Chuck

With several of you folks starting to rig the longboat I figured it would be good to post these images of a rigged longboat from the NMM.  And before anyone remarks how they may be copyright...I checked into the images and they are not as long as you credit the NMM.
 
SO....."These images are provided generously from the NMM for our educational use"  and are not stored in our database.  Our site is pulling the images direct from the NMM site.  We are just pointing to what is already made available to the public.
Collection images must always credit ‘National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London’ and link to the original collection record on the NMM collections website. Collections OnlineThe NMM has developed an Application Programming Interface (API) to make it easy for individuals and organisations to share its collection records and images with the public. If you need to download more than 25 images at a time, you are encouraged to use the API.
Collection images must always credit ‘National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London’ and link to the original collection record on the NMM collections website. Do not make an unreasonable number of API calls or compromise the experience of other users. As a guide, you should make no more than 3000 calls per day and no more than one request per second. We may place more formal limits on the API in the future. The maximum allowed enlargement of images is 1200 pixels along the longest length of the image. Do note that these images are made available for non-commercial use only. Please contact the Picture Library if you would like to use the NMM’s collection records under different conditions.
 
Got that out of the way.
 
 
Enjoy.  They show the rigging very clearly.  Click on them and they are even larger.
 
Chuck
 

That rigging plan has some serious errors.  The masts and spar are Ok but Crothers arbitrarily added rails and other belaying points all over the place.  The most obvious being the rail at the forecastle bow.  I would take it with a serious grain of salt.  Dave used it for the masts and spars but we talked about the rigging while he was doing it.  There were plenty of weird things going on with the hull construction too if you examine the plans closely.  I dont like to speak badly of others plans and research but a great deal of what he conjectured on those those plans is clearly a "hail-Mary" guess.
 
Chuck

That rigging plan has some serious errors.  The masts and spar are Ok but Crothers arbitrarily added rails and other belaying points all over the place.  The most obvious being the rail at the forecastle bow.  I would take it with a serious grain of salt.  Dave used it for the masts and spars but we talked about the rigging while he was doing it.  There were plenty of weird things going on with the hull construction too if you examine the plans closely.  I dont like to speak badly of others plans and research but a great deal of what he conjectured on those those plans is clearly a "hail-Mary" guess.
 
Chuck

Chuck,
I received mine and they look great.  Now I have to start making strops and hooks to go with them .  I'm waiting on Alexey's serving machine so that I can begin the strops.  96  2mm blocks and strops and 48 hooks to rig 12 cannons     

Searching for inspiration, I came across some models for 18th century pinnaces. There were large 32 foot pinnaces and many smaller examples to look at. I was particularly fond of a model from the NMM in Greenwich. It was a model of a 21 foot long single banked pinnace from around 1750. It would make an excellent subject for this mini project. It has a paneled interior and some decorative merits. I found an original draft on the NMM website that was almost identical to this small 4 oared pinnace. Things were started to come together nicely.  
 
   
 
I wasn’t necessarily thrilled with the color scheme shown on this model (pictured above) so I continued looking for some decorative alternatives. The pinnace was used a means of transport for a ship’s captain or other officers. It was not intended to be used to perform any other task. Tasks such as transporting water and other stores were normally left for the larger and heavier built boats like the longboat or launch. It was basically an officer’s private transport. It was designed to be rowed although larger pinnaces could be sailed. It wasn’t very seaworthy and was designed for primarily shore duties. After all, the officers did need a stylish way to get from their anchored ship to the dockyard. As such, the decorations were usually added much later at the officer’s and captain’s own expense.  
 
   
 
So here is my journey in creating this scratch built model.   The frames are basswood and everything else will be Boxwood.  
 
   
 
You can download this full set of instructions below as a PDF.  This was the prototype for the new Model Shipways kit.  
 
   
 
Click Here to download this practicum  
 
   
 
Chuck  

At request of the family...we will close this topic.  Rest in peace John.
 
Chuck

At request of the family...we will close this topic.  Rest in peace John.
 
Chuck

The CONFERENCE

Check out the Conference details on the NRG website.  There are some great speakers, Interesting tours, Technical modeling sessions, and much more.  I think you will recognize many of the speakers from right here on MSW.  I am looking forward to it very much...especially seeing the CSS Hunley

http://www.thenrg.org/2013-nrg-charleston-conference-details.php

 

THE HOTEL

The Crowne Plaza Charleston Conference Hotel will be home base for the Conference. We have arranged a great room rate of $109 for singles and $119 for doubles – the low room rates include the morning Breakfast Buffet.  We have arranged for these great room rates to be available for three days before and after the event for those wanting to extend their time in Charleston.

The hotel has free airport shuttle and their shuttle will also take us to and from some of the 30+ restaurants in the immediate area, though the food at the hotel is both good and affordable. 

The hotel is adjacent to the large Tangier Outlet Mall where bargains abound and the hotel’s shuttle will be available to and from the Mall. 

 

Let me know if you have any questions.

 

Chuck

NRG Director

 

Here is the 5th (port) strake spiled and bent.  It's ready to be glued in place.  One edge is rubbed with soft pencil lead to simulate caulking.
Maury

With several of you folks starting to rig the longboat I figured it would be good to post these images of a rigged longboat from the NMM.  And before anyone remarks how they may be copyright...I checked into the images and they are not as long as you credit the NMM.
 
SO....."These images are provided generously from the NMM for our educational use"  and are not stored in our database.  Our site is pulling the images direct from the NMM site.  We are just pointing to what is already made available to the public.
Collection images must always credit ‘National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London’ and link to the original collection record on the NMM collections website. Collections OnlineThe NMM has developed an Application Programming Interface (API) to make it easy for individuals and organisations to share its collection records and images with the public. If you need to download more than 25 images at a time, you are encouraged to use the API.
Collection images must always credit ‘National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London’ and link to the original collection record on the NMM collections website. Do not make an unreasonable number of API calls or compromise the experience of other users. As a guide, you should make no more than 3000 calls per day and no more than one request per second. We may place more formal limits on the API in the future. The maximum allowed enlargement of images is 1200 pixels along the longest length of the image. Do note that these images are made available for non-commercial use only. Please contact the Picture Library if you would like to use the NMM’s collection records under different conditions.
 
Got that out of the way.
 
 
Enjoy.  They show the rigging very clearly.  Click on them and they are even larger.
 
Chuck
 

Hi Jaxboat and congrats on starting the build log of your Confederacy.
I have a couple of comments if you don't mind, first is not to use your amati keel clamper but make a full length keel holder, she is a long hull and can warp while you get the planking on, the keel clamp only holds in two places, much better to hold the entire keel so the is no chance of it warping.
Second is take your time with the stern framing, I have a had a few issues with stuff there, see my log for some, better to take the time and get it right now and not have to pull it all apart in 6 months time like I had to.
It looks from your pic that you need to fair bulkhead 8 more so the planks naturally taper into the counter planks, unless its just the photo angle, make sure that the counter has the right shape compared to the plans, I had to do this and you can see what I had to do to get that shape correct.
 
It's really great to see your work, looks really good to me! Keep posting photos as I'm on hiatus working on my ECHO and would like to watch your progress.
 
Ben

Thanks Chuck and David. Now that the longboat is finished I can get back to my FLY
 

 

 

Fitting the false keel required some sand-fit-sand-fit too.  I really made an effort to get the two pieces to fit together without forcing them.  I figured the last thing that little joint needed was a torque that was going to force it apart.  In the end, it worked out really well and was glued together using the glass plate again.
 
 

Hello everyone! 
 
Opened up my Syren kit yesterday  <-- VERY excited. 
 
Checked the parts list, checked for quality, and all that other fun un-boxing stuff.  Noticed some very good things, it had the correct carronades, I think this is the best out of the box instructions I have ever seen - props to Chuck! 
 
Most all the parts were there, was missing a couple things though, some 5mm cleats, also no rigging hearts were included (or on the parts list) but in chucks instructions it very clearly shows them being used in a couple places. Nothing to be used as filling blocks in the framing was included, maybe this is normal, not a big deal to pick some up. The one thing I did find which was very upsetting was a very large about 6mm thick crack down the laser cut sheet that holds the center keel and a couple other framing pieces were affected. Going to give M.E. a call Monday about that (see pictures). 
 
Otherwise everything looked to be in great shape, good machining, nice cast pieces, and all wood blocks, dead-eyes, etc were in really really good condition compared to what I have seen in some European kits. 
 
I am eager to get started on this build, but it will be a little limited until M.E. gets a new center keel sent out to me. I will keep you updated, AND to be expected un-boxing pictures!!! 
 
Center Keel Sheet I was speaking of. 

It's more difficult to see the damage from the camera. I tried to highlight it to make it more visible. It is not split all the way through but there is only about 1mm of material left in that large indent. It runs from about bulkhead H's slot all the way through the actual bulkhead P. 


The AMAZING instructions booklet, and my organizational attempt at some of the smaller little bits.

MMMM Blue Box

The rest of the laser cut pieces, the dowels, wood, etc all look great and pristine condition. I also purchased the Syren paint set which can be seen here.

 
More updates will be coming!

I began this project in August 2012. I'm in the process of completing the Deck Fittings, Chapter 13.
I am attempting to keep the colors true to the ship's early service life. The deck would have been holy stoned
every morning so I am keeping it lighter than the deck fittings. I find positioning the fittings square and in proper relationship to other portions of the model to be a bit of a challenge. I have to learn to accept my own experience level.
 
Moderators, please forgive entering this as a build log if it doesn't fit the requirements , it seemed like the best choice.
Cheers, Harley

Some more pictures; some more ratlines.  As my last two models didn't have any ratlines, I'd forgotten just how many there were even on a single masted ship!
 
Here's where we are at the moment.
 
One side finished -


 
And a good start made on the other side.


 
John

Great start so far....REMEMBER to have FUN with it!!!!!!!!  

Adjusting 3rd strake.  First picture is how it lays now, vs earlier (2nd picture).  Not quite there, but getting closer.  Funny how I can't see as much difference just by looking at it. 
Maury

Looks like a really good start.   Have fun with it and dont hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.   
 
Chuck

Its gonna be a while until I build up some stock....but "Chucky Blocks" are coming soon.       
 
 
Lets take  a look.   
 
Model Expo price for 3/32" single blocks 100 QTY = $20  You know what these look like 
Lloyd's price ..................................................... = $35
Jerzy's price - 2 mm .......................................... = $45
My price in boxwood will be ............................... = $27
 
Expo blocks compared to Warner's blocks below
 

 
My blocks compared to Jerzy;s (Jerzy's on the right) 2mm
 

 
And another shot of my 2mm blocks...the single blocks on the right have no finish on them yet the doubles have some wipe-on-poly.  This is an old image that doesnt show any strop groove.  I will have to take some new pics once I start up production.  These were basically my tests....I have made some adjustments (sheave slots wider slightly so the holes for rigging can be larger).
 

 
Hopefully soon.....depending on how much interest in this there is out there. 
 

Installed the floorboards and platforms.  Most of my modeling has been taken up by copper plating the Constitution.  I will start catching up with the group.
 
   Bob R.

Chuck, not only that the blocks  and dead eyes look great, the prices are unbeatable. Especially handcrafted coming from you.
Next time I need blocks or eyes   I will surely turn to you.

Yikes ....deadeyes too!!!   I may never get back to modelling at this rate....just kidding of course.  But there are certainly a lot of crappy products out there.
 
Chuck

Blocks look great Chuck, I will pm you my order..When will you start producing deadeyes??? Tired of the kit ones with the holes all wonky and crooked.

Small progress, glued whipstaff and ladders.