bdgiantman2

Hello Allan, this build is in 1:48 scale. The same scale that Gene Bodnar built his demo model with the detailed blog.

Brian

Thank you so much gentlemen for your input,  much appreciated. I went ahead and purchased two anchors that actually measure 2-7/8 inches long. Looking forward to checking these out when they arrive in a week.

Hello everyone. I am looking for suggestions beyond what I know. So I am in the beginning phases of building the brig Eagle of 1814 and have been researching and accumulating parts for later steps. One of these items has been the ships anchors. Reading the documentary by Gene Bodnar, he suggests using anchors that are two and five-eights inches in length for the model. Blue Jacket makes such a size of anchor, but for a ship the size of Eagle, plus the fact that she operated in shallow water compared to the ocean like larger ships, I feel that an anchor of that suggested size is too big and measurements show these would interfere a lot with cannon operations. I would think that the one and a half inch anchor offered by Blue Jacket to be a better size? Does anyone here know more about proper anchor size for a ship like Eagle?

Thank you so much in advance, I look forward to any input.

Brian

After being delayed for several months with ongoing weather and work issues as well as other things, I finally surrendered to chance and started on the next step on the keel.  First, I set up my Dremel at a locked position after proper height alignment on its shaft. That's when the first problem came. One location I attempted to hollow up purely visual, which worked about half decent but not as straight as I had desired. So I then got a modeling hand saw blade and have made groves in the wood so wouldn't go so crooked again. This helped me some. And then a second issue came about. If you look closely in the enclosed photo you can see some splintering in the areas being kept raised for between the frames.  Also I have been dealing with a lot of wood fuzz similar to that from basswood but I am using the Alaska Yellow Cedar that I purchased from Chuck Passaro. I have no clue if this is supposed to be expected, even after going through more of the Winnie blogs on here. If more pictures are needed, I am happy to provide additional ones.

Brian Davies

Well, sonuvagun, I am seeing a ship! She's looking good, sir. Great progress and thank you for sharing your progress. I am enjoying this build.

Brian

Mr. Van Dahm, I have two questions for you concerning the upcoming NRG convention at the Channel Island Maritime Museum or other decided location. Does the Guild get to secure certain hotels and/or rates to those attending the conferences? Also, with this event being in California, do you know if attendees are going to be required to have received COVID vaccinations prior to attending? I am looking at being at the convention this year and my father coming along as well.

Mr. Passaro, I am looking forward to your demonstration of how to properly rig the ships cannons. A while back I found this picture of one of the cannons from onboard the HMS Victory, but can't find the person to give credits to. The part that is circled in blue, would this have been common practice from the early 1800s? While I like how this gives the gun areas a cleaner look, I admit that I don't know much else.

Brian

I attended the 2016 NRG conference in San Diego, the first one I have been to. The current proposed location looks good to me, and many alternative ideas floated above. Very surprised that I didn't see Erie as an idea, even though I think that is in Penn instead of Ohio? Probably already did at least one there anyways. I currently am living in Denver and I think this will make a great location although there aren't major bodies of water nearby.

Hello Dragonflyxlii, thanks for the kind words and sharing your pictures. Your model is a beauty. Haven't seen a blog by you about this build though, I would love to be following it.

31 minutes ago, shipphotographer.com said:

Do you have Kevin's book?
This brig is also in my list to build - I will wait for your progress!

 

Thank you for the reply to my blog. I have read at least parts of that book by Dr. Kevin Crisman, found a copy of it through my local library. Through e-mail correspondence with Dr. Crisman, he has shared with me an updated article in a later publication. I will have to visit the video link you have shared at a later time as I will soon leave for work.

I have never seen a ship model kit like this one. Like the looks of your progress so far. Keep up the progress.

Brian

So here is first progress on the build.

During the holiday season, Santa brought a new toy for my workshop. It's a mini table-saw with 4 in diameter blades from Model Expo. This table saw wouldn't be as good as some of the rest of you have, but with my budget right now this is the best I can afford.

Started to copy the individual pieces that make up the keel of Brig Eagle.  There are three section pieces not including the bow and stern timbers for the keel of this model. I quickly re-learned how helpful it is to have a good source of back light while trying to trace the individual shapes as well as making sure the paper I will be using to trace the shapes onto is large enough to fit the whole piece onto the new paper.  To attempt making things easier for myself (a lesson I learned in the mistakes from Yacht Mary), I will be intentionally making both the main keel as well as the keelson 1/16 inch thicker than mentioned on the plans provided by Gene Bodnar.  This will be the same as the notches in the keel timbers found in the plans through Bernard Frolich.

Also the other week I received an order I had placed through Blue Jacket for the various cannons for this ship model. Eagle had 8 long cannons of 12 lb balls and 12 carronades capable of lobbing 32 lb balls. The guns need to be cleaned up a bit and maybe hollowed out at least a little bit.  Research done states that will be needing very sharp drill bits and going at slow speeds.  At a later date will be making own carriages for the different guns out of wood. I know that Chuck provides very accurate models of the carriages on his site. Will need to purchase the blackening formula Blue Jacket provide at a later date.

So I have shelved for the time being my Yacht Mary build, there are a lot of areas I am needing to learn better and sought out new builds to gain experience.

***DRUM ROLL***

To gain the experience desired, I have decided to build the Brig Eagle from the 1814 war on Lake Champlain against the British. The history of Eagle seems pretty well known, as there are several other blogs on here building this beautiful ship. The Eagle had a short known life and historical significance, but she played a great role in defeating the British for the last time against the Americans. This model is a scratch-build, and I am planning to involve Chuck's model of the Long Boat kit as well.

This model project is being built at 1:48 scale.

I will be using Yellow Alaskan Cedar for this build. Got some wood from Chuck Passaro and additional wood from a lumber specialist locally. 

Many thanks to  Mr. Chuck Passaro, ChadB, Bill Edgin, Dr. Kevin Crisman, and Gene Bodnar

Interesting project you are undertaking. Being from San Diego has extra meaning to me.  Looking over the pictures you have provided, I am amazed at how similar in profile this vessel looks to the nuclear cargo ship Savannah, except that your ship has twin funnels and probably has diesel power.

Brian

Mr. Passaro, this ship model is looking great, love all the details you are working in. Even though I think I saw you have a kit already, I found out that you can get a very realistic 1:48 scale Brodie Stove close to right time era that is made on a 3d printer.  https://www.shapeways.com/product/BT9SFSJNH/ships-stove-1-4-22-scale?optionId=63358126&li=marketplace

Brian D

Incredible model, this ship is a beautiful vessel. Another museum quality project you have built. Looking at the plan pictures that you provided, I find it interesting that there is no post with cradles between the forward mast bitts and those hatches in the deck that would have helped support the polls that held up the lifeboat. Perhaps those cradles are built on the forecastle deck instead.

Personally I would have though that the coaming pieces would have been painted red not only because these often had additional cannon balls stored around them but also to make easier to see in the dark than ones painted black.  Maybe I am getting mixed up with later times than the Winnie. Glad to see the deck finally coming in on this model. Great progress by all, this has been a favorite blog to read each week.

Brian

This has been an interesting recycling experiment with the old piano keys being used in your model. So far looking very good. Keep up the great work.

Brian

You, sir, are an amazing model builder. I admire this ship and your work is top quality. Great job building the sheet bitts for the lifeboat in front of the main mast. Your models seem to always have a life of their own the way can see into the interiors and all the details that you put in. This has been the best I have seen so far of your blogs. Keep it up.

Brian

Hey Chuck and all the other builders of this model, all of you are doing an amazing job - I have enjoyed following this forum.

I don't know if I am missing something in looking at the pictures and reading the posts.  If I remember correctly, the wale lines of the ship stuck out farthest (thickest part of the entire hull). I can't tell from the many pictures looked at on this forum, it honestly looks like all planks are the same thickness and some painted or stained black. 

Brian

Merry Christmas to you as well, even though I just follow in admiration of what you are doing. Looking at other models of British warships around the same era, I have noticed many have that railing over the q-galleries painted white, and the  hull plating around the railing that same color as the stripe passing through the gun ports. Will you be doing that on your model?

Brian

I have my kit of this little boat, and I am looking forward to starting construction. However, because of my work schedule, at this time I will not be able to start the construction until after Christmas.

Brian

Hello Toni. Sorry to hear you are having computer issues, those can be super frustrating.  A few weeks ago I got my kit in the mail, I am excited to be starting soon while following your blog.  At the beginning of the blog I think you mentioned briefly about options for openings for the gun ports.  I am interested in seeing more about this, as some of the support pieces the kit provides you were placing right in the middle of the ports.

Brian

I am also interested in this practice kit. When I went to the NRG home page, as Kurt suggested, I couldn't find the link to place order for this model.

Brian D

On 7/21/2019 at 9:26 PM, mtaylor said:

Just incredible what they did without power towels, isn't it?  

If I remember correctly from the original thesis by Dr. Crisman, they did have saws "powered" by waterfalls or similar way by river currents. Now not the same as our modern power equipment, but I know what you mean. In another book I have about ships from the same time period, another popular device used is rough rock blocks dubbed "Holy Stones" because the same size as average Bible from that time for sanding decks and hull.