NMBROOK

Thanks guys that was fast, the power of Model Ship World! I googled "Billings Boats Santa Maria" and after poking around and sipping coffee, I found this UK site with a set of plans on sale   :http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/billing-boats-santa-maria-plans-513208631
The graphic matches exactly the photos of the plans I was sent. You guys are right, this is clearly a Billings Boat model kit.
Some back story on this project: I was put in touch with a man who's ship model building father had passed away and who was looking to have this uncompleted Santa Maria model finished. I was sent about eight photos of the model about 70% complete. The model had sat around for many years, as these old uncompleted models do, getting dusty, and it is time to finish the model!

Pretty confident this is the long discontinued Billings kit 
 
Kind Regards
 
Nigel

I have framed the doors in Ebony using a machined angle profile.They have been given a coat of poly.I am varnishing as I go as,if nothing else,it protects the boxwood from Ebony dust which can mark the boxwood and requires sanding to remove.
 
I have fitted four of the gallows?brackets under the balcony.There are two more still to fit at the transom sides.These will be shaped later as it is much easier to make sure the compound shapes line through.
 
The rear of the doors have been shaped where they fit to the existing planking.These have been epoxied into position.The upper section will be faired later before the planking continues upwards.
 
There is a dubious sheen to the matt poly at the moment.A later coat sprayed on will kill this and produce an even finish
 
Kind Regards
 
Nigel

As I am organised for a change,I can provide pics of the box contents including one of the rather substantial exemplary drawings.The only thing not pictured is the false keel,one sheet of laser cut ply,a few assorted laser cut items and some blocks of wood.There is not massive amounts of laser cut plywood parts like other manufacturers,it is down to the builder to fashion parts from solid wood
Kind Regards Nigel

Hello All,
Let me inform you about new service from Dusek Ship Kits-INSTALMENT SALE!
 
Use discount code: INSTALMENT
 
Pay now only 50% of the list price and then pay instalments 10EUR each month until full price will be repaid.
 
For example if you will buy Kit with list price 129EUR you will pay 64.5EUR+shipping costs now and the rest 65.5EUR in 7 following months (6x10EUR and 1x5.5EUR)
 
You will be notifying about instalment pay on beginning of the each month by e-mail.
 
This service is valid only for Dusek Ship Kits products. This service is not available for goods in sale and products of other manufacturers.
 
Best regards
Daniel Dusek

After doing the stern, it was almost a relief to get back to planking the lower hull. I've now done the lower segment on the starboard side through the rough sanding. I started with the garboard strake and then worked from top and bottom until the area was filled in. The final strake required some shaping and fitting, but generally the work went fairly smoothly.
 
Before moving on to the port side, I will drill and fill for the treenails on this side ( there are well over a thousand holes to be done on each side and I want to break up that task).
 
Bob

Well, I've done the square tuck stern and it was as troublesome as I feared it would be. Definitely the hardest part of the work to date. I went through a good part of a sheet of 1/8" boxwood to make the framing (my trash can was delighted with all of the treats it received  ), but I finally said "enough". The result is "OK", but not great. The planking was tricky, but easier.
 
Once I was at it, I decided to go ahead and complete the area by tree nailing and putting on a coat of Wipe-on Poly. I then added the stern post, because I prefer to do the lower planking with it in place. Lastly, I added the molding at the bottom of the counter above the tuck framing.
 
All in all, I'm just glad to be back at the lower planking.
 
Bob

Couldn't resist to take a few atmospheric shots with the LEDs on. Just for fun.
I still have a ton of details to finish up around the hull, so from here on its work, no fun :-) 
 

 

 

Hi Mates,
 
As a continuation of my (one last time) venting (;-) This is what we Wasa builders are dealing with regarding rigging/block sheet inconsistencies.
 
Pic 1- Corel plan sheet (no sails, just mostly standing rigging)
Pic 2- Vasa museum plan sheet with sails
Pic 3- Billings plan sheet with sails
Pic 4- Billings with sails from building instructions (downloaded this online from      the Billings website
 
And Mark just posted that his Mantua rigging instructions were weak as well.
 
“Hat off” to Karl and Frank, who struggled through to also, add their beautifully detailed sails.
 
So it’s a “crap shoot” with this part of the kit’s accurate detailing.
 
---------------------------
Pics 5 & 6
 
Oh, and then sometime back, I got a post from Fred Hocker. Loved the compliment of course!
But backtracking it still is. I have not built the kevels as of yet. And this was in regards to rigging no less.
 
Michael,
The guns look very good, especially the hardware on the carriages, right on the money. If you are removing things, you could also remove the pinrail above the gun in the last picture and replace it with a big cleat for the mainsheet. We have this feature wrong on the ship in the museum - our bad!

Fred
 
 
So removed the pinrails but they left some glue scars
 
OK  onwards
 
Michael

Hi Mates,
 
Small update, but time consuming, as I was also working on the mast blocks;
 
with the platform and the mast I thought it best to pre-rig some of the blocks, as well as the deadeyes before mounting. This (rigging) is new territory for me, so I hope that it makes sense later. I did not feel comfortable assembling the platform without the rigging. Also referring to three dif. plan sets had its issues, and settled on what you see here (mostly from Vasa Museum and Billings). Pics are self-explanatory so keeping it brief.
 
Onto the flag mast, cap, and framing structure. Again thanks everyone for dropping by.
 
Cheers,
 
Michael

Second Planking phase 1:
 
Finished building up the stern post area with limewood strip to approximately where it needs to be.  Once I'm confident that the stern area will work, on will go the lower counter which will allow me to put the wales on.  I'm hoping to complete the wales first and then use this dictate the flow of the visible planking rather than install over the second planking.
 
The sternpost was marked off as best estimate of the end state thickness and used to guide planking.  I'm trying for a smooth run on the limewood, but then will be building up the second planking in 0.5mm increments to then sand this back as appropriate.
 
I'm using PVA glue for the second planking, its slower but I just don't like using CA glue.  There are also a couple of areas where the first planking is perilously thin so any additional strength will likely be beneficial.  Not going to invest any more time than necessity requires here - all of this will be covered by copper plates.
 
Limewood glued on but not sanded back.  This was a little demoralizing as essentially a lot of this was replacing a lot of the material removed from the keel former for the rabbet and bearding.  For anyone taking a similar approach keep this in mind right at the beginning of the build.

 
Limewood sanded to shape and second planking going on...

 
Additional 0.5mm thick strips added where needed for thickness...

 
Pre-finished 'step' look that will eventually be sanded smooth as required before the sternpost itself is shaped.

And some results....
 
Quick report back on the 'double rabbet' approach taken at the beginning of the build, seems to have worked just fine.

 
1.5mm boxwood sheet cut to the profile of the sternpost, laminated to both sides and then tapered following the rudder profile. Rabbet where planking terminated at the sternpost seems to have turned out OK and I think the extra work will make the second planking in this tricky area go more smoothly....fingers crossed.  I also cut away quite a bit of the keel former above the rudder to ensure I'll be able to attach rudder at late stage when pintles are in place.


 
Sternview with rudder in place,  lower counter template not yet glued.  Question:  Do the proportions look about right?  All is in line with diagrams in the AOTS, but things look different in actuality.  Its easy enough for me to adjust now so please let me know your thoughts

Thank you Mr Pett The break is only a temporary one.Far too much going on in my personal life at the minute to devote the time to get back into the build.
When things settle down,I have every intention of putting all my other projects on hold to move this one forward.
I wish you well with your build,it certainly looks like you have done some great work so far.
 
Kind Regards
 
Nigel

Thank you very much indeed everybody for your very kind words  
In answer to your question Kevin.I am looking back and thinking how I could of progressed differently.The problem with this being a partwork is there are no drawings and the model being supplied is vastly different from the model advertised.This did start out with the intention of being a near stock build but as the part work progressed and looking at the Italian forum(which is about 6 months infront)the difference with what we are building to what was advertised was becoming obvious.At this point I had a fully planked hull which due to sourcing my own more expensive timber stood me at quite a lot of money.
So then the 'modification ball' started rolling and I found that all the supplied ornamentation was going to be inaccurate.Inspired by Bill Short's log which I used to follow before the 'crash' and becoming a member,I decided to take the step of 'having a go'at producing my own carvings.
What started out as a stock build had now turned in to probably 3-4000 hours work.Thinking on this made me think that 'dummy'canons didn't quite come up to par with the rest of the build.Helped in no small part by Chris Watton's amazing victory prototype.I think though the biggest discovery was Arthur Molle's amazing model of the Sovereign.I looked at that and thought 'I have to do that'.I include a picture of Molle's model that I am going to try and replicate to some extent for the deck structures,I am not planing on sawing the model in half though    
Back to the question of would I have done things different?Yes I would have bought Sergal's plans and worked from there,full scratchbuild.
Kind Regards Nigel

Good to see you back Dimitris!!
 
Kind Regards
 
Nigel

Thank you Mr Pett The break is only a temporary one.Far too much going on in my personal life at the minute to devote the time to get back into the build.
When things settle down,I have every intention of putting all my other projects on hold to move this one forward.
I wish you well with your build,it certainly looks like you have done some great work so far.
 
Kind Regards
 
Nigel

Hello again... I do thank you all for your warm  welcome back and for your nice words mates!!!! Patrick the hull of the Amerigo is 76,5 cm long.Sorry for the late reply...
 
Cheers
Dimitris

Good to see you back Dimitris!!
 
Kind Regards
 
Nigel

Just a heads up to say,I have done a walkthrough of the box contents of the Nuestra Senora and my opinion here
 
http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/11432-nuestra-senora-de-la-conception-y-de-las-animas-by-nigel-brook-172-dusek-ship-kits/
 
Kind Regards
 
Nigel

Well my Nuestra Senora has landed a mere six days after Daniel dispatched it !!!!!!!!!!.Firstly I would like to mention how well packaged the kit was.The kit box was packed inside a larger box and surrounded by those clear plastic 'pillows' that are full of air.The kit box was completely unmarked from it's little 'trip'.
 
My first reaction was just how heavy the box is for it's size and upon opening it is full to the brim!!I have taken a couple of pics,but as yet haven't the time to start examining the contents,unfortunately I have just got up and have to set off shortly for a twelve hour nightshift However looking inside,although I am not a big fan of walnut,the wood in the box has to be the best I have seen in thirty years of building wooden models.
 
I am now deciding as to whether to do a 'review' or start a log and show all the information as to the contents there.Everything both modelling wise and non essential domestic items is currently being packed up in anticipation of our house move,but I cannot see it being too long after settling in that I start making saw dust.
 
Kind Regards
 
Nigel 

Good to see you back Dimitris!!
 
Kind Regards
 
Nigel

Hello dear colleagues and friends.
Many thank you for the appreciation of my work. However, I want to express my gratitude to the master who made showcase and lighting for the ship. His name is Denis.

Wow,the display is as stunning as the model!!
 
Kind Regards
 
Nigel

Wow,the display is as stunning as the model!!
 
Kind Regards
 
Nigel

Wow,the display is as stunning as the model!!
 
Kind Regards
 
Nigel