newbuilder101

Looking great! I like the colour change on the internal parts, and the faux hinges look terrific too!

Thank-you everyone for the kind words of encouragement and support!!! Augie: I always take any opportunity to be outside, and pictures just seem to look better in natural light. I'm on my way outside now to cut our lawn which takes 3 hours on the rider! Popeye: I wouldn't have avoided them so long if I had known they would turn out okay! You know the saying.....hindsight always has 20/20 vision - it's my foresight that is lacking. Robbyn: Maybe I can get away with measuring only 3,000 times in the future. Sjors: Did you notice how many pictures I posted? I'm going to make your day and post another one...it's not of the build, but my flower bed beside our house. The garden you wondered about is MUCH larger than this. Anja: Glad you like it. We'll be seeing you here on the "dark side" before long! Grant: The stern work was yet another diversion to put off the gun ports! They weren't too difficult, but with 108 of them to cut it made me nervous....there's just something about making that first cut into a nice smooth hull!

Finally the gun ports that I was avoiding... I used a very High Tech jig for the ports - all 108 of them I still have to tidy up a bit, but I'm happy with the way they turned out. I think I measured 4,000 times before cutting!!! (The blotchy appearance is from the wood filler)

Okay...in response to requests for pictures...here they are! Since my last post I mixed a batch of carpenter's glue with water (60/40) and brushed it over the balsa hull planking. That stiffened things up considerably. Next, I set about filling the dips and hollows with wood filler in preparation for the second planking. This is the simple jig I made for the upper gallery windows and some of the windows.

Sjors: We all know who I was referring to. robboxxx: Thanks for the information. Wayne: Well, that theory is out the window... The A/C is just fine...lots of ventilation now.

John: Thank-you! No pressure there. Ronald: You are welcome....as for the question here on my build...I don't mind at all. I'm just not sure if I was much help or not. Robbyn: waiting on pics....hmmm...sounds vaguely like someone else I know. I actually had a moment of intrepidity last evening and now I have an almost fully air conditioned hull! Three more to cut, followed by pics this evening - I hope.

Really looking great! You are definitely on your way to the "dark side".

Terrific job on the rigging Augie! She looks really, really lovely!

Happy Birthday Sjors! Hope your day is everything you want it to be! Your work on the transom looks really great! Now we're waiting to see pictures of the colour change.

Tsk, tsk..........can't leave you boys alone for a minute! I think there is a build log here somewhere......buried under all the.......umm.......other "things". I'm going to rephrase my comment for safety's sake - Peg has a lovely backside!

Bob: You're right....but at this rate I'll never finish the main ship! Wayne: Thank-you! Silk worms are on their way back - thanks for the loan. Pete: Thank-you! The chest was tricky because of its size. Adrieke: Thank-you! Yes, it is a small scale....I think I am permanently cross-eyed now! Doris: Thank-you! Your admiration is much appreciated - especially coming from such a talented and skilled builder as you!!! Robbyn: Thank-you! So far you are the only one to catch on that I am avoiding the gun ports with these little diversions! I have made a template, so maybe they'll be cut soon... ZyXuz: Thank-you for the compliment and thanks for stopping by!

Happy Birthday Doris! Your work is amazing and beautiful....as always!

Old or new material doesn't matter....it's all very, very educational and inspiring not to mention beautiful!!! Thank-you for all your work in re-posting this vast wealth of information!

Hmmmm........that's very close to the size boats I need for my build......I might just have to place an order! Looking really great!!

Thanks for the pictures! Looking really good....even unfinished!

I think I'm safe.....I may be a "square".

Russ: Thank-you very much! Steve: (Sigh)........It's no use, you might as well give up. I figured the carved fingers would substantiate my story...seems to have worked. The colour I used for the fingers? - Fleshtone of course! John: Thank-you very much! Anja: Thank-you very much as well! It really was fun. Sjors: Believe it! I know Steve doesn't, but not you too!! Oh....I am planning to make barrels, not rats though - not on my ship! ....................Wait.....maybe for the ratlines! Andy: Thank-you! I think a POF build would be a definite step up in difficulty level and a much longer timeline for the build. Unfortunately I'm not sure I would have the patience...I love each step of the build, but I can't wait to see the end product. Grant: Thank-you! I've heard somewhere that there is a certain "caveman" around here, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that his rug isn't that old! Popeye: Thank-you! Doris???? If I could reach her level of skill that would be amazing! I think it will take a little work yet, but thanks for the thought! Bob: Thank-you! My ship wasn't going to have a cabin like that....it just seemed to happen. Mark: Thank-you! As for the miniature craftsmen...I'll go look in my "magical" garden...apparently that's where they live! Imagine what a business that could be....selling, packaging and shipping little families of tiny workers around the world! Just had an idea....maybe Augie could transport them on one of his planes. Frank: Thank-you! You call the rug idea clever, I call it desperate resourcefulness! I needed a tiny rug and haven't the ability to weave one so.......very thankful for printers.

I don't think I could say itany better myself! Beautiful!

Augie: You either have a priceless 350 year old rug or a slightly newer version . If your base comander could weave one of these , her services would really be in demand...I would be first to place an order!! Michael: Thank-you! This turned out to be a fun diversion. Steve: I've heard of a shrinking workforce....but that puts a whole new twist on it! The only thing that seems to "magically" grow in my garden is weeds.

Thanks Augie! I cheated with the rugs - found some photos of 17th century rugs and printed them out in high resolution - voila!

It would seem that I am easily distracted on this build. I ended up doing a little side project that was not originally on my agenda. I wondered earlier where the great cabin would be on a ship like this. Thanks to all the responses I was able to confirm the location.....in my mind the next logical step was to "dress it up" a little. I started with a walnut table/desk and just got carried away from there. The goblet and jug are wood as well. The Captain/Admiral's bed was a perfect fit. I'm currently figuring out the best way to have some of this room visible and I have a couple of ideas.

robboxxx: Take your time, but when you have your log under way, make sure to add a link in your signature - I'll be watching. Mike: Thank-you for stopping by and for the kind comment!

Wow! Absolutely BEAUTIFUL job!!!

You don't want to find yourself "line-less" with the fish. Seriously though, she really is taking on a majestic look...beautifully done!

Wow! I'm always amazed, thankful and humbled by all the support on this forum! A pleasure to be a member here!!!! Russ: Thank-you! It "makes sense in my head" as well. Frank: Thank-you, and thanks for ck'n in! Steve: Thank-you! It was only one of many things that swallowed up my time. I will be cutting the gun ports soon! I've viewed other San Felipe builds where the ports were cut after the second planking....way to scary for me. Michael: Thank-you! You're right about keeping the holes square! I have nightmare visions of holes shaped like a rhombus or trapezoid!!! Mark: Thank-you! Good idea about having a cannon for checking. Paul: Thank-you! I know what you mean about the figure...I have one as well and it really does help! Grant: Thank-you! ...sounds like something I should try to avoid. A sizing jig is a great idea for uniformity. Robbyn: Thanks for the advice. It will actually save me time only having to measure 10 times now if I had attempted cutting the ports after the second planking, I would probably have needed to measure 100 times and then cut with fear and trepidation! Anja: Thank-you! It definitely seems to be the consensus to cut them now! Bob: So........I'm not alone! robboxxx: Thanks as well for the advice. I'm sure I will be happy to have cut them at this stage. I would love to see a build log of your San Felipe or gallery pictures if she's already finished.