sonicmcdude

I'm finally back after more than 2 months break!
 
    Well, this was a necessary time off from my Polaris, not because I lost an interest, but because I had to do a lot of other unexpected work at my home that could not be delayed. Luckily I've managed to finish the Mastini's "Ship Modeling Simplified" (absolutely amazing book, one of the best for beginners I think) and finally understood why "Masting and Rigging" is the hardest, most frustrating and time consuming part of ship modeling. Yes, the book explains the nautical terms, parts and there mechanics in a full-rigged ship and I agree - that is a lot of unnecessary information to complete the Polaris. But my opinion is that even if you don't build a full-rigged ship as a first build, it's really important to understand the basics, to know what are you doing and to do it properly. Yeah, I won't have to do yards and footropes, futtock shrouds or ratlines in my Polaris, but the (basic) knowledge of how to do these parts and what are their purpose in the real ships is really important and very interesting. As I said in my first post - I want to build my ship properly and learn a lot of nautical things, rather than just do something that I don't know anything about it . But enough talking about the things I learnt, let me show you the things I've made during the last 2 months.
 
    First I decided to redo the front blocks which will be used for the bowsprit shrouds:

    This was my first try practicing the new seizing technique and I think it looks a lot better than the simple overhand knots from the official instructions. Maybe the seizing here could be a little bit tighter, but I'm happy with the result.
    Then I started crafting the spars. First in the row was the bowsprit. Here I learnt another awesome seizing technique (special thanks to J Brent), which I used for all blocks, rigged around spars. This is the comparison between a rigged block, made according to the instructions and a block, rigged with the J Brent's technique:

    Better, right? And this is the second block, before mounting it on the spar:

    Yeah, this one seems a bit confusing and it is much more time consuming, but believe me the final result is much more better and authentic than the technique  showed in the instructions. This is the final look of the bowsprit:

    Then I continued with the fore and main mast. Here I've noticed something strange - there were no blocks with beckets. This type of blocks were not mentioned anywhere, neither in the plans nor in the instructions, according to which the running line should be tied just beneath the block and for me this is not correct. So I decided to learn how to make blocks with beckets, then checked the plans and marked where they are needed. Here are two of my blocks with beckets which I'm proud of :


    To make my job easier, I've made a little tool to keep the block in place while tightening the line around it. Just grab a part of scrap wood and pin a nail (or two for double blocks):

    This is the result of the fore mast and it's gaff:


    And these are all spars completed:

    Another thing I've been thinking about a lot is: to glue or not to glue the gaffs and the boom to the masts? As per instructions they should be glued, but for me this isn't correct. My understanding is that all of this spars (gaffs and booms) should be hauled using the running rigging. After all, that's the point of all halyards and the topping lift, right?
And this is how everything looks on the ship (dry fitted):

Oh wow this is great! Talking about details this is just awesome!

Have just been catching up on your log Nenad  - beautiful work.
 
For most of us, the names of the various components of masts, yards and rigging is a new language, so I wouldn’t worry about there not being specific Serbian words for them. Just learn them as the rest of us do. Then you can add to your list of languages spoken - “nautical”. 😊

Going forward
Boats on their places

Maybe this is off topic, but this guy made a mill from scrach and I think is for wax but if you can replace the small motor with a rotary tool is going to be strong enough for wood. Here are some pictures ....

Good Morning kids!
 
I just wanted to post a couple of photos of some of the items that I have made to assist with my first build. They really are nothing fancy, their focus is on cheap and cheerful. I thought this might help for those of you looking for ideas on how to save some money with this already expensive project. If you have any suggestions, questions or comments please let me know and I will do my best to respond.
 
The photos below are the following.
 
A steam tube, guillotine for cutting specific angles and lengths, an adjustable keel rest and a lockable, adjustable keel clamp(which I absolutely love). I have also included a photo of the desk I made specifically to build this vessel. please excuse the strange colour. I entered into a rather weird negotiation with my girlfriend and somehow ended up agreeing to paint this desk "teal" in exchange for the permission to build it.

 

And finaly, all decks are full, boats on their places with all spare yards all arround, also glued on their place
Only boat and anchor davits left to be mounted, but I am thinkin about solution to left them for later work, to avoid damage during rope work which is in front of me
 

 
And new "look and feel"
 

 
 

Jacek sorry for the late answer. I used some 6 mm ply for the frames. But I don't know why the keel part of the frames was little bit tick. I think it was the variation of the thickness of the ply so I had to sand this part on the thickness sander. I didn't work on my model a long time because moving to another country and lot of other thinks and I hope I will be back soon.  All the best and good luck... Greetings Sinan

Welcome back Mark, good to see you are here again with this beautiful ship.

Really nice start 

Really nice start 

Well known build on the old MSW forum and now is back and with a great update of pictures.. it just made my day

After front companionway, next on line is a little research about - hatches
 
Campbell`s plans
 
There are three of them, all on main deck: two „hatches“ – one fore, one central and one „booby hatch“ at back on aft deck
 

 
Fore and central hatches are same look, central is a bit larger
They have two rows with 10 coverings each
 

 

 
Booby Hatch looks quite different – raised entrance
 

 
Sergal Roma plans
 
Here, things look quite different
 
Fore and central hatch have gratings (!) and they are equal
Booby hatch looks similar as on C-plan
 

 
Revel and Airfix
 
Too much simplification for my taste , not valuable to consider more
 

 
 

 
 
Artesania Latina
 
AL follows C-plans, quite right
Fore and central hatch are similar as on C-plans, different size, same type of covering
Bobby hatch is also similar
 

 
Billing boats
 
Fore and central are the same, with some kind of covering not seen on another plans
Booby is something undefined with doors
 
 

 
And Mantua
 

 
 
Ok, let`s see what photos can tell us
 
 
 
 
Fore hatch
 
Fore hatch do not exist more, as a hatch.
Now, this is visitor`s entrance with glass-steel construction
 

 
But, on some photos (Thank you very much Lou, again !!! ) there existed different solution !!!!
 

 
Central hatch
 
This hatch is only which stayed as hatch. Structure and covering is unknown for me, because on all photos I can find of central hatch, it is covered with some kind of awning
 

 

 
Except on only one interesting photo I found long ago
 

 
You can se completely different covering (comparing to C-plans) – six panels with wire netting, and each has own cover !!!!!
 
Hmmm
  
Booby hatch
 
Bobby hatch did not exist long time ago, and I can not find any photo of it
 
Now, at place where booby hatch was, there is rear entrance under deck for visitors, similar as on fore hatch place
 

 
So, what is purpose of this analyze ?
 
Considering I plan to spread all sails, it sounds logical to set Her on state as She was on sea. That leads me to C-plans solution (with improvisations and imagination how Booby hatch was looking)
 
But, couple questions stay opened:
 
How to cover fore and central hatch – as on C-plans or with gratings? Or as upper photo with six gratings panels ?
 
And, to cover them with awning  or not ?
 
Maybe is the best, but the more complicated solution – one with covering as on C-plans, another with gratings ( I`ll see in my scale what kind of gratings looks better, and is it possible at all, or it is possible to me to make classical gratings structure on classic way I had seen on MSW), and both covered with awning to half
 
We`ll see ... on my scale, hatches had next dimension:
 

 
 
Hmmm ... this will be really interesting and really challenge !
 
  

Adrian, The Prince of Persia, decided to occupy my workspace in office during I go down for tea, and I had to leave office. He is stronger than me
 

 
Will he fall down? I'll hear it
 
So, I was forced to go to shipyard to finish another hatch
 

 
This time, canvas is packed
 

 

 
Booby hatch left

At first I want to thank everyone who hit like button and who participate in my experiments. Couple of hard fulfilled busy days after me, and one lazy day ( yesterday) with resting, cooking experiments, swimming pool and nice chat with Princess who had hard day, not much time to answer
 
 
 
Thanks Spy. I have some difficulties with English specific words, so maybe I made mistake, mainly caused with G-translate I use. For instance, when I type serbian word "cirada", which literally means "special waterproof sheet" usually seen on trucks  covering opened cargo space , I get several suggestions: canvas/linen/panel, and when I redirect dictionary to get closer meaning, I got ... chaos
 
But, i think I understand what you mean.
 
Mainly, there is dilemma about using battens across on type of hatch as presented on C-plans I made. There are not on C-plans, and in this scale - is there any point for them ? Particularly if I plan canvas opened to half.
 
For example, something similar I made when I was making deck entrance below steering wheel from 0,5mm wide paper strip colored with gold acrylic, as on pictures below
 




 
Similar dimensions as hatches, and there could be two longitudinal very narrow battens by hatch
 
A bit of time to rethink is needed 
 
 
 
Thanks, Carl. I am not familiar with plastic, and I do not dare to experiment with molds and casting
 
 
 
Ha! Mark, how do you read my mind from another side of planet about paper solution ?
 
If I find a way to extend a day, I`ll probably get a Nobel`s prize ... , so you will know it ! Working hard on  that solution !
 
 
 
 
Thanks Jud for your input. You said it very clear so now I understand it at all
 
 
Thanks Jack. Facial kleenex, or any multilayer paper ( e.g. toilet) was exactly I thought about after Mark`s post. Some experiments has to be made, and some playing, also

The first attempt to determine the line of the ribs ... Playing in adobe illustrator
 

 
Length of this boat is only 7 cm 

Boats - preparing
 
I realized that there are 3 types of boats : Captain`s GIG, Jolly Boat, and two life boats, all three different in details
 
It could be interesting if anybody can explain their usage and names  (Jud ?)  
 
At first, I had to re-scale drawings from C-plans sheet No 3 where details of boats are drown by Mr.Campbell to scale " 1/4" to 1 feet" to my already re-scaled plans where at the sheet No 1 I have their dimensions at 100% zoom level  as on my model
 
" 1/4" to 1 feet" - completely incomprehensible for us who have learned the metric measurement system
 
Then I measured main dimensions and make a notes for myself, and here is what I have got in Adobe Illustrator
 

 

 

 
 
Little beasts !!!! I have a hunch it will wreck my nerves ...

Great work, Nenad !!!
 
Are those cigarettes 5 foot long ?? I sure hope you are not smoking a whole pack of those every day.

Half-product
 

 
Product on gigant cigarettes
 

 
And on gigant fingers
 

 
And temporary on place
 

 
New look and feeling of main deck. Noting is glued for now
 

Booby hatch, rough works
 
 

Hi all... this is my recently started build of the complete model POB of the Triton...here are some pictures...

Holly tooth-picks and bamboo again, and new constructuion approach
 

 

 
Main problem was how to fix table legs to be strong. I drilled holes for toothpicks all throught, cut and glue toothpick's pieces with CA, add extra wood inside do get strong structure, and start sanding with self made micro pils to get squared profile of legs
 
Also with micro pils thined width of understructure
 

 
Slowly and easy, and desired form appears after a while
 

 
At the end, put veneer strips arround, fill gasps with putty, thinned veneet and fine sanded all
 
At the very end, sand (no cut!) leg's lenght to 5,5mm front and 4,5mm aft , and thined table surface to 0,5mm
 
And this is it. Better, I suppose
 
 

A realy big big big thanks to everybody who push me on to make this:
 

 

 
Thinning, fine tunning and painting - next time

I didn't know about build in the MSW 1.0... Nice detail ... the quality is something I can't never accomplish.. well maybe one day

Hi all... this is my recently started build of the complete model POB of the Triton...here are some pictures...