mrshanks

Thanks, Don!

Really looking forward to seeing this all come together!! Windows and deadeyes look awesome

Thanks David and Scott!  More to come.  Next up are swiss pear deadeyes dyed black to simulate ebony.  The channels will be boxwood with a molded edge.  I'm also planning to add quarter badge windows of boxwood to contrast with the pear planking.  Mike Shanks is instrumental in all of this.  Stay tuned!

I have been following this build for sometime. It is very pleasing to see her taking shape beautifully.
You have done a master job! 

Hi Dave,
Your model is looking beautiful!
David

I've been busy.  We are replacing our cedar deck and we spent a week in California (the Bay area) since my last post.  I haven't been doing a lot of modeling at all.  I did want to rename this schooner "Clio" after the Muse of History in Greek mythology.  My friend Mike Shanks was able to laser etch some ebony I had on hand.  I then painted the etched name using white acrylic paint.  Sanding the face with a 220 grit sanding block took care of any excess paint on the name plate.  I then glued the name to the transom.

Jonathan,
After my experience on the Niagara making one piece yards from dowel the challenge was getting a clean transition from the center hex section to the tapers. I was not happy with the results and decided to do it this way instead with perfect transitions and is much faster to build. Of course having a lathe and a combination slide is required.
 
As for jackstays yes the stretched wire passes trough the eyebolt. Here is a link to the bulk pack needed from ME. http://www.modelexpo-online.com/product.asp?ITEMNO=MS0429B
 
Much easier to buy them than make them and they are great for other eyebolt applications as well like on the ends of the yards and saddles. 
After the holes are drilled I start in the middle of the yard and insert the jackstay after dipping the end into a small puddle of Gorilla glue which is a 20 second set so it allows for positioning using a small rod for visual aligning with the yard. I just work towards the ends adding one at a time. Also on bright yards blacken them first before using. 
 
Here is a quick picture for you.

As always, a wealth of information. Thanks

Your build is really great. I have slowed down on my build so I can watch your progress and make my build easier . Your solutions to the problems on this build are truly inspiring. I look forward to more progress. Thanks.

Hi Dave,
Thanks very much. Yes, I just started a build log for the Rattlesnake. And I'll try to be a little more diligent about keeping it up to date than I was for this one!
David

Beautiful job David!  I'm sure your Rattlesnake will be first rate.  Do you have a log started?

Thanks for the likes and comments; much appreciated. I don't know about a case for it. I don't even know where it's going to go at this point. It's currently sitting on the mantelpiece, but it is tending to overwhelm the room. It might go to my daughter's office, we'll have to see, then dusting will be her problem.
David

Great looking build David, congratulations. Good to hear from you 

Hello Everyone,
I've been feeling a bit embarrassed about my build log for some time now which I've allowed to become virtually non-existant. I became very lazy about taking photographs and making updates, and then the more time that passed the less inclined I become to update. Nevertheless, I finished my Constitution in April, so if I upload photos of it now, I hope you'll forgive me for the huge gap in the middle. I pretty much had the hull and its details finished when I last checked in, so it's primarily the masts and rigging that I haven't reported on.
The rigging end of things went quite well generally. Making the masts and yards was very enjoyable and not particularly difficult. I didn't find the rigging too difficult either, but at times the shear volume of it and its finicky nature were a bit daunting. It was very frustrating to stop for lunch (and a quick fix of CNN) only to return to my shop and discover that I had tied a whole set of lines on the wrong side of something. I'm sorry to report that this happened to me more than a few times. However, every time it did happen, I tore it out and redid it. I am certain that there are many errors in my rigging, but at least I can say that none that were apparent to me went unaddressed. 
This was my second build and I couldn't have enjoyed it more. It was the model I wanted to do from the outset, but I chose to build the AVS first as a practice piece and I'm glad I did. I didn't find the Constitution to be especially difficult (although it had plenty of challenges), it's really more a matter of the volume of the work it requires that might be overwhelming as a first kit.
I used Bob Hunt's practicums for both the AVS and the Constitution. The one for the AVS is excellent and as a complete novice, I don't believe I could have worked my way through the model without it. For the Constitution, the first half of the practicum is also excellent and I found it an invaluable resource. However, when it came to the rigging, it was quite a different matter. This part of the course is so full of errors and omissions and with a confusing approach that in many ways it hindered rather than helped. I did buy the Lennarth Petersen Rigging Period Ship Models and it was a very helpful resource.
 
I know for a fact that my family is glad this project is done. They seem to take great delight in teasing me about how much I tend to talk about it and at what great length. At Christmas, my sister-in-law innocently asked "how's the model coming along?" at which point my son jumped in with "Oh my god, whatever you do, don't ask - do not engage - do not make eye contact - do not show fear!" But their respite is to be short lived as I have now started on the Rattlesnake.
 
Here are some pictures of my completed Constitution.
 
 

Dan, Thank you for your kind words and do hope you get back to your Constitution soon.
 
Tom, there may be a solution in the near future for those !*#@! ratlines if all goes well.
 
I finished up the lateral lines on the bowsprit which was a little fun sorting out. Here is a picture of it completed.
 

 
While waiting for glue to set on lines I painted and located all the small belaying pins in their appropriate locations. For those following I would recommend doing these before stepping the masts. Why I did not recognize this myself is beyond me. 

 
One of the things I am doing is to make ropes as needed in the sizes needed as I go since I have space constraints. I modified the MS rope walk to be able to use a hand drill for rope turning and actually enjoy the rope making process now that I have it down pat. Here is a picture of the modifications and set up that works very slick especially with the socket drive.
 

 
Next I have moved on to the royal and top gallant stay lines; nothing real exciting but just pay attention to not pull the royals out of alignment when tying off at the eyebolts. They flex very easily. The eyebolts were made using the 26 gauge black beading wire.
 

 

Now to finish up the foremast stays.

Thank you Ken.
 
Thanks for taking both the time and energy to create both a wonderful model and a clear, educational and inspiring WIP.  I have the highest regard for both your skill as a builder and communicator.  One day I will stare in to the abyss of my skill base and take up my quest to finish my Constitution buoyed by a number of your informative WIP's.  You are a treasure trove of ideas and techniques and guide to just what a modeller can accomplish with knowledge, skill and persistence.  
 
Long may you continue to enjoy this hobby of ours.  
 
Dan

Nice work Don. Beautiful actually. I love the outdoor lighting effect on the wood.
 
Ian

Thanks Mike, glad you stopped in

Thanks to everyone for stooping in, for your likes and of course all the great comments even You(Mike Shanks). Today is going to be a beautiful day outside so this is just going to be a quick update before I head out side to work up a thirst. Actually it is so nice I'm thirsty already!! So lets get this going
 
First up is just another way of stropping/seizing a block with a becket, here I am using the Domanoff serving machine.
 

 
As this was just for demonstration purposes I will make another one with a 7mm triple that I can actually use 
 
This is the mizzen mast with various rigging, not yet permanently attached
 
 
 
This the fore mast
 
One of the trestle trees, notice how my nails turned brown in the blackening solution. Only me and my crazy luck
 

 
I apologise for the poor picture but I was just trying to show my plumb bob for truing the masts and the proper use of a can of mushrooms, magnet and square
 

 
Here are some outside shots showing the masts stepped. Top mast is not on permanent. Checkout the rope at the bottom of the mast, I'm not sure if this is something exclusive to the Trabaccolo but it is kind of cool. I should have taken pictures of this process but it is three separate coils of 1.25 mm rope followed by two more on top of that then one more at the very top
 

 
As you can see it is beautiful day here so I am going for a shower then grabbing a cool one getting on the golf cart with some tunes and get to work watching the leaves grow. Fridge is full so come on over, supposed to be 28 today that spells cold beer in Celsius or Fahrenheit
You all have a great day and an awesome weekend
 
See You Later 

Beautiful work, Don.  I'm really enjoying following your progress.

Thanks Nils, Bob and Dave for the nice comments, it's always a pleasure to hear. And Thanks to all those for the likes

Thanks guys, updates coming soon. Deck planking is complete and hatches are next up on the menu. In the meantime help yourself to the refreshment fridge, it is fully stocked

What are the pieces you have clamped to the bulkheads to square them up? Where does one get these?
 
Jesse

3" tookmakers angle plate.  I got them from Micro Mark.

Very nice rescue and a tight and tidy looking build.