dafi

OK........so, I got the planking done.   I messed around with the deck fittings next.   I also separated the bag of fittings as well.......and wouldn't you know it!   I lost one of the tiny perls beads for the booms!  I looked around for it.....but it was long gone!   luckily,  I had bought a container of them for the Gothenborg and noted that they were the same size.  so, I added a couple to replace the one gone,  and went on my merry way.   I started to work on the structures.

the companionway plug and the skylight plug.   I couldn't do much with the companionway plug,  but I thought of something for the skylight plug.   I wanted to make it look open inside,  so I cut two slivers of the plug and glued on the sides.  I will add a bottom.


this is what it looks like sanded and cleaned up.  with a flat black bottom,  it will look open inside.




the tiller seat, trim ring and companionway is partially assembled.  the grate on the deck looked a bit out of sorts too......too tall and both grate pieces wouldn't fit on the plug for them  I framed them in and made them lower to the deck.


so, then I did a dry fit

Catheads, Fish Davit and Boomkins

To determine the correct positioning of the catheads and boomkins, I scanned and overlayed then scaled the Marquardt drawings over a scanned copy of the plan from the kit.  By resizing these in Photoshop to ensure I was using the correct scale (1:60), I was able to determine their relative position on the forecastle as shown in the graphic.  I also tried to ensure the fixings for these aligned with longitudinal beams (strength).
 


The boomkins are made from Huon Pine that have been reduced to a dowel from square stock, then tapered with sandpaper while spinning the dowel in the lathe.  I then bent the completed dowel around a former after soaking in boiling water and leaving to dry under clamping pressure.
 

 


The fish davit is made from 4mm square walnut stock and is fitted with brass sheaves.  The difference in the photo colour and brightness is the result of a change in camera and I am still trying to get the white balance right for the new one.
 

There are some pictures illustrating the macking of rails (boxwood).
 






here is short description of scraping process:

The width (and as also as possible the depth) of the profile cut in the razor-blade must correspond exactly the width of the strip, otherwise the blade follows the wood grain and does not run straight. With the first 2 to 3 courses the pressure of razor blade against the strip should be low, afterwards step by step with higher pressure. For a profile shown I need 20 to 30 courses, depends which kind of wood. I tried different woods and mostly the results were good, the boxwood I choose because of the color, and due to the fact the timber is very hard, which is an advantage with fine small profiles.
 
The rails in place with gun port and part of main wale.
 

 
The plankin get close to end:

 
and finally done:
 


 
Best regards

Alexander

Well, here we go with what you might call the "Executive Summary" of my build log.  I started this log when I first joined MSW in Sep 2011.  At that time, the model had been under construction for 15 years, although the last six years had been a complete hiatus while work, family, and life in general got in the way.  This is state of the ship around the time of joining MSW:
 

 
Form here I'll just focus on some of the key events of the last 18 months or so.  First up was a decision over hammock netting.  We had quite a discussion over whether to use black or white (or other colour) netting.  After many, many trials, I settled on black netting made from Tulle (comes white, but painted black).  Here's a shot of the completed netting:
 

 
In Jan 2012, I decided to take a little side-road to scratch build one of the ship's boats.  I settled on the 34ft launch, using lines from AOTS and guided by a mini-practicum by Bob Hunt.  Here's a photo-essay of this little journey:
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
A little bit further down the track, I became dissatisfied with the look of the Stern and Quarter Galleries.  Although I'd already made a mod to the kit some years ago, my experience here at MSW convinced me that I could do better.  Danny came to the party too, providing detailed drawings and long distance e-mail support, guidance and mentoring along the way.  I owe a great deal to Danny for the way this turned out and this whole exercise summed up for me what this wonderful site is all about.  Enough blathering, here's a little photo-essay of this adventure:
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
I'm not sure about limits to pictures in one post, so I'll just break this one off here and continue shortly.
 
Cheers,
Grant

Act 3
Happy End
 
And here they are, our happy actors ...
 

 
... from the inside ... 
 

 
... and with a mockup crane.
 

 
Huuuuooorrrrrraaaaaaayyyyyy!

Oh I forgot to tell you about the opened window :-)
 
Did you already spot him?
 
Who???
 
Sir Archibald of course, who would have made a mess with the air in the mess if his comrades would´t have asked him to enhace air quality inside the ship by opening the window :-)
 

 
So into the cabin, putting the coat onto the hook and sit down and hang loose ...
 

 
... and there he is sitting on his lower end at the lower and of the ship and enjoys life and being - and especially the thought, that he does not have to sit on the seats of ease at the head :-)
 

 
Him looking a little bit strained is due to the dignity and the sincerity of his task - and due to the fact that while being painted ...
 
... ouch, have a look and feel with him:
 

 
Ok, we let him now concentrate onto his task, even though I have the feeling that he will be sitting there for a while ...
 

 
Three cheers for Sir Archibald, 
 
sincerily yours, Daniel

Late summer 1805, the sun is burning inexorably from above, the wind is completely asleep, the sea is smooth as glass.

The dispatches have already been exchanged. The master of the small cutter has just returned to his tiny vessel. Behind it there is towering the enormously massiv silhouette of the huge black and ocher striped three decker. Through the open gunports the lashed up guns can be seen. Also the officers' cabins ports are wide opened by the order of the Captain's to ensure an optimal ventilation of the hot and steamy lower decks.

Clatter of activity on some guns being ran out cuts through the silence. The rumble of the heavy guns rolling over the decks and the trampling of countless bare feet and the short shouted commands supported by a multitude of hand signs originate from the ordered gundrill for new gun crews and their officers. In competition between the three decks they are fighting for the fastest rate of firing. The rest of the ships crew is occupied with cleaning and mending duties. The holystone are scratching on the decks.

Above all the sails hang slack in their yards. No breath of wind moves them. They are nestled heavily over stays and fighting tops. The captain took advantage of the hot calm to put up all the canvas possible for airing. One of the studdingsails is taken in, the spar tied up with its inner end against the shrouds, in order to mend something on its fittings. Sitting on a swing seat pendent from the fore top, a crew member just is finishing painting over with ocher the originally black coloured mast loops.

On the poop Captain Hardy monitors the young cadets´ training in navigation, supported by Lord Nelson, who uses the opportunity to entertain the cadets with stories of his actions and the ideas of his tactical concepts.

But in the back of everybodys mind there is just one question - When will there be wind again ...