bdgiantman2

Hey Jorge, long time no see nor hear. I hope that progress has continued on this beautiful model as I have enjoyed following your construction.  Health and prosperity to you and family (and the kitties)

Hello shipmates! 
 
So, after all this time, i almost completed the project. The model itself is ready. Just a little more work on the wooden case and its done.
All riging, standing and running, its done, it's been a logn trip, a hard one, because i had to research a lot, thank you @Tim Holt for the help you gave me in this area. And to all the rest of the crew for the comments and likes.
 
So, here are the pictures. I hope you like them. You will find, as usual, lots of mistakes, and things that could be better done. So keeping that in mind, i hope you enjoy them.
 

See you next time!!
 
Greetings.
 
Giorgio

Making a dust cover
Since the last post, very little has happened in my model building yard.
If you are not working on the model, you don't have it in view all the time, so to speak, and therefore the first dust build-up cannot be counteracted, then it is advisable to place it under a protective cover.
Since I will certainly be busy equipping the yards for some time, I have been thinking about protecting the model against dust for some time.
A display case would be too impractical because you have to work on the model from time to time. In this respect, I thought about building a cheap dust cover that makes it possible to open the front in order to be able to remove the model or work on it.
The frame was made with 20/20 mm spruce strips and metal angles and was covered with Molton fabric on the back. This ensures a neutral background and, if necessary, possible detailed shots. The remaining areas were covered with a crystal-clear PVC film. The front can be braced downwards using a longitudinal strip or rolled up at the top.


 
     
Hopefully soon I will be able to pick up where I left off almost 2 months ago.
So until then…

Gonna have to invite myself over to your place for breakfast after a teaser like that, even if the cholesterol levels are off the charts!!  😋 🤣  
 
Seriously, your Niagara rigging is looking great, you are really coming along on her. No progress at all for me with my model ship, in fact I'm going backwards. 

If by "shaded" you mean colored and looking older, I have heard of modelers using tea or coffee to color the fabric. I  think it was short submerges and let dry until you get a color desired.
 
Brian D

If by "shaded" you mean colored and looking older, I have heard of modelers using tea or coffee to color the fabric. I  think it was short submerges and let dry until you get a color desired.
 
Brian D

If by "shaded" you mean colored and looking older, I have heard of modelers using tea or coffee to color the fabric. I  think it was short submerges and let dry until you get a color desired.
 
Brian D

I am not sure yet.  I may actually just skip the POB all together and if I only sell a handful of Speedwell POF kits then so be it.  And then move onto the smaller subjects I started.  It is what it is.
 
I am still mulling it over.  Its a big decision.  But so far there are about 9 pof kits reserved.  I will just keep a couple on the shelf after making those first 9 and see where it goes.
 
I decided not to put a number on how many POF kits I will eventually make.  I will just keep one or two on the shelf and if they ever sell thats fine.  If they do sell I will just make one or two more.
 
Some other smaller prototypes in progress below.  Hudson River Sloop and Block Island Fishing Boat.
 
chuck
 

 

I have to admit that I don't have the books from SeaWall to know better, but I am curious if you and especially Chuck will be doing any interior on this model. Progress is looking great, Mike. You are a very skilled model maker and this has been a great treasure to follow. Kuddos
 
Brian D 

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

I have to admit that I don't have the books from SeaWall to know better, but I am curious if you and especially Chuck will be doing any interior on this model. Progress is looking great, Mike. You are a very skilled model maker and this has been a great treasure to follow. Kuddos
 
Brian D 

Gonna have to invite myself over to your place for breakfast after a teaser like that, even if the cholesterol levels are off the charts!!  😋 🤣  
 
Seriously, your Niagara rigging is looking great, you are really coming along on her. No progress at all for me with my model ship, in fact I'm going backwards. 

You will probably be thinking that I have given up on this model. Far from it, but it is taking an unconscionably long time. It is, of course, the small size that’s much of the problem, and I have had to make several efforts at some elements. I may yet have another go at the wheel, which was fiendish. Wire rims might look better, if I can do it. First time round for the quarterdeck guns they looked too large, and were difficult to make as the wood tended to split. So I went for card in the end. The breeching ropes are still to be fitted. Do I put more tackles in? Probably not. The skylight has taken a couple of goes, and is still unfinished, with no glazing so far. Anyway, the ship is slowly, slowly getting there, and will be done in time for the village show next year (last year’s model got best in class, not surprisingly as there was  only the one entrant, and also got best in show for handicrafts).  Can I ask if anyone has advice on a future problem? Most of the plans of this class of ship don’t show any rails on the poop deck, though that for Indefatigable (https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-81744) has substantial ones, similar to the modern model of Agamemnon at https://julianstockwin.com/2017/10/10/agamemnon-the-darch-model/ . There is a simple block model of Indefatigable in the National Maritime Museum (https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-66510 ) which looks as if it has a very low railing unlike any other I have seen. There’s also the possible alternative of a wire railing, similar to that which Longridge employed for his model of Victory, though that would not be easy at this scale. At present I’m thinking of ones like the plan of Indefatigable. Another question is how to do the gunport lids. Some models, such as the one of Mars in the NMM, show them raised all the way almost to the vertical, but I think a 45 degree angle is probably best.
Just a word about tools. In the 1950’s I made much use of Gilette razor blades, snapped in half, but they were not exactly kind to my fingers, and I would not dare to use anything like that now. So it’s largely been a matter of my old faithful Stanley knife. Tweezers have been important, and a toenail clipper very useful. And a small archimedean hand drill has been essential. I read about rotary tools, and decided to try one out. It’s Chinese made, inexpensive, rechargeable, and surprisingly useful for tidying up details.  
 

Evening, 
Hope everyone is well. Absolutely beautiful early fall evening in New Hampshire. 
Warm cup of something, radio buzzing in the background, ship building happening. 
Update needed. 
 
Continuing with the forward stays leading from the Fore mast thru the Bowsprit to the hull.
Minus braces and footropes, this will mostly wrap up what I have planned for the Bowsprit. By no means done, just it will return at a later stage. 

The Flying jib stay, and Royal stay are the most fragile. 
Once you get them mounted, they do steady up nicely. 
Not the best pic of the bow, but my lines look "appropriate" for the shape of the ship itself. 

No ropes are too close to the others and looks "square" with the hull mountings.  
The eyelets are out of scale. I know i know    Still learning!!!! 

With the Bowsprit essentially in place.
I going to follow down the center line of the ship as towards what to rig next. 
Main and Its preventer stay are next. 

Rigging forces in the bowsprit are already pulling the fore mast gently forward. 
Rigging the main and Its preventer stay are a bit of a balancing act as it's now going to start pulling back on said bowsprit rigging. 
A gentle touch here attaching in anticipation of more forces pulling when lower shrouds and the like are installed as well. 
Anticipatory forces, if that's a term.  

A small cleat will eventually be attached to the fore mast gently tightening the preventer stay.  
I'll form one out of scrap wood. 

As many bullseyes as possible were pre-installed. 

Using a "third set of hands", the stays were tensioned off to an appropriate length with the bullseyes. 
Nothing too fancy. Bullseyes wrapped and stropped at two points and trimmed.

Be good, 
 
Tom E 
 
 
 

Thank you Ben. The finished model will be just under 43". it's actually not unmanageable. if you look at it next to Winnie, its only about 5" longer, slightly beamier at 10 3/16" and obviously another deck taller, coming in at 12". I think they both look good next to each other, a 5th and 4th, maybe ill try a 3rd rate next lol

That is one ambitious project you are undertaking, Joe! So far looks great, HMS Portland really compliments Winnie side by side. Soon it will be our favorite time with this hobby - the endless sanding and fairing. I am enjoying this build and keep it up!
 
Brian D

Greg, congratulations on finishing Speedwell. She and her display are beautiful. As for lighting, I am in favor of not lighting her.

Great display case for a museum grade model! Both items are beautifully made. As for lighting,  I admit I don't know much but am wondering if an aquarium light fixture would be a solution. I think most of the florescent bulbs would be non-intrusive but honestly not sure.

Great display case for a museum grade model! Both items are beautifully made. As for lighting,  I admit I don't know much but am wondering if an aquarium light fixture would be a solution. I think most of the florescent bulbs would be non-intrusive but honestly not sure.

some one suggested this already, but an adjustable open top aquarium lamp might work - except they're designed to sit on the top edges of the aquarium sides - you can get ones that are dimmable and that (while quite bright) would not be so intrusive or offensive. They are, however, not cheap...and an enclosed case would require the addition on the top side edges of thin extensions on which the light could rest - here is an image of an aquarium I designed a couple of years ago that shows this. The broad spectrum REBs are high quality, but really designed for plant growth - so bright! But this photo is just to show how the lights fit on the aquarium...and to illustrate what you might need to do do fit something securely on your model case....
I'm on another forum for my aquarium/aquascaping hobby and one time someone there asked about putting a wooden ship model as a decorative element inside the aquarium! It's fun when there's crossover between these two worlds....good luck!
hamilton

Great display case for a museum grade model! Both items are beautifully made. As for lighting,  I admit I don't know much but am wondering if an aquarium light fixture would be a solution. I think most of the florescent bulbs would be non-intrusive but honestly not sure.

One last Speedwell photo to finish this log. It is now encased in a display designed and built by my son whose hobby is woodworking. He built it out of Sapele mahogany and I think it compliments the model beautifully.
Question - can anyone suggest a tasteful, non-intrusive method to light up the model? Whatever it is will need to rest on the acrylic top.
 

That is one ambitious project you are undertaking, Joe! So far looks great, HMS Portland really compliments Winnie side by side. Soon it will be our favorite time with this hobby - the endless sanding and fairing. I am enjoying this build and keep it up!
 
Brian D

The white window frames look really good and authentic in my opinion. Nice progress on your ship.
 
Brian D

That is one ambitious project you are undertaking, Joe! So far looks great, HMS Portland really compliments Winnie side by side. Soon it will be our favorite time with this hobby - the endless sanding and fairing. I am enjoying this build and keep it up!
 
Brian D