newbuilder101

This is probably so clear to most builders, but I'm a little 'stumped' on this, and hopefully this is the correct location for this question.

I'm trying to figure out where the great cabin would be on this ship, and the proper names for these decks.

In the second photo attachment, deck 1 is the main deck, 2 is the half deck?, 3 is the quarter deck? and 4 is the poop deck? It was easy on my Mayflower since there was one less deck.

I thought just below deck 4 might be the location for the great cabin, but there are no doors or windows at the stern for that deck...possible chart room?

Just below deck 3 there are elaborate doors and windows at the stern and side for that level....possible great cabin?

Any help appreciated...I'll also post this question in Building, Framing, Planking etc. section.

This is probably so clear to most builders, but I'm a little 'stumped' on this  :

I'm trying to figure out where the great cabin would be on this ship, and the proper names for these decks.

In the second photo attachment, deck 1 is the main deck, 2 is the half deck?, 3 is the quarter deck? and 4 is the poop deck? It was easy on my Mayflower since there was one less deck.

I thought just below deck 4 might be the location for the great cabin, but there are no doors or windows at the stern for that deck...possible chart room?

Just below deck 3 there are elaborate doors and windows at the stern and side for that level....possible great cabin?

Any help appreciated...I'll also post this question in Building, Framing, Planking etc. section.

You're really off and running now...I'll bet you have this done before the SF!

If there are any seats left I'll join the crowd.  Looking forward to your build.

Wow! Allow me to say it again.....Wow!!! Amazing work...absolutely beautiful! I know you will be very, very proud of her, and well you should be!

Robbyn: Thank-you! I saw your treenails and they look great! Obviously there are a number of methods that work well.
Some things look just fine simulated while others don't. I'm thinking, for example, shiny sparkly things! Definitely want the real thing there!  

Anja: Thank-you for your generous comment!   

Michael: Thank-you for the support and the kind comments - it's much appreciated!   I love the look of a fully rigged ship, but as you said it is an enormous challenge!

Popeye: Thank-you as well for the support and encouraging comments! I have this habit of starting at the top instead of the logical process of starting at the bottom and working up. My husband is so used to it now, he recently asked if my next build would be "the real thing" and "should we move closer to the water so I could launch it when it's finished?"    

Sjors: Thank-you for the kind comment!  
The deck planks are birch, which is too light coloured for my liking, so I will be staining it with 'honey maple'. That way it will have a little colour, but not too much. Then I will put on satin polyurethane.
For the final hull planking I have walnut wood, so it will just have a coat of satin polyurethane.

Wow Robbyn - that's a huge and brave decision to make! I totally understand wanting to make everything look as good and accurate as possible so, best of luck on the re-work. I'm sure it will look great when you're done!

The ratlines do look great - just as the rest of the ship does!

Sometimes when I get the rigging plan out for my San Felipe, I wonder what I've gotten myself into! Your build gives me some idea, since it's at the same scale as mine.

Just when I get to the point where I think I'm doing pretty well....I come to your log and realize just how far I still have to go! As always...beautiful workmanship!

Thanks Andy, Steve, Augie and Mark! Now the walnut planking is calling my name...but first the quarter and poop decks. 

I finished the final bits of first planking.

I also finished the treenails on the main deck.

At 1:96 scale I opted for simulated treenails. I experimented with real ones, but it didn't look much better than my final method and so it wasn't worth the extra work.

I tried drilling and filling with wood filler on some sample decking, but I used birch wood that I had on hand for the deck planks. The wood filler 'bled' into the birch grain and was impossible to sand off.

What did I finally choose as my method? I read somewhere on the forum about the use of a hypodermic needle. I filed the end off and pressed it into the wood and gave it a slight turn. Not perfect, but I am pleased with it.

Wise decision Sjors...we don't want to see a "flying Frenchman". I still think you've done some great work on her and the SI and once you've had a little break, hopefully it won't seem so bad.

Wow! I have to agree with everyone...absolutely beautiful rigging, and the entire ship too!

Nice work Anja! I like the colour for the hull too.

Nigel: Thank-you!  My very first post for this build shows that I did indicate that the ship may never have existed. Below is an excerpt from page 1: 

While researching the San Felipe, I stumbled upon some doubt as to whether she really existed or not. My conclusion is this: I am satisfied that the evidence for both sides of the debate is sketchy at best, so I have no solid reason to believe she didn’t exist. At any rate, I feel she is a wonderful and beautiful example of the Spanish galleon of her time – real or not!

The story goes that the ship model is based on reconstruction drawings published by the Italian Vincenzo Lusci in 1966 who referred to some 19th century Spanish historian. Lusci described the San Felipe as a first rate ship with 104 - 110 cannon that was launched in La Coruna in 1690 and was lost in 1705 after a battle with 35 English ships.

Hopefully this will be put to rest, as I am focused on the beauty of the ship and not so much its history. In the future I may indeed build a ship with a rock solid history, but for now....San Felipe is the apple of my eye.

Pete38: Thank-you! I'm anxious to see it with the walnut on.

robboxxx: Thanks! I hadn't seen the Amati plans before, they look very good as well.

Steve: I agree, I think sample 3 is probably the one I'll go with. Thanks for listing the plan links.

Hello Sherry; Glad to see you're enjoying your build. I'm a little surprised to read your

original title "Flagship of the Spanish Armada" The Amada dated 1588!  You model

represents a Spanish two or 3-decker warshp from 200+ years later, closer to 1800.

Perhaps this was "historical license" by the kit vendors. 

Kind regards, pollex  Calgary

My apologies first for any confusion… it has not been my intention to portray my model as the lead ship of the renowned 1588 Armada, but rather to represent it as a 3 decker Spanish galleon and lead ship of the Armada in 1690 – not the 1800s. The galleon evolved from the carrack in the second half of 16th century, and a galleon was comprised of 1, 2 or 3 decks.
The Armada can be defined in two ways:
1.A fleet of warships.
2.A Spanish naval invasion force defeated by the English fleet in 1588.

I believe you are referring to the second definition, and the most familiar and historical reference to "The Armada".
The Spanish Armada is the term conventionally applied to a massive fleet dispatched against England by Spain's Catholic King Philip II in 1588, leading to an early and important confrontation in the nearly 20-year Anglo-Spanish War of 1585-1604 (the "Twenty Years' War").
It should be noted that when researching the Spanish Navy today, it is still often referred to as the "Armada".
For example  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Navy states the following.
"As of 2012, the Armada has 20,800 personnel,[1] and the total displacement of the navy is approximately 250,000 tons.[2] The main bases of the Spanish Navy are located in Rota, El Ferrol, San Fernando and Cartagena."

Hi Andy, I'd like the instructions as well!

Thanks everyone! I have to admit that I was having a bit of fun with everyone on the mixed selection.

Truth is, I was leaning toward number 3 as well and you have helped to solidify that decision for me....at least for now.

I'll take some more pictures tomorrow.

I have some experience with wood, as I've done a lot of furniture restoration, refinishing and actually built a few pieces. I know at least two samples are black/American walnut which has heartwood that is light brown to dark chocolate brown, occasionally with a purplish cast and darker streaks. It is possible that all are the same species, since the wood can vary in colour depending from which part of the tree it came. That being said, I'm suspicious that #4 is a different species.

You're right about the scale Brian, but that's the sacrifice if walnut is the wood of choice.

Check this out and vote in my poll: http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/2326-deciding-which-walnut-variety-looks-the-best/

Nice work on the planking Sherry..... it's amazing what you did with balsa

Thank-you!   

My shipment of walnut just arrived!

When I opened the package, I realized there were FOUR varieties of walnut. I hadn't expected this and now I am having a hard time choosing the best one. Ultimately the decision will be mine, but I'm curious to see what other modellers think.

I've brushed on a quick coat of satin poly to bring out the grain. I've also included a mixed sample as well.

Happy Birthday Robbyn! Have a great long weekend - we had ours last weekend.

Congratulations on a fine finish! She really is beautiful!

very clever Andy.... you're going to put some people out of business  

Definitely have to agree!!