EJ_L

Beautiful paint work on the sculptures. The effort is paying off as all the elements come together. Well done!

The skill of a great model maker is not just how well he creates but, how well he hides his mistakes. You are a great modeler indeed! Well done on the repair.

Progressing nicely! I always enjoy builders who take the time to add in their own details and modifications. Makes each model truly unique and it never fails that I see something new. Keep it up! To answer you question about the 2nd layer of planking, I and I think most people as well just glue the 2nd layer directly to the 1st. The main exception to this statement is that many of us will use spackle or some similar type of filler compound to even out any imperfections in the hull after the first planking. That helps to create a smooth and true surface for the finish planking to lay on. I've never had any trouble gluing on the filler compound either. I do recommend wiping the hull down with alcohol and/or a tack cloth to remove dust before gluing to prevent and bond breaking.

Beautiful barrels!

Nothing wrong with that O.C. With most of these scales you can’t really tell the difference between a clove hitch and simply looping the lines. Well I finished up the lower foremast shrouds. Also installed the cap, topmast and the lifts for the topmast.

Thank you all for the kind words and likes. O.C., shaping the yards usually is a nice break from detail work into something simpler however, this time I ran into an annoying snag. My chuck on my mini lathe had one of the jaws get jammed up with some small bits of metal shavings. After several attempts to clean it out, I was forced to take the chuck apart and give it a thorough cleaning. Good in the long run but, not what I wanted to do at the time. I would have simply switched to the big lathe however, I had both chucks in use on it as well for a project that I did not want to dismount as alignment was critical. So I fell back on hand shaping. Broke out the trusty Lie-Nielsen hand plane to taper the ends and then sanded them smooth. Took longer but, got it done. Will add the various details to them as I get closer to needing them. As for the ratlines, I actually don't mind tying them as it is really a very simple action. It's the several thousands of times you have to repeat tying a clove hitch that wears you down. Clamping the shrouds helps to keep the spacing and alignment and a good set of magnifying glasses combined with a couple pair of needle nose tweezers make the job go smooth. The only thing left is lots of patience....

Tying ratlines. Slow progress but I’m gaining.

I understand your position completely. We all have to follow our interests and what brings us happiness. I will miss your build but, I also wish you all the best with your quilting. I have few friends who love doing that very thing, one of which will be helping me sew sails in the near future, and from your pictures, it looks like something you already enjoy. Best wishes to you!

Congratulations on a huge milestone being achieved! She sure looks good standing proud.

Very nice. Padlocks are very cool indeed and something rarely seen modeled. Well done!

Nice work on those tops and caps. Those tiny ones can be a pain to craft and even worse to install the deadeyes in. As for the rigging, La Couronne is a mixture of threads that changed throughout the build. I did not serve any of the lines on her as at the time, I had not yet bought Chuck's serving machine and was still learning my way around the rigging, so I left that detail off. I have served the lines on my S.R. build that I am doing now and am really happy that I did. As for the lines themselves, the large diameter standing rigging is from Chuck at Syren. The ratlines are made from Gutermann natural cotton thread from Joann Craft store. I've had good results with this thread and it doesn't fray or have the "fuzzy" look that some get. The running rigging is also largely by Syren. I did use the kit provided threads for smaller workings where I could as most of it wasn't too bad. Leads for blocks, stropping and much of the canon rigging is kit threads. Woldings on the masts and other smaller details used the kit threads or other extra threads I had laying about. I would look at what came in your kit and decide. Color is the biggest deterrent for me as often the kits only provide a natural or undyed thread that will work with running rigging but, not with standing as those lines would be dark brown to black as they were covered in tar for protection. This is why I nearly always have to buy additional thread for the standing rigging. The next most common issue with the kit ropes are the "fuzzy" look that some threads have. If that is present, I will replace it. Otherwise, I try to use what I can. Sometimes will still need to supplement with other diameters for more realism.

Just a small update. Yard construction has started. Needed to get them shaped and cut to length in order to measure for sails. Trying to finish the “dirty” work and get all the wood parts created and ready for rigging.

Thank you Michael. It is indeed time consuming though I have to admit that Chuck's serving machine has made it faster and far easier than trying to do it by hand. On that note, I know that the serving line would normally be the same color as the shrouds but, I wanted to accent this detail for better viewing of my friends and family who would not know to look for it otherwise.

Hi Peter! Looks like you are off to a good start on you Vasa. I love building and watching others build these large models so I think I will pull up a chair and join you on you journey. Good luck and I look forward to seeing how she turns out.

Thank you all for the nice words and likes. This is always one of my favorite milestones on a build. To see her full height, even if it is temporary, really drives home the awesome size of these ships. Running the numbers on her, from keel to tip of the main mast she would be around the equivalent of a 19-20 story building. Next up, I will disassemble the masts and apply the wood finish to the individual parts. While that work is underway, I will start to cut and shape the yards. I bought some muslin cloth a few weeks ago to attempt to make sails, most of which will be furled but, depending on how they turn out, I may go ahead and set the top sails. While I've been kicking this idea around since the beginning, I have reached the point in the build where I have to make a decision so I make sure to rig her accordingly.