qwerty2008

Not an update on my model, but more an update on me. A couple weeks ago I went out and bought myself a car. funny thing is that I went in looking at Honda Civics and came out with a jeep.
 
 
Lextin.

I added the sheer pole.  It is lashed to the outside of the shrouds above the deadeyes.  I painted it black but it could have been left natural also.  It is just a 1/32" x 1/32" strip with the edges rounded off a bit.
 
Then I started the ratlines with .012 rope.  You dont want to go heavy with these. The outside shrouds are simple square knots.  But I used clove hitches on each inside shrouds.  I urge folks to use them rather than simply tie a knot on all four shrouds.  The lines hang much better.  Its easy to do.
 

 

 
I used a card with both horizontal lines and lines to show the shrouds.  Its not enough to just use horizontal lines.   Having the shrouds drawn on the card will make it easier to watch your progress.  You dont want to gradually pull the shrouds in.  That hourglass shape for shrouds on a model is the kiss of death.  This helps you keep them straight and not pull them in as you progress.  I found it better to leave the ratlines a little loose rather than pull them tight and I try to shape them after its done.  
 

 
Only some watered down white glue was applied on the knots of the outer shrouds only.   The two inner shrouds have no glue at all.  I waited until a series of rows were complete so I could adjust them before adding the glue.  You can also see that I finally cut off all the loose ends at the belaying points after re-tensioning the lines and I added rope coils to the belaying points.
 

 
Now its time to start the ratlines on the starboard side.  Yay for me.  Merry Christmas everyone!!!
 
Chuck

Insert some wire the same size as the I.D. of the tube.  Then roll an xacto blade over it.  See this video even though they didnt stick a wire into it.....thats the best way though.
 

If it's a short length of tube, the wire will capture it and prevent the piece from flying off into the 5th dimension.

Thank you for the kind words guys.
 
The lower backstays are completed so next up was to make the sling and then add the mainstay.
 

 
The sling for the lower yard is served its entire length.  I used .035 dark brown rope.  It has a thimble seized to it with a hook made of 22 gauge wire and eyes formed on each loose end.  After determining the length for the loose ends I formed the eyes and you can see how the eyes close up the sling by being inter-twined.  I originally thought it would be easier to make the sling off the model.   Which it was.  BUT there were trade-offs.  This meant that I had to unhook all of the blocks on the mast to get it in position.  That wasnt too bad BUT afterwards I discovered that the sling wasnt long enough to get around the forward spreader.
 

 
This was bad.  I either had to cut the sling off and make another one...rigging it in place.....OR, try to carefully remove the forward spreader.  I ended up removing the spreader without any damage.  BUT I wouldnt recommend this to all the Cheerful builders out there.  Best to rig it in place.
 
The main stay was rigged from .054 dark brown rope.  It was served around the masthead only down to about 1/2" below the splice.  Thats right....a splice rather than a mouse.   This was very common on cutters of the period and appears much more often on contemporary examples than the one or two found with a mouse.
 
  
 
The other end of the stay had the 5-hole deadeye turned into it.  The lanyard was rove through it as usual but the loose end was taken up around the stay once and then finally seized to the stay as shown.  I used very fine fly-tie thread for this.  It finished it off nicely.
 

 
Now that the main stay is completed I can go back to all these loose ends at the belaying points and re-tension the lines.   After that I will cut off the excess and add rope coils....
 

 

 
Next up....ratlines!!!!!

Today I finished the standing rigging.
 

 
Once the ratlines were done I only had to rig the topmast shrouds and the topmast stay.
 

 
Even though I have shown the topmast backstay on the plans,  I did not rig them.  I just wanted to show what they would look like.  Only under rare conditions were they used.  I have never seen a contemporary model with them rigged and the straps on the side of the hull are always left empty.  So I decided to follow suit.  I think it ruins the look of the model a bit as well and this is more in keeping with what everyone is used to seeing.
 

 

 

 
Next up I will start the running rigging.   Its getting close!!!!

Al
 
Unfortunately I cant add to an order already submitted.  Its protection for you and your CC's are deleted immediately after the order is finalized.
 
This is how the traveler ring looks after rigging it.  The jibsail and foresail rigging is now completed.  All that remains to rig are the two yards....once I make them.   That will complete the rigging and then its the final stretch with a few additional details....anchors....flag....boarding ropes......and she is officially done. 
 

 

Mike
 
You will have to show me when you drop by the shop.   Today I am preparing to start the running rigging.  The first thing I did was make all of the hooks and also prepare the traveler ring for the jib rigging.  The traveler ring has both a shackle and a hook.  A simple version is shown on the plans but I will be using the traveler ring available "ready made" at Syren Ship Model Company.    It is ready to use right out of the package.  It has a 3/8" inside diameter.  They can be finicky things to make.
 
Now if I only remembered to slip one of these on the bowsprit before I finished the standing rigging!!!!   No worry though.   I will be able to assemble one in place.
 

 
Chuck

Thank you fellows for your kind comments and to those who clicked the like button.
Yup, life gets in the way of pleasure but the unpleasant parts will ease off some.  Still busy with domestic chores, garden mostly and haven't even touched my neighbor's chair for a few weeks.
 
Well, in between all the busy stuff I have been able to finish another sketch of a lion head. It's still not quite right but I'll keep massaging it some more.  Right now he looks like he's yawning.
I have another one started and hopefully he looks acceptable to ise as a model.  then i need to draw one up in profile, which is more important for the carving.
 
Here is pic, just so all yuns know I'm still alive a kicking
 

 
Cheers,

Thank you Lawrence for dropping in and your very kind words.  To put your mind at ease, the Surabaya build is just half way to completion.  There is still a lot of carving to be done, the ship's boats and then the rigging.  It'll be finished before I go to Davy Jone's locker
 
I have been very busy in the last few weeks, no time to devote at the bench.  I started to draw out the ship's boats to fit the ship, 1:80 scale.  The boat will be 30 Amsterdam feet long and 8 feet 6 inches in the beam.  The sloop will be 26 feet 6 inches long and 7 feet in the beam - also in Amsterdam feet. I plan to install the anchor winch and fully rigged.  That way I can put it next to the ship on the display board.
When I wanted to use my 1 1/2 year old Epson printer it would not print.  I tried to clean the printer heads but that didn't help.
 
In the meantime weeds and extra growth started to take over the yard and needed a lot of work.  The lawn is being attacked by bugs and now also fungus.  Off to the store to by "stuff" and hope to safe the lawn.
 
Then two weeks ago a very good friend of ours told us that she has breast cancer in both breasts.  One is already quite advanced.  The oncologist kinda scared the daylight out of her and wanted to immediately do a double mastectomy. I urged her to get a second opinion which she did and may start on an estrogen hormone protocol.  I am not familiar with that one and am a little concerned.  I spend the last two weeks digging through my cancer archive and gave her pages full of proven natural herbal protocols that have a proven 99% survival record. She may go to a holistic MD type for another opinion.  She is right now rather down and scared.  She is the primary caretaker of her husband who is struggling with severe type II diabetes with one amputated leg.
 
Okay, sorry for this long off topic cry story and back to ship building.  While I am trying to make up my mind about what to do with my printer (probably buying a new one) I started to make a few sketches of  bow lion version 2.0.  I told all yuns that I was not happy with the first try so it was back to the drawing table
I made one face on that still needs to be developed some more but thought to let yuns know that I didn't fall off the earth. Life has a way of throwing monkey wrenches into the works.  Once I am satisfied with the looks I plan to make a sketch from the side.  I kinda used our little cat as a model and a small plastic lion I picked up at the arts and craft store.
 
Okay, here is the pic of my draft sketch.
 

 
Cheers,

Nope, I left the batteries out.

Nope, I left the batteries out.

It's sad, Lextin.  But at least it will be protected while you're out having an adventure.  

I hope there aren't any batteries in there anywhere

The sadness sets in, knowing that I've sealed the Byzantium into a grey tomb that knows no light and it will not be seen again for several years.
 
 
 
 
Lextin.

I just graduated Tech school and am heading home. I will probably crate up the Byzantium while I'm there.
 
 
 
Lextin
 
 
Ps I am no longer an airmen basic. A got airmen first class today.

I just graduated Tech school and am heading home. I will probably crate up the Byzantium while I'm there.
 
 
 
Lextin
 
 
Ps I am no longer an airmen basic. A got airmen first class today.

Port Side Paint: (37:00 hours)
 
 
 
 
 
 
When done with the planking I proceeded to stain the wood above the waterline and paint it white below the waterline. I still need to do some touching up on the color. Question: Should I paint the wales with thinned black paint or leave them natural? or even dye them with India ink?
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lextin.

Cutting the Bulkheads: (3.00 hours)
 
 
The plans (sheets 4-15) where printed then glued to a sheet of 1/4 inch Birch plywood which I then proceeded to cut on the bandsaw. As the plans were made for 5mm ply I had to cut the slots in the bulkheads a bit wider then they where men't to be, needless to say this took a bit of practice to get right so some fit a little loose and had to be shimmed with card stock. 
 



 
 
 
 
 
Lextin.

I have finished basic training and am now in tech school. Though I can't work on my models here I can finally use the internet so I will pop in here from time to time.
 
 
 
AB Hayes.

I use a Dremel for most the powered work on my models but also have a cheap Harbor Freight rotary tool which is smaller and lighter but not as powerful or accurate as the Dremel. The bit that I use the most is the sanding drum with the coarse sandpaper. You can use any brand of bits as long as they have an 1/8" diameter shaft, Harbor Freight sells several sets of accessories for a reasonable price, if you don't live near a Harbor Freight there's always eBay.
 
 
 
Lextin.

Mark: I am at Sheppard AFB Texas. And am getting trained in aircraft hydrolic systems.
 
Patrick: Yes AB is my rank, it stands for airmen basic.
 
 
Lextin.

Mark: I am at Sheppard AFB Texas. And am getting trained in aircraft hydrolic systems.
 
Patrick: Yes AB is my rank, it stands for airmen basic.
 
 
Lextin.

Hey Lextin
 
I've also been wondering how you've been going, too. I hope you're enjoying it!
 
BTW what does "AB" stand for?  Is it your rank?
 
Cheers
 
Patrick 

It's great to hear from you.  What tech school are you in and what specialty are getting trained in?