Roger Pellett

I’ve restored a number of ship models over the past 27 years and can honestly say you never know what the original builders intent was, you can only guess that what you are about to do is in line with there thoughts.
And with a bit of luck what you add to the model will not be noticeable to the average viewer.
You will find something’s are not able to be fixed or adjusted.
You just have to live with it and not fall in love with the restoration.
once it’s completed everything will be fine.
 

Hi Everyone,  Almost done!  Painted the blue trim/triangles on his sleeves, and some more colors on the hull...... now only the final black paint on the hull and the white feather in his hair remains.
 

 

It’s important to distinguish the difference between a build ways and a drydock. A build way is typically sloped to the water’s edge, and while the ship is built, it doesn’t actually rest on the slipway until just before launching.
 
A drydock is constructed below the level of the water, and does have a flat bottom. It might have some sloped drainage towards the centerline, or to wherever the drain valves are located. Where pumps are not available, drydocks can make use of natural topography to fill and empty. For example, by locating the dock some ways up a river, after closing the gate, the water can be drained to sea level (helps also to do the draining when the sea is at low tide). There is a drydock in Port Weller, Ontario, that is located above the first lock in the Welland canal. It doesn’t use pumps at all. The water is allowed to drain down the 40’ drop into Lake Ontario. 
 
Things haven’t changed too drastically over time so some pre-modern ship launching techniques are similar. Prior to  launching, the slipways (usually a pair of flat beams laid astride the keel (you can see these in the picture of the shipyard model you posted), are well greased with tallow or other lubricants. A pair of special launch cradles are constructed fore and aft. These cradles will bear the weight and balance of the ship when it comes time for the launching. These will slide down the slipway, but are held static by a series of chocks and braces. Once the launch cradles are built and braced in position, the ship is then slowly lowered from its build staging (usually by knocking out the keel blocks) onto to the launch cradles. Any remaining staging is removed, and when the time comes for launching, the chocks are knocked out and the cradles (with the ship) slide down the ways into the water. Typically hawsers or anchor cables are used to arrest the movement of the ship once waterborne.
 
Hope that helps.
 
Andy

I haven’t painted any 54mm for over a year but recently became interested in doing so between work on my current ship modeling project.  Like the kit ship my figure stash has too many figures representing different interests when I bought them.  My first step is to finish my collection of American Civil War figures starting with the last of several mounted Union Cavalry Men.  My objective is to improve my technique before moving onto more difficult subjects. I have outfitted myself with a wet palette, mechanical paint mixer, and fingernail striping brushes should arrive soon.
 
My first subject is the Cavalry horse.  I became interested in trying the technique of “pre-shading” via posts on building a Titanic model here on MSW.  The idea seems to shade selected primed areas with a dark color and then paint over with tin coats of a lighter color.  The horse has large enough areas to allow airbrushing.  Using it on figures might not work.
 
Roger

A while ago, I bought  a set of broaches on Amazon, Made and shipped from England.  They are triangular files without teeth. The smallest is about 1/32” and the largest 1/8”.  They would work for truing up your holes.  They would be less aggressive than than files.
 
 Roger

I haven’t painted any 54mm for over a year but recently became interested in doing so between work on my current ship modeling project.  Like the kit ship my figure stash has too many figures representing different interests when I bought them.  My first step is to finish my collection of American Civil War figures starting with the last of several mounted Union Cavalry Men.  My objective is to improve my technique before moving onto more difficult subjects. I have outfitted myself with a wet palette, mechanical paint mixer, and fingernail striping brushes should arrive soon.
 
My first subject is the Cavalry horse.  I became interested in trying the technique of “pre-shading” via posts on building a Titanic model here on MSW.  The idea seems to shade selected primed areas with a dark color and then paint over with tin coats of a lighter color.  The horse has large enough areas to allow airbrushing.  Using it on figures might not work.
 
Roger

Allan,  Thanks!
 
I’ve been to the New York Yacht Club’s Model Room.  SNAME (The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers) has their annual meeting every fall.  I’ve never been a SNAME member but the University of Michigan’s Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Department always has an event for their alumni during the week that SNAME meets.  One year SNAME was meeting in New York and Michigan had their event in the model room.  I used that opportunity to make a sales call nearby and drove into the city.  As can be imagined, it’s a fabulous collection.
 
Roger

I haven’t painted any 54mm for over a year but recently became interested in doing so between work on my current ship modeling project.  Like the kit ship my figure stash has too many figures representing different interests when I bought them.  My first step is to finish my collection of American Civil War figures starting with the last of several mounted Union Cavalry Men.  My objective is to improve my technique before moving onto more difficult subjects. I have outfitted myself with a wet palette, mechanical paint mixer, and fingernail striping brushes should arrive soon.
 
My first subject is the Cavalry horse.  I became interested in trying the technique of “pre-shading” via posts on building a Titanic model here on MSW.  The idea seems to shade selected primed areas with a dark color and then paint over with tin coats of a lighter color.  The horse has large enough areas to allow airbrushing.  Using it on figures might not work.
 
Roger

A while ago, I bought  a set of broaches on Amazon, Made and shipped from England.  They are triangular files without teeth. The smallest is about 1/32” and the largest 1/8”.  They would work for truing up your holes.  They would be less aggressive than than files.
 
 Roger

A while ago, I bought  a set of broaches on Amazon, Made and shipped from England.  They are triangular files without teeth. The smallest is about 1/32” and the largest 1/8”.  They would work for truing up your holes.  They would be less aggressive than than files.
 
 Roger

I haven’t painted any 54mm for over a year but recently became interested in doing so between work on my current ship modeling project.  Like the kit ship my figure stash has too many figures representing different interests when I bought them.  My first step is to finish my collection of American Civil War figures starting with the last of several mounted Union Cavalry Men.  My objective is to improve my technique before moving onto more difficult subjects. I have outfitted myself with a wet palette, mechanical paint mixer, and fingernail striping brushes should arrive soon.
 
My first subject is the Cavalry horse.  I became interested in trying the technique of “pre-shading” via posts on building a Titanic model here on MSW.  The idea seems to shade selected primed areas with a dark color and then paint over with tin coats of a lighter color.  The horse has large enough areas to allow airbrushing.  Using it on figures might not work.
 
Roger

Paul,  My thoughts exactly.  I believe that Peking was not scrapped but was sent to Hamburg, Germany and restored.
 
Roger

One of people who rigged Wavertree used to be a MSW member.  He went by the name of Jersey City Frankie.  He has not posted for several years but if you are interested you should be able to find a series of his posts about rigging her.  Use the Search function.

The clippers, and Wavertree, were tramps.  Unlike the packets that sailed to England from New York, they didn’t sail on fixed schedules.  When in port they would advertise for cargos and sail when full. Stays in port could be lengthy depending on economic conditions.  It was, therefore, common to strike sails and rigging not required to handle yards below.  Sails and rigging were expensive and subject to damage by the elements.  Labor was cheap.
 
 
Re; The rust bucket comment: Visiting New York sometime between 2015 and 2019 I made a point of visiting South Street Seaport.  To say the least, I was disappointed.  Exhibits in what is supposed to be the museum itself were minimal.  I thought that Wavertree was nicely restored but I don’t recall being able to visit other ships.  Unless something dramatic has happened in the last five years, New York still lacks a first class museum dealing with it’s important maritime heritage.
 
Roger

The museum at Portsmouth, I believe it’s now called the Royal Navy Museum used to have a full sized realistic figure of Admiral Nelson in his full dress uniform.  It was arranged so you didn’t see it until you came around a corner.  It was quite startling.  He appeared to be much smaller than we usually visualize such heroic people.
 
Maybe a Lady Hamilton to keep him company? 😀
 
Roger

I believe that everything being hand made should also be a selling feature. In this case it’s also cheaper as it  appears that you are donating time and materials.  Printing materials and labor would be out of pocket costs.
 
I join others in lifting my virtural hat to you!  Building 13 of the same model !
 
Roger

One of people who rigged Wavertree used to be a MSW member.  He went by the name of Jersey City Frankie.  He has not posted for several years but if you are interested you should be able to find a series of his posts about rigging her.  Use the Search function.

The clippers, and Wavertree, were tramps.  Unlike the packets that sailed to England from New York, they didn’t sail on fixed schedules.  When in port they would advertise for cargos and sail when full. Stays in port could be lengthy depending on economic conditions.  It was, therefore, common to strike sails and rigging not required to handle yards below.  Sails and rigging were expensive and subject to damage by the elements.  Labor was cheap.
 
 
Re; The rust bucket comment: Visiting New York sometime between 2015 and 2019 I made a point of visiting South Street Seaport.  To say the least, I was disappointed.  Exhibits in what is supposed to be the museum itself were minimal.  I thought that Wavertree was nicely restored but I don’t recall being able to visit other ships.  Unless something dramatic has happened in the last five years, New York still lacks a first class museum dealing with it’s important maritime heritage.
 
Roger

Our local Solid Waste Disposal Site, aka “The Dump” has a large section where visitors can take away items thrown away by others.  The stuff is free.  They have one entire building full of furniture.   Next time I go there I’ll have to see if I can find any mahogany.  It’s probably all veneer but Duluth does have a large number of old very large homes, once residences to wealthy families, so maybe I’ll strike gold.
 
Roger

I think that this old U S Navy expression must apply to you Steven:
 
”If you can’t get your job done during the 24 hour day, work nights!”
 
Or perhaps days are longer Down Under.
 
😀😀😀😀
Roger

The museum at Portsmouth, I believe it’s now called the Royal Navy Museum used to have a full sized realistic figure of Admiral Nelson in his full dress uniform.  It was arranged so you didn’t see it until you came around a corner.  It was quite startling.  He appeared to be much smaller than we usually visualize such heroic people.
 
Maybe a Lady Hamilton to keep him company? 😀
 
Roger

The museum at Portsmouth, I believe it’s now called the Royal Navy Museum used to have a full sized realistic figure of Admiral Nelson in his full dress uniform.  It was arranged so you didn’t see it until you came around a corner.  It was quite startling.  He appeared to be much smaller than we usually visualize such heroic people.
 
Maybe a Lady Hamilton to keep him company? 😀
 
Roger

The museum at Portsmouth, I believe it’s now called the Royal Navy Museum used to have a full sized realistic figure of Admiral Nelson in his full dress uniform.  It was arranged so you didn’t see it until you came around a corner.  It was quite startling.  He appeared to be much smaller than we usually visualize such heroic people.
 
Maybe a Lady Hamilton to keep him company? 😀
 
Roger

Marquardt shows 6 long guns - 4 x 6lb  2x9lb  1x 6lb boat carronade on a turning base - forecastle.  1x 4lb Howitzer
The 6 long guns were trussed and on the main deck.  No sign of a location for the Howitzer - it may have been stored below until required for  use in what stood for the main launch.
The long guns were clutter and mostly in the way.  Once England was out of site, I would consider parking them in the hold were I having FitzRoy's job.  Running them out would be pointless.   Any locals who might physically object to the English trespassers  would probably find the carronade to be a sufficient discouragement.
The U.S.Ex.Ex. used a gun to measure distance when mapping.   The home ship would fire a gun,  someone on a launch would use a stopwatch to measure the difference between the flash and the sound.  The carronade would be perfect if Beagle used this method.

The museum at Portsmouth, I believe it’s now called the Royal Navy Museum used to have a full sized realistic figure of Admiral Nelson in his full dress uniform.  It was arranged so you didn’t see it until you came around a corner.  It was quite startling.  He appeared to be much smaller than we usually visualize such heroic people.
 
Maybe a Lady Hamilton to keep him company? 😀
 
Roger

As is the case with very many MSW models. Fortunately age is gradually deskilling many of us. Soon authentic representations will become more common.

Hello All,
Thanks for the comments, Keith Black, Jim Lad and Canute.  Thanks all for the likes.
 
Time for a small update.  Most of the super structure is now in its final color.  Started applying decals.  Everything is only sitting in place, not glued.  I will not fasten much down until the end of the build as there will be more assemblies going over the superstructure and things may get complicated.
Added towing bitts.  Some detail (including the pin for the fire monitor) can be seen through the window openings after all, at least for now.
And I promise the next New York Harbor boat will not be red.
Looking at one of these pictures I notice a small door is missing.  I'm off to look for it.
 
Thanks for looking,
mcb