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While not a British yard, there are some wonderful photo's of the diorama of a Colonial shipyard on The LumberYard website (who is one of the fantastic supporters of this site). http://www.dlumberyard.com/hahn-PART5.html There are also some posted to the Model Boat Yard website at http://www.modelboatyard.com/NewportNews02.html

Sjors - that is a beautiful looking ship. Very well done!

Just found this via that wonder tool of research Google. RMS Queen Mary Chad Valley "Take to Pieces" Model-Old RMS QUEEN MARY "TAKE TO PIECES" MODEL-made by CHAD VALLEY, c1936 This unique model was sold on-board the old ocean liner in her heyday. It is made out of cardboard, and has 12 different levels to explore. It is a kind of key, or map that one would buy to use to navigate their way around the vast interior of the ship. It is held together by two screws and "takes to pieces" to reveal different maps or levels of the ship. This is really quite something to see! This is one of her most sought-after pieces, and is featured in numerous books and websites as an important collector piece. It measures 12" in length and is made out of cardboard. On the bottom of the piece is a label from the Chad Valley toy company indicating they are the maker of this particular toy/guide for the RMS Queen Mary. The model is slightly warped, but given her age, she's in good shape, also, remember, she is made out of thick cardboard layers, so warping is just part of a piece so old. She takes apart and puts back together nicely. It comes with the original box. The box is a bit tatty. The ship has some fraying, around the edges, w the cardboard is fraying and t, but nothing too traumatic. Chad Valley was/is a British toy manufacturer. The RMS Queen Mary was a luxury ocean liner that cruised the transatlantic waters, and that was used in WWII as a passenger troop ship, and also served as luxury liner for many, many years. She is now a floating hotel in Long Beach, CA., and may I say first hand, that she is still a beautiful ship. One can see why this model/map could have come in handy, as the ship is just huge and cavernous! Several listed on ebay and at least one in an antiques auction with value estimated at £40.00 - £60.00 http://www.bamfords-auctions.co.uk/buying/auctions/Toy-and-Juvenalia-Sale--February-05-2013/lot-3074-Chad-Valley-take-to-pieces-model-of-RMS-Queen-Mary/

Thanks, All, for the information - I will see what i can find for a discount on TC <20, but otherwise may save up for the newest version. Then, of course, i will have to learn how to use it.....

While they are a prefered delicacy for those scavengers from above (sea gulls), I have not in my previous life in Marine Biology known of anyone from the Human species that has tried them, although they may produce an interesting poutine...

Looks fantastic, Popeye! You are correct on the biology - these are probably Asterias fobesi or Asterias vulgaris. Both are very similar biologically and quite abundant along the New England coast. Both like various prey - things like clams, mussels, small crustaceans like amphipods. Both also, for some reason, also enjoy the occasional snail. I personally prefer my snails with a nice garlic butter, but to each his or her own! The sexes are separate in Asterias forbesi. Sperm and eggs are liberated into the sea and fertilization is external. The starfish in any area may synchronize their emission of gametes which will increase the chance of fertilization taking place. The eggs hatch into bipinnaria larvae which form part of the zooplankton and develop over a period of about three weeks before settling on the seabed and undergoing metamorphosis into juvenile starfish. Probably more than you ever wanted to know about echinoderms!!!

Looking good, Sjors - nicely done! All this progress signals good results to come!

Thanks, Keith n Sarah. I will be putting on the yards and running rigging shown in the first picture (the braces etc) as those are used to adjust the yards.

Following the post on Sarah's log about rigging, I have spent the past couple of days trying to sort out what was what. This first picture is straight from the US Coast Guard historian - color is a tad off, but shows the sails and most of the rigging. The picture below takes the plans provided with the kit and highlights the running rigging that is included with the model. Since it is not provided with sails, there are numerous blocks and details missing. As you can see, many of the lines would belay to a pin rack along the side of the ship. These are not included in the kit nor shown on the plans, although there are some cleats shown along both sides of the ship that could be used. In terms of rigging her with sails, working from the USCG drawing and some judicious analysis of Biddlecombe and Murphy & Jeffers, it is possible to come up with a reasonable method for rigging the sails. Based on the tight confines at this scale, and the myriad other lines involved already, I am opting to not include sails, so plan to stop at the rigging as shown on the plan. This picture gives some idea of the running rigging involved in rigging the sails realistically - hence my taking the "easier" option of bare poles. Have been working on making the gaff for the main mast - have it shaped, sanded, currently making the jaws. WIth any luck, I can give you a photo update tomorrow.

Excellent work, Popeye - the lobstah look real (confession - my graduate research involved detailed collections and in situ studies of Homarus americanus). Never fear - the green stuff is all native brown alga Fucus vesiculosus.

Well, there's my problem! I would have figured that out if he had used the color picture!!!

Thanks, Sjors!

According to the listing at http://www.bruzelius.info/Nautica/Ships/Fourmast_ships/Northam%281858%29.html, the Northam was rebuilt as a four masted ship in 1877...now to find a good picture to see if it is close!

Thank you for posting this, David! I am a complete neophyte when it comes to powertools so this is really helpful for me.

Ouch! Don't feel bad, Sarah - I messed up on the tension for my shrouds and snapped the topmast clean off, with no hope for recovery. Meant unrigging the bowsprit, shrouds (with ratlines), deadeyes, stays, backstays etc. Looks much better in version 2, though! As to the running rigging - I am working on a sketch and should be able to post it later today. A quick way to think of it is that if the line runs through a block it is running rigging meant to be adjusted on a regular basis. Look forward to seeing the canoe!

Looks like it will work - go to your profile, click edit my profile (top right) then look for change name on the left menu.

I must admit that I am a complete novice (a generous rating for me to be sure) when it comes to CAD software. I have never used one but desire to learn. I just received this offer and am curious on whether anyone has any experience with TurboCAD NEW TurboCAD Deluxe 20 is now shipping! This latest release contains customer driven development as well as new tools and features for greater usability, performance, and compatibility. Now IMSI/Design customers can get the precision 2D drafting, 3D modeling, and photorealistic rendering in TurboCAD Deluxe, plus bonus training, for one incredible price through this exclusive offer. It is offered at 89.99 USD by IMSI/Design http://www.turbocad.com/ Is this a useful program for a novice looking to learn and, eventually, get into redrawing older plans?

Dang - you really picked a challenging one this time!!!

Looking good so far, Sarah! I like what you did with the forestay. Very sharp! On the bowsprit - you may want to tighten those chains a tad - they serve as the backup to keep the bowsprit down when the jib sail is set. On the foremast yards - are you going to add the lifts (the rigging from the end of the yard to the mast that the yard hangs on when lowered). The cleats that came in my kit scale to about 18" which is a good size - they look a smidgeon large on the main boom but not adjusting with a bit of judicious sanding and then some black paint. I'll see if I have a good picture of the yard rigging that may help to understand the running versus standing rigging. The rigging plans show very little of the running rigging - best resource for you may be to look at the Biddlecombe or Murphy & Jeffers Spars and Rigging from Nautical Routine, 1849. Both give some great illustrations of the rigging - will try to pull a couple for you as well.

May be worth looking into RC Anderson's Seventeenth century rigging. Covers through about 1725.

Thanks, Adam & Jared. Back home today so hope to back at the table tonight!

Now you've gone and done it, Andy. Popeye is likely to turn it into a scale catapult or lobster bait! You know not to give him sticks to play with...

Thanks, Pat. Have to take most of this week off for business trip to Indianapolis.

We're patient, we can wait! The results are definitely worth it!

That's a very pretty little ship - nice lines, sporting the fake gunports of the mid-1800's?