AntonyUK

So, tentatively started proper work on the kit. After rectifying the various misaligned tabs, non-slanting and over-tight holes (used a round jeweller’s file, worked pretty well but a little ply veneer did split off on the main and 1st deck) and as it’s been 30+ years since I worked on such a small scale, I’ve started with the various cabin doors, just to get my hand and eye in. These were cut out with an 11 blade, a quick sand down against a sheet of 220 grit to remove any lumps, then stained a dark walnut for 2/3 minutes - so not too dark.
 
I don’t like the brass ring door handles - they seem over-scale and frankly a bit silly - so I decided to use some of the brass pins as supplied with the kit suitably cut down to act as proper door knobs. Checking the size of the pin head and shank gave a good approximation to real life. I drilled the doors with a 0.6mm bit - managing to break two of them in the process, good job I’d bought extra! (it’s a learning process after all) - using a little jig constructed on the fly with double-sided sticky tape. Won’t be doing that again though, not enough stability (learning process again).
 
For the door windows I’ve bought an insect screen repair kit; this gives a diamond (or square if you prefer) pattern of about 4 scale inches, which is fine with me and comes on a white background sheet which is removable. I’d intended to keep the sheet in place to act as ‘glass’ but when discussing this with the Admiral she decided she’d rather see through the windows. That means painting and possibly furnishing the inside of a few rooms; that should sort my mild OCD out!
 
No pix today, I’ll add some to this tomorrow (now added)
 
As you can see, I made one door the wrong way round (d’oh!) - I’ll put that on the back of the ship!
 
Hugh
 
 

Thanks, Steven. The dromon is looking great!
 
Here are some pics of the the parrels and the flagstaff. I have decided not to fit a topsail as they probably did not appear until about 1460. Also, no-one is sure how they were rigged.
 



 
Cheers
Dick

A friend at the ship club resized Chapelle's plans for the President to 1/192 for me, and the reference information is valuable in adding details to the AJ Fisher plans.  At times, they disagree.  For instance, I am currently working on the profile of the half-hull at the stern.  Notice on the Fisher plans that the hull line which meets the sternpost actually arcs towards the keel, whereas it is straight on Chapelle's.  
 

 
Differences like this help me make more conscious decisions.  Little by little, I'm finding that the reams of information on this ship can be used to clarify choices, instead of paralyzing me as a modeler from making them.
 

I’m still planking the hull of my “Swift”. I’ll post photos of my progress when there is more to show.
 
I made a crude jig to help me with plank bending. I’ve seen others with similar set ups...more refined and impressive than mine...but this seems to be working ok for now. I either use a heat gun or just let the plank sit in the jig over night. The photo shows prebending the bulwark (?).
 
BTW, one thing I wanted to learn with building a ship are proper nautical terms. I’m picking up a lot from everyone here, so thank you for that. The instructions for this kit are not much help in this effort. It’s all just “attach part 16 to part 12”, and such. Is this the way with all kits, Artesania Latina, or just this kit in particular?
 
I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself, but the next step appears to be planking the deck. Does anybody have an opinion or recommendation of stain to use for the deck on my “Swift”. Any brand that is easy and good to use? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
 
L

I am wondering if anyone out there has copies of the build plans for the Sciabecco as the Amati kit is very vague and is in ITALIAN only.
It does not supply any plans to show sizes and sails and rigging etc.
Thanks in advance.
Eddie

Hi Hennie.
That is one nice look ship.
I like the way you planking is still visible under the black paint.. just like the real thing.
That's a huge lantern. 
 
Keep up the good work.
Regards Antony.

Frames on, decks on and frames faired.
 
Now, can someone please tell me how to put on the first strake. I always have a problem with this. The instructions say it should go on level with the deck (presumably the main deck ?) and follow the curve of it. This makes for a huge lateral bend apart from the lengthwise bend on that strake so please, someone guide me. I always have a problem with planking.

Thanks very much Keith,
 
I completed the pumps today, mounted discharge tubes for getting water in direction of gratings and away from the operators feet. Also started with the bits at fore- and main mast. The horizontal members are dry fitted in in order to get the correct allignment.
 
Nils
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 

Hi Piet,
 
Sorry, I must apologize for not pushing out a seperate log, as the pinnace was somehow a "side build" over the months last year, and there was a time when I thought to scrap it, because so fiddely, did`nt think it was worth a log, and if it would ever work out as intended...... , so it went to the shelf....  Besides That I was so much engaged with the completion of my KWdG, and then came the preperation phase of the Chebec.....
I have here a comparison of the ship sizes, here my HMS Pegasus 1:64 in the background, total length appr. 800 mm and the Chebec EOA  with 900 mm over all, but in scale 1:48
 
Nils
 

due to the difference in model scales the actual smaller Chebec wih dummy bow sprit appears to be much longer
 

Good morning Piet,
 
thanks for your kind words, much appreciated.
Here is the name giving stern-decoration for the EOA....
And also the boats pinnace has found its place on the foredeck
 
Nils
 

 
 

The ships boat will be a 27 Ft longboat / pinnace after F.H. Chapmans Chart PIXLI figure #14 (Architectura Navalis Mercatoria), scaled to 1:48
 
 

 
 

The pinnace is capable of carrying 6 oarsmen, the helmsman and one passenger (not shown here)
 

the boats front rest support was a card dummy at this time
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Hi Mike.
Steam and heat bend them.
My method is to boil a kettle on the stove and hold both planks into the steam. Then wrap them around the kettle to cool down. Holding the planks in place with a strip of cloth. Yea it takes time but the planks are always over bent and that helps.
Your planking looks spot on.
Have a good new year.
Regards Antony.
 

Hi Hugh.
Welcome to MAW.
Nice kit you have there.
Will follow along as you build this boat.
Glad to see that you have been reading up on other kit builds as this can help you to overcome errors that the kit has.
 
Regards Antony.

Hi Hugh.
Now that is what I call dry fitting. 
Cats have gotta have fun...even at the owners expense.
Watch out for the sheer (curvature) as you assemble the decks. It sure looks like it's ment to be there.
Looking good so far.
 
Regards Antony.
 

Hi Hennie.
That is one nice look ship.
I like the way you planking is still visible under the black paint.. just like the real thing.
That's a huge lantern. 
 
Keep up the good work.
Regards Antony.

Hi.
Its been a few months since I last posted on this build log.  Sorry.
Life and another model got in the way..
Started work on the build again last week.
Made and installed the locking pins for the main cross beams.
Added the simple decorations around the ship.
Cannons have been placed in the withdrawn position.
The sculling oars have been completed but not yet placed on the model. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX8MFCfGPnM Link shows there method of Sculling. Even the oar shape.
 
After some more research I have decided not to add the spikes on the roof. I know that most photos and drawings have them on. but I think that the enemy would have walked around then and also they would have been able to hold onto the spikes to stop them falling overboard.
My thoughts at that they has holes in the roof and the lancers would thrust there lances up through the holes killing the enemy.
Research shows that most solders aboard were either Bowmen or Lancers. So what else is a lancer supposed to do with a roof on ??
The enemy ships were bigger and higher than the Korean ships.
So holes only it is.  Right or wrong. Another thought has crossed my mind that it would be much safer to display.
 
Also I believe that the Koreans would not have used there sails for battle. Sculling oars only so the mast slots in the top of the roof have been added and the mast and sails removed.
Will take a few photos when I get some sunlight... Not much of that in the UK at the moment.
 
Thanks for looking in.
Regards Antony.

Hi.
A update as promised.
 
The dragons head is now in place.. No its not by my hand.. its a resin cast one.

 
Tiles covering the roof are now finished.

 

 
This is a test piece to check on the tile fixings. i will be using the black bottom pins as I think they look better. some 2400 in total...Wish me luck and retained sanity. With cocktail sticks in the centres.

 
Close up of the tiling.

 
And another.

 
Yet another...

 
Cannons in there carriages or boxes. Need to be finished and put into place on model when finished.

 
Close up of the carriages..Now you can see that they need finishing. 

 
Thanks for looking in.
 
Many thanks Antony.

Hi Hennie.
That is one nice look ship.
I like the way you planking is still visible under the black paint.. just like the real thing.
That's a huge lantern. 
 
Keep up the good work.
Regards Antony.

USS Constitution by  Model Shipways  scale 1/76
Hi.
Ebay UK has a Constitution by model shipways with 4 days to go.
No its not me or any body I know selling it but its a bargain Current bid is £160 with a £230 Buy it now.
That's a real good price.
No I have enough to complete before committing myself to another one.
Cornwall Model Boats are selling this kit for £494.95. That's a good savings for someone wanting this kit.
 
Regards Antony.

Hi Hennie.
That is one nice look ship.
I like the way you planking is still visible under the black paint.. just like the real thing.
That's a huge lantern. 
 
Keep up the good work.
Regards Antony.

Hi Hennie.
That is one nice look ship.
I like the way you planking is still visible under the black paint.. just like the real thing.
That's a huge lantern. 
 
Keep up the good work.
Regards Antony.

@ Edwin and Popeye: thx both for your kind words
 
And an update:
Now I know why that lantern on the stern was floating 7mm above the deck. Only its very strange that they tell you how its done 11 (!!!) pages further in the instructionbook. Sergal renewed the instructionbook but its still very bad.
 
And more "bling bling".
 
Hennie
 

Thx Zappto
 
Hi all!!
A bit late but first  my best wishes for 2018 to you all!!
I wasn't able to upgrade for a while. First had to do all christmasdecorations and remove it all again. Than my computer died. Just got it back yesterday after 3 weeks!!
I have finished the hull for now and just started with the decorations. The fitting of decorations is very bad. Many decorations are to big to fit so I have to downsize many peaces. The lantern on the stern floated about 7mm above the deck, so I put a peace of wood under it. Looks ok now. And I must say.... untill now I am very satisfied how it looks. Very very very shiny
 
Gr.
Hennie
 
 

@Popeye: I just followed the curves of the hull
 
Second planking is done. Today I wanted to start painting the hull but all my admirilitypaint "Dull White" changed in.......white water!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All three bottles which I ordered 3 month ago!!!!! So I had to throw away €20,= paint. In all those years of building I never saw that before....
So I have to wait till the new paint arrives
Hennie
 

Hi Sjors!
Thx and the last picture is already the second planking, which I just finished this evening. So tomorrow I'll start sanding the whole thing, drawing the waterline, put some 2x3mm planks on the hull, and than start painting the hull.
Gr.
Hennie

Hi all!
I am halfway second planking. Till now it looks ok to mee