xken

Just a quick update for Dan. I received the railings and ladders and the railing will work THANKS DAN for your help! Once I saw the size of the railings and ladders I decided the first thing I needed was a new 25 watt soldering iron and then machined the tip to a point to work with tiny drops of solder one at a time. Here is a picture of the tip.
 

 
Next was my first attempt at PE parts this tiny. I picked the easy ones first; the round ones and soldered them to the edges and the top rail edges. I then soldered a length of ladder with one edge on a stanchion and soldered them together; then soldered the other side and cleaned with acetone. I then cut the top two rungs of the ladder away for the opening at the top of the ladder between the rails. Needless to say I have some cleanup and adjusting to do after seeing the pictures, but I am very glad that they are the correct size.
 

 

 
Now back to making the rest of the deck fixtures.

John, Thank you! Here is a quick "In Progress" showing the painted fixtures with ladders and railing panted. One lesson I have learned is that whenever possible do the spay painting first and then add the ladders to avoid excessive paint build up. I still have more details to add and these so far are just press fitted in place. Once all are completed only then will I add the deck railing to avoid damage. The horn is painted gray and just set in place for now. For a sense of scale the diagonal braces are .020" brass wire. 
 

 

 
Now off to the dentist for my bi annual cleaning. Maybe she will sharpen them up for turkey day.   
 

John, Thank you! Here is a quick "In Progress" showing the painted fixtures with ladders and railing panted. One lesson I have learned is that whenever possible do the spay painting first and then add the ladders to avoid excessive paint build up. I still have more details to add and these so far are just press fitted in place. Once all are completed only then will I add the deck railing to avoid damage. The horn is painted gray and just set in place for now. For a sense of scale the diagonal braces are .020" brass wire. 
 

 

 
Now off to the dentist for my bi annual cleaning. Maybe she will sharpen them up for turkey day.   
 

Dave, yes I did and of course I always stop by not only you but others as well. I still have a great deal to learn about ships. Yes it must be fun otherwise it becomes just another stress factor; life is too short not to have fun. If not making mistakes one is not trying hard enough to learn.

Sorry Dave it was my intent to educate, not frustrate. 
 
I think I indicated that I was new to shipbuilding and that this was my second ship build. Thank you for your kind words and I am just an old fart that thinks God is in the details and that I just strive to do the best I can when replicating the subject being modeled regardless of what it is to the best of my ability. Hence the work on the gun deck which can be seen when the central grates are lifted.
 
Yes, it looks that I will be building more ships; currently building the Maersk Detroit container ship for my son-in-law. I have also been asked by the local maritime museum to build an LCVP landing craft in 1/12th scale to accompany the Dirty Dozen as part of another display. Then I also have a Mamoli Victory awaiting when I can get around to it. 
 
Looking forward to seeing the finial and the rest of your canopies when completed. Keep up the great effort you are doing.

OK I am up to date. The next log will be much better, I hope, as I'll write it as progress is made. Hopefully much more detail. So I am at this point now. I bought some nails from an online model store. They are nice but I wanted to find something a little smaller than the head size of them. I think they were 1.6 mm or so. Well I did. What I found were pins women, (and I'm sure a few menfolk), use for making lace. The head is 1.20 mm. I did the scale conversion and it comes out to 1.13 inches. Das ain't to bad!! So I ordered 2,800 of them. They are a bit long at 17 mm but they are working very well. The pins are steel then nickel plated. I used etching acid to remove, blacken the nickel. Experimenting with time in the acid showed me I could get different colors. From gray to black to an almost rust color. Perfect! I took 400 pin batches, the pins came in 400 piece lots and soaked them various minutes. I used 11mm spacing. I also made a little jig to help with the hole drilling. Worked out nicely. After drilling all the holes, (I counted 968 on one side), I coated the hull before starting the nailing. I wanted the color to be authentic and since the ship will actually go into the water for the funeral I went this route... I purchased a pint of Stockholm pine tar and a pint of boiled linseed oil. Man the stuff smells but in a good way, to me anyway. When I get home and get close to the work area it smells of pine tar. Just like a real shipyard! I mixed it 50/50 and coated the hull. I'll put a 2nd coat on after the nailing is complete. I'm about a 3rd of the way done with the other side. I am also going to nail the frames and mastfish so I'll have plenty. 
OK, up to date...
 

I also made my own rudder & tiller. It's funny what 'wars' we choose to battle and ones we don't. I enjoyed this process and it did come out very nice. I used the same species of wood as the head & tail but apparently there is a redder version! No worries it looks nice I think.

I did try my hand at carving the figures but nothing I did was up to my measly standards. Well I did do a bit of carving on the head itself. I couldn't figure out how to make the eyes. Again I could carve them in. Well one evening I has reloading some shot shells for a skeet match I had and bingo! #9 shot, that's the ticket! I drilled into the head just a wee bit for a socket and whala eyeballs. I initially painted them red but they didn't stand out enough against the color of the wood. I first made a tongue from a piece of brass but it was to thin. I attempted to make it from scrap wood of the burl. It came out to my liking. I added the beard for grins and giggles.
Oh a picture of my crew.
 
I apologies for the VERY lame photography. I'm using my phone with the crappiest of backgrounds. I wasn't going to do a lot so I didn't think that far ahead. Hopefully they'll get better.

What to do next... Oh, I did make a tail out of the 2nd head, as most know the kit supplies two 'head' pieces for the stem & stern. Around that time I'm thinking what my brother said to me when he saw the project. Did doesn't have a dragon head. That along with the ship being my funeral ship I thought why not. The little artistic side I have kicked into full gear. I made a few liked one pretty much but it was kinda of bland. I remembered in the basement I had some really cool burl for knife scales. So I made a 3rd figurehead. It came out decent. I finally came up with a tail design that was a bit different. Here are a few pictures of that process. The decorated stem & stern pieces just didn't look right with the head & tail so I made my own from birch I had purchased. The fitting took quite awhile and at this point I do not have them permanently attached. I'll wait until I finish the outside of the hull.

Trailboard Preliminaries
Looking at the stem piece, it seemed to me that now would be a good time to think about the trailboard decorations. Because I have the US Navy plans CD from the USS Constitution Museum, I have the plans for the decorations and the billet head so why not use that instead of the kit’s rendering? The billet head is a separate drawing. I merged the two images on the computer and printed a kit size template. The reason I did this, is because the billet head has a carved hole which does not appear in the kit plans, but is obvious when looking at the real ship. I laid the template on the stem and marked the shape and position of the opening with pin marks.
 
One other thing I have not seen in other builds. The trailboard decorations are not completely on the trailboard. Just a bit wraps onto the hull. Strangely, the CD does not have that part of the decoration plan, so I used an image of the real ship to complete the design on my template.
 
But before I can move forward anymore, I have to make preparations for my Thanksgiving trip to colonial Connecticut. It’s going to be a big shebang at my Sister’s house with relatives coming as far away as Tokyo, Japan, Seattle, WA and myself from South Carolina.

One Canopy frame to go....
Quick overhead shot of the developing spar deck.  Once the last canopy frame is completed, I plan to begin developing the three masts, seen dry fitted here.
 
 

Delighted to hear from you Ken.
I'm sure you recognize my comments are intended in the most complimentary way.
Also, happy to hear you are planning to use your gifted hands to create more ships sir, and I look forward to sitting in on more of your future projects.
As for my humble attempt to model the canopy frames.... I assure you that I thoroughly enjoy every moment in the ship yard.  Being an old woodworker, anything on the metal craft side represents quite a challenge to me.
BTW.... Most of my MSW friends know by now, I will usually screw up a two-float parade.... then start all over if necessary, and laugh about it.
If we can't have fun with this crazy hobby we need to find something else.... RIGHT?
Hope you will drop in once in a while.
 
Cheers Mate

Dave, yes I did and of course I always stop by not only you but others as well. I still have a great deal to learn about ships. Yes it must be fun otherwise it becomes just another stress factor; life is too short not to have fun. If not making mistakes one is not trying hard enough to learn.

Sorry Dave it was my intent to educate, not frustrate. 
 
I think I indicated that I was new to shipbuilding and that this was my second ship build. Thank you for your kind words and I am just an old fart that thinks God is in the details and that I just strive to do the best I can when replicating the subject being modeled regardless of what it is to the best of my ability. Hence the work on the gun deck which can be seen when the central grates are lifted.
 
Yes, it looks that I will be building more ships; currently building the Maersk Detroit container ship for my son-in-law. I have also been asked by the local maritime museum to build an LCVP landing craft in 1/12th scale to accompany the Dirty Dozen as part of another display. Then I also have a Mamoli Victory awaiting when I can get around to it. 
 
Looking forward to seeing the finial and the rest of your canopies when completed. Keep up the great effort you are doing.

John, Thank you! Here is a quick "In Progress" showing the painted fixtures with ladders and railing panted. One lesson I have learned is that whenever possible do the spay painting first and then add the ladders to avoid excessive paint build up. I still have more details to add and these so far are just press fitted in place. Once all are completed only then will I add the deck railing to avoid damage. The horn is painted gray and just set in place for now. For a sense of scale the diagonal braces are .020" brass wire. 
 

 

 
Now off to the dentist for my bi annual cleaning. Maybe she will sharpen them up for turkey day.   
 

John, Thank you! Here is a quick "In Progress" showing the painted fixtures with ladders and railing panted. One lesson I have learned is that whenever possible do the spay painting first and then add the ladders to avoid excessive paint build up. I still have more details to add and these so far are just press fitted in place. Once all are completed only then will I add the deck railing to avoid damage. The horn is painted gray and just set in place for now. For a sense of scale the diagonal braces are .020" brass wire. 
 

 

 
Now off to the dentist for my bi annual cleaning. Maybe she will sharpen them up for turkey day.   
 

John, Thank you! Here is a quick "In Progress" showing the painted fixtures with ladders and railing panted. One lesson I have learned is that whenever possible do the spay painting first and then add the ladders to avoid excessive paint build up. I still have more details to add and these so far are just press fitted in place. Once all are completed only then will I add the deck railing to avoid damage. The horn is painted gray and just set in place for now. For a sense of scale the diagonal braces are .020" brass wire. 
 

 

 
Now off to the dentist for my bi annual cleaning. Maybe she will sharpen them up for turkey day.   
 

You just described exactly the technique I have come around to Piet. 
Much easier said than done.... believe me.
Getting the lateral spaces perfectly parallel and perpendicular and exact same height proves to be much more difficult in practice than in my mind.
Jigs on top of jigs required.
As for silver soldering.... clearly not one of my skill sets, but then I don't have multiple certifications in metalworking crafts like a certain old Dutchman we all know.  
This is attested by the dozens of wasted parts accumulated in my trash can....
Getting a little better.
 
No sir.... no canvas will be placed over the frames.
 
Speaking of "covering up hard work"....
I am still amazed by all the extreme detail Ken put into the gun deck of his amazing Connie, then completely covered up with spar decking. 
Think about it! 
This man tells us he is NOT A SHIP MODELER.... Then sets about creating a model that would be admired by the world's most experienced master shipwrights!
I don't think the man actually realizes how good he is!
I just hope he will continue building ships.
 
Cheers
 
   

John, Thank you! Here is a quick "In Progress" showing the painted fixtures with ladders and railing panted. One lesson I have learned is that whenever possible do the spay painting first and then add the ladders to avoid excessive paint build up. I still have more details to add and these so far are just press fitted in place. Once all are completed only then will I add the deck railing to avoid damage. The horn is painted gray and just set in place for now. For a sense of scale the diagonal braces are .020" brass wire. 
 

 

 
Now off to the dentist for my bi annual cleaning. Maybe she will sharpen them up for turkey day.   
 

Dave, yes I did and of course I always stop by not only you but others as well. I still have a great deal to learn about ships. Yes it must be fun otherwise it becomes just another stress factor; life is too short not to have fun. If not making mistakes one is not trying hard enough to learn.

Sorry Dave it was my intent to educate, not frustrate. 
 
I think I indicated that I was new to shipbuilding and that this was my second ship build. Thank you for your kind words and I am just an old fart that thinks God is in the details and that I just strive to do the best I can when replicating the subject being modeled regardless of what it is to the best of my ability. Hence the work on the gun deck which can be seen when the central grates are lifted.
 
Yes, it looks that I will be building more ships; currently building the Maersk Detroit container ship for my son-in-law. I have also been asked by the local maritime museum to build an LCVP landing craft in 1/12th scale to accompany the Dirty Dozen as part of another display. Then I also have a Mamoli Victory awaiting when I can get around to it. 
 
Looking forward to seeing the finial and the rest of your canopies when completed. Keep up the great effort you are doing.

John, Thank you! Here is a quick "In Progress" showing the painted fixtures with ladders and railing panted. One lesson I have learned is that whenever possible do the spay painting first and then add the ladders to avoid excessive paint build up. I still have more details to add and these so far are just press fitted in place. Once all are completed only then will I add the deck railing to avoid damage. The horn is painted gray and just set in place for now. For a sense of scale the diagonal braces are .020" brass wire. 
 

 

 
Now off to the dentist for my bi annual cleaning. Maybe she will sharpen them up for turkey day.   
 

John, Thank you! Here is a quick "In Progress" showing the painted fixtures with ladders and railing panted. One lesson I have learned is that whenever possible do the spay painting first and then add the ladders to avoid excessive paint build up. I still have more details to add and these so far are just press fitted in place. Once all are completed only then will I add the deck railing to avoid damage. The horn is painted gray and just set in place for now. For a sense of scale the diagonal braces are .020" brass wire. 
 

 

 
Now off to the dentist for my bi annual cleaning. Maybe she will sharpen them up for turkey day.   
 

John, Thank you! Here is a quick "In Progress" showing the painted fixtures with ladders and railing panted. One lesson I have learned is that whenever possible do the spay painting first and then add the ladders to avoid excessive paint build up. I still have more details to add and these so far are just press fitted in place. Once all are completed only then will I add the deck railing to avoid damage. The horn is painted gray and just set in place for now. For a sense of scale the diagonal braces are .020" brass wire. 
 

 

 
Now off to the dentist for my bi annual cleaning. Maybe she will sharpen them up for turkey day.   
 

Just a quick update for Dan. I received the railings and ladders and the railing will work THANKS DAN for your help! Once I saw the size of the railings and ladders I decided the first thing I needed was a new 25 watt soldering iron and then machined the tip to a point to work with tiny drops of solder one at a time. Here is a picture of the tip.
 

 
Next was my first attempt at PE parts this tiny. I picked the easy ones first; the round ones and soldered them to the edges and the top rail edges. I then soldered a length of ladder with one edge on a stanchion and soldered them together; then soldered the other side and cleaned with acetone. I then cut the top two rungs of the ladder away for the opening at the top of the ladder between the rails. Needless to say I have some cleanup and adjusting to do after seeing the pictures, but I am very glad that they are the correct size.
 

 

 
Now back to making the rest of the deck fixtures.