thomaslambo

Nils, thank you so much for nice comments...you sir are an inspiration yourself and I follow your builds with wonderment
 
 
Steve and Matt,
 
What can I say, you guys were the ones that pulled me over to the dark side...true masters of detail 
 
Your Launches are amazing...and half the fun of this hobby is researching and learning about these incredible ships   
 
Now the fun begins...planking the main deck and the hull    

Nils, thank you so much for nice comments...you sir are an inspiration yourself and I follow your builds with wonderment
 
 
Steve and Matt,
 
What can I say, you guys were the ones that pulled me over to the dark side...true masters of detail 
 
Your Launches are amazing...and half the fun of this hobby is researching and learning about these incredible ships   
 
Now the fun begins...planking the main deck and the hull    

Gentlegiant, Greg, Keith and Dimitris...thanks very much for the kind words.
 
Greg, I'm glad you can use some of my tips...and I appreciate people that take the time to read the narratives 
 
Keith, yours and Captain Al's Bounty builds is what motivated me to build this model.  I also liked the fact that you left off the Jollyboat and added details to the Launch.
 
Thanks for the many detail ideas I got from you    

Gentlegiant, Greg, Keith and Dimitris...thanks very much for the kind words.
 
Greg, I'm glad you can use some of my tips...and I appreciate people that take the time to read the narratives 
 
Keith, yours and Captain Al's Bounty builds is what motivated me to build this model.  I also liked the fact that you left off the Jollyboat and added details to the Launch.
 
Thanks for the many detail ideas I got from you    

I've been doing quite a bit of research over the past 4 weeks.  But I was able to make some good progress.
 
Here are three items I completed 
 
A custom built anchor rope rack installed on the lower decks. 
 
Installation of the main deck.
 
Construction of the Launch, which was a nice diversion from the primary build… motivated by Captain Al and a couple errors he found 
  Note: A big thanks to MattS and CaptainSteve for information provided on the Launch…as well as inspiration from their awesome MS Bounty Launch build logs.  
 
 
Anchor rope rack, rope coils, and the bitts and bitter end:
 
This was the last detail item I needed to finish and install prior to gluing up the main deck.  This particular item (along with a couple others) could not be installed after the main deck and hull planking was completed.
 
I definitely took liberties on where I placed the rack and bitts and bitter end …as I wanted to place them where they could be seen. 
 
I built a custom rack with belay pins to hang the ropes on.  The rack is mounted on the back side of the lower deck in the Bow.  With the rack posts secured to the keel and lower deck beam.
 
I used a jig to coil and train the Anchor ropes in a similar fashion seen on many of the 18th century ships.
 
The Anchor rope is Syren product - Light Brown Rigging Rope .062 (1.57mm). 
 
I also secured the end of the rope (the bitter end) to large metal rings (bitts) bolted to the deck beams. 
 
 
Install the main deck:
 
This took 30 minutes to glue up. 
 
I used modified binder clips that were originally intended for hull planking.  But as I was considering the best way to hold the deck in place it occurred to me they were perfect for the job (with the addition of wood strips laid across the deck, held tightly in place by the clamps on each side of the frame). 
 
In the bow and stern I used metal planking clamps (they have threaded screws that hold them in place - small pilot holes were drilled for the screws).
 
I also left the masts in place to be sure the deck stayed aligned.
 
Note, the ease of installation for the main deck I would attribute to the effort that went into squaring and leveling the tops of the frames as the keel was laid.   
 
 
Launch construction:
 
The little launch was a fun build 
 
Note; I'm not going to use the Jollyboat because I don't like the look of the stacked launches.  Instead, I'll add additional details to the interior of the launch (rudder, sails, oars, etc).   
 
I made the following modifications to the launch:
 
1 Changed the top rails to be flat to allow Oar guide pins to be installed (instead of notches in the side rails). Along with adding a three piece top rail overlay that I stained dark to enhance the look.
 
2 Added a small grading panel to the bow.
 
3 Modified the Windlass crane in the stern  (AL refers to it as a Capstan – ????).  Either way, I shortened the support arms according to some information MattS used on his Launch build.
 
4 Covered the plywood deck edges with basswood strips as done on the Mother Ship.
 
5 Added several Belay Pins along the thwarts and top rails.
 
6 Planked the lower deck as opposed to scribing plank lines in the wood.
 
 
 
Here are some pictures of the above work….
 
 
Anchor rack and coiled ropes
 

This is the rope look I was trying to simulate
 

 
 

Note "the bitter end" connection to the "bitts" ring
 
 
Main deck install
 

Note; I installed dowels in all the frame/cross beam joins as I did on the lower and middle deck levels 
 

Modified binder clamps using wood planks across the deck to hold it down
 

 
 
 
 
 
Completed Launch
 

 

Here is a plan sheet that shows the two sections of the Windlass - the wench and crane arms.  You can see the rope that runs from the wench to the crane arm roller
 

Note the basswood trim covering the plywood edge on the floorboard deck 
 

 

 

Note; the shortened crane arm support in the stern (AL refers to this part as the Capstan).  Also the grating in the Bow.

It'll be a beautiful touch of detail and well worth a trip to the dark side   

I've been doing quite a bit of research over the past 4 weeks.  But I was able to make some good progress.
 
Here are three items I completed 
 
A custom built anchor rope rack installed on the lower decks. 
 
Installation of the main deck.
 
Construction of the Launch, which was a nice diversion from the primary build… motivated by Captain Al and a couple errors he found 
  Note: A big thanks to MattS and CaptainSteve for information provided on the Launch…as well as inspiration from their awesome MS Bounty Launch build logs.  
 
 
Anchor rope rack, rope coils, and the bitts and bitter end:
 
This was the last detail item I needed to finish and install prior to gluing up the main deck.  This particular item (along with a couple others) could not be installed after the main deck and hull planking was completed.
 
I definitely took liberties on where I placed the rack and bitts and bitter end …as I wanted to place them where they could be seen. 
 
I built a custom rack with belay pins to hang the ropes on.  The rack is mounted on the back side of the lower deck in the Bow.  With the rack posts secured to the keel and lower deck beam.
 
I used a jig to coil and train the Anchor ropes in a similar fashion seen on many of the 18th century ships.
 
The Anchor rope is Syren product - Light Brown Rigging Rope .062 (1.57mm). 
 
I also secured the end of the rope (the bitter end) to large metal rings (bitts) bolted to the deck beams. 
 
 
Install the main deck:
 
This took 30 minutes to glue up. 
 
I used modified binder clips that were originally intended for hull planking.  But as I was considering the best way to hold the deck in place it occurred to me they were perfect for the job (with the addition of wood strips laid across the deck, held tightly in place by the clamps on each side of the frame). 
 
In the bow and stern I used metal planking clamps (they have threaded screws that hold them in place - small pilot holes were drilled for the screws).
 
I also left the masts in place to be sure the deck stayed aligned.
 
Note, the ease of installation for the main deck I would attribute to the effort that went into squaring and leveling the tops of the frames as the keel was laid.   
 
 
Launch construction:
 
The little launch was a fun build 
 
Note; I'm not going to use the Jollyboat because I don't like the look of the stacked launches.  Instead, I'll add additional details to the interior of the launch (rudder, sails, oars, etc).   
 
I made the following modifications to the launch:
 
1 Changed the top rails to be flat to allow Oar guide pins to be installed (instead of notches in the side rails). Along with adding a three piece top rail overlay that I stained dark to enhance the look.
 
2 Added a small grading panel to the bow.
 
3 Modified the Windlass crane in the stern  (AL refers to it as a Capstan – ????).  Either way, I shortened the support arms according to some information MattS used on his Launch build.
 
4 Covered the plywood deck edges with basswood strips as done on the Mother Ship.
 
5 Added several Belay Pins along the thwarts and top rails.
 
6 Planked the lower deck as opposed to scribing plank lines in the wood.
 
 
 
Here are some pictures of the above work….
 
 
Anchor rack and coiled ropes
 

This is the rope look I was trying to simulate
 

 
 

Note "the bitter end" connection to the "bitts" ring
 
 
Main deck install
 

Note; I installed dowels in all the frame/cross beam joins as I did on the lower and middle deck levels 
 

Modified binder clamps using wood planks across the deck to hold it down
 

 
 
 
 
 
Completed Launch
 

 

Here is a plan sheet that shows the two sections of the Windlass - the wench and crane arms.  You can see the rope that runs from the wench to the crane arm roller
 

Note the basswood trim covering the plywood edge on the floorboard deck 
 

 

 

Note; the shortened crane arm support in the stern (AL refers to this part as the Capstan).  Also the grating in the Bow.

It'll be a beautiful touch of detail and well worth a trip to the dark side   

I've been doing quite a bit of research over the past 4 weeks.  But I was able to make some good progress.
 
Here are three items I completed 
 
A custom built anchor rope rack installed on the lower decks. 
 
Installation of the main deck.
 
Construction of the Launch, which was a nice diversion from the primary build… motivated by Captain Al and a couple errors he found 
  Note: A big thanks to MattS and CaptainSteve for information provided on the Launch…as well as inspiration from their awesome MS Bounty Launch build logs.  
 
 
Anchor rope rack, rope coils, and the bitts and bitter end:
 
This was the last detail item I needed to finish and install prior to gluing up the main deck.  This particular item (along with a couple others) could not be installed after the main deck and hull planking was completed.
 
I definitely took liberties on where I placed the rack and bitts and bitter end …as I wanted to place them where they could be seen. 
 
I built a custom rack with belay pins to hang the ropes on.  The rack is mounted on the back side of the lower deck in the Bow.  With the rack posts secured to the keel and lower deck beam.
 
I used a jig to coil and train the Anchor ropes in a similar fashion seen on many of the 18th century ships.
 
The Anchor rope is Syren product - Light Brown Rigging Rope .062 (1.57mm). 
 
I also secured the end of the rope (the bitter end) to large metal rings (bitts) bolted to the deck beams. 
 
 
Install the main deck:
 
This took 30 minutes to glue up. 
 
I used modified binder clips that were originally intended for hull planking.  But as I was considering the best way to hold the deck in place it occurred to me they were perfect for the job (with the addition of wood strips laid across the deck, held tightly in place by the clamps on each side of the frame). 
 
In the bow and stern I used metal planking clamps (they have threaded screws that hold them in place - small pilot holes were drilled for the screws).
 
I also left the masts in place to be sure the deck stayed aligned.
 
Note, the ease of installation for the main deck I would attribute to the effort that went into squaring and leveling the tops of the frames as the keel was laid.   
 
 
Launch construction:
 
The little launch was a fun build 
 
Note; I'm not going to use the Jollyboat because I don't like the look of the stacked launches.  Instead, I'll add additional details to the interior of the launch (rudder, sails, oars, etc).   
 
I made the following modifications to the launch:
 
1 Changed the top rails to be flat to allow Oar guide pins to be installed (instead of notches in the side rails). Along with adding a three piece top rail overlay that I stained dark to enhance the look.
 
2 Added a small grading panel to the bow.
 
3 Modified the Windlass crane in the stern  (AL refers to it as a Capstan – ????).  Either way, I shortened the support arms according to some information MattS used on his Launch build.
 
4 Covered the plywood deck edges with basswood strips as done on the Mother Ship.
 
5 Added several Belay Pins along the thwarts and top rails.
 
6 Planked the lower deck as opposed to scribing plank lines in the wood.
 
 
 
Here are some pictures of the above work….
 
 
Anchor rack and coiled ropes
 

This is the rope look I was trying to simulate
 

 
 

Note "the bitter end" connection to the "bitts" ring
 
 
Main deck install
 

Note; I installed dowels in all the frame/cross beam joins as I did on the lower and middle deck levels 
 

Modified binder clamps using wood planks across the deck to hold it down
 

 
 
 
 
 
Completed Launch
 

 

Here is a plan sheet that shows the two sections of the Windlass - the wench and crane arms.  You can see the rope that runs from the wench to the crane arm roller
 

Note the basswood trim covering the plywood edge on the floorboard deck 
 

 

 

Note; the shortened crane arm support in the stern (AL refers to this part as the Capstan).  Also the grating in the Bow.

Hello, and welcome.
 
Regarding your question; to be honest, I lack experience with planking, so I hesitate to give you advice.
 
What I can tell you is what I plan to do; which is to apply only one layer of planks as the directions suggest.  However, I have purchased replacement wood for the kit supplied Walnut (I’m going to use Swiss Pear...which I believe is better suited for the job).
 
This is a difficult hull to plank....as such, one layer of planking is enough for me 
 
May I also suggest that you might post your question under “Building, Framing, Planking and plating a ships hull and deck”.  By doing so, you’ll likely get some sage advice from the experts on this forum.
 
Good luck with your build 

Hi Greg,
 
My apologies, I normally welcome first time visits to my log with a posted reply..my bad    
 
Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed reading the log, and thanks so much for the kind words....welcome aboard 
 
Ah..I already did as I missed the double post above to both you guys    

Hi Bob,
 
I really appreciate the kind words and your continued encouragement
 
 
Hi Greg,
 
Welcome aboard and it's always nice to hear from someone that took the time to read my log....and I'll continue to give it my best effort mate
 
Really like your Papillon Avatar, we've had the pleasure of loving two of them over the years     

Well done on the ropes Brian...I've been down the same path recently    
 
Gotta love Danny's build log...thanks for the tip 

Hi Maturin,
 
Thanks for coming aboard...and good luck with your build 

I've been doing quite a bit of research over the past 4 weeks.  But I was able to make some good progress.
 
Here are three items I completed 
 
A custom built anchor rope rack installed on the lower decks. 
 
Installation of the main deck.
 
Construction of the Launch, which was a nice diversion from the primary build… motivated by Captain Al and a couple errors he found 
  Note: A big thanks to MattS and CaptainSteve for information provided on the Launch…as well as inspiration from their awesome MS Bounty Launch build logs.  
 
 
Anchor rope rack, rope coils, and the bitts and bitter end:
 
This was the last detail item I needed to finish and install prior to gluing up the main deck.  This particular item (along with a couple others) could not be installed after the main deck and hull planking was completed.
 
I definitely took liberties on where I placed the rack and bitts and bitter end …as I wanted to place them where they could be seen. 
 
I built a custom rack with belay pins to hang the ropes on.  The rack is mounted on the back side of the lower deck in the Bow.  With the rack posts secured to the keel and lower deck beam.
 
I used a jig to coil and train the Anchor ropes in a similar fashion seen on many of the 18th century ships.
 
The Anchor rope is Syren product - Light Brown Rigging Rope .062 (1.57mm). 
 
I also secured the end of the rope (the bitter end) to large metal rings (bitts) bolted to the deck beams. 
 
 
Install the main deck:
 
This took 30 minutes to glue up. 
 
I used modified binder clips that were originally intended for hull planking.  But as I was considering the best way to hold the deck in place it occurred to me they were perfect for the job (with the addition of wood strips laid across the deck, held tightly in place by the clamps on each side of the frame). 
 
In the bow and stern I used metal planking clamps (they have threaded screws that hold them in place - small pilot holes were drilled for the screws).
 
I also left the masts in place to be sure the deck stayed aligned.
 
Note, the ease of installation for the main deck I would attribute to the effort that went into squaring and leveling the tops of the frames as the keel was laid.   
 
 
Launch construction:
 
The little launch was a fun build 
 
Note; I'm not going to use the Jollyboat because I don't like the look of the stacked launches.  Instead, I'll add additional details to the interior of the launch (rudder, sails, oars, etc).   
 
I made the following modifications to the launch:
 
1 Changed the top rails to be flat to allow Oar guide pins to be installed (instead of notches in the side rails). Along with adding a three piece top rail overlay that I stained dark to enhance the look.
 
2 Added a small grading panel to the bow.
 
3 Modified the Windlass crane in the stern  (AL refers to it as a Capstan – ????).  Either way, I shortened the support arms according to some information MattS used on his Launch build.
 
4 Covered the plywood deck edges with basswood strips as done on the Mother Ship.
 
5 Added several Belay Pins along the thwarts and top rails.
 
6 Planked the lower deck as opposed to scribing plank lines in the wood.
 
 
 
Here are some pictures of the above work….
 
 
Anchor rack and coiled ropes
 

This is the rope look I was trying to simulate
 

 
 

Note "the bitter end" connection to the "bitts" ring
 
 
Main deck install
 

Note; I installed dowels in all the frame/cross beam joins as I did on the lower and middle deck levels 
 

Modified binder clamps using wood planks across the deck to hold it down
 

 
 
 
 
 
Completed Launch
 

 

Here is a plan sheet that shows the two sections of the Windlass - the wench and crane arms.  You can see the rope that runs from the wench to the crane arm roller
 

Note the basswood trim covering the plywood edge on the floorboard deck 
 

 

 

Note; the shortened crane arm support in the stern (AL refers to this part as the Capstan).  Also the grating in the Bow.

I've been doing quite a bit of research over the past 4 weeks.  But I was able to make some good progress.
 
Here are three items I completed 
 
A custom built anchor rope rack installed on the lower decks. 
 
Installation of the main deck.
 
Construction of the Launch, which was a nice diversion from the primary build… motivated by Captain Al and a couple errors he found 
  Note: A big thanks to MattS and CaptainSteve for information provided on the Launch…as well as inspiration from their awesome MS Bounty Launch build logs.  
 
 
Anchor rope rack, rope coils, and the bitts and bitter end:
 
This was the last detail item I needed to finish and install prior to gluing up the main deck.  This particular item (along with a couple others) could not be installed after the main deck and hull planking was completed.
 
I definitely took liberties on where I placed the rack and bitts and bitter end …as I wanted to place them where they could be seen. 
 
I built a custom rack with belay pins to hang the ropes on.  The rack is mounted on the back side of the lower deck in the Bow.  With the rack posts secured to the keel and lower deck beam.
 
I used a jig to coil and train the Anchor ropes in a similar fashion seen on many of the 18th century ships.
 
The Anchor rope is Syren product - Light Brown Rigging Rope .062 (1.57mm). 
 
I also secured the end of the rope (the bitter end) to large metal rings (bitts) bolted to the deck beams. 
 
 
Install the main deck:
 
This took 30 minutes to glue up. 
 
I used modified binder clips that were originally intended for hull planking.  But as I was considering the best way to hold the deck in place it occurred to me they were perfect for the job (with the addition of wood strips laid across the deck, held tightly in place by the clamps on each side of the frame). 
 
In the bow and stern I used metal planking clamps (they have threaded screws that hold them in place - small pilot holes were drilled for the screws).
 
I also left the masts in place to be sure the deck stayed aligned.
 
Note, the ease of installation for the main deck I would attribute to the effort that went into squaring and leveling the tops of the frames as the keel was laid.   
 
 
Launch construction:
 
The little launch was a fun build 
 
Note; I'm not going to use the Jollyboat because I don't like the look of the stacked launches.  Instead, I'll add additional details to the interior of the launch (rudder, sails, oars, etc).   
 
I made the following modifications to the launch:
 
1 Changed the top rails to be flat to allow Oar guide pins to be installed (instead of notches in the side rails). Along with adding a three piece top rail overlay that I stained dark to enhance the look.
 
2 Added a small grading panel to the bow.
 
3 Modified the Windlass crane in the stern  (AL refers to it as a Capstan – ????).  Either way, I shortened the support arms according to some information MattS used on his Launch build.
 
4 Covered the plywood deck edges with basswood strips as done on the Mother Ship.
 
5 Added several Belay Pins along the thwarts and top rails.
 
6 Planked the lower deck as opposed to scribing plank lines in the wood.
 
 
 
Here are some pictures of the above work….
 
 
Anchor rack and coiled ropes
 

This is the rope look I was trying to simulate
 

 
 

Note "the bitter end" connection to the "bitts" ring
 
 
Main deck install
 

Note; I installed dowels in all the frame/cross beam joins as I did on the lower and middle deck levels 
 

Modified binder clamps using wood planks across the deck to hold it down
 

 
 
 
 
 
Completed Launch
 

 

Here is a plan sheet that shows the two sections of the Windlass - the wench and crane arms.  You can see the rope that runs from the wench to the crane arm roller
 

Note the basswood trim covering the plywood edge on the floorboard deck 
 

 

 

Note; the shortened crane arm support in the stern (AL refers to this part as the Capstan).  Also the grating in the Bow.

Hello shipmates, Captain Slog-Patrick-Mike-Nigel-Boyd-Rik i do thank you for your visits the encouregement words and also for your likes... :)
I glued in place the figure of Americo Vespucci while as waiting various things to dry from paint. Also I assembled the bowsprit. Here are some photos with the Bowsprit in place (dryfit).
 
All the best
Dimitris

It'll be a beautiful touch of detail and well worth a trip to the dark side   

It'll be a beautiful touch of detail and well worth a trip to the dark side   

It'll be a beautiful touch of detail and well worth a trip to the dark side   

Thank ye all fer the well-wishin's. I hope to finally be gettin' some work done on me Connie, for a change.
 
As fer work done thus far, the above be bringin’ ye all up-to-date with what CaptainSteve has actually accomplished. Plans have been afoot for sometime as to what he doth intend to do with the sternal region … but, thus far, nought hath been achieved – except fer many new additions to me bone-yard.
 
 
Indeedeth, George, Our Hero doth intend to use the kit supplied stern frames. He be intendin’ to be a-modifyin’ them to create an open (and viewable) area beneath.
“To go-eth from six frames up to seven (thusly allowing fer six windows),” he explained, “wouldst be-eth a most simple matter. It just be meanin’ that I be needin’ to make one additional copy of the central (larger) frame.”

 
But problems a-plenty didst plague CaptainSteve whence he were to try cut-ething out the body of the kit-frames.

 
Wi’ much wailin’ and gnashing of teeth, were Our Hero to discover the pieces be a-breaking up on him.

 
Essentially, what he be trying to achieve wouldst be to removeth the bulk of the material, to leaveth him something like in this sketch below.

 
Having spat-eth out his pacifier many a time, more work remains for Our Hero with regards these.
“Mayhaps,” he were heard to mutter, “after I hath picked up a Scroll Saw.”
 
When he doth, eventually, get these cut and sized, then CaptainSteve has plans for how he wouldst like to see the Captain’s quarters (and stern galleries) to be a-takin’ shape.
 
“It be nought but mere conjecturin’ at this point in time,” he postulated. “But, I wouldst like-eth ye to check out the work of a couple more muses which I has been following of late.”
 
First up, wouldst be Siggi52 with his HMS Dragon build. If you haven’t already seen this log, then do-eth yerself a favour and spend-eth an hour or two in amazement. Secondly be NenadM’s Cutty Sark build. Here, Nenad has actually shown Our Hero precisely how he can go about achieving the look that he wouldst wish-eth.
 
“I be a-figurin’’, he were to close, “on riding the coat-tails of these two fine gentlemen in order to have me stern quarters come-eth to life.”
More work doth remain …

Now, as ‘tis widely known throughout the land, CaptainSteve be aiming to do an 1812-ish build of his USS Constitution.
“This”, he didst start to explain, “be a-dictating that I shall need to totally reconstruct-eth the stern details o’ me Model Shipways kit.”
 
O’course, as any naval historian worth his salt will tell you, this couldst be-eth in reference to the before/during/after effects o’ any one o’ the numerous actions which this fine ship be involved in during the War of 1812/Barbary Pirates era.
 
“Ahem !!” coughed Our Hero. “This be jus’ mine own opinion, but-eth fer certain details, in particurly the physical matterings,” he didst try to explain-eth, “I be most in favour o’ the Hull modellin’.”

 
As always, he were to go-eth on, “I jus’ be not understandin’ how sailors on the ship at the very time o’ the Guerriere encounterings couldst not know-eth how many windows there be-eth astern !!”
 
(Ahh, CaptainSteve. But you do-eth ignore that it be highly possible Connie went from 5 windows to six, sometime after their first encounter (aka the Great Chase, and before their final, fated duel.)
 
But since days long gone afore, Our Hero hath fond memories from his youth of spreading waaaaay too much glue o’er all the pieces of his Revell plastic kit o’ Connie.
(“In my defence,” CaptainSteve were heard to mumble, “I were but twelve years o’ age !!”)
 
Firstly, Our Hero were to be considering the counter piece. To begin-eth with, he were to take-eth up his knife and began to hack-eth away at his counter piece.
 
After levelling out the top, yet maintaining an external curvature, the total area for the stern cabin is 4” x 1½”.

 
CaptainSteve has, so far, only planked the counter-piece. More plans are afoot.

 
“Hmmm,” Our Hero be a-ponderin’, “that band-aid hath found its’ way back into me picturin’s.”
We noticed, CaptainSteve. What on earth be that all about … ??
 
‘Twere around abouts this point that he were to be going off the rails a tad …
 
“I be seein’ a picture in me mind,” Our Hero announced blankly, “O’ how I be a-wanting this section to appear-eth.”
 
That be all well and good, CaptainSteve. However, whilst there most likely be plenty o’ room fer seating inside your head, that really be not much help to those poor people trying to follow along with you.
 
“More soon … I doth promise !!”

Arrg-eth !!
CaptainSteve doest wish to apologize most sincerely to the assembled Horde fer his tardiness in posting an update o’ late, but he has been somewhat distracted with life.
“Well, firstly an’ foremost”, Our Hero began. “May I just be saying, thank ye very muchly fer your concern there, Nigel (an’ everyone else what has asked.)”
“In truth an’ most verily,” he didst attempt to explain-eth. “I be not a-wanting to bore the bejeezus out of those o’ ye who be only here fer the saw-dust with e’ery minute minutiae.”
 
Howe’er, he doth be slowly getting himself ship-shape and back into action with Connie.
“At least this girl cannae be unfriendin’ me on the FaceBook.com !!”, he were to mumble-eth into ‘is beard.
Ahem (cough cough) …
 
“Anyways, as noted, you lot be here fer the sawdust. So let’s get back to the ship modellin’.”
 
And so, whence last we left him, CaptainSteve had made some grandiose promises. The first of these matters which he didst wish to deal with, was to be lookin’ to a-strengthenin’ and a-re-inforcin’ his ‘ull.
 
O’er the past few weeks, CaptainSteve hath spent many a moment a-starin’ at his shapely rear end. “Err, that be Connie’s shapely rear end,” he didst state, by way o’ clarification.
 
Even though the better part o’ the past two years hath been devoted to learn-ething as much as he couldst about the real Connie, he didst give-eth narry a thought unto how those details may affect-eth the actual construction of his model !!
 
Verily, ne’er afore hath Our Hero added blockage to the POB kits what he has done-eth. “That be-eth true,” he were to say, “but I doth wish to do this build justice to ‘er name.”
 
Indeedeth, CaptainSteve didst draw inspiration from a goodly number o’ the wonderful builds here on MSW. Two of these would be by MrHollom and JesseLee.
 
And so, first up he didst spend-eth some time installing filler blocks to go betwixt the bulkheads.
"Here be pictures !!", was all Our Hero would say, in closing.

Hi all, a long overdue update.  I have been busy with life (health issues), revamping my workshop and working on our club's build of HMCSS Victoria (see separate post) but have had time to progress.
 
I have completed the 'rattlin' of the lower shrouds on the port side and working across the upper shrouds.  I am using a template (see photo) which at scale provides 13" separation. Some of you may have noted my query re ratline sequence/pattern in a separate post/forum.  In the end I followed James Lees description in his great reference " The Masting and Rigging of English Ships of War1625-1860"  which is essentially what the replica has done with some minor adaptions which I have also applied.  His reference is based on contemporary models in the NMM and while there are difference between ships in this era, it is anyone's guess what pattern was actually used
 
I have also started rigging the shroud cleats - what a pain in the xxxx    I have tried various techniques and having had advice from Dan Vad and Greg Lester (thanks guys), still had problems holding these 'slippery little suckers' in place while securing them to a shroud.  even CA would not hold.  In the end I finally had some success using a tiny dab of CA on a half hitch around the base of each leg of the cleat (see photo), then half-hitching these and applying a dab of PVA to the hitch to temporarily hold them in place while I finish the hitches.  The PVA them leeches into the completed hitch and 'et voila'
 
cheers
 
Pat (and my 1000th post )
 
  
 
  

Well done on the ropes Brian...I've been down the same path recently    
 
Gotta love Danny's build log...thanks for the tip