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NMBROOK
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NMBROOK got a reaction from Dimitris71 in Sovereign Of The Seas by NMBROOK - Scale 1/84 - based on the works of Van De Velde the elder
Managed a little time on the build today and planked the prow in black boxwood.
Kind Regards Nigel
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NMBROOK got a reaction from Dimitris71 in Sovereign Of The Seas by NMBROOK - Scale 1/84 - based on the works of Van De Velde the elder
Despite the birthday distractions I have made some progress on the build.After careful study of the V de V engraving it became apparent to me that the prow cheeks are not faceted as depicted on most models,but in my opinion are flat.I came to this conclusion because the vertical carvings run down in a straight line when viewed at an angle.This made life a whole lot easier.I developed the shape to match the engraving but also to match the proportions of my build.I cut the pieces out of 0.8mm ply and made formers to hold the pieces to the correct curve.When it came to planking the cheeks I had originally planned on horizontal planking,however being faced with a 3D structure that I believe must be close to that of the original,it didn't ring true.I realise the planking on Vasa's prow runs inline(nearest thing in existance,thanks Matti for your wonderful pics)but whilst the two look similar,they are quite different.The way I saw it was that you have four very large structural timbers running inline close to one another,then it made sense that the planking infil would join these together.
therefore I chose to plank the inside faces vertically with boxwood.These have been treenailed and epoxied in position.The outside faces should be planked tomorrow with black boxwood.
Kind Regards Nigel
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NMBROOK got a reaction from Dimitris71 in Sovereign Of The Seas by NMBROOK - Scale 1/84 - based on the works of Van De Velde the elder
I have had quite a productive evening.I first fitted the remaining carvings.I then made the caprail out of 1mm pear then fitted it.Finally I applied a coat of varnish.The varnish still has a slight sheen because it is not fully dry.
Kind Regards Nigel
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NMBROOK got a reaction from Dimitris71 in Sovereign Of The Seas by NMBROOK - Scale 1/84 - based on the works of Van De Velde the elder
Just a small update.Work is progressing well on the pediment carvings,but as they are only 6mmx8mm I gave up trying to take a decent picture.I have now fitted the first and the autofocus on the iphone works now the carving is fitted to the hull.I am actually up to 5 out of 6, but because I am putting two coats of varnish and then leaving 24 hours before fitting,it will be a couple of days before they are all fitted.
Kind Regards Nigel
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NMBROOK got a reaction from Dimitris71 in Sovereign Of The Seas by NMBROOK - Scale 1/84 - based on the works of Van De Velde the elder
I first cut six pear blocks to the correct overall size of the pediments.The back face of these was bonded onto the end of some boxwood strip for handling.I set a jig up on the pillar drill(no miller yet)and cut the scallops in the front face.I then set another jig up to cut small slots on the sides to create the top cap.By doing these two operations,it should make it easier to carve them consistantly.I think the pictures are fairly self explanatory.
Kind Regards Nigel
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NMBROOK got a reaction from archjofo in Sovereign Of The Seas by NMBROOK - Scale 1/84 - based on the works of Van De Velde the elder
I have decided to concentrate on detailing the bulkhead before fitting the sides to the prow,simply to make access easier.I include a snipet of the van de velde artwork I am working to.The plan is to start at the bottom and work my way up.The first job is to replicate the frames around the lower charactures.I cut a piece of !mm pear strip and cut out apertures for the carvings.Rather than leave the corners sharp like in the artwork,I decided to put 0.5mmx0.5mm chamfers on with the scalpel.I feel that this looks much better.The next task is to carve the six pediments with the climbing foliage that sit below the figurines.These will fit on the vertical sections between the panel cutouts.
Kind Regards Nigel
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NMBROOK got a reaction from archjofo in Sovereign Of The Seas by NMBROOK - Scale 1/84 - based on the works of Van De Velde the elder
I have fitted the grated deck to the prow with epoxy and a few brass dowels in key positions.
Kind Regards Nigel
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NMBROOK got a reaction from archjofo in Sovereign Of The Seas by NMBROOK - Scale 1/84 - based on the works of Van De Velde the elder
A small update.Both carvings/hawse holes are now sorted.I masked off and varnished the area below where the grated deck sits in preparation for fitting the deck tomorrow night.
Kind Regards Nigel
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NMBROOK got a reaction from archjofo in Sovereign Of The Seas by NMBROOK - Scale 1/84 - based on the works of Van De Velde the elder
The final instalment.The rib detail was added using the scalpel and dental probe.The end detail were shaped using the scalpel.Then finally a dress up of the edges with p320 silicon carbide paper.
Kind Regards Nigel
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NMBROOK got a reaction from archjofo in Sovereign Of The Seas by NMBROOK - Scale 1/84 - based on the works of Van De Velde the elder
Before proceeding any further,the carving was 'parted off'from the end of the strip and a section of stripwood was glued to the back end on so I could clamp the piece in my small proxxon machine vice.I used a dab of thick cyano for the job.
In Pic one is the two burrs I will use for the next step.
Pic two;
I first cleaned up the background of the carving using the burr in the top of pic one.You will notice that the end is flat,cutting edges only on the side.By working round and slowly dabbing the surface keeping the tool square to the face(not so easy as the carving is curved to suit the bow)I was able to reduce to final thickness and achieve a better surface finish.The sounding edges were then thinned using the burr at the bottom of pic1.These edges were lightly dabbed again with the cutter,working along the edge to thin it out
Kind Regards Nigel
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NMBROOK got a reaction from archjofo in Sovereign Of The Seas by NMBROOK - Scale 1/84 - based on the works of Van De Velde the elder
First job today was to further refine the shape of the jaw and shoulder/neck area.This was carried out with the tip of the scalpel.Only removing minimal material has changed the head from 'planet of the apes'to a definate skull.
Kind Regards Nigel
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NMBROOK got a reaction from tarbrush in Sovereign Of The Seas by NMBROOK - Scale 1/84 - based on the works of Van De Velde the elder
As I have a guide now with eye and nasal holes in place,I proceeded to add contour to the skull using a scalpel blade and shaving extremely small chips away,slowly slowly is very much the name of the game.I also added a little shape to the eye sockets and nasal cavity using the tip of a new blade in the scalpel and a pointed dental probe.The spine detail has been added at the bottom with the scalpel.
Kind Regards Nigel
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NMBROOK got a reaction from Dimitris71 in Sovereign Of The Seas by NMBROOK - Scale 1/84 - based on the works of Van De Velde the elder
The next step was to increase the definition around the sides of the skull.I have drilled 0.4mm holes as a start point for the eye sockets and nasal cavity.The crutial point is the nasal cavity is central top to bottom in the skull otherwise the proportions will be incorrect.I have also started chipping away at the hairline and I am introducing some rounding to the head.The next step is the cheekbone area which is the main difference between a skull and a face
Kind Regards Nigel
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NMBROOK got a reaction from Dimitris71 in Sovereign Of The Seas by NMBROOK - Scale 1/84 - based on the works of Van De Velde the elder
Just a pic of the completed carving.I have given it one coat of varnish for protection.It looks much darker than in real life due to lighting.
Kind Regards Nigel
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NMBROOK got a reaction from Aussie048 in Sovereign Of The Seas by NMBROOK - Scale 1/84 - based on the works of Van De Velde the elder
I wanted to concentrate on the remaining work to enable me to fit the prow deck.I first started on the trim that runs from under the figurehead back to the wales at the bow.I started by cutting a wishbone shape out of pear that fitted around the stem.This was then notched to take the gussets at each side.I couldn't make this from one piece as the gussets slope with the wales.The wishbone piece was shaped as the sides taper in both planes.This was fitted and the gussets were shaped and fitted.The next job is the anchor hawse holes and carved surrounds.After looking at the artwork and refering to sephton's book I thought that this supposed angel with outstretched wings has a slight demonic appearance.I first cut a pear strip and shaped it to fit the curve of the bow.I have started the carving work and you will notice I have given the angel a skull for a face.I hope to be able to depict the rib structure on the body.The rest of the carving is mainly in the rough at the moment.
Kind Regards Nigel
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NMBROOK got a reaction from Aussie048 in Sovereign Of The Seas by NMBROOK - Scale 1/84 - based on the works of Van De Velde the elder
I thought I had better post an update before my build ends up on page 200 I decided to have a small break from carving before my eyes met in the middle.I made a start on the prow.The profile was altered and then it was clad in black boxwood sheet.I have included an extension that carries the mast stay and has a carving of cupid astride a lion on it.I then went on to sort the offset bowsprit.I cut a bowsprit out of lime dowel I had to hand(to be replaced with walnut)and designed a way the bowsprit would lock in place without glue.I then replicated a 'bowsprit lock' arrangement i have in one of my reference books.
Kind Regards Nigel
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NMBROOK got a reaction from Aussie048 in Sovereign Of The Seas by NMBROOK - Scale 1/84 - based on the works of Van De Velde the elder
A little bit more carving,I hope to finish this row by tomorrow night.
Kind Regards Nigel
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NMBROOK got a reaction from Aussie048 in Sovereign Of The Seas by NMBROOK - Scale 1/84 - based on the works of Van De Velde the elder
After I had completed the rail,I wanted to fit the one below.However I thought it may be prudent to produce and fit the vertical carvings first.Each one would need to be scribed to the hull individually as the hull is concave but changes as you move along the ship.To this end I have started on the vertical carvings.I have included as much detail as I feel practical at this scale,faithful to the works of VdeV.
Kind Regards Nigel
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NMBROOK got a reaction from JesseLee in Sovereign Of The Seas by NMBROOK - Scale 1/84 - based on the works of Van De Velde the elder
I have now reassembled the stern with my scratchbuilt parts.The lower section is simply a shaped piece of lime.Now that it is redundant,the pattern has been removed completely.I have also removed some of the lower structure to allow the gunports to be fitted below the side galleries.These are missing on the standard build.
Kind Regards Nigel
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NMBROOK reacted to themadchemist in Sovereign Of The Seas by NMBROOK - Scale 1/84 - based on the works of Van De Velde the elder
What an excellent ride the last few day reading through your SotS build. Amazing build for so many reasons. Your striping out of the inner bulkheads makes me think, can you really even still consider this a kit with only small bits of the kit remaining. The work and pictures tell a great story and are very informative also. Thanks for sharing.
I did wonder, what is your source for the black dyed boxwood. Its not Ebony but the ease of use makes it a nice alternative. Thanks also for your help on bending the small ebony planks for my project, I'd nearly given up on that.
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NMBROOK got a reaction from themadchemist in Sovereign Of The Seas by NMBROOK - Scale 1/84 - based on the works of Van De Velde the elder
Thank you very much indeed Michael.As you know yourself,it is the little details that all add up to the complete picture.Some can be monotonous and very boring(faced with drilling a thousand holes using a drill bit and bamboo skewer,but no pun intended),but I don't think any project so far has got me quite so fired up as this one.Sometimes I look at the model and think'is there any point posting some pictures'as despite maybe 50 hours work it doesn't look any different.Then I think 'yes I will' as this is a journey and whilst some days big differences will occur,then weeks of work can go by with little difference immediately apparent.
I visited the NMM a couple of years ago and was a little disappointed having seen so many articles in the past.From what I can gather it has changed alot in recent years and my main motivation for going was to view the models,there was maybe 8 on display in a pokey little sideroom.
Portsmouth historic dockyard was a different matter altogether,Victory,Warrior and particularly Mary Rose left a massive impression.Mary Rose so much so,that my wife has insisted I make a model of her.This will probably be the model that gets a place in the living room.I hope to revisit her now that she is no longer being sprayed with polyethylene glycol and has a new enclosure.
Kind Regards Nigel
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NMBROOK got a reaction from Dimitris71 in Sovereign Of The Seas by NMBROOK - Scale 1/84 - based on the works of Van De Velde the elder
As I mentioned earlier,these next few stages are really slow.I have fitted the deck beam shelves and planked the inside of the hull on the starboard side,including lining the gunports.The framework of the entry port is in place,but this will have the carvings added at a later date,probably when I fit the channels as they sit on the middle channel.I had to reverse engineer the gunports to ascertain the deck levels which involved a great deal of headscratching,but it did 'prove' my gunports were correct.The internal planking has had several coats of poly applied in preparation for treenailing.I am using Dafi's(thank you Dafi) idea for drilling the holes inside.I have glued a drill into the end of a bamboo skewer so I can poke it through the gunports to drill the holes on the opposite internal face.I have given it a try and it works great,but it ain't no Dremel so I may be at it some time
Kind Regards Nigel
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NMBROOK got a reaction from WackoWolf in Santisima Trinidad: Occre vs DeAgostini
I now have up to part 30.The cuts on the bulkheads are rough compared to laser as they are cut with waterjet.However there is nothing that won't be removed by sanding and fairing before fitting the planking.All other timber supplied has been excellent quality so I wouldn't worry.The only issue I had was two broken bulkheads,but I think that has more to do with the postal service than Deagostini.They were easily glued back together so didn't bother with sourcing replacements.The packaging has improved since then so there hopefully won't be any other problems.
Kind Regards Nigel
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NMBROOK got a reaction from WackoWolf in Name the Ship Game
I have sent Joe a PM.I will see what he says.
Kind Regards Nigel
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NMBROOK got a reaction from WackoWolf in Frames vs Bulkheads
A very interesting post Rob,but there are actually five ways to build a hull.For some reason only two of them mainly appear on this forum.The others are solid hull,hollowed solid hull and lastly wooden composite monolith built around a former.The last three are favoured by builders from Eastern Europe and Russia.
On top of these there is cardboard,fibreglass etc.I personally think it is down to the builders preference,but also affected by what details are to be visible i.e. gundecks etc.I know the late Ed Marple used to build his models nearly fully framed,despite being fully planked.This must have just been his 'preferred method'.I do know that his planking had superior support because the framing was so close together compared to normal bulkhead construction.
Kind Regards Nigel
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