toms10

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

Is there no rest for the weary!?  The CW Morgan isn't even cold yet.  😃
 
Tom

Yes that is fine. It helps us grow to 40,000 members.  

Yes you can send folks here by posting a link to a log on MSW.....and yes you can post your stuff anywhere,  its yours.   This rule simply lets folks know that you cant take photos and logs from other people/members and post them outside of MSW....without asking them for permission first.
 
For example....you cant copy my plans and build log photos for the Medway Longboat group on another forum without first getting permission from me....you shouldnt save any PDF files or chapters created here for such builds on other forums.   You cant duplicate or post photos of another members work without asking them first for permission.  Its to protect our members....you guys from having your photos and documents stolen without your knowledge or approval.  Certainly you can see why that is the case.   
 
Chuck

Just realised I never got back to you DelF.
 
The reason for the difference in description for the new lanterns is because we wanted to differentiate between actual resin castings and and 3-d printed parts, which is a completely different resin anyway.
 
I have just completed all laser cutting for Sphinx. I can now tell you that the laser time for each kit is six and a half hours. There are 33 separate laser cut sheets in 8 different thicknesses from 0.5-4mm
 
One of the reasons I really need a second machine...

I changed the pace a bit and started construction on the sails. There are 27 including all the staysails. I intend on furling the main and fore course sails so as not to obstruct the deck too much. Possibly the fore stay, lower main and mizzenmast staysails as well. Not sure about those yet. 
 
i borrowed a technique from fellow CT club and MSW member Ron Neilson aka Hollowneck on this forum.  He gave a demonstration at the Northeast Joint show in New London back in 2019... someone at the show filmed it and posted it on YouTube. 
 
So far I have the base construction for all the sails completed. Now I need to add the linings, bolt ropes and crinkles. Then I can bend them to the yards and start assembling the yards to the masts. Sounds simple but that is a ton of work and will take quite a bit of time. 
 
Below are some pics of a few steps of the sail construction. I did take pics of each step and may put together and post (when I find the time) a more in depth tutorial of what I did. 

Here is the paper cutout with seam lines done with colored pencil.
 

A piece of painted silk span was then attached to the paper on both sides with spray adhesive. On one side the silk span was cut to the exact size of the paper base. The other side was cut oversized to be folded over the edge to hold the forming wire and act as tabling. 
 

Inserting the annealed wired along the edges. This will allow me to form the sail to get a billowed effect. This was done by folding the silk span edge over the edge of the sail while capturing the wire underneath. 
 

Here is the finished fore top gallant sail awaiting linings, bolt ropes and cringles. 
 
time for more research and learning as I go. Good thing this is a hobby without a deadline as this project is taking forever. Half the time actually building and half the time figuring out how things worked and what to do next. I guess that is the “scary” part of doing your first scratch build. 😜👍
 
Tom

John
As Tom R. (TomShipModel) mentioned, I have been using Elmer’s white glue diluted with water (1:1) for securing knots. This is the first time I used this Liquitex medium. As Tom R. Said, it can leave a milky residue on dark rope where the diluted PVA does not.
 
that makes a great lead in to my next picture. After sleeping on it I decided I did not really like the dark bolt rope. Just a little to much contrast to the sail... almost distracting. So I took some of the rope I make for running rigging and dipped it into some Special Walnut stain and what came out is much more to my liking. The new rope is obviously the sail on the top. It’s a little more work but I am much happier with it. The lower one is Coats and Clark thread for buttons and craft.  The color is Chona  Brown which is almost identical to my standing rigging.  


Okay, I have beaten my bolt ropes to death. Time to run with my decision and go forward!  I am going to replace the dark with the lighter rope. Luckily it is only on 2 small sails. The ones in the picture are royals. Doing a lot of one step forward and 2 steps back lately. 🤔
 
Thanks to everyone for their input. 
 
Tom

So I have been playing with sailmaking lately. Finished putting on the bolt ropes and cringles for the sails I plan on hanging (about 18 or so). The lower ones will be furled. Still need to figure that out. 
 
In the mean time... let the reef pointing begin!  I am rough guessing at about 500 plus. This kind of make ratlines down right exciting 😜😁. Here is the spritsail getting started. 

 
And when those are done it will be roband time!  That is probably another 500 ropes!  Then I can start attaching sails to yards and then attach the yards to the masts.  At least that is the plan. 
 
Please note that all plans are subject to change without notice... and usually do!😁
 
Tom
 
 

Houston we have propulsion!  Actually it probably should be London we have propulsion!  I was able to mount my first sail today. It took all afternoon, mostly staring at it figuring out all the intricacies of rigging. This is going to take a while 🤔😮. My goal is to bring the completed model to Modelcon in Philadelphia in August. Should not be a problem but I have learned that I am not the speediest modeler and I can only put a couple hours a day if I am lucky. I would be very hungry if I did this professionally. 😜😁
 
here is my sprit sail. 

 

 
Now I have to try furling a sail as that is my plan for the top sprit sail. 
 
Tom

Got a little farther. In the words of a fellow member, “Taking baby steps”. 😁. Added the stuns’l booms to the main and fore course and top yards. Just need to add the foot rope and then they will be ready to have the sails attached. Of course I still need to make the sails but that’s a minor detail. 😁😁😁
 
When I do get to attaching the yards to the masts I think it would be easiest to start with the bow sprit and work my way back to the mizzenmast. I also think starting with the royals and working my way dow would probably be the easiest since the lower sails will make it more difficult to work around. I’m not sure what the best way to go is right now.  I’m just learning as I go. 
 
In hind sight I probably should have waited to put the backstays on. Now I need to work around them to tie the running rigging off. Oh well next time. 
 

 

Tom

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hi everyone.   I managed to get some time to add a few more sails this past week. I read somewhere, I believe it was in Winfield’s book about 50 gun ships that this boat has over 7 miles of rope. At first I thought “wow”. Now I am beginning to appreciate what 7+ miles of rope really means. I hope the establishment over estimated! 😂😜
 
it is getting pretty tight in some areas getting the lines tied to their respective belaying pins. In hind sight I should have waited to put on the mast backstays. 
 

 
Tom

Making some progress. All the yards and sails on the fore mast are in and rigged except for the braces and the course sheet and tack lines. As I mentioned earlier, those would seem to get in the way as I continue on.  On the fore mast I started with the royal yard and worked my way down. I think this time with the main yards I will put the furled course in before the main top staysail. It was a bit tight rigging up the truss lines on the fore course yard assembly with the jib sail installed.  I am getting better at working with a pair of tweezers in each hand to tie off lines on belaying pins. 
 
I am currently putting up the main top gallant and middle staysails. Then I will furl a sail onto the main course and mount that assembly…. I think. 😜
 
I also need to clean up all the excess lines on the belaying pins on the forecastle and then make rope coils to hang on the pins. 
 
Somebody mentioned a while ago when I finished the hull, decking and fittings that I was 50% the way to the finish line. Boy they weren’t kidding.  With sails and all I am starting to think 50% was generous. 😀. 
 
Here is a pic of where I am now. It’s not the best pic as there is a lot of background clutter and it’s a bit difficult to see the model details but hey, it was 10PM. 😀

 
Hopefully my spring chores have quieted down to a dull roar so I can make some serious progress. 
 
Tom

Have not spent a lot of time actually working on the model the last couple of weeks. Did manage to rig most of the fore topsail and get the fore course sail bent and furled to the yard. Took a couple of shots to get the furl looking somewhat correct but I think it is passable. My original thought and attempt was to “drape” the sail about a third of the way down but I could not get it to look like it was loosely draped. It just looked too stiff. 
 
Now I can mount the fore course yard and continue on to the main mast yards.... after I finish laying the 100 feet of pavers for my front side walk, cut the grass, plant the shrubs and the beat goes on. 😜

 

 
Just looking at the top sail pic, the color or the upper sails look white. They are actually unbleached titanium which is more a hemp color. Next time I will try for a more realistic picture with my phone. 

Tom

Little more progress the past few days. Fore royal and top gallant sails are rigged except the braces. 

 
Also got the fore top sail bent to the yard and put in 170 reef points but who’s counting? 😜😁

 
hopefully this will be mounted in a couple of days. Then I plan to work on the main stay sails then the main royal and top gallant and top sails. I am going to furl the fore and main courses so I am thinking those can be made and installed afterward. At least that is the plan now. 
 
Tom

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

For those who ever have doubts about silk span for sails, your model is a great testament to how well sails can be done, to scale, with that material,
especially compared to the out-of-scale  sails we usually see because they are made of cloth.   It is a shame to see so many otherwise beautifully done models ruined when rigged with cloth sails.  
Allan

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

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

How did I get by up till now without the machine that limbs and cuts to length?  I am sure Jim Byrnes has one the drawing board. 😜😁😂
 
Tom