joshukr

Thanks for pointing that out to me, I copied Skerry Amp's header and forgot to change the name. ha ha.
 
I am studying Industrial/Organizational Psychology at East Carolina University. Ever heard of that degree? 

Welcome to MSW Josh! It is good to see a fellow North Carolinian join the group! Your build looks great so far. Keep up the good work and good luck! 

This is my first build, I haven't been able to work on it much as of late due to grad school taking up all my time. But I am going to post pictures and some info. Hopefully I'll be able to get a little work on it done here and there, I know I will have many many questions as I progress along.
 
 
 
 

 
 
The typical first picture.
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Getting started with the build. 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
The shape is coming together.
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Adding the planks.
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Lots of sanding happened here.
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
First look of the inside.
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
And we are up to date. If anyone sees anything that I might have missed or needs fixing, please don't hesitate to let me know. This is after all my fist build ever. I am always open to criticism and suggestions.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I see that I am going to have to do some soldering, I have never done this, and I don't have any of the tools. What do I need to get to do a good job and make my life as easy as possible.
 
 
 
 
 
-joshukr-
 

It is really coming along nicely. You have impressive skills. I look forward to following your build.

Augie,
 
It is looking great, you have such a skill for attention to detail, very impressed.
 
-josh

You Skipjack is looking good. I am about at the exact same place as you on my Willie build. Unfortunately the site crashed but I will get my build log back up here hopefully in the next few weeks. Your lines and precision looks great. Well done. This is my first build so I am sure I will have lots of questions for you on how you did this or how you did that. 
 
-joshukr-

After drilling the holes for the dummy cannons I pulled them out and I've switched back to lighting. Was finally able to get some video showing some of the lighting on the lower gun deck. Have come to some conclusions on the lighting and the placement of where the beam from the LED hits the inside image and reflects those colours.
 
The camera picks up subtle colour changes in the gun ports and seems to magnify them. Looks like I've got a multi-coloured light show. To the live eye, (opposed to a dead eye)  it does not seem to be as pronounced and actually blends. I see what is happening. Depending upon the point of the background image that the LED is shining upon, the colour of that spot is what is magnified by the camera colour perception. My conclusion is that it does matter where the placement of the LED beam of light will be illuminating the gun ports. I didn't think it would matter. I can't change it now but anyone putting LED's into the gun ports should try to allow for that angle of reflection. (Hope this makes sense)
 

this is a test
 
[you tube]
[/you tube]

So.. I'm breathing again.
 
After madly whittling down some cherry wood strip, I successfully finished the fore topgallant mast.  Whew... glad that's over with...
 
So for the record.. a few pics, first off, the carnage of broken spars (including what I hope will be the last known photo of the infamous minty mast)
 
Then, the final results for the fore and main topgallant masts.
 
And a few pictures of them dry fit in place...
 
Now just waiting on a few extra bits to arrive in the mail, and I can begin the lower standing rigging... I hope...
 
Andy

The standing rigging on the mainmast has basically been completed.  This included the main topgallant shrouds, stay and backstays as well as the main royal stay and backstays.  I never realized that some standing rigging was actually adjustable as is the case with the royal backstays which run through blocks down to belaying pins on the rail. The tackles actually WORK!  (Sorry about the lack of focus on the first 2 pics).
 

 

 
Seeing as we're tying off to the pin rack, I decided to try my hand at making some loose rope coils for the belaying pins.  Toward that end, I constructed this highly sophisticated jig.  About 5 coils of line, a dab of CA and voila!  I'm not sure if this qualifies me as a neophyte 'darksider'
 

 
Time for a long distance shot.  Note that what appears to be a fore royal stay running to the bowsprit is just a temporary brace set to help tensioning to lines on the stays from the mainmast.  As nothing went 'boing' I think we're OK.
 
Which reminds me of something I forgot to post in the re-post of this abbreviated log.  All of the belaying pin rails and channels were pinned with 28 guage wire during construction (thanks Chuck).
 
 

 
Concerning the rake of the mainmast, I had previously determined from the plans that it was approximately 5 degrees aft.  Well, as they say, the proof is in the pudding.  So at this point measuring from ball truck to ball truck I get 9  1/8" which precisely matches the plans.  So assuming the mast holes in the deck were drilled in the right place, I finally got something right.  I believe this is a FIRST.
 
At any rate, this rigging thing is an absolute blast!  Haven't had so much fun since coppering.  Or maybe planking.  Or maybe........
 
Now we move on to a total repeat on the standing rigging for the foremast.  Hopefully, we will already have improved a bit.
Be back when the cursed ratlines are completed on the upper fore shrouds.
 
Everyone stay well.  And build straight  

Here are the completed shrouds.
 

 

 
And here are the lower fore and main mast stays.  I've got to get better at tying those lanyards!
 

 
 

Thought it might be time to place the masts in temporarily and see what she's going to look like.
 

 
You can see that Syren is almost as tall as she is long!!!!!
 
 

Hey Josh,  I know I am late to the party - been in home remodeling limbo;   but your Willie looks awesome!!  Nice to see more of them cropping up;  maybe we can start a Skipjack armada !! 
 
 
 
 
-Adam

popeye,
 
It is looking good, great detail and a novice shipbuilder like myself really appreciates the photos, I am able to learn a lot from them. Thank you. Keep up the good work, for what it's worth, I think it looks great.

Not knowing any better... I built this " Harvey"  right out of the box  - no modifications

Thank you for your comments Joshukr, I'll be looking out for your build once you get it posted back up. That's a nice kit you'er doing.
Frank

Neat build, Cannons look great. Frames also look great.
 
-joshukr-

Thursday, May 17th 2012

I decided to remove the bow filler segments and replace them with larger ones, so they will fill the front of the bow and make it easier for me when I start planking.

This was not a very productive week for the Half Moon.  But I made some progress.


I glued the transom on the frame, keeping the lower surface leveled for the triangular connecting board, which is also glued in place, secured with the help of a rubber band. Could not find a place to use a clamp for this one.


I was not happy with the small bow filler segments the kit provided, so I removed them and replaced them for larger ones, made out of balsa.
Did a lot of sanding to get them in the right shape.  They are glued in place, but need a little more sanding to get them just right.

The beak head platform is still not glued. I will wait until I'm sure it is not in the way for my new 'bashed' bow.

I fitted the masts, but they won't stand in line. Only when I give them a little help with toothpicks, they will continue to stand up straight and in line.
I can shape the bottom of the deck, so they will come in line. But that's a too narrow space to work. Instead I will use sticky paper or tape to wind round the bottom of the masts, so they will fit better before I glue them in place.

Sorry, no pictures of that yet     Later, I promise.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Monday, May 28th 2012
 
From the deck planks, provided in the kit, about 11 of them weren't straight. That was a bit too much   So I did away with them, into the spare wood parts section.
From the left over wood parts I found other planks which were straight, but of a lightly darker color.

I tried to do the caulking on the main deck with thread, but that wasn't a success. After sanding the thread kept coming loose and fuzzy. So I removed the thread. The decks now all have their layer of varnish. The lines are clearly visible, so I'm not sure if I will caulk the deck.

As you can clearly see in the pictures the main mast was made from a different type of wood then the other masts. So I did away with this one as well. And yes, I also found a new one in the spare wood parts sectionwhich was made from the same wood and had the correct size. I'm happy   

While the decks are drying I made the gun ports. But no, I will not place them yet. First I have to fare the hull.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Friday, June 1st 2012
 
No update yet. But I came across a picture of the deck of the Half Moon. Just wanted to share with you.
 

 
 
Sunday, June 3rd 2012
 
The main deck looked good at first sight. But when you look closely, you can see that the horizontal lines aren't straight. And after a second layer of varnish, it looked even worse   I knew it was going to irritate me when I left
it like that. So, I decided to strip the deck from it's planks. But no more spare ones to choose from. So, I had to go and buy new planks for the main deck. And then I will plank it with straight lines. Let's just say it's good practice for planking and cutting planks straight.

Yes, I did mark of the deck. But my problem is I can't seem to cut straight.  For cutting straight lines I now use my cuttingboard. It has horizontal and vertical lines. So no more 'excuses' to not cut straight.

The shop only had dark strips of wood (mahogany), so I ended up having to replace the planking of the other three little decks as well.
I stripped the main deck and sanded it for a smooth surface. The three little decks were sanded smooth with the sander.

After the first layer of varnish was dry, I rubbed a thin layer of dark stain on the decks.
The decks are in place, but not glued yet. I first had to make sure the masts will still fit the holes.


 

 

 

 

 
 

Monday, June 25th 2012
 
From one frame I had to remove the tops. The tops were straight on the outside, instead of obliquely to the other frames. So I removed them and made new ones. They turned out ok.

I glued the gun ports in place and measured them to the right size. The edges of the gun ports still need more sanding to make them  the right size.

I dreaded having to do it, but I could no longer postpone it. I now, had to begin the first planking. The planks are 1.5 mm thick and 5 mm wide. The planks that cover the gun ports were measured and cut to the approximate size before gluing them in place. Because I also used short planks at the bow, a few planks tore. The likely cause is that the planks were too short to enable the forces acting on the flexure to spread out. The other planks that were placed on top and under the gun ports were used in full length and they didn’t tore. But it is still an adventure in itself.

In between cutting, wetting, drying and gluing the planks, I made the ladders, gratings, capstan and the boat. In my opinion I think the boat is a little to big for the deck. It's hard to tell, because not
all the deck fittings are made. So I will see.

I also found myself a new wood filler to use. It's from Deluxe, a model lite wood filler that is extremely lightweight and sands easily.

I really don't know why I'm telling you this, but the can of stain is so darn hard to open ...... The last time I used it, my hands were all covered with the brown stain. I grabbed an empty jar of applesauce and
poured the stain in. This jar is so easy to open. 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Sunday, August 12th 2012
 
First planking is finally finished. I made mistakes and errors in judgement with this planking. It isn't looking the way it should, and it has given me a lot of headaches  especially the bow section.
That is also why you see lines of demarcation in the planking there instead of just one plank length.  This has become a 1st degree 'haphazard planking job'.

It will need a lot of sanding, filling, more sanding and modeling to get a nice smooth surface for my second planking.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Sunday, September 2nd 2012
 
Filling and sanding is finished.

I painted the inside of the gunports. I’m a miserable painter, I know and I’m sorry.   That is why the gunports don’t look square anymore, but they are.

The bow does look terrible, I know, but it has a smooth surface for the second planking.
I didn’t want to show you this at first, but I thought, what the heck. You may all know and see that the bow was the hardest part to do.
And after the second planking ...... no one will ever know how bad it looked, except for us here.

I sorted out all the planks so I will not make a mistake placing them in the correct order. Made a picture of how it will look.
 
I have planked the stern (upper, middle and lower part). The different woods used is difficult to see (tanganika, walnut, tanganika).
But that might change after a layer of varnish. Edges still need to be sanded. That’s my chore for today.

For the wale there is only one peace of walnut board 2x2 mm. That is one short. But I will find another one somewhere in the spare parts section.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Sunday, January 6th 2013
 
The edges of the stern planking are sanded.
The side strips and the stem and stem knee are glued in place.

Second planking on the port side lower hull is finished. It went better then expected.
But I ran out of tanganika board for the starboard side. So I have to email Corel if they will send me some.

The color of the lower hull is to light for my liking, so I will stain it in a darker color.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Friday, January 11nd 2013
 
Today I received my package from Corel. Talking about great service....  
The new strips are even better then the ones supplied with the kit. 
 
Now I can continue the planking.
 
Sunday, February 17th 2013
 
YES, Finished uploading my build log 
 
To be continued ……….
 

 

OK, we've played this tune before on the main mast but now we've moved forward!  In spite of Sjors recent allegations, I did not 'forget' to rig the foremast.
 
The upper foremast shrouds, shear strips/futtocks, cleats, sister blocks and catharpins are complete.  Even better, the last of the ratlines have been tied.  I am stuck as to which title to bestow upon myself........'King of the Clove Hitch' or Edward Tweezerhands.    Anja can now return!!!!
 
We shall now be moving on to the more sweeping aspects of the forward standing rigging.  Looking forward to seeing the bowsprit once again