clarkt
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About clarkt
- Birthday 09/13/1948
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catopower reacted to a post in a topic:
Where to buy wood
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mtaylor reacted to a post in a topic:
Where to buy wood
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I agree with Bill Hudson about Gilmer Wood in Portland. They are aware of modeler's needs, are knowledgeable and easy to work with.
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clarkt reacted to a post in a topic:
Where to buy wood
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clarkt reacted to a post in a topic:
To varnish copper plates or not to varnish?
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mtaylor reacted to a post in a topic:
Need AL HMS Bounty rigging instructions
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Need AL HMS Bounty rigging instructions
clarkt replied to Willem Basson's topic in Wood ship model kits
I used the book "The Armed Transport Bounty" by John McKay from the Anatomy of the Ship series to rig my model of Columbia Rediviva, a similar vessel. It is quite detailed; better than other AOTS books. -
Canute reacted to a post in a topic:
Ropes of Scale developments and updates
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mtaylor reacted to a post in a topic:
Ropes of Scale developments and updates
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Dave_E reacted to a post in a topic:
Ropes of Scale developments and updates
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BenD reacted to a post in a topic:
Ropes of Scale developments and updates
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Glad your business is doing well, and hope you will continue to make cotton rope.
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Laser cutting services?
clarkt replied to Jsk's topic in CAD and 3D Modelling/Drafting Plans with Software
I have also wondered about custom laser cutting, but of sheet brass rather than wood. I'm thinking particularly of preventer links for the chains (on deadeyes) and swivel gun yokes. But if I was making an order I could probably think of other parts. Are such services available? -
Looking for plans or possible models of Magellan's ships.
clarkt replied to J11's topic in Nautical/Naval History
I built a model of Victoria, based largely on the plans for Santa Maria in Xavier Pastor's "Ships of Christopher Columbus" in the Anatomy of the Ship series, but with some significant alterations. According to my research, the stern construction had changed from the "stern tuck" to a transom style. There was a substantial main topsail and a fore topsail. (Elcano's log records that the fore topsail was carried away off the coast of West Africa on the last leg of the circumnavigation.) The ships had cressets, rather than lanterns on the stern. A boat on the Victoria normally had a crew of twelve. These are some of the best items I found while researching the ship, in S. E . Morison"s "The Great Explorers," J. H. Parry's "The Age of Reconnaissance" (Parry has written several good books on the subject,) Joseph Wheatley's "Historic Sail," and many others. I also read the Pigafetta account but it has virtually no information about the ships. Of course, there is a lot of conjecture but you can make a reasonable representation and learn a lot about the ships in the process. -
The tool I use virtually every day is my Mitutoyo digital calipers.
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You might try using the Sculpy to make a "maquette," to get an idea of how your figure will look and to become familiar with the body proportions. Then make the piece out of boxwood. David Antscherl describes the process very well in The Fully Framed Model, HMN Swan Class Sloops 1767-1780, Vol. II, pp 243 to 255. I think the Sculpy is too gooey to make a finished piece that you will want to display. I also tried to shape a piece of Corian countertop material, thinking that it would be easier with no wood grain issues, but it was too hard and didn't work well. The boxwood is, of course, great to work with. While it is a difficult project, the results can be rewarding. All this at 1:48 scale. Smaller might be unrealistically challenging, although I'm sure it's been done.
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Phoenician ships were known to be, at least partially, black. They had the great good fortune to have access to natural (petroleum ) tar, still a good sealant, if you have nothing else. I think paint in the early days of sailing was used solely to change color and add decoration. At some point, as quality improved, they realized that it could also seal the wood against the deteroriating effects of the weather and seawater. It would be natural for captains to protect whatever they could, that way, and I imagine that some went pretty far with the technique. The idea of painting anything not moving, I believe, came along with the all steel ships.
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Santa Maria detailed rigging plans needed
clarkt replied to Richard Moise's topic in Wood ship model kits
The Anatomy of the Ship series book The Ships of Christopher Columbus by Xavier Pastor has a fairly comprehensive rigging plan for Santa Maria, although any plan from this period has got to be speculative. It would probably be worth it to use more than one source. -
I have really enjoyed casting anchors, and some other things from soft metal. Micromark has everything you need.
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The corded Dremel was one of the first tools I got when I started building models and I still use it almost every day. It is hung from the ceiling along with a flex shaft. I use most of the same bits and heads as Mr. Bordelau shows in his post, especially drill bits, mostly the carbide type, lately. I have thought of replacing it with a Foredom if the Dremel ever wears out. Still going strong after about 25 years. Also, the Dremel handpiece seems to be smaller and handier than any of the ones available from Foredom. A friend gave me a small rechargeable Dremel but it has no power at all.
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On the use of steel parts in modelmaking
clarkt replied to starlight's topic in Metal Work, Soldering and Metal Fittings
Several years ago, I bought some blackened annealled steel wire and used it to make some hooks, etc. Since then the cut ends have rusted. It was a mistake. If you want an unfinished steel look, inconel safety wire is available which will not corrode at all. -
I made blocks using the method shown in Zu Mondfeld for a few years but it was always pretty haphazard with varying results. However I went all in for the very systematic process developed by William Sproule which he described in the Nautical Research Journal (Vol. 61, No. 3, Fall 2016.) It does require a good mini table saw, and an X-Y table with some sort of drill press, but the blocks can be excellent.
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The levers are an interesting idea. Never saw that before.
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What you say makes perfect sense. I had considered the difficulty of moving the backstays but know that the crews were capable of some amazing things. You could drop the gaff and move quickly but probably not quickly enough. I intend now to put backstays on both sides, although I'm still surprised the draftsman left out those details when he was so thorough, otherwise. Thank you for your helpful input.
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