M. Pajulahti

Glenn,

I really like this ship, looking very good and you've built her very well.

Markku

Wales are done!  Now i can start the actual hull planks on the bottom. For me, trickiest part was the stern where wales has very extreme twist and tight angle, but sanding them very thin they did twist better.

Markku

I've been doing wales now. And added one hatch to gun deck. It might be visible thru the companion ways, or not, but it's there now.

Markku

Hey K,

When you laid your frame parts on the plans, did you turned them around also? I did with mine, and they were nonsymmetrical. Just for a tip, if you really want to make sure your ships other side will not be larger than other side. I have some photos about that problem in my Constitution topic. Meaning there is a mistake in the plans and that way you can check that out.

Good luck with your build.

Markku

Thank you Steve.

Well, there should be more curved on the stern. On the plans it's pretty curved under the main rail. And comparing to lasercut topgallant rail -part, which is a lot more curved, but nothing I can do about it anymore.

Other thing what i've been thinking is those bulwarks in the midship. On plans they are solid, but in the real ship they are removed, which seems to be common way to do it in models. As i am building this in current (after 1870) version, maybe i should remove those also?

Markku

Slow progress here, but it goes on. I've continued the planking and also added the transom extensions.

Markku

That is very interesting way to do the stern framing! 

Looking forward how it will look like!

Markku

Wow, is it really been almost one year since my last post? I need to post something new

So... the planking has started. Here are some photos
 

There should be 4 planks in row between gun ports, so I've sanded the planks to get perfect fit:

...And so the planking continues.

Markku

I've built that few years ago, it was my first wooden kit also and that was excellent choise for a first timer; Mare Nostrum is easy enough and there is many different things that allow great learning what becomes working with wood and metal fittings. Good luck with your build.

Markku

Thank you all. Your kind words will help me to continue this build

Markku
 

Hi Ken,

Your ship looks good, and I'm also following your build with great interest.

Markku

It's been a while from my last post, so it's time to continue this build again.

I've added the outside planksheer and 2 ceiling planks above it.

And now it's time to start making the gunboxes! Here we go...

After adding the outside planksheer strip, it's very easy to find out the right position for gunboxes. I used one strip to transfer the marks:

And same here. This is how I know the distance of gunports goes right:

Nice row of gunboxes there already. Not glued yet.

Markku

So I found out the bulwark planks are supposed to be 3/64" x 1/8" based on directions, but in reality they are too wide to fill the height of gun ports, where should be 4 planks:

So to get the real dimensions, those planks need to be tapered thinner, like this, original ones on the left:

Now my 4 planks fill the height of gun ports. And here we go, first planks:

End result in bow:

Markku
 

Thank you George. Yes, the gun boxes will be soon in my working table. Some small strips also need to add, and I thought maybe couple planks of bulwark planking to make the bulwarks stronger.

Markku

Planksheer done, inboard and outboard. I like the result. This old ironside really has pretty thick sides.

Markku

Thank you Tom.

No, there will be no cannons. Just stairs down and maybe a capstan if it will be visible, don't know yet. 

I'm adding outboard planksheers now and next will be the cannon boxes.

Markku

Sure it's a good idea to make at least part of the gun deck there. Mine will be mostly covered with the main hatch, but I like the fact that there still is a deck under it. It kind of makes the ship more realistic.

Markku

Then I added inboard planksheer.

It went really well and I like the result.

Next I'm sanding the bulwarks ready for outboard planksheer.

Markku

Last parts of waterways and done!

I wonder did I glued them a bit too tight, because there really was a tight fit and needed to press them in place with power, but on the other hand I soaked them in hot water before glueing and I hope they sit in place well enough. There is also some little corrections I still need to do, but there they are, my waterways ready in place, finally! 

Markku

Thank you guys from your supportive words.

Markku

Working with waterways continues. Just glued the bow pieces. 

Markku

Wow, building this ship is the hardest work what I've done for a long time. Oh gosh how much it took sweating to glue these waterways and correct bulwark angles, but IT WORKED. Now I have waterways in stern area and my bulwarks are OK enough so I can be happy with this result. 

I'm doing the waterways in 9 parts so these are the first 3. Stern part was very tricky one, since it's not straight in any direction. There is a curve along the deck plus slight curve along the stern.

Markku

At least in my kit there is 1/32"×1/16" and 1/32"×3/32" strips. I just checked. You better contact Modelexpo-online if you are really sure you don't have them.

Markku

I'm starting to understand what it means when a kit is specified as a "challenging". 

Glueing the first part of waterways and twisting the port side bulwark in the same time:

Markku

Interesting idea to make the rivets! End result looks good.

Markku