qwerty2008

There is an old electricians trick for getting a draw string through a long conduit run, it's called a vacuum cleaner.
I will look into making some type of adapter to fit my cordless vac to the tubes by way of a clear pvc tube so I can draw the lines through.

I decided to make a spar before I forgot how. 
 
While the shop's still a wreck, and she sits on a cabinet behind the couch, she's too high to fit under the ceiling with her new main t'gallant pole aloft, and has to crouch like she's lying over to a strong breeze.
 
The doubling and truck got painted white, but I still have to make the cap, and of course, the fore and mizzen t'gallant masts.
 
   

Painted the "trays" the servos are mounted on for both Constellation and Macedonian.  The servos were remounted and cotter pins installed to hold the slide rods in place.  Constellation's will get it's fuses, and other electrical items mounted, and holes drilled for it's mounting screws.  The guide holes in the fairlead plates aren't drilled yet,  I'm still trying to find the winch drums I made a while back to be sure the holes line up properly.
 

In reassembling the wiring and such, and testing everything before fastening it down, one of the winch servos just ran and ran.  Assuming it was the servo, I swapped it out with another one and found the problem was I didn't have the plug seated and the signal line wasn't connected.  That's one $45 servo still good, but it also demonstrated the ease of swapping out a servo with this set up:
 

 
Unplug the servo; take off the winch drum; loosen 4 mounting screws, and out it comes.
 
So, here's the servo tray with the wiring installed:
 

 

It's funny once you start looking what you end up finding. My favorite bottles I've gotten from friends but I've found some good ones in thrift stores including a 1950's wine bottle.  I think I may put a 1950's yacht of some sort in that one.  I'm not sure yet.  I've also found bottles while out walking the dog.  I put a xebec in one that I found that way.  
 

I found a great 4 liter with finger loop at my local water store and the best part is that it is already empty.
 
 
 
Lextin.

David B I don't drink either.  The trick is having friends that do.  

Thank you for the likes.
 
Pete, I am melting a few weights every day now, and so far I am up to 25lbs.
 
Steve you are probably right, Apart from the Skipjack launch I am already thinking about the next cutter.
 

 
I felt like getting the trolly finished so worked on it today, it looks a little whimsical but I like the ergonomics of it.
 

 

 
it is a good height for moving to the water.
 

 
Now it just needs a coat of paint. and it will be ready for the cutter's next ballast test.
 
Michael

The keel and ribs have been carefully cut out keeping between the lines to the best of my ability. The keel is being veneered gradually with African Sepili as shown in the picture, using thinned white glue and many clamps side by side. One picture shows the veneered portion of the keel prior to final sanding, I'm happy with the results so far. The ribs/bulkheads are flat on the deck surface so those surfaces will be reference points in regard to marking the centre lines for all ribs/bulkheads. This is the part of the build I'm being very careful to get right so I won't have more problems down the road. 

Thanks for all the likes.
I stopped by the tire store and showed the owner the pictures of the boat in the water and told him that I needed some more weight and could he sell me some more.
 
We went out to the balancing machine and he asked the chap if they had any used weights, yes they had a bucket. I backed up the van and the young lad put it into the van. I asked the owner how much did I owe him $30 dollars he said. When I got home I went to lift it out and was stopped dead in my tracks...the bucket weighs in at 90 plus pounds.
 

 
first thing was to rig up a mould.
 

 
after a quick sweep under the wire wheel the ingot cleans up nicely this one is 2 lbs
 

 
This will be a lot easier to place in the hull.
 
Michael
 
 

Omega, Daniel, John, Yambo, Nils, Grant, Steve, Andy, David, Bob, Edwin, Pete, Lextin, Mark Pearse, Mark Taylor, Druxey, and Denis.
Thank you all for your very encouraging remarks.
Andy said
Druxey said
This is why I have this.
 

 

 
I had anticipated that even 60lbs would need a trolly but I know that with the extra weight I will need to support the model properly as it enters and exits the water.
 
I am going to melt down the tire weights into some triangular section bar stock (Angle Iron mould) that will be more easily placed and removed from the hold., I need to go get some water today so will drop by the tire shop and see if I can get another bucket of used weights.
 
Lextin I do not want to have the issues that doing that would entail
 
Mark yes I agree, Scale finishes are something that we need to pay more attention too I think.
 
Michael
 

Young America - extreme clipper 1853
Part 75 – Lower Deck Finishing/ Middle Deck Beams
 
The finishing touches on the lower deck are finally complete.  The first four pictures show the last stages of the work.  The first picture shows the last section of binding strake being installed.
 

 
As usual the dark area are wet  from washing off excess glue.  The two central planks aft of the after hatch are also being glued.  The opening for the mizzenmast will be cut later.  The next picture shows final planking around the main masts. 
 

 
The planks astride the openings are need for the pillars.  There is not much planking on this deck – to maximize visibility of the hold.  After this final planking, all of the remaining treenails were installed and all of the copper bolts blackened in preparation for finish.
 
In the next picture the starboard side framing has received the first application of wax solution.  The side planking is left unfinished so the hanging knees can be glued.
 

 
The next picture shows a closer view above the forward hatch after the first coat of finish was applied.
 

 
The planks have been cut for the fore mast opening and left unfinished for later gluing of the pillars.
 
The next picture shows fitting of the middle deck beams in progress.
 

 
These have been cut to size, shaped at the ends to match the frames and pinned in place temporarily.  In the next picture all of the full width beams have been pinned in place.
 

 
Ed
 

Thanks, again, for the comments.  On the cargoes, Guy has it quite right - anything that the market demanded - in Gold Rush California that meant just about any saleable commodity.  The hold, lower and upper decks were basically jammed with cargo, the hatches sealed and caulked and usually no one went below the main deck until it was time to unload.  She did make one run from Hong Kong to Manila with 800 coolies aboard and in her last years under Austrian ownership she carried a lot of Pennsylvania crude oil to Trieste.  Attached is a cargo list from her October 1854 voyage from NYC to SF that will give you an idea of typical cargo - if you can decipher it.  Right click and open link to magnify.
 
Ed

Ed....Is this about the time "Store High In Transit" came into use?

No I don't think that I will wish I was that size. I don't know what was going trough my mind but when I made the paper cutout I made it at 1:24th scale not 1:20th scale A new correctly sized cutout is in the works.
 
 
Lextin.

John, Druxey, Lextin, Grant, Omega, Mark, Sherry. Thank you all for your encouragement with all you positive comments. thanks to all those who added likes.
 
Well I needed to get this next part out of my system, so Jude and I went down to the lake with a bucket of used wheel balance weights and the cutter. to get an idea of what I am dealing with, so this was a test not an official launch.
 

 
it took a while to add them all 60lbs a few at a time, the folk on the beach must have thought we were nuts.
 

 
We ran out of weights so I will need to get another bucket or two.
 
Took a few pics of it floating.
 

 

 
and this is my favorite shot of the day.
 

 
A number of lessons learned
 
1. It will be very heavy because I need a lot more weight to get it another 2 1/2 inches lower in the water
2. the weights will need to be set up so that they can be easily added and removed.
3. I will need a launching vehicle with small bicycle wheels to launch after the weights are added.
4 it was not pleasant lifting the boat out of the water with all the weight in it.
5. the weight was more forward than I expected it to be.
6. total weight was 66lbs with the stand
Tomorrow I will empty the weights out of the hold.
 
Michael

I painted the name on the stern. I also made paper cutout of me in 1:20th scale, I look a little short in the picture with the windlass but its just the angle the pic was taken from, the rail actually about waist height.


 
 
Lextin.

I painted the name on the stern. I also made paper cutout of me in 1:20th scale, I look a little short in the picture with the windlass but its just the angle the pic was taken from, the rail actually about waist height.


 
 
Lextin.

She's coming along nicely, Lextin.  You look fit and proper for her.  When she hits the water, I'll wager you'll wish you really were that tall.

I painted the name on the stern. I also made paper cutout of me in 1:20th scale, I look a little short in the picture with the windlass but its just the angle the pic was taken from, the rail actually about waist height.


 
 
Lextin.

I painted the name on the stern. I also made paper cutout of me in 1:20th scale, I look a little short in the picture with the windlass but its just the angle the pic was taken from, the rail actually about waist height.


 
 
Lextin.

Thank you one and all for your thoughts and input regarding the colour.
 
I will add the white waterline when the red and Black are hard.
 

 

 
Michael
 
 

Afraid you will have to wait just a little longer John, and Pete too.
 
Bottom coat done
 

 

 
One thing I learned as a professional model-builder making architectural models is that it is best to remove all masking as soon as is possible while the paint is still soft but flashed off.
 

 
Tonight I will mask the bottom and work on the areas above the waterline. Also this evening I will visit the paint store one last time for the top paint, because I am still not fully convinced that I have the right colour.
 
Michael
 
 
 
 

hello yes I am following your build. im looking forward to her maiden voyage  very nice work   

I finished the windlass.


 
 
Lextin.