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EJ_L

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Everything posted by EJ_L

  1. Rough cutting the shapes of your blocks and then using a power tool such as a dremmel for sanding will help it go quickly. Otherwise combinations of carving tools, saws and lots of sandpaper is what you will need. I don't know if the is a easy method for all uses mostly due to the differences in ships hull design each model will have different shapes that will be needed. However as all you are doing is following the lines of the bulkheads it is a fairly easy process if a little time consuming. If you are looking to make the process faster then only worry about fillers at the bow and maybe one or two spaces back and at the ster plus one or two spaces. Unfirtunately, like most aspects of model ship building it is a lot of handwork and time. It is worth it though as this sets up the rest of the project so care should be given to make it right. Good luck when you finally get settled in and can start on your build.
  2. Looks good to me. At least nothing a little care with some sandpaper and maybe a little filler can't take care of. She will look real sharp once you get her all cleaned up. Great job on your first planking experience!
  3. Your framing is looking good. Taking your time with your measuring and layout will pay off big for you down the road.
  4. It looks like you have a good handle on this one as she is shaping up nicely. As to the putty, that is typically what I will do. The preliminary sanding helps to show where you need the fill at. The big question is what are your plans for the outside finish? If you are double planking then go ahead and use the putty to your hearts content. If painting or staining then be carefull on both the type and quantity of putty used as it can show through both finishes if you are not careful. It is less of an issue with paint other than it can cover your planks seams but if sanded down properly amd not globbed on then you will be fine. Stain is a lot trickier as you can see it and so extra care should be taken with both the color of the filler and trying not to use too much. I have not built this ship myself so I can't really help you much on the other questions but I am sure someone will chime n shortly with those answers. Keep up the great work!
  5. Okay, so after spending some time looking through my drawings and pictures that I have been using to help build this ship I have noticed that I did indeed mess up on the platforms for the quarter galleys. They are built in the right direction but where they hang down on the rear is a bit off. I have mine going almost straight down with just a slight curve towards the front. This curve should be much more defined so that it is more of a arc shape from front to rear. Hopefully if you are building this same ship you catch this before I had it pointed out to me! Whoops! Well, not the first mistake nor will it be my last on this ship. I doubt I will change it at this point. Those platforms were kind of a pain to build and honestly it doesn't bother me that much. I may change my mind if it sits and festers in my brain. We shall see. As for now I am still pushing onward with the galleys. Trying to build the center cabin now. Should have some pictures in a couple of days. May be time for a drink....
  6. I would normally think the same but all the images I have seen of her show it built this way. My guess is that it help to give better stability to the taller tower. If I could see how they were actually built structurally that would help but I have not yet fund a framing plan that shows how those were built. Then again it could just be a weird design feature. Many ships from this era have designs on them that do not make a lot of sense. That is one of the things I actually like. Gves them features that stand out and sets them apart, for better or worse, from other ships.
  7. Thanks Vic! Glad you stopped in to take a look. So here is a progress picture of the quarter galley I'm building. Got both turrets built and will be building the cabin in between them tomorrow. Then build the roofs and repeat the process on the other side. I've been looking forward to seeing these on her as they are some of the defining characteristics that drew me to la Couronne in the first place.
  8. Just found your build and will have to follow along. You are off to a great start as both the launch and the framing are shaping up nicely. I will be looking forward to seeing you progress on this build.
  9. Great videos and good advice. I will give the dry bending a try on my next build. I'm always up for learning new techniques and anything that helps to speed up the process of planking while still providing a nice finish I am all for trying.
  10. Glad to see you back! I was hopeful that your break would help you reset and give you new motivation to continue. Watching yours come together keeps making me want to start my wooden one but I have to wait till after the move. November can not get here fast enough! I've had masts bend over like your jib has on past projects. I've replaced a couple with wood when I could not bend the plastic back straight. Other times I was able to straighten it out using the stays to hold it in place. I have also read an article about running a piece of metal rod up the center of the masts. This only works if they are hollow or if you can drill them out but it seemed to help stiffen them up. I think in your case if it will not straighten out then just replace it with a wooden one. Once painted it will blend right in. Thanks for the update and I look forward to more!
  11. Thank you Michael for the kind words and to all for the likes and following along. She is a beauty and an interesting one at that. I too love the way she was built with the towers and very high stern. They are features that although not unique are still rare enough to make her stand out. She grabbed my attention from when I first saw her on model-expo's website and still captivates me even now just looking at her plans on the wall. I imagine even after she is done and sitting on display in a case I will still find myself looking at her for long periods of time.
  12. Aydin, she sure is looking good! Very nice work. I too was wondering about the glue you were using and what the plans are for sealing her up watertight. Would hate to see this beauty sink on her maiden voyage or any other for that matter. We do not need another Vasa reenactment.
  13. Progress from over the weekend. Quarter galley construction is progressing nicely. Got the lower sections on both sides built and installed. The supports for the balcony I had to remake out of the same mahogany that I used on the hull as opposed to the plywood they were originally made from. That took a good portion of Saturday but gave me an excuse to play with some of my new Dremmel bits. Not pictured I have almost completed one of the turrets and I have part of the balcony decked. I have not found a fast way to build the turrets that turns out the way I want so they are a slow process. Still I would rather that then end up with a look I do not want. Enjoy the update!
  14. Great job on those railings! They look really sharp on her and add another awesome feature to look at.
  15. There is also the fact that often the average person doesn't know what they are looking at to know if it is right or wrong. When I go visit my dad at his Mustang restoration shop, I can see a car in there and go wow!, that is a great looking car. He can then point out the different items that make it not so great. My first wooden ship model was also the Rattlesnake. I'm proud of it because I built it without having any idea of how to build wooden ships. Prior to that they had all been plastic. Although I proudly display it in a case in my bedroom, it has so many problems from horrible planking, paint, badly built masts and yards to rigging that is far from accurate. My friends and family are of course both polite to not criticize but they are still truly amazed at the work that I did. Most of them are craft hobbyist of one sort or another and so they appreciate the work but none of them have the interest in ships to know what is wrong. Don;t worry about work being perfect. Especially first builds since unless you are unnaturally talented and a good deal lucky, they won't be. Instead give it your best effort knowing there will be bad spots. Then grow on the next one and the next one. Challenge yourself more and learn more on each ship. As long as they continue to improve and most importantly you are having fun, then you are doing good.
  16. I have been looking into this one myself for later down the road and from what I can see the instructions and the way the kit is designed I would not call it a beginner kit but an intermediate one. I think what would make it harder for someone with less experience would be if you are wanting to take it beyond what the kit provides in terms of details. Otherwise the usual difficulties would of course apply with planking, and rigging and making sure everything is squared up and measured out right. I'm looking forward to seeing how this kit builds out to get a better idea of what to expect.
  17. I usually pull a string line down from the center of the bow to the center of the stern or poop deck depending upon your ship. The string will keep all the masts in alignment regardless of the deck they are on. You can verify this by measuring the the distance from the string line to the edge of your hull at any point along the line. As long as both sides of the string measure the same you are good. As to up and down, I am assuming you are referring to side to side lean as most mast angle aft, not straight up and down. For this, again the string line helps guide them but I have a small 2" level that I use to verify plumb. They are cheap and available at most hardware stores.
  18. Very well done. All those details have come together to make a nice scene. It really is crazy to think of all those men spending months to years living in those small and cramped spaces. Makes me appreciate the modern Navy. It was still small and cramped but felt like a palace compared to that!
  19. I would ask them. They have always been responsive and helpful towards me in the past. I have never had to replace a hull though so not sure on that. Like Chris said though, worst case if you have to get a new kit, the extra parts and wood that you gain may be a benefit in the long haul of model ship building.
  20. Model Expo is a good store to have credit at. I have purchased a couple of large kits as well as misc. tools and supplies from them over the years and have always had great customer service with them. I don't know much about this particular deal but if it is in store credi then you are sitting on a great deal to continue on in this hobby as they have an excellent selection of kits to choose from.
  21. Looking good! When gluing wood together I have never yet found myself having too many clamps. Usually I am wishing I had a few more! Haha
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