NMBROOK

Hello dear friends, 
thank you all for your kindly words and comments. I feel very weak so far but hope I will get well soon. I am continuing to work only very limited now. I modified other parts on the model, that were not entirely based on appearance of the real ship in Vale´s painting. I reduced other upper parts of the hull and added the black strip between wales. More information is also here:
http://modelforum.cz/viewtopic.php?f=177&p=2093870#p2093609

My main priority is the maximal historical plausibility as I have already said, so if I detect an inconsistency, or if someone alerts me, I'm trying to fix it. Of course, I cannot fix everything, but if it is at least possible, then I do it.
 
For example now I have to find out whether the decoration between the gunports was sculpturesque/plastic and gilded or was only painted? 
 
Some examples of similar ships from that period with painted decoration:
 

http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/66333.html
http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/65967.html
 
 
Here I am not quite sure but I think it's more like a painting:


According to the original pictures from that period and museum models, it seems to me rather painted. I have to admit, that the gilded plastic/sculptural decoration along the whole length of the hull would appeal to me more.
But I am gonna decide on what is historically more accurate.
 
Please, if you have more accurate information, it would help me a lot if you share them here. I will be very grateful.
 
 
BTW: The model is very heavy, even if it is made of card.
 
 
Best regards and enjoy the pics.

Hello dear friends,
thank you very much for your support and likes.
It is sometimes quite adventurous, but as we say: There is no victory without a battle.
 
 
Oh yes, I am gonna construct the upper part of the QG in the same way, but the shape is much more complicated. I can ask my husband to help me with an instructional video. I believe it can be very interesting and useful. I would like to do it as soon as possible, but I fell ill a few days ago and my condition is getting worse with every day. So please be patient.
 
Many parts of the model will be modificated to achieve better a more realistic appearance. I do not have exact plans of Royal Katherine, so I must "play it by ear".
 
Here are some newest pics - the hull after complete cutting down and some colour modifications in the central area of the model created according the museum models from this period - for example Saint Michael 1669.
 
 
Best regards

Hubac'sHistorian: No problem, you are welcome. I am glad I can help.
 
I have made another important change on the model to move it closer to greater historical accuracy.
 
The hull on Vale´s painting and also on other English ships from this period is not so tall, so i decided to reduce its height to the appropriate level. I'm gonna continue on port today an prepare other improvements.
Plenty of interesting and useful information is available in my main building log on the Czech forum, where you can also find expert advice and valuable information about real ships from the top expert Kpt.KL., who is my excellent advisor during creation of the Royal Katherine.
 
http://modelforum.cz/viewtopic.php?f=177&t=110763&start=270
 
Here are some current pics of the model with finished quarter gallery on  starboard and reduced upper part of the hull close to aft:
 
 

Dear friends, I am pleased, you like my work on Royal Katherine. Thank you very much for your favour and feedback.
I have almost finished the second quarter gallery and took some pics from process. It would be better to shoot a video for a clarity, how I shape the card usind steam and suitable tools. Steam helps shaping cause the card is more flexible.
At the beginning, I prepare templates from soft paper.Then I redraw them onto a high quality black card coated with a foil with wooden imitation. After shaping I place them onto the right place using tweezers and during drying improve details.
I am going to make further changes onto the upper parts of the hull that will help to achieve much more realistic look.
 
Have a great time.
 
 

Thank you for your comments and feedback, dear friends. 
Well, there are wooden logs of 1 mm diameter glued together on horizontal line and thin strips cut out of self-adhesive foil on vertical line. These strips are only a background for gilded caryatides, soon I will create them from modelling clay.
 
Dear Nils, You are right. I would like to achieve both - the best result in terms of craftsmanship and also the most realistic version of the Royal Katherine. I create and build this model as best I can do to make the result worth it. I admire the art of ship building of our ancestors, it is a great motivation and challenge for me.
 
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I have adjusted the height of the windows to achieve better result. I have imitated this according to other ship models and painting from this period and also according to the Vale´s painting:
http://modelforum.cz/viewtopic.php?f=177&t=110763&p=2092095#p2091987
 
 

Hello dear friends, 
thank you very much for your comments and "likes". I am glad, you like my work.
That's true, I consider the Royal Katherine to be one of the most demanding models I've ever built.... But also is one of the most beautiful.
 
I have made some important changes and improvements of the quarter galleries based on the Captain´s K.L. recommendations and now I am working on the surface finish.
 
Here is the main log where I present my work, you can find there plenty of interesting information and pics as well.
 
http://modelforum.cz/viewtopic.php?f=177&t=110763&start=255#p2091317
 
 
I'm still considering to adapt the position and height of the windows. In H.Vale´s painting there are some differences between side and aft view and the windows in Quarter Gallery seems to be higher. Well, I may adapt them to achieve nicer and maybe also more realistic performance of the model.

Thank you very much, dear friends, I am really honored reading your words. I do appreciate it a lot.
Today I have started making quarter galleries. I have to admit it was quite difficult and it was necessary to adapt some details on the hull and aft to achieve acceptable result. I create the construction mainly according to historical models of Saint Michael and HMS Prince.
http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/65963.html
http://www.modelships.de/HMS_Prince_I/dockyard_model_HMS_Prince.htm
I am very grateful for a professional help to a top expert from our country -  Captain K.L. who helps me with the realistic creating of models.
 
Here are some current pics:
 

To Druxey: Oh yes, I use individually laid strips on all places with planking for many years. I like this clean work with self-adhesive foils that imitate wooden grain. 

Today I finished the last deck and now I am working on quarter galerries. It is really difficult task, but I believe in a nice result. In the pics bellow I tried to imitate the possible view of quarter gallery I would like to achieve.

Dear friends, 
I am pleased you like my work on RK. 
To achieve the satin tan color of the planking I use Tamiya acrylic colours - matt shades of brown, white and black.... strongly thinned by original acrylic thinner and paint retarder (both Tamiya). I apply a very thin layer of color and after drying I overspray the surface using flat clear varnish TS-80 also from Tamiya.
 
Now I am finishing with decks planking:

Other pics of current status:
 
The model will have illumination, so there is already installed cables for for powering LED diodes.
 
Best regards 
Doris

Hello dear friends,
I am spending plenty of time studying literature and browsing historical ship models and paintings to achieve more realistic result in my work. I also made several plastic kits to relax and enjoyed something easier. For example Yacht Atlantic, Yacht Corsair ii (ITC models), CSS Alabama, USS America, Constitution, Napoleon and others...). You can look through them here:
 
http://modelforum.cz/viewtopic.php?f=177&t=114818
http://modelforum.cz/viewtopic.php?f=177&t=109487
http://modelforum.cz/viewtopic.php?f=177&t=118521
 
 
Now I continue with the upper deck and details below. Soon I will start creating first decorations and I am looking for relevant information based on original design.
I have for example this book, but it is in Swedish language.
https://www.archaeology.su.se/english/about-us/news/new-book-by-niklas-eriksson-riksäpplet-arkeologiska-perspektiv-på-ett-bortglömt-regalskepp-1.348854
It is a problem to understand the text, unfortunately I can't find this book in English. Please, could you help me? Don´t you have this book in English language? [Admin Edit: Pls do not ask for pdf versions of commercial books!] I will be very gratefull.

And here it is modified black strip on wales:
 

Hello dear friends,
I did not continue on the model during the summer, but now the conditions are better and more free time, so I am here again with new pics.
Thank you very much for your compliments and kind words, this is really honour for me and your advices and ideas are much appreciated. 
 
There were added some details/moldings on the hull and I also decided to change colour on wales to achieve more realistic result - I proceeded according to the original painting. The black stripe is now situated about 1cm lower.
 
 
 
Best regards

Current look - after painting and weathering:
 

Dear friends, 
thank you very much for all your comments and praise. I appreciate your attention and support. That is a great honour for me. 

Now I have a lot of duties and work around the house and I also spend much time on cars´ care/detailing, but I try to continue with RK whenever possible.
 
How I achieve these accurate and clean results with card and foil planking.....  I use ordinary but very sharp scalpel from Tamiya manufacturer and long ruler to cut foil strips. I do not need any special tools. The strips are cut on a hard cardboard pad. In the same way, I cut cardboard tapes and other parts, but I have to repeat cutting more times because the material is thicker - sometimes up to 2mm. These cut strips are always straight. I shape and bow them during sticking to the model using hot air for attaching foils while I stretch them slightly. For bending the cardboard into the curve I use hot steam. I always attach the strips slightly tightened.
 
The "wooden" planking is ready and improved with Tamiya colours (thinned with original thinner and retarder - it is easier to apply on the surface then) to achieve more realistic appearance.
Before painting:
 
 

During the weekend I made wooden finish of the hull using foil stripes. Later, it will be modificated with darker colours and of course I will create treenails and pins in wooden planks as well.
 

Thank you very much, dear Piet. I appreciate your words a lot. 
The ship is already placed on the pedestal and the gun ports are framed, so now I can begin to cover the surface using "wooden" planks - of course made of foil strips.
 
My feathered assistant almost fell asleep so I stayed alone on my job again ...

For me no, I make models of card and paper almost 35 years. It is much easier to use card  for me - I do not need any special tools, have reliable and verified technologies which allow me to achieve expected results and the durability of such models is without changes for over many years - I can say, it is comparable to wooden models.

The treenails and bolts are imitated using soft graphite and in the end oversprayed by matt clear varnish. BTW, soon there will be finished the podestal and the ship will be placed on it.
Best regards,
Doris

The girdling is probably unknown technology in ship modeling, but the relevant records prove that it was necessary to perform on some ships, whose hull had excessive draft and lower gunports were just above water. The girdling helped to improve the displacement. Of course, it was an unnatural interference into the original construction.
My target is to make the model as accurate as possible based on historical accuracy, and according to records Royal Katherine was girdled soon after launching.

And here I am starting with the surface finishing..... Again with foil stripes, that I attach using hot air/hair dryer....
 
 

On the recommendation of the Captain K.L., who is an excellent expert in the field of  shipbuiliding and the history, I have decided to add another layer of planking = the girdling.  Some information about this technology, that was used on real ships in 17th century,  you can find in the book by Brian Lavery: The Arming and Fitting of English Ships of War 1600-1815; pages 57, 60. 
More information are also in the Czech forum, but you need to use translator.
http://modelforum.cz/viewtopic.php?f=177&t=110763&start=105#p2001324
http://modelforum.cz/viewtopic.php?f=177&t=110763&start=105#p2001751
 
 

Wooden-look planking on underwater part of the hull.

Dear friends, thank you very much for your comments.  It is a pleasure and honour for me, that you like my work.
Here is the hull oversprayed with acrylic paints and body spray + primer used for cars. After grinding I will start to change it into a wooden look using strips of various  types od foils. I have already written many details about this technology, so if you are interest in that, please refer at my building log Royal Caroline.

It takes me sometimes more than 2-3 years, than the model is finished. There is no problem with these card models, I use high quality and efficient impregnation, so the models are similarly durable as wooden. At home i have more than 20 years old card models and they still look like new.
 
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Here you can see the finished second layer of planking, made of cardboard as well.I use various thickness of this material - from 0,5mm to 2mm.