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EJ_L

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Everything posted by EJ_L

  1. EJ_L
    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.
  2. EJ_L
    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!
  3. EJ_L
    Nice job on that hull Sjors. She is taking shape and it is a fine one.
  4. EJ_L
    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.
  5. EJ_L
    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.
  6. EJ_L
    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!
  7. EJ_L
    Very nice work Johann.
  8. EJ_L
    The hull is looking very nice. Clean joints and smooth curves, well done!
  9. EJ_L
    Great job on those railings! They look really sharp on her and add another awesome feature to look at.
  10. EJ_L
    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.
  11. EJ_L
    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.
  12. EJ_L
    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.
  13. EJ_L
    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!
  14. EJ_L
    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.
  15. EJ_L
    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.
  16. EJ_L
    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
  17. EJ_L
    She really is shaping up. Looking good and it is good to see you back and hard at work on her again.
  18. EJ_L
    A major milestone has been reached! I finished installing the forecastle deck today and with it that was the last major structural component. I do still have the turrets, quarter galleys and balcony left to build but major work on the main body of the ship is complete. I also still have some deck furniture, bits, kevels, capstan etc. to install and those will be along shortly. I also got the rest of the canons rigged in place so that monotonous chore is complete as well. Once the paint dries on the canons for the dummy ports I will install those and all 64 guns will be in place. Next will be a little bit of a lot of things. I am going to start building the turrets and quarter galleys as well as the misc. furniture. Since there will be a lot of down time waiting on glue to dry for those turrets that will give me a great opportunity to build the furniture. Now that I am working on the exterior and am starting to get more delicate decorations and railing on I get more nervous as I know there will be accidents, I just hope that none will be catastrophic. Enjoy the pics!
  19. EJ_L
    I used to go to Boy Scout camp every summer. Always a fun time and when I got old enough I even worked staff there. Have a good time Elijah! Look forward to you updates when you get back.
  20. EJ_L
    Great job on the launch!
  21. EJ_L
    Great idea Chris. That will indeed be useful to help in finding those completed projects and especially like you said for rigging as many logs do not make it that far. Thanks!
  22. EJ_L
    Good job with that jig. That is the one major downside to laser cutting is the char that often has to be removed without sacrificing the precise cut dimensions. Looks like you may have an effective solution to the problem.
  23. EJ_L
    Steve, she really does look great and if that is your first ship model then I can only imagine how awesome your work will be when you get a few more under your belt. As Keith said, you are the one the model has to please. This is true for the vast majority of us as we build for our own enjoyment. I thnk you have a great model and should be proud to display her.
  24. EJ_L
    Very nice Mark. That is a really neat idea to put it down inside the hold. It will make a very nice find for somebody years down the road and in the meantime it is something special for you and your wife.
  25. EJ_L
    Great work! Those tools look fantastic. Bowls look great too. How hard were they to put together?

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