mast staysail is higher than the other masts so it kind of seems out of balance.  Maybe it will even out when the crossjack is put up. Problem is it will be very difficult to get in there to install all the necessary blocks for the rigging now. 
 
Finally I need to go back and tie up the braces and make what seems like a thousand rope coils for the belaying pins and various odds and ends… all by mid September so it is ready for the Northeast conference 
 
Tom

Made a little more progress this weekend with the mizzenmast staysails, top gallant and top sails. I need to mount the crossjack then finally the mizzen sail. 



 

Currently debating whether I will put up the mizzen staysail or not. I left off the lowest staysails at the main and foremast so as not to cover up the deck detail. The gap from the deck to the bottom mizzen top mast staysail is higher than the other masts so it kind of seems out of balance.  Maybe it will even out when the crossjack is put up. Problem is it will be very difficult to get in there to install all the necessary blocks for the rigging now. 
 
Finally I need to go back and tie up the braces and make what seems like a thousand rope coils for the belaying pins and various odds and ends… all by mid September so it is ready for the Northeast conference 
 
Tom

Made a little more progress this weekend with the mizzenmast staysails, top gallant and top sails. I need to mount the crossjack then finally the mizzen sail. 



 

Currently debating whether I will put up the mizzen staysail or not. I left off the lowest staysails at the main and foremast so as not to cover up the deck detail. The gap from the deck to the bottom mizzen top mast staysail is higher than the other masts so it kind of seems out of balance.  Maybe it will even out when the crossjack is put up. Problem is it will be very difficult to get in there to install all the necessary blocks for the rigging now. 
 
Finally I need to go back and tie up the braces and make what seems like a thousand rope coils for the belaying pins and various odds and ends… all by mid September so it is ready for the Northeast conference 
 
Tom

Made a little more progress this weekend with the mizzenmast staysails, top gallant and top sails. I need to mount the crossjack then finally the mizzen sail. 



 

Currently debating whether I will put up the mizzen staysail or not. I left off the lowest staysails at the main and foremast so as not to cover up the deck detail. The gap from the deck to the bottom mizzen top mast staysail is higher than the other masts so it kind of seems out of balance.  Maybe it will even out when the crossjack is put up. Problem is it will be very difficult to get in there to install all the necessary blocks for the rigging now. 
 
Finally I need to go back and tie up the braces and make what seems like a thousand rope coils for the belaying pins and various odds and ends… all by mid September so it is ready for the Northeast conference 
 
Tom

Lining Off your hull for planking
 
is this what you are looking for?  I copied this link from a pinned post in the planking section in the forums screen. 
 
Tom

Tom, thank you so much!  This may be what I'm looking for.  I will be reading it many times.  I wish I could buy you a cup of coffee.  If the NRG ever decides to hold its annual meeting in Tulsa, maybe I could buy you a cup of coffee in person.
 
Kind Regards,
Stephen Walters

Hi Ed
i also went the Starrett route after playing around with the lesser “hobby” grades for a couple years. You pretty much get what you pay for when it comes to tools. I shopped around eBay and found a Starrett set of four for $50. 
 
Tom

Lining Off your hull for planking
 
is this what you are looking for?  I copied this link from a pinned post in the planking section in the forums screen. 
 
Tom

Stretch the SilkSpan on a frame and paint it with dilute acrylic first. The number of coats will control the degree of transparency or opacity.

Markus
look at my Leopard build log page 11. I used spray paint on both sides of the silk span. Then I used a piece of regular copier paper and drew the seam lines on it and then sprayed it with adhesive. Then I put the painted silk span on it and rolled it with a small wall paper roller to get the bobbles out. Then repeat on the other side. The paper ply in the center will eliminate the “see through” effect when held up to the light. Don’t forget to cut one side of the silk span larger all around the leech and foot sides of the sail. Then lay a piece of annealed wire on the edge and fold the silkspan over the wire and glue down. The the wire can be bent to form the sail like it is full of wind. 
 
hope this helps. 
Tom

Hi Ed
i also went the Starrett route after playing around with the lesser “hobby” grades for a couple years. You pretty much get what you pay for when it comes to tools. I shopped around eBay and found a Starrett set of four for $50. 
 
Tom

Hi Ed
i also went the Starrett route after playing around with the lesser “hobby” grades for a couple years. You pretty much get what you pay for when it comes to tools. I shopped around eBay and found a Starrett set of four for $50. 
 
Tom

Hi Ed
i also went the Starrett route after playing around with the lesser “hobby” grades for a couple years. You pretty much get what you pay for when it comes to tools. I shopped around eBay and found a Starrett set of four for $50. 
 
Tom

Same here they really are worth the money 👍

I took the plunge some time ago and purchased a set of 3 pin vices from Starrett and never looked back. Not cheap but a quality tool.

Hi John
The whale boat is coming along nicely. I have the same light. Picked it up at Harbor Freight a few years ago. For magnification I use an Opti-visor also picked up at Harbor Freight. I find it much easier to work with instead of underneath the magnifier light. I can also swap lenses for different magnification. I haven’t done that yet as the lenses that came with it are fine. I think they are 5x. I would need to check. Now I have the ring light up high over my model and magnifier on my head. Works well. 
 
Keep up the great work. 
Tom

The  schooner Bowdoin was designed by William H. Hand, Jr., and built in 1921, in East Boothbay, Maine at the Hodgdon Brothers Shipyard.  She is the only American schooner built specifically for Arctic exploration, and was designed under the direction of explorer Donald B. MacMillian. She has made 29 trips above the Arctic Circle in her life, three since she was acquired by the Maine Maritime Academy in 1988. She is currently owned by the Maine Maritime Academy, located in Castine Maine, and is used for their sail training curriculum. She is named for Bowdoin College. Information taken from Wikipedia. 
 
Actually found this vintage Laughing Whale kit in Searsport, Maine in the Bluejacket Shipcrafters Gallery. They had some kits in the corner from a long time customer’s estate. 
 
What was really cool, is that I talk to a gentleman (forgot his name) working there that worked at Laughing Whale in Wiscasset, Maine. He verified the kit was complete and told me he probably cut out the pieces for the kit 40 years ago. 😎
 
Bluejacket does have this kit available with all the laser cut pieces and nicer fittings. So this build is for you @MrBlueJacket  I love to rescue these old kits, I will try to make you proud. 
 

 
Yes I have this drawing framed. I like collecting and framing these old blueprints for my Gallery. 
 

 
Everything is in very nice condition considering the age of this kit. 
 


Sheet No 1 is up on the board. 
 


These keel and bulkheads are all hand cut 40 years ago. Everything else will need to be cut out by me. 😆
 

 
First steps, glueing the keel and bulkheads. Trying a new glue (new for me) Loctite has a wood glue with a 10 minute clamp time. I think this will be better for laminating than CA Glue. We will see… 🤔

Mounted for display. 

Thank you all for your comments and encouragement over the past 11 months. Captains log shows 207 hours invested to completion. 
 
Onwards… 🍻

Congratulations a very nice job John,
As you said, there is no room for the crew!  You went through that relatively quickly.  You skills must be approaching expert level!
Tom
 

Nice job John,
Sloth mode!  That is the only mode I know when it comes to modeling. If I count all the “do overs” I probably rigged my model 3 times already and I am only 25% done 🤣. 
 
Tom