6ohiocav

BRACES
I finished all of my deck work. I added eyebolt rings to the deck for the haul rigging for the guns.  I should have done that sooner. I also created a slew of rope coils to hang on the pins and glued down the deck structures.
Having done all of that, I was prepared to rig the braces. I had previously tied 16 blocks, now it was time to lash 16 rigging lines to various locations (royal yards, hounds, upper shrouds, upper tree, lower shrouds) and then snake them through the blocks and tie them off on either a pin on the rail or a cleat.
This was an incredibly tedious endeavor. The upper braces had to be run down the mast among a score of other lines. Getting them through without crossing or twisting around another rope, in an area that is hard to see was frustrating. I would pull the line down to the designated tie off pin, and then look to see how it laid on the other lines, and if twisted (a frequent occurrence) would invariably have to pull it back out and start again.
I think I got it though, and while my adherence to the actual pin rail plan is loose (pardon the pun) at best, it is workable. As I look at it, while securing the yards, and giving me a great understanding how each line had a meaningful purpose, it still looked like a proverbial cats' cradle. This took all weekend to accomplish.
Boat davits, securing the hammock rails, and some minor work on the stern is just about it for the ship. Then I have to build the boats, which I have decided to scratch build with holly ship lap planking.  Should be an interesting challenge.
As I download the recent photos, I realize I have not send any large shots of the ship lately. Here is where I am so far.

ANCHORS AWAY….
Worked over the weekend rigging and attaching my anchors. I decided to bring the anchor cables through my forward hatch, and to do that, I had to so some surgery on the grate. The grating material supplied by Model Expo is a hardwood.  Trying to cut through that while placed on the bow of a crowded deck was a challenge. My exacto knife was not up to the call, so out came the Dremel. My original plan was to carve out a square in the front corners and insert a chafing block. While I was able to white knuckle the cutting, I could not get it square or clean enough to suit my taste, and decided to install the chafing blocks on top of the cut.
Obviously, this is another task that I should have done sooner. I could have easily added chafing blocks to the grates before installing them.
I also stropped the big triple blocks, and fabricated a hook with some coated black wire. The coating on the wire gives the surface some texture to simulate an iron look. It took me a while and about 10 tries to twist up a hook to look right.
I then rigged the block, and attached the anchor.  I ran into another snag. Realizing the anchor and cable weigh tons, I could not get the cable to lay flat on the deck, or get my lanyards on my triple blocks to tighten. The Brittania anchors just don’t weigh enough.  I therefore glued the cable to the deck. I stretched the lanyards on the triple blocks by attaching a small weight, and coated the ropes with a mixture of water and white glue. That froze the ropes straight.
I then tied off the haul ropes on a bulwark cleat and tied off the lanyards on pins.
My bow is just about complete.

Getting a little tired of trying to figure out how to load the photos in the right order. All of the remaining photos kept loading in reverse order.
 
Come on guys, I spend more time trying to figure out how to post photos of the things I build than the time I spend actually building the darn things.

BOWER ANCHORS
Time to work on the anchors. I created the stocks out of cherry. Not an easy task.  There are tapers on three sides.  I traced a rough pattern from the plans, did a rough cut on the band saw, and finished them off on the disc sander.
I then rigged the Anchor Ropes. I used a photo of the actual ship for the pattern on the lines.
I wrapped .018 brown rope around the Anchor rings.  That was a tedious process. I ran one end into the anchor mortice, and then inserted the ring (made out of .20 metal wire) to secure one end. Then with two tweezers, began the wrapping.  I tied it off at the end and froze it with a spot of CA.
I will work on attaching the anchors this weekend. I need to construct chaffing blocks on both sides of the holes I drilled in the hull for the anchor line, and open up the front corners of the grates on my forward hatch. That means delicate destruction work on the ship again. UGHH.
Here are some photos of the anchor assembly.

BRACES
Moving along to completion. The last major rigging task is the braces, and boy was this more difficult than it needed to be. Sixteen blocks needed to be seized, most to the shrouds, some to the tops on both masts, and SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BEFORE I DID ANY RIGGING.
**** WARNING**** TO ALL NIAGARA BUILDERS – SEIZE THE BRACES BLOCKS EARLY.
All of the blocks on the upper shrouds could have been attached while my masts were still on the bench. It would have been so easy!
Instead, I had to strop a set of 1/8 and 5/32 blocks with long lines, seize the lines to the block, snake the line through a mess of rigging to wrap around the shroud or bar on the tops, pull it through away from the model, tie a seizing, then pull the tail and with tweezers snake the block back through the rigging lines up against the shroud, then reach through to tighten the seizing lines, apply a spot of glue to freeze the knot, and if that is not hard enough (or stressful), then insert an x-acto knife and cut the ends off as close to the knot as possible, without cutting something else.
This took me the entire weekend. I kept smacking yards, back stays, and shrouds with my hands, my tweezers, my pliers, my knife, my kitchen sink…. You get the picture. Thankfully, everything except a couple of ratlines held up.  The 4 blocks seized under the lower top on the foremast were by far the hardest. There were at least 8 rigging lines and back stays to work around.
As soon as I get everything done on deck, and insert the hammock stanchions, I will rig the braces, (last thing) since that will completely encapsulate the space between the masts. 
Here are some photos. The knots are not up to par, but only in close up pictures. From afar, you can hardly see the blocks.

DILEMMA – PLAN ACCURACY (FOR THE REPLICA SHIP) OR HISTORICAL ACCURACY
Those of you that have reviewed previous portions of this log, or have studied the Niagara, know that there is a historical anomaly regarding Model Shipways Niagara Kit. It is based on the Replica Ship owned by the State of Pennsylvania and moored at Erie, Pa. I was drawn to this kit because I was born in a town on the banks of Lake Erie, and have a driving interest in military history, and Commadore Perry’s exploits during the famous battle on Lake Erie during the War of 1812 are absolutely fascinating.
I come to find out that the US Niagara, which I had seen in person at a tall ships event in Cleveland Ohio, is not the restored original ship that Perry used to defeat the British (it rotted out of existence). It is a replica, and no plans really exist of the original. While the current ship is a good rendition, it has some modern amenities that would not have been present on the 19th century ship.
That conflict hits the kit builder squarely in the face when the decision to place the companionway (which by most accounts, and based on a number of contributors on the forum, was not present on the historical ship) the skylights (which would likely have been on the historical ship), and the capstan (which definitely was on the original ship and was a real workhorse) come into play.
So here is my dilemma. I scratch built the two skylights and the companionway based on the plans, and built the capstan with laser-cut kit parts. When you place all of these strutures on the ship as per the plans, it is INCREDIBLY CROWDED.  The Capstan is literally wedged between the forward skylight and the companionway, so much so, to be almost useless, and that is after raising the height so that the wood bars could actually turn without hitting something. The forward skylight also is right up against the pumps, making for more cramped space.
In the attached photos, I have demonstrated the problem.  The first photo is a design that leaves the aft skylight out.The second is with all of the structures as per the plan.
By the way, I looked at some photos of the replica ship and YES, it is very crowded indeed, so the plans are accurate.
Any thoughts out there.  By the PLANS, or BASED ON HISTORY AND UTILITY??? Two skylights and the companionway, or leave out one of the skylights and give the crew some room to maneuver???

CAPSTAN PLATFORM
I decided that I had better get all of my deck furniture and structures finished and glued down before I do any more rigging. I had to build a platform for my Capstan that I built over a year ago. The plans call for it, and comparing the Capstan to the adjacent Skylights, I definitely need one to raise the height so that the wood handles when attached to turn it rise above the tops.
Here are the photos on how I did mine.  I could have just added a square piece of cherry, but decided to do a little joinery, even though it is on the bottom and won’t be seen.

John
Following up on JCFrankie's suggestion, while you are at the jewelry making supplier, pick up a pair of rounded pliers. I use a dull black steel wire and with the pliers, can twist out a slew of perfectly round eyebolts in quick order. The ends of the pliers are much smaller than the photo suggests.
 
Good luck.

ANCHORS AWAY….
Worked over the weekend rigging and attaching my anchors. I decided to bring the anchor cables through my forward hatch, and to do that, I had to so some surgery on the grate. The grating material supplied by Model Expo is a hardwood.  Trying to cut through that while placed on the bow of a crowded deck was a challenge. My exacto knife was not up to the call, so out came the Dremel. My original plan was to carve out a square in the front corners and insert a chafing block. While I was able to white knuckle the cutting, I could not get it square or clean enough to suit my taste, and decided to install the chafing blocks on top of the cut.
Obviously, this is another task that I should have done sooner. I could have easily added chafing blocks to the grates before installing them.
I also stropped the big triple blocks, and fabricated a hook with some coated black wire. The coating on the wire gives the surface some texture to simulate an iron look. It took me a while and about 10 tries to twist up a hook to look right.
I then rigged the block, and attached the anchor.  I ran into another snag. Realizing the anchor and cable weigh tons, I could not get the cable to lay flat on the deck, or get my lanyards on my triple blocks to tighten. The Brittania anchors just don’t weigh enough.  I therefore glued the cable to the deck. I stretched the lanyards on the triple blocks by attaching a small weight, and coated the ropes with a mixture of water and white glue. That froze the ropes straight.
I then tied off the haul ropes on a bulwark cleat and tied off the lanyards on pins.
My bow is just about complete.

You would not find a more historically correct book than "In the Hour of Victory - the Royal Navy at War in the Age of Nelson" by Sam Willis.  It is based on primary sources and the narrative is riveting.
 

Snow,
 
The following is a transcription of the letter from Nelson to Blackwood and letter from Collingwood regarding the battle and the death of Nelson.
TO CAPTAIN THE HON. HENRY BLACKWOOD, H.M. SHIP, EURYALUS.
[From " Blackwood's Magazine" , for July, 1833.]
Victory, October 10th, 1805. Cadiz, East, 13 Leagues.
My dear Blackwood, Keep your five Frigates, Weazle and Pickle, and let me know every movement. I rely on you, that we can't miss getting hold of them, and I will give them such a shaking as they never yet experienced; at least I will lay down my life in the attempt. We are a very powerful Fleet, and not to be held cheap. I have told Parker, and do you direct Ships bringing information of their coming out, to fire guns every three minutes by the watch, and in the night to fire off rockets, if they have them, from the mast-head. I have nothing more to say, than I hope they will sail to-night.
Ever yours most faithfully, NELSON AND BRONTE.
 
THE LONDON GAZETTE EXTRA-ORDINARY.
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 6, 1805.
ADMIRALTY OFFICE, Nov. 6.
Dispatches, of which the following are Copies, were received at the Admiralty this day, at one o'clock, A.M., from Vice-Admiral Collingwood, Commander-in-Chief of his Majesty's ships and vessels off Cadiz:-
Euryalus, off Cape Trafalgar, Oct. 22, 1805.
SIR, The ever-to-be-lamented death of Vice-Admiral, Lord Viscount NELSON, who in the late conflict with the enemy fell in the hour of victory, leaves to me the duty of informing my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that on the 19th instant it was communicated to the Commander-in-Chief, from the ships watching the motions of the enemy in Cadiz, that the combined fleet had put to sea; as they sailed with light winds Westerly, his Lordship concluded their destination was the Mediterranean, and immediately made all sail for the Streights entrance with the British Squadron, consisting of twenty-seven ships, three of them sixty-fours, where his Lordship was informed by Captain Blackwood (whose vigilance in watching and giving notice of the enemy's movements has been highly meritorious) that they had not yet-passed the Streights.
On Monday the 21st instant at daylight, when Cape Trafalgar bore E. by S. about seven leagues, the enemy was discovered six or seven miles Eastward, the wind about West, and very light. The Commander-in-Chief immediately made the signal for the fleet to bear up in two columns as they are formed in order of sailing: a mode of attack his Lordship had previously directed to avoid the inconveniences and delay in forming a line of battle in the usual manner. The enemy's line consisted of thirty three ships (of which eighteen were French and fifteen Spanish), commanded in chief by Admiral Villeneuve: the Spaniards under the direction of Gravina, were with their heads Northward, and formed their line of battle with great closeness and correctness; but as the mode of attack was unusual, so the structure of their line was new; it formed a crescent, convexing the lee-ward, so that in leading down to the centre I had both their van and rear abaft the beam; before the fire opened, every alternate ship was about a cable's length, to windward of her second ahead and astern, forming a kind of double line, and appeared when on their beam to leave a very little interval between them; and this without crowding their ships. Admiral Villeneuve was in the Bucentaure in the centre, and the Prince of Asturias bore Gravina's flag in the rear; but the French and Spanish ships were mixed without any apparent regard to order of national squadron.
As the mode of our attack had been previously determined on and communicated to the Flag Officers and Captains, few signals were necessary, and none were made except to direct close order as the lines bore down.
The Commander-in-Chief, in the Victory, led the weather column, and the Royal Sovereign, which bore my flag, the lee.
The action began at twelve o'clock by the leading ships of the column breaking through the enemy's line, the Commander-in-Chief about the tenth ship from the van, the Second in Command about the twelfth from the rear, leaving the van of the enemy unoccupied: the succeeding ships breaking through in all parts, astern of their leaders, and engaging the enemy at the muzzles of their guns. The conflict was severe: the enemy's ships were fought with a gallantry highly honourable to their Officers; but the attack on them was irresistible, and it pleased the Almighty Disposer of all events to grant his Majesty's arms a complete and glorious victory. About three P.M., many of the enemy's ships having struck their colours, their line gave way; Admiral Gravina, with ten ships joining their frigates to leeward, stood towards Cadiz. The five headmost ships in their van tacked, and standing to the Southward, or windward of the-British line, were engaged and the sternmost of them taken; the others went off, leaving to his Majesty's squadron nineteen ships of the line (of which three are first-rates-the Santissima, Trinidad, and the Santa Anna,) with three Flag Officers, viz., Admiral Villeneuve, the Commander-in-Chief; Don Ignatis Maria D'Aliva, Vice Admiral; and the Spanish Rear Admiral, Don Bathagar Hidalgo Cisueros.
After such a victory it may appear unnecessary to enter into econiums on the particular parts taken by the several Commanders; the conclusion says more on the subject than I have language to express; the spirit which animated all was the same; when all exert themselves zealously in their country's service, all deserve that their high merits should stand recorded; and never was high merit more conspicuous than in the battle I have described.
The Achille (a French 74), after having surrendered, by some mismanagement of the Frenchman, took fire and blew up; two hundred of her men were saved by the Tenders.
A circumstance occurred during the action which so strongly marks the invincible spirit of British seamen, when engaging the enemies of their country, that I cannot resist the pleasure I have in making it known to their Lordships. The Temeraire was boarded by accident or design by a French ship on one side and a Spaniard on the other; the contest was vigorous, but in the end the Combined Ensigns were torn from the poop and the British hoisted in their places. Such a battle could not be fought without sustaining a great loss of men. I have not only to lament in common with the British Navy and the British Nation in the fall of the Commander-in-Chief, the loss of a hero whose name will be immortal and his memory ever dear to his country; but my heart is rent with the most poignant grief for the death of a friend to whom by many years intimacy and a perfect knowledge of the virtues of his mind, which inspired ideas superior to the common race of men, I was bound by the strongest ties of affection: a grief to which the glorious occasion in which he fell does not bring the consolation which perhaps it ought. His Lordship received a musket ball in his left breast about the middle of the action, and sent an Officer to me immediately with his last farewell, and soon after expired.
I have also to lament the loss of those excellent Officers Captains Duff, of the Mars, and Cooke, of the Bellerophon: I have yet heard of none others. I fear the numbers that have fallen will be found very great when the returns come to me; but it having blown a gale of wind ever since the action, I have not yet had it in my power to collect any reports from the ships.
The Royal Sovereign having lost her masts, except the tottering foremast, I called the Euryalus to me while the action continued, which ship lying within hail, made my signals - a service Captain Blackwood performed with great attention; after the action I shifted my flag to her, that I might more easily communicate any orders to, and collect the ships, and towed the Royal Sovereign out to seaward. The whole fleet were now in a very perilous position, many dismasted, all shattered, in thirteen fathom water, off the shoals of Trafalgar; and when I made the signal to prepare to anchor few of the ships had an anchor to let go, their cables being shot; but the same good Providence which aided us through the day preserved us through the night by the wind shifting a few points and drifting the ships off the land, except four of the captured, dismasted ships, which are now at anchor off Trafalgar, and I hope will, ride safe until those gales are ever.
Having thus, detailed the proceedings of the fleet on this occasion, I beg to congratulate their Lordships on a victory which I hope will add a ray to the glory of his Majesty's crown, and be attended with public benefit to our country.
I am, &c., (Signed,)
C. COLLINGWOOD.
 
Hope this helps in your research
Allan 
 

The Euryalus master's log for the days of Trafalgar , which is considered by many as  the most complete available.   The following is part of it.  The balance includes a few days before and several after the battle
 
Monday, October 21st A.M. – At 12.30, set foresail.  At 3, out one reef of the topsails.  Light breezes and hazy.  At daylight, the body of the enemy’s fleet ESE 5 or 6 miles.  English fleet WSW.  At 8, observed the British fleet forming their lines,  the headmost ships from the enemy’s centre 8 or 9 miles.  The enemy’s force consisting of thirty three sail of the line, five frigates, and two brigs.  Light winds and hazy with a great swell from the westward. English fleet all sail set.  Standing toward the enemy, then on the starboard tack.  At 8.50, answered Lord Nelson’s signal for the captain, who went immediately on board the Victory.  Took our station on the Victory’s larboard quarter and repeated the Admiral’s signals.  At 10, observed the enemy wearing and coming to the wind on the larboard tack.  At 11.40 repeated Lord Nelson’s telegraph message: ‘I intend to push or go through the end of the enemy’s line to prevent them from getting into Cadiz.’  Saw the land bearing E by N, 5 or 6 leagues.  At 11.56, repeated Lord Nelson’s telegraph message: ‘England expects that every man will do his duty.’  At noon, light winds and a great swell from the westward.  Observed the Royal Sovereign, Admiral Collingwood, leading the lee line, bearing down on the enemy’s rear line, being then nearly within gunshot of them.  Lord Nelson, leading the weather line, bore down on the enemy’s centre. Captain Blackwood returned from the Victory.  Cape Trafalgar SE by E, about 5 leagues. P.M. – Light winds and hazy.  British fleet bearing down in two lines on the enemy’s which was forming in one line from NNE to SSE, their strongest force from the van to the centre.  At 1.15, the British fleet bearing down on the enemy, Vice-Admiral Lord Viscount
Nelson leading the weather line in the Victory, and Vice Admiral Collingwood the lee line.  At 12.15, the enemy opened a heavy fire upon the Royal Sovereign. At 12.16, the English Admirals hoisted their respective flags and the fleet, the British fleet, the British ensign (white).  At 12.17, Admiral Collingwood returned the enemy’s fire in a brave and steady manner.  At 12.20, we repeated Lord Nelson’s signal for the British fleet to engage close, which was answered by the whole fleet.  At 12.21, the van and centre of the enemy’s line opened a heavy fire upon the Victory and the ships she was leading into action.  At 12.20, Admiral Collingwood and the headmost ships of his line broke through the rear of the enemy’s, where the action commenced in a most severe and determined, cool and steady manner.  At 12.24, Lord Nelson and the headmost of the line he led into action, broke into the van and centre of the enemy’s line and commenced the action in that quarter in a steady and gallant manner. Observed the Africa coming into the line, she being to leeward, with all sails set on the starboard tack (free). We kept Lord Nelson’s signal flying at the main royal mast head, for the British fleet to engage close.  At 12.26 observed one of the French ships totally dismasted about the centre of the line, by some of the ships of our lee line, and another of them with the fore yard and mizen topmast shot away.  At 1.15, observed the Tonnant’s fore topmast shot away.  At 1.25, observed an English ship with her fore and mizen masts shot away.  At 1.32, her main yard shot away.  The centre and rear of the enemy’s line hard pressed in action.  At 2, the Africa engaged very close a French 2 decked ship, and in about 5 minutes’ time, shot away her main and mizen masts.  At 2.10, observed the Mars hard pressed in action.  The remainder of the British fleet, which were come into action, kept up a well-directed fire on the enemy.  At 2.15, the Neptune, supported by the Colossus, opened a heavy fire upon the Santisima Trinidad and 2 other of the enemy’s line which were next to her.  At 2.20, the Trinidad’s main and mizen masts shot away.   At 2.30, the Africa shot away the fore mast of the 2-decked ship she was engaged with, and left her a complete wreck.  She then bore up under
the Trinidad’s stern and raked here fore and aft. Colossus and Neptune still engaged with her and the other two ships, which appeared by their colours to be French.  At 2.34, the Trinidad’s fore mast shot away, and at 2.26, one of the French ships’ main and mizen masts.  Observed 9 of the enemy’s van wear and stand down towards the centre.  Observed the Royal Sovereign with her main and mizen masts gone.  At 2.36 answered Lord Nelson’s signal to pass within hail, made all possible sail and made the signal to the Sirius, Phoebe, and Naiad to take ships in tow which were disabled ENE, which she answered.  Sounded in 50 fathoms.  At 2.40 observed a French 2-decked ship on fire and dismasted in the SSE quarter.  Passed the Spartiate and another 2-deck ship standing towards the enemy’s van and opened a heavy fire, when the action in that quarter commenced very severe.  At 2.50, passed by the Mars, who hailed us to take them in tow. Captain Blackwood answered that he would do it with pleasure, but that he was going to take the second in command, the Royal Sovereign.  The officer that hailed us from the Mars, said that Captain Duff was no more. At 3, came alongside the Royal Sovereign and took her in tow.  Captain Blackwood was hailed by Admiral Collingwood and ordered to go on board the Santa Ana, Spanish 3-deck ship, and bring him the Admiral, which Captain Blackwood obeyed.  At 3.30, the enemy’s van approached as far as the centre and opened a heavy fire on the Victory, Neptune, Spartiate, Colossus, Mars, Africa, Agamemnon and Royal Sovereign, which we had in tow, and was most nobly returned.  We had several of our main and topmast rigging cut away, and backstays by the enemy’s shot, and there being no time to haul down the studdingsails, as the enemy’s van ships hauled up for us, we cut them away and let them go overboard, at which time one of the enemy’s nearest ships to us was totally dismasted. At 4, light variable winds; not possible to manage the Royal Sovereign, so as to bring her broadside to bear on the enemy’s ships.  At 4.10, we had the stream cable, by which the Royal Sovereign was towed, shot
away and a cutter from the quarter.  Wore ship, and stood for the Victory.  Observed the Phoebe and Sirius and Naiad coming into the centre and taking some of the disabled ships in tow.  At this time the firing ceased a little.  At 4.20, observed a Spanish two-deck ship dismasted and struck to one of our ships.  Observed several of the enemy’s ships still hard engaged.  At 5, 11 ___  of the enemy’s van and ___ of their rear bore up and made all sail to the northward; were closely followed by the English, which opened a heavy fire upon them and dismasted a French two-deck ship and a Spanish two-deck ship.  At 5.20, the Achille French two-deck ship, which was on fire, blew up with a great explosion.  At 5.25, made sail for the Royal Sovereign. Observed the Victory’s mizen mast go overboard, about which time the firing ceased, leaving the English fleet conquerors, with11 ___ sail of the enemy’s ships in our possession and one blown up,11 ___ of which were first rates, and all dismasted.  At 5.55 Admiral Collingwood came on board and hoisted his flag (blue at the fore.)  At 6.15, sent a spare shroud hawser on board the Royal Sovereign and took her in tow, and at the same time sent all our boats with orders from Admiral Collingwood to all the English ships we could discover near us that they were to take the captured ships in tow and follow the Admiral.  At the time saw Cape Trafalgar bearing SE by E about 8 miles. Sent a boat on board the Spanish three-deck ship which had struck, one main top gallant sail, standing jib and main topgallant stay sail.  At 7.36, took aback, and the Royal Sovereign fell on board of our starboard beam, and there being a great swell she damaged the main channels, took away the lanyards of the main and mizen rigging, jolly boat from the quarter and davits, the most of the quarter-deck and waist hammock cloths, boards, railing, with a number of hammocks and bedding; took away the main and mizen topgallant masts, lost the royals, and yard.  Tore the fore and main sails very much, and took away a great part of the running rigging.  At 7.40 got her clear, made sail on the starboard tack with a light wind from the WSW, and a great swell.  Employed repairing the damages sustained by the Sovereign falling on board of us. At 9, sounded in 23 fathoms.  Made the signal with a gun, prepare to anchor.  Fleet and prizes in company. Light airs and a great swell from the westward.  At 9.15, sound in 15 fathoms.  At 9.2 in 14 fathoms.  At 9.35, the water deepened.  At 11 sounded in 36 fathoms.  At 11.20, the water shoaled to 26 fathoms. At 12, in 22 fathoms.
Tuesday, October 22nd A.M. – At 12.15, made the signal with three guns to wear and wore ship.  Came to the wind on the larboard tack, head to the westward  Sovereign in tow. Fleet and prizes in company.  Moderate breezes and cloudy.  Made and shortened sail as necessary.  At 4, do weather.  At daylight, 4 sail in sight in the SW and 40 sail from east to NE.  At 8, cast off the Sovereign and the Neptune took her in tow.  Received from the Pickle, schooner, 18 French prisoners, which was part of the men she saved out of the Achille, French ship, which was blown up in the action. Strong gales and rain.  Fleet and prizes much scattered.   Made the general signal for the fleet to close.  A 9, wore ship and hove to.   At 11.20, filled and made sail on the starboard tack.  At noon, strong gales and cloudy, with heavy rain.  Most of the fleet and prizes company. Cape Trafalgar bearing SE about 4 leagues. P.M. – Strong breezes and hazy; rain.  Joined company H.M.S. Melpomene.  At 2, wore, in mizen topsail and down jib. Cape Trafalgar SE by S, 7 or 8 miles.  Set storm staysail.  Down top gallant yards and struck the masts.  At 4, strong gales and rain.  At 8, ditto gales with heavy squalls and rain.  At 9.30, set foresail.  At 11.30, took aback, stood on the starboard tack.  Burnt blue lights every hour.  At 12, do, weather.  Sounded in 40 fathoms.
Wednesday, October 23rd A.M. – Do. weather with heavy squalls.  The fore topmast staysail split and blown away by a heavy squall from the westward.  At 2, sound in 45 fathoms.
At 4, sounded in 65 fathoms.  A5.30, out 3rd reef of the topsails and swayed them up.  Weather more moderate.  Up top gallant masts.  At 7 Cape Trafalgar east, about 13 or 14 miles.  At 8, heavy rain and squally. Several of the fleet and prizes in sight.  At 11, sounded in 59 fathoms.  At 12, forty-seven sail in sight.  Wind variable and cloudy.  Cape Trafalgar SE, 5 or 6 leagues. P.M. – Variable and cloudy.  Bore up and tacked occasionally to collect the prizes.  At 3, observed 10 of the enemy’s ships in the ENE.  Made the signal to prepare for battle, and formed a line of 10 sail between the prizes and the enemy.  At 4, strong breezes and cloudy. Stood to the ENE.  At 5.30 lost sight of the enemy and hauled on the larboard tack in 3rd reef of topsail. Strong breezes and rain, and a heavy swell from the westward.  Fleet and prizes in company.  At 6, ditto weather.  At 8, strong gales with rain and a heavy squall.  Some of the fleet in sight.  At 9, furled mainsail, in fore and mizen topsails.  From 10 to 11.45, heavy gales and rain.  At 12, little more moderate.
 

You would not find a more historically correct book than "In the Hour of Victory - the Royal Navy at War in the Age of Nelson" by Sam Willis.  It is based on primary sources and the narrative is riveting.
 

You would not find a more historically correct book than "In the Hour of Victory - the Royal Navy at War in the Age of Nelson" by Sam Willis.  It is based on primary sources and the narrative is riveting.
 

Tom,
 
I rolled mine up using inverted point tweezers on a glass plate after soaking the rope in a whiteglue/water mix. Once you get the hang of it, it should not be a problem.  You only need 80.....ughh.

Mike,
I had to use a grinding bit to open up the hole. I squared the hole as best I could with an ultra fine carving bit, but in the end, I decided NOT to inlay the square chaffing blocks since the joint was not up to par. It would have been a piece of cake if I had thought of it before installing the grate. Gluing them on top was ok. Another "should have...." moments.
 
I realize I failed to answer your question of what's next. It's because I am not sure, but I will say I have acquired three HMS Victory Kits - a 1/90 Mamoli, a 1/90 Corel, and a 1/78 Mantua-Panart. It is going to be one of those with a lot of scratch built parts. Any suggestions?
 
I have milled a large supply of cherry, pear and boxwood and just picked up some Ebony from Keims that I need to rip.

Tom,
 
Indeed it is. Can't get any better than Chuck's blocks and ropes.  Looking great.  Good choices.

John
Following up on JCFrankie's suggestion, while you are at the jewelry making supplier, pick up a pair of rounded pliers. I use a dull black steel wire and with the pliers, can twist out a slew of perfectly round eyebolts in quick order. The ends of the pliers are much smaller than the photo suggests.
 
Good luck.

Mike,
I had to use a grinding bit to open up the hole. I squared the hole as best I could with an ultra fine carving bit, but in the end, I decided NOT to inlay the square chaffing blocks since the joint was not up to par. It would have been a piece of cake if I had thought of it before installing the grate. Gluing them on top was ok. Another "should have...." moments.
 
I realize I failed to answer your question of what's next. It's because I am not sure, but I will say I have acquired three HMS Victory Kits - a 1/90 Mamoli, a 1/90 Corel, and a 1/78 Mantua-Panart. It is going to be one of those with a lot of scratch built parts. Any suggestions?
 
I have milled a large supply of cherry, pear and boxwood and just picked up some Ebony from Keims that I need to rip.

JS,
 
I have been following you log for some time now. Your work is outstanding, and your narrative is descriptive and informative and will be of great service to future Constitution Builders (which might be me someday). I am struck by the challenges you are currently facing with the important measurement of the height of the gun ports and your plywood deck plus planking. I did the very same thing with my Model Expo Niagara. I used a birch base for the deck and planked veneer strips over it (I actually applied the veneer to the birch before gluing the assembly to the hull). All of my guns are on the upper deck, and I had to put together a carronade just to check if my ports would be high enough since I added some extra thickness to the deck. You might want to do consider the same as I would be a bit reluctant to rely on the plans for exact dimensions. 
 
I also used a block of balsa wood cut to the dimensions of the gun ports and "built around it" with strip wood to assure consistency.
 
Good luck and smooth sailing, and if you don't mind, I may come out of the shadows more often going forward.

Tom,
 
Indeed it is. Can't get any better than Chuck's blocks and ropes.  Looking great.  Good choices.

Ron,
I think an upgrade of the Brittainia Stocks for the anchors is worth the effort. I am a terrible painter, and trying to paint the metal to look like wood would be a lost cause before I ever started.
 
Steve,
Thanks for the heads up on your log. I actually was following it when it had its Niagara title.  I will note your change, and applaud you for taking on the Lawrence.
 
AND.... Mark, Thanks for stopping in and your comments on my anchors. I took a look on the tips you forwarded on posting pictures. In my humble opinion, the process suggested is more complicated than trying to figure out how to seize a bracing block to a forward upper shroud while manipulating through a royal backstay, top gallant backstay, and topmast backstays. The Craftsmen on this forum do incredible things, and overcome insurmountable challenges. I would think that the software guys can count to twelve, in the proper order.

ANCHORS AWAY….
Worked over the weekend rigging and attaching my anchors. I decided to bring the anchor cables through my forward hatch, and to do that, I had to so some surgery on the grate. The grating material supplied by Model Expo is a hardwood.  Trying to cut through that while placed on the bow of a crowded deck was a challenge. My exacto knife was not up to the call, so out came the Dremel. My original plan was to carve out a square in the front corners and insert a chafing block. While I was able to white knuckle the cutting, I could not get it square or clean enough to suit my taste, and decided to install the chafing blocks on top of the cut.
Obviously, this is another task that I should have done sooner. I could have easily added chafing blocks to the grates before installing them.
I also stropped the big triple blocks, and fabricated a hook with some coated black wire. The coating on the wire gives the surface some texture to simulate an iron look. It took me a while and about 10 tries to twist up a hook to look right.
I then rigged the block, and attached the anchor.  I ran into another snag. Realizing the anchor and cable weigh tons, I could not get the cable to lay flat on the deck, or get my lanyards on my triple blocks to tighten. The Brittania anchors just don’t weigh enough.  I therefore glued the cable to the deck. I stretched the lanyards on the triple blocks by attaching a small weight, and coated the ropes with a mixture of water and white glue. That froze the ropes straight.
I then tied off the haul ropes on a bulwark cleat and tied off the lanyards on pins.
My bow is just about complete.

ANCHORS AWAY….
Worked over the weekend rigging and attaching my anchors. I decided to bring the anchor cables through my forward hatch, and to do that, I had to so some surgery on the grate. The grating material supplied by Model Expo is a hardwood.  Trying to cut through that while placed on the bow of a crowded deck was a challenge. My exacto knife was not up to the call, so out came the Dremel. My original plan was to carve out a square in the front corners and insert a chafing block. While I was able to white knuckle the cutting, I could not get it square or clean enough to suit my taste, and decided to install the chafing blocks on top of the cut.
Obviously, this is another task that I should have done sooner. I could have easily added chafing blocks to the grates before installing them.
I also stropped the big triple blocks, and fabricated a hook with some coated black wire. The coating on the wire gives the surface some texture to simulate an iron look. It took me a while and about 10 tries to twist up a hook to look right.
I then rigged the block, and attached the anchor.  I ran into another snag. Realizing the anchor and cable weigh tons, I could not get the cable to lay flat on the deck, or get my lanyards on my triple blocks to tighten. The Brittania anchors just don’t weigh enough.  I therefore glued the cable to the deck. I stretched the lanyards on the triple blocks by attaching a small weight, and coated the ropes with a mixture of water and white glue. That froze the ropes straight.
I then tied off the haul ropes on a bulwark cleat and tied off the lanyards on pins.
My bow is just about complete.

Tom
 
Great looking blocks. By now, I have stropped so many blocks, it is almost second nature, but like you, my first blocks were for the guns with hooks.  And yes, it took me all day just to figure out how to do my first one.... Yes, there are 170 more waiting for you. Good training for the future.  I have to make an omission too. I stropped 170 single blocks with hooks before I realized that I need to add a lanyard to each one. I had to strip them down and redo each one. I also blackened by hooks.
 
Check your plans. I believe the single block you stropped needs a lanyard attached opposite the hook. The single hooks to the bulwark. The lanyard runs back through the double block at the gun, back to the single block and back to the double. I think. I am not at my shipyard and relying on a memory that is not as good as it used to be. 
 
Everything is looking good.  If you ever run into a jam, feel free to send my a private e-mail.