NMBROOK

I thought I would post some pics as they clearly show the stages involved in the prow ornamentation.I laminated 1.5mm pear sections on to the outside of the upper and lower rails inbetween where the uprights sit.You can see one in the first pic.The top and bottom rails were shaped and tapered leaving stubs where the uprights sit.The uprights were shaped form pears stock to fit over all three rails.The uprights will have the central carving carried out off the model and the rest will be done after fitting.This is to get the correct shape of the wrapround top and bottom.
Kind Regards Nigel

Cheers buddy! Yeah its a fun stage now, when she starts to look like she will when finished. I started adding the stern pieces and galleries a while back, not knowing if it would fit in the end, so its a good feeling to finish them and see that they fit and that I could get the lines I wanted.
 
Just finished the basic shape of the lower galleries. After they are done, I think Ill do the stern sculptures before starting with the beakhead. That way I dnt have to paint to many at once and keeps the energy in the build.
 
You can see the weathering effect on the yellow wales. I made running lines like if she had dust on her and it then rained. I tried to make it subtle.
 
 
/Matti

Thank you very much Matti I wanted to emulate a model I have seen in the National maritime museum.It was a navy board model but with fully planked hull.
I can't recall the name of the ship.I am trying to make a model that looks like it could have been made in the 17th century,but in new condition.
All the carvings were gilded on the sovereign and she was very much a symbol of Charles I ego.The building of the ship ended up costing £65,000 in 1637.
This was very much a catalyst in the English civil war.People who lived in coastal areas used to pay ship tax for the upkeep of the navy,but when the cost of the sovereign spiraled out of control,the tax was imposed on everyone in the country.Charles I had over ruled admiralty advice to build several smaller vessels.The biggest draw for me was the historical significance and the fact it was the first 100 gun ship to be built.When originally built there was an anti-boarding deck covering the first three decks,that I will represent on my model as no one has done it,even Culver got it wrong on his model.However these decks were removed in 1639 in an attempt to reduce topside weight and improve handling.
As regards the Prince Royal of 1610,I have only seen black and white images of the etching so can't really confirm either way but I would doubt the carvings were gilded.
Kind Regards Nigel.

After a little head scratching I have decided on a method of tackling the prow ornamentation.The problem being as that the figurines wrap over the horizontal strakes.Anyway rather than trying to explain this,I shall post pics as work progresses through the steps.A late night and early morning has resulted in the first step complete.I have steamed and fitted pear section.The top and bottom are to be shaped a little later on.
Kind Regards Nigel

Managed a little time on the build today and planked the prow in black boxwood.
Kind Regards Nigel

After a little head scratching I have decided on a method of tackling the prow ornamentation.The problem being as that the figurines wrap over the horizontal strakes.Anyway rather than trying to explain this,I shall post pics as work progresses through the steps.A late night and early morning has resulted in the first step complete.I have steamed and fitted pear section.The top and bottom are to be shaped a little later on.
Kind Regards Nigel

Trouble is, I'm doing the boring stuff now, so nothing really changes that much. (I am not really one for showing every single insignificant stage, trenail by trenail...) I have just finished rigging the lower and upper shrouds (including the shroud cleats), added the footropes to the yards, and the next job is the dreaded ratlines. I think it's pointless taking pics of the yards, as once you've seen one set, you've really seen them all. I guess the next change will be once the yards are fixed in place, which will be in about a week's time. All of the parts are now assembled and in place, so only rigging left to do.
 
As for the paints, I think I have already stated what I used (and why) already in this thread - the Vallejo paints come into their own when painting the dark wood coloured parts, which seem to give a very good scale appearance, rather than simply staining the parts, which tends to accentuate the way over scale wood grain.
 
I have just taken a set of pictures (while it's still nice outside) - this is where I am up to. (still waiting for figurehead, though..)
 

After a little head scratching I have decided on a method of tackling the prow ornamentation.The problem being as that the figurines wrap over the horizontal strakes.Anyway rather than trying to explain this,I shall post pics as work progresses through the steps.A late night and early morning has resulted in the first step complete.I have steamed and fitted pear section.The top and bottom are to be shaped a little later on.
Kind Regards Nigel

Managed a little time on the build today and planked the prow in black boxwood.
Kind Regards Nigel

That looks fantastic Matti   She is starting to look less like a model and more like the real thing every step you take.
Kind Regards Nigel

Thanks Brian!
 
Gettig the stern parts done. There are many lines and curves meating there, so it was some work to get them set up right. You can also see how the red behaves change in different lightning. Very dynamic and vibrant, and I think it will work well with painted sculptures on. I also could glue the Vasa sign and puttys between the windows. That felt rater good as it means Im getting closer to the stage I enjoy most: painting. I also lightly washed the yellow whales and parts to make it look uniform with the rest of the paintjob. That did a lot for realism and sense of scale.  
 
Next step is the lower parts on the galleries.
 
 
/Matti
 
 

WOW Nigel,
 
Carvings are looking great!
 
Anja

Just a small update.I have fitted the thro railing uprights for the last two decks(to be trimmed to height later in the build).I decided to treenail the prow deck.Call me mad as it is 1mm gratings but it just looked too plain compared to the hull.After I had cleaned the filler out of the holes using a 1mm sq piece of boxwood,I discovered some of the filler pigment had coloured some areas in the holes.I quite like this and adds a bit of artificial ageing,good job as I don't fancy remaking the deck.I then made a moulding out of pear sheet for where the deck abuts the bulkhead,using a combination of shaped x-acto blade and my pillar drill set up with a dremel milling cutter.Finally I sprayed the assembly with one coat of Ronseal Mattcoat.
Kind Regards Nigel

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Great Ordnance Survey of 1698: A Facsimile

Introduction by Richard Endsor and Frank Fox

Florence, Oregon: SeaWatchBooks, 2013

8-1/2” x 12”, hardcover, 275 pages. $95.00

ISBN: 9780983753255

 

            At first glance, this volume seems so esoteric as to appeal to a tiny minority of the maritime community. Closer examination, however, quickly dispels that notion; this facsimile potentially appeals to a very wide audience and, given that it is limited to 199 copies, potential readers probably should not postpone a decision to purchase for too long.

 

            What, then, makes a facsimile of an inventory so interesting and useful? First, there is the very useful and concise introduction, which explains the background to the survey, its scope and limitations, and the most effective manner in which researchers can exploit it. Although not explained elsewhere, this is where one finds the index, an essential tool for making good use of the survey itself.

            The survey itself is valuable on multiple fronts. Researchers may use it to validate the armament tables for Royal Navy ships of the period. Archaeologists will find it very useful in identifying specific tubes uncovered on underwater or terrestrial sites, and in determining a part of the history of such identified weapons. They also may find it useful to know such inventory numbers exists at all—more than one researcher has spent years puzzling over numbers engraved into gun barrels that do not seem to correlate to the usual meanings (either casting dates or indications of weight).

 

            Modelers, too, will find this facsimile very useful when constructing projects of the era. The establishment for the galley frigate Charles Galley, for example, indicates its armament as eight 12-pounders, twenty-two 6-pounders, and six 4-pounders. The survey tells us that, in 1698, it actually carried twenty-six 6-pounders and six 3-pounders. Furthermore, the survey also lists the lengths, diameters at the trunnions, and diameters of the trunnions for each gun, opening up the possibility of making very accurate models of each weapon (some of the ship’s 6-pounders were nine feet long, some eight, and some only six and a half!).

 

            All in all, this is a fascinating document. Any researcher, archaeologist, or modeler dealing with late seventeenth- or early eighteenth-century English ships will find it a valuable resource.

 

Paul E. Fontenoy

North Carolina Maritime Museum

 

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