EJ_L

Yes, that's my understanding, Welfalk. 'Blown plate' is another name for 'cylinder glass'. There was also spun glass, which was disc-like, the pontil mark piece of the disc becoming the cheapest 'bulls-eye' seen in old panes.

Wasn't this blown into a long cylinder, the bottom and top disc (with the blow-pipe attachment) cut off, the cylinder split lengthwise and then rolled flat while still hot ? Cheaper and smaller panes were cut from the discs, which accounts for the streaks often seen in old window panes.

This is in accord with what I've read elsewhere. Large 'blown plate' aka 'ground glass' was made by grinding and polishing 'broadsheet glass'. This accounts for its expense. Large pieces were principally used in coaches and for mirrors.
 
Nice find, Mark!

I like the line at the bottom.. "We are humbly of the opinion the prices he asks are reasonable".  Big pieces would have priced higher given the state of the art of glass making back then.  
 
Thanks for posting this.

Hello everyone;
 
I thought that my fellow modellers might be interested in the following document,  which I found at the National Archive in England,  whilst searching for a somewhat different subject.
 
This lists the prices,  sizes and quantities of a delivery of glass made to Deptford Dockyard in November 1750.
 
The biggest pieces are quite large:  31" x 21 1/2",  3no.  Their rarity and value is reflected in their price,  £7.0.0 each,  which is many times higher than the smaller,  more numerous pieces.
 
Lower down in the list are some pieces of mirrored (silvered) glass,  some of which are again quite large and expensive.
 
Clicking on the image should make it larger.  If not,  right-clicking on the image should bring up a menu with an option to 'open image in new window' option which makes it larger and easier to read.
 
All the best,
 
Mark P

My condolences on First Mate Brinkley, EJ.   I've lost my mates over time also and it's a hard thing to have happen.  They are family.

The Couronne shipyard has resumed work after an extended break. We took time off to mourn the passing of my first mate Brinkley. He developed cancer unexpectedly and had to be put down last Tuesday much to the Admiral's and mine sorrow. This, combined with having to take time to finalize plans for the new shipyard which has started construction today we had a busy and rather stressful week that did not allow time for ship building.
 
However, now I'm back at it and so here is a quick picture update of the work that I have managed to do in the past couple of days. She is slowly climbing upward and starting to flush out some details. I think I will have lots of good build time this week so I will see what more I can get done and also take some better pictures of the whole ship soon.
 
It feels good to be building again!
 
 
 
 

The Couronne shipyard has resumed work after an extended break. We took time off to mourn the passing of my first mate Brinkley. He developed cancer unexpectedly and had to be put down last Tuesday much to the Admiral's and mine sorrow. This, combined with having to take time to finalize plans for the new shipyard which has started construction today we had a busy and rather stressful week that did not allow time for ship building.
 
However, now I'm back at it and so here is a quick picture update of the work that I have managed to do in the past couple of days. She is slowly climbing upward and starting to flush out some details. I think I will have lots of good build time this week so I will see what more I can get done and also take some better pictures of the whole ship soon.
 
It feels good to be building again!
 
 
 
 

It's worth pointing out that beginner over-reach is not unique to our hobby, nor is cautioning zealous newcomers. Just today I stumbled across a video with the same message aimed at beginning fishkeepers. No doubt a concerted search effort would turn up many more.

That is a tough call. I agree that the drawings do look like the decks are at the same level. I also agree though that I think it would look better and was probably lower down in side the cockpit. With a solid hull that might make for some carving out of the deck to make it work.
 
I would do some research on other build logs or even google images and see if you can find what others have done. Ultimately like Bob said, it's your ship and decision. Which ever way makes you happy.

That is a tough call. I agree that the drawings do look like the decks are at the same level. I also agree though that I think it would look better and was probably lower down in side the cockpit. With a solid hull that might make for some carving out of the deck to make it work.
 
I would do some research on other build logs or even google images and see if you can find what others have done. Ultimately like Bob said, it's your ship and decision. Which ever way makes you happy.

I apologize Chris as I am probably one of those members who misunderstood what you were trying to do with the thread.
 
I think another big issue that causes the new builder to get in over there heads is how they are introduced to the hobby or ships in general. They see the Constitution, Victory, Cutty Sark etc. and want to build them because those are the ones in abundance and available to see in person. The inspiration is set to that level of wow! and it is hard from that point to want to build a much simpler ship. Many of the simpler starter kits are of less famous ships and as such they get fewer people who even know about them much less want to build. Then as I have seen others say, "canons are cool!" As a kid inspiration is going to come from that 100 gun man of war and not a small 0-4 gun vessel.
 
I think that to help encourage first time builders to choose a simpler ship to start from is that we need to find ways to promote those smaller, simpler vessels. Just in the 6 month I have been apart of this community my knowledge and exposure to other ships as expanded immensely. I'm not completely sure the best ways of doing this but perhaps one idea would be to somehow find ways of featuring beginner kits and make them appealing. Possibly by listing their history or significance to a particular country by talking them up much like we see on the more popular ships. Even perhaps create a section on here that is specifically for beginner ships so that new comers to the hobby can see other first time builder's work so that they feel more comfortable sharing their work and not feel like their skills are sub par when all they see are some of the great works that are on here.

I am guilty of not finishing some of my kits. In fact there are a few of them listed in my signature as unfinished. One of them I do not feel bad about as it is a joint projects with a friend while I was still in the Navy and is now awaiting his retirement. The others either had issues with the kit, the instructions or I just lost interest in finishing them. The fact that they are plastic kits also has something to do with it as I have grown to love wooden ships more. I still may sit down and finish them one day. 

You bring up some excellent points, Chris.
 
If the instructions are poor, come to NRG-MSW.
 
If you become bored or de-motivated with the model, sell it and get one that stirs your imagination and passion.
 
If the kit has poor materials, replace them with better.  If there are too many issues with materials, then scratch build it. You can use the bulkheads and keel and hopefully some of the fittings.  You can buy decent wood from Crown timber already milled to your specs and suppliers such as Bluejacket have lots of fittings.
 
And, you are quite right - us modelers are problem solvers.  We have to figure out how to hold parts, how to shape them using the tools we have, we decide the type of materials to use, the best glue and mechanical fasteners, the best finishes, etc etc. 
You are the artist and crafter, so you decide how you want your model to look.                                                             Duff

In my mind the question is "What makes a person give up building a model" ?  Both beginners and advanced modellers procrastinate, stall, lay a model aside for awhile, and often just forget the whole thing. I think one big reason are unforeseen problems. Novices, obviously, run into problems more often than veterans and are more likely to lay it aside, and combine a novice with a more complex model and likely more complications arise. I have built 4 POF models and 2 solid hulls. On my current Toulonnaise, a 20 year old model which I have been working on for 6 mos, the carronade fittings on all 8 broke. In trying to figure how to fix the issue, I had no clue. I had to figure it out and laid the model aside. I finally picked it up and fixed the issue. Then, in a blunderheaded move, the round ports were found to be too low on the hull(always learning!). Now I have to move them which will take some time. But, I like challenges. Novices run into an issue like this and maybe forget the whole thing, but if I had not started with easier models and built up the problem solving experience, I might have done the same. Other issues that arise that lend to quitting(poor instructions, boredom, de-motivation, poor materials, etc) have been mentioned, but starting with easier models and building up was helpful in acquiring what little skills I have and it helped problem solving. Just my 2 cents.
 
Chris

All very good comments and suggestions.
I can not remember what got me started as it was a loooong time ago.  I do think about why it still holds my interest.  So here are a few more thoughts:
1. this hobby of wooden ship building requires many skills - working with wood, metal, plastics, paints and glues.  So practicing the various skills and learning about the various skills and chemicals is challenging and rewarding.   It seems that there are so many skills sets to work on, such as carving cherubs.   
2. the process of building a model ship (wood or plastic) is a journey - one that has its own rewards.  
3. selecting a ship to model must have some meaning to you, whatever it is, such as your granddad or great uncle sailed on it, or you read a story about it that stirred your imagination.  If you have no passion for it, then you may never want to finish the build. 
4. and the ship of your choice must be fun to build.  (No one wants drudgery in their hobby.)
 
Keep building and above all, have fun~!                                Duff 

But, they are...
 
 
Just kidding!  
 
That sound like me. Wanted to build one of those type of ships, so I started to search for books on how to build wooden kits.
 
I had background in metal, resin and plastic models, so I thought wooden kits shouldn't be that different. Boy, was I wrong, and glad that I bought a book or two on how to build wood boat kits. Reading through them I realized there was a lot more to it than plastic models, epically tools and a lot of DIY elbow grease at the end of the day (take into account, I have had zero woodworking skills).
 
So, I decided to pick up a small boat kit, and glad I did. Just wished that I knew of this site, could have saved me a lot of frustration and time by making a log and getting input from others (as well as the articles on the site etc.).
 
If I started with something like the HMS Victory kit, I probably would have paused it, and started with something easier smaller.

Thanks! The lowered cockpits do look better, but if you look at the plans, the cockpit looks to be at the same level as the deck. The wheel is also just above the grating. It looks to me like the cockpit walls are more seats than actual walls. Below is a picture from the plans.

Hi Elijah.
 
Your Pantom is looking very good.
 
I'd like to point out something in Chuck's Practicum. On pg. 16 he talks about the cockpit. Chuck points out that the floor of the cockpit should be 1 foot below the adjacent deck. I've seen some Phantom's where the cockpit floor was lowered and they look alot better than those that didn't lower the cockpit floor. Look at Chuck's cockpit on pg. 17. The ship's wheel is up against the grating. By lowering the cockpit floor there will be a gap between the ship's wheel and grating.
 
Regards.

I apologize Chris as I am probably one of those members who misunderstood what you were trying to do with the thread.
 
I think another big issue that causes the new builder to get in over there heads is how they are introduced to the hobby or ships in general. They see the Constitution, Victory, Cutty Sark etc. and want to build them because those are the ones in abundance and available to see in person. The inspiration is set to that level of wow! and it is hard from that point to want to build a much simpler ship. Many of the simpler starter kits are of less famous ships and as such they get fewer people who even know about them much less want to build. Then as I have seen others say, "canons are cool!" As a kid inspiration is going to come from that 100 gun man of war and not a small 0-4 gun vessel.
 
I think that to help encourage first time builders to choose a simpler ship to start from is that we need to find ways to promote those smaller, simpler vessels. Just in the 6 month I have been apart of this community my knowledge and exposure to other ships as expanded immensely. I'm not completely sure the best ways of doing this but perhaps one idea would be to somehow find ways of featuring beginner kits and make them appealing. Possibly by listing their history or significance to a particular country by talking them up much like we see on the more popular ships. Even perhaps create a section on here that is specifically for beginner ships so that new comers to the hobby can see other first time builder's work so that they feel more comfortable sharing their work and not feel like their skills are sub par when all they see are some of the great works that are on here.

1+ on these. "Electrical test clips"I bought a small collection and they work great!
Very light so don't cause the line to sag. Hold very strongly. With the pointy tips great for reaching into complex or hard to reach confined spaces since the actuator is remote.
Model shops should sell these! Absolutely the perfect tool for this use.
Just what I wanted and needed. Great to have this forum to get thoughtful answers to questions like this.

Joe
 
The picture of the little spring clips helps a LOT. 
 
I couldn't visualize what they would look like from your verbal description.
 
Thanks,
 
Richard

Bruce
Here are the pics of the clamps I was talking about
The little cloths pins I found at Walmart, the little red clamp are hem holding clamps from Joanns
Like I said you could use just about any springs, you would just have to open the springs with neddle nose.
You can see my wife's hand opening up the spring.
Joe

Try this page:
 
http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-spring-clamps/=12z7xku
 
or here:
 
http://muellerelectric.com/product-category/alligator-clips-insulators/alligator-clips-insulators-aa/
 
I use the smooth jaw all copper clips.  Radio Shack used to have them.