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HAMMOCK STANTIONS
It has been quite a while since I posted to my build log. Since I moved, I have been working on a complete remodeling of my kitchen, so my carpenter skills have been focusing on the Macro rather than the Micro.
I have finally got time to get back to the Niagara, and am dedicated to the stretch run to get her done.
A while back, as I was rigging the ship, and encasing the deck and railing with ropes and stays, I realized that I had not built the hammock railings. When I realized that it would be nearly impossible to build them with all of the rigging lines in the way, I therefore decided to skip the process.
Overtime, I felt that was a cop out and decided to come up with a strategy to install them.  Following the plans, I surmised I could accomplish this only one way – to build them on the bench as a total component, and then slip them between the rigging lines and stays and glue them down. Necessity is the mother of invention.  In the end, It actually was a good way to tackle this part of the build.  Here is how I did it.

HAMMOCK STANTIONS
It has been quite a while since I posted to my build log. Since I moved, I have been working on a complete remodeling of my kitchen, so my carpenter skills have been focusing on the Macro rather than the Micro.
I have finally got time to get back to the Niagara, and am dedicated to the stretch run to get her done.
A while back, as I was rigging the ship, and encasing the deck and railing with ropes and stays, I realized that I had not built the hammock railings. When I realized that it would be nearly impossible to build them with all of the rigging lines in the way, I therefore decided to skip the process.
Overtime, I felt that was a cop out and decided to come up with a strategy to install them.  Following the plans, I surmised I could accomplish this only one way – to build them on the bench as a total component, and then slip them between the rigging lines and stays and glue them down. Necessity is the mother of invention.  In the end, It actually was a good way to tackle this part of the build.  Here is how I did it.

HAMMOCK STANTIONS
It has been quite a while since I posted to my build log. Since I moved, I have been working on a complete remodeling of my kitchen, so my carpenter skills have been focusing on the Macro rather than the Micro.
I have finally got time to get back to the Niagara, and am dedicated to the stretch run to get her done.
A while back, as I was rigging the ship, and encasing the deck and railing with ropes and stays, I realized that I had not built the hammock railings. When I realized that it would be nearly impossible to build them with all of the rigging lines in the way, I therefore decided to skip the process.
Overtime, I felt that was a cop out and decided to come up with a strategy to install them.  Following the plans, I surmised I could accomplish this only one way – to build them on the bench as a total component, and then slip them between the rigging lines and stays and glue them down. Necessity is the mother of invention.  In the end, It actually was a good way to tackle this part of the build.  Here is how I did it.

HAMMOCK STANTIONS
It has been quite a while since I posted to my build log. Since I moved, I have been working on a complete remodeling of my kitchen, so my carpenter skills have been focusing on the Macro rather than the Micro.
I have finally got time to get back to the Niagara, and am dedicated to the stretch run to get her done.
A while back, as I was rigging the ship, and encasing the deck and railing with ropes and stays, I realized that I had not built the hammock railings. When I realized that it would be nearly impossible to build them with all of the rigging lines in the way, I therefore decided to skip the process.
Overtime, I felt that was a cop out and decided to come up with a strategy to install them.  Following the plans, I surmised I could accomplish this only one way – to build them on the bench as a total component, and then slip them between the rigging lines and stays and glue them down. Necessity is the mother of invention.  In the end, It actually was a good way to tackle this part of the build.  Here is how I did it.

HAMMOCK STANTIONS
It has been quite a while since I posted to my build log. Since I moved, I have been working on a complete remodeling of my kitchen, so my carpenter skills have been focusing on the Macro rather than the Micro.
I have finally got time to get back to the Niagara, and am dedicated to the stretch run to get her done.
A while back, as I was rigging the ship, and encasing the deck and railing with ropes and stays, I realized that I had not built the hammock railings. When I realized that it would be nearly impossible to build them with all of the rigging lines in the way, I therefore decided to skip the process.
Overtime, I felt that was a cop out and decided to come up with a strategy to install them.  Following the plans, I surmised I could accomplish this only one way – to build them on the bench as a total component, and then slip them between the rigging lines and stays and glue them down. Necessity is the mother of invention.  In the end, It actually was a good way to tackle this part of the build.  Here is how I did it.

HAMMOCK STANTIONS
It has been quite a while since I posted to my build log. Since I moved, I have been working on a complete remodeling of my kitchen, so my carpenter skills have been focusing on the Macro rather than the Micro.
I have finally got time to get back to the Niagara, and am dedicated to the stretch run to get her done.
A while back, as I was rigging the ship, and encasing the deck and railing with ropes and stays, I realized that I had not built the hammock railings. When I realized that it would be nearly impossible to build them with all of the rigging lines in the way, I therefore decided to skip the process.
Overtime, I felt that was a cop out and decided to come up with a strategy to install them.  Following the plans, I surmised I could accomplish this only one way – to build them on the bench as a total component, and then slip them between the rigging lines and stays and glue them down. Necessity is the mother of invention.  In the end, It actually was a good way to tackle this part of the build.  Here is how I did it.

Doug,
 
It is interesting that the Syren and Niagara brigs are similar in design, albeit the Syren I believe is an ocean vessel and the Niagara has the Great Lakes shallow draft. That ship is on the list of future projects.
 
Good luck as you sail forward.

Doug,
 
Soft woods, such as basswood (one of the softest) and pine are very difficult to stain effectively. The wood fibers are less dense, and are very inconsistent. They soak up the stain, and because of the inconsistency in density, takes the stain differently throughout and tends to create a blotchy appearance.  I can see that in your photos.
 
Pre-stain, or Pre conditioners (minwax makes a good product) helps with soft woods since it saturates the fibers. After it dries, subsequent coats of stain will therefore adhere more consistently.  Conditioners are basically clear, but will add some darkening.
 
I must caution you however, no preconditioners are going to fully remedy the look of a soft wood when it is stained. Unlike hardwoods, such as pear, cherry, or boxwood, where stain enhances the look of the wood, staining softwoods almost always "changes" the look of the wood.
 
I am not suggesting that you strip off the basswood and replace with expensive hardwoods (although some many modelers have done that with the Syren), but you might think about painting it.
 
As far as adding conditioner after staining, you might want to try that after you sand down the surface as it appears you are doing now. Apply a couple of coats of conditioner and restain. It might help, but then again, it might look similar to your first effort. At this point, I would suggest that you experiment on a section of scrap planks first to see what you come up with.
 
Good luck.  Your ship looks great so far. The gun ports and sweeps are spot on.  That is not easy to do.

Mike,
 
You can clearly not glue the masts in. As long as the slots are snug, you will be good to go. By the way, I installed all of the upper shrouds and the royal and topgallant yards on the masts BEFORE I attached the masts to the deck.  Doing that in a vice seemed easier to me. It was definitely better on my back. 
 
Just a thought.
 
I am also sending you a photo on how I rigged the course sling. The sling goes underneath the shrouds.  IF you are installing any of the Burton Pendants, those have to wrap around the mast as well.
 
Hope this helps some. The ship looks great.
 
 

Hi Eric,
Great progress.  What wood are you using for the second layer of planking? Whales? Is it kit supplied?
 
Thanks,
 

Tom,
 
I stopped in to take a peek.  Looks good.
 
 

STANDING RIGGING – FORE MAST AND JIB
 
I have been working on the standing rigging of the fore mast and jib for the last 20 days. Here is where I am so far. The fore mast is just sitting in its mast hole. 
 
 
Most of this time has been spent thinking, planning, and too often, interpreting the difficult rigging plans. It became obvious to me that I had to create a plan of attack, keeping in mind that serving, seizing, whipping and tying collars will always be EASIER if done on the bench rather than on the ship. All of the standing rigging lines in the photos below were prepared on the bench and then systematically added to the masts in a planned order.
 
Having created this plan in my head, I thought I would share this with my fellow Niagara builders so that we all could wonder why the kit designer failed to do so.
 
A few caveats. I don’t know if I am doing this correctly. It is my best interpretation of the plans and the written instructions. I have also gone back to my library of Niagara photos. I therefore stand behind this, at least until someone says otherwise.  Take your best shots.

Tom,
 
Good progress.
 
The dreaded timbers.  All I can say is that I am a Browns Fan, (going back to the days when Bill was our coach), and I can honestly say that we are so bad, there is nothing the Browns could do to break one of my timbers.
 
Good luck going forward. I used the 2 diagrams of the filler blocks from the plan sheet, cut them out, transposed them on my basswood block, and rough cut it out with the band saw.  I then attached the blocks to the stern and did all of the rest with a file. It took me more than a few to get two right.
 
I also placed filler blocks inside the first couple of bulkheads, aft and bow. I used balsa wood. It was very helpful when it came to planking.  I strongly recommend it.
 
 

Tom,
 
Looks like you nailed it. Good job.
 
 

Tom,
 
Good progress.
 
The dreaded timbers.  All I can say is that I am a Browns Fan, (going back to the days when Bill was our coach), and I can honestly say that we are so bad, there is nothing the Browns could do to break one of my timbers.
 
Good luck going forward. I used the 2 diagrams of the filler blocks from the plan sheet, cut them out, transposed them on my basswood block, and rough cut it out with the band saw.  I then attached the blocks to the stern and did all of the rest with a file. It took me more than a few to get two right.
 
I also placed filler blocks inside the first couple of bulkheads, aft and bow. I used balsa wood. It was very helpful when it came to planking.  I strongly recommend it.
 
 

In reviewing my last post, I realized I added a photo with a picture of one of my top masts that I had to subsequently scrap (an oft occurrence). For those of you that are familiar with the Niagara plans, the portion above the basket is square. I missed that on my first attempt and went on my merry way and turned it round.  Off to the scrap heap.  In the last photo, you will see the top mast with the proper square portion above the basket.  By the way, I filed the basket to the tapered octagon shape the same way I did the other octagons and the square portion above that had to be free handed on the band saw. I ruined two fully turned and finished top masts trying to get that right. In all, I had to make 7 top masts to finally get 2 right.

Mike,
 
On the real ship, I am sure these three stays are attached with an eye splice.  However, the small diameter of line we are using at our scale convinced me that an eye splice made no sense and would have been simply too difficult. I therefore decided to tie a whipping knot, which I might add, visually looks a little like an eye splice anyway. Besides, the knots are now totally hidden with all of the clutter of shrouds, halliards, stays, and other lines that I have since added, so that you can't even see them anyway.
 
Make this simple.  Just whip it.
 
 

Mike,
Here is your answer.  The topmast stay runs through the forward hole in the Bee.  I attached a deadeye to an eyebolt on the starboard side of the hull and attached the end with a lanyard.  The Inner Jib Stay runs through the other hole and is attached to the port side the same way.  At least that is how I did it.

Mike,
 
If I understand your question, I believe the course sling indeed runs through the square hole in front of the tree. My opinion on that is from a review of multiple places in the plan, and really comes into play by looking at the diagram of the tree and the reference to the sling bolster (a small rounded off length of timber that the sling runs over) and the sling hole. I attached a photo.
 
I also attached a photo of the plans that indicates, unclearly, that the sling runs UNDER the shrouds.  The last photo is of the diagram you speak of, and it clearly indicates that the sling wraps around the mast head.
 
Taken all together, I assumed the sling wrapped around the masthead above the tree and ran through the square hole in front. Considering the placement of the Course yard on my model, that makes perfect sense from a mechanical perspective.

Well done Ben!
 
This is a complicated part of the build, especially the transom filler blocks, and you nailed it.

Hervie,
 
Your modeling skills are second to none, and your Syren looks exquisite, but I have to comment on the technical quality of your build log. Your illustrated pictures and narrative are incredible. Your use of light for the photos, and the back drop are obviously by design.  Heck, I can't get a photo to focus half the time. I know just enough about technology to realize that you have to be spending quite a bit of time in the planning process, and for that, I am thankful. You are giving all of our eyes a real treat. I would enjoy your log even if I did not like building ships. You are obviously bringing some of your professional skills into your retirement - BRAVO!

Welcome aboard Tom. She is a great ship.
 
You never sail alone in the Niagara club. We are always here to lend a hand. Don't hesitate to seek us out.
 
 
 
 

Mike,
 
Looks great. Love the long boat.
 
As long as the shrouds "look" tight, you will be fine. the catharpins will definitely help that issue.
 

Good steady progress Mike. Looking great.
 
 

Well done Mike.