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Overworked724

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Everything posted by Overworked724

  1. Overworked724
    Looking good!
  2. Overworked724
    ...by the way...the paper wrapped around the shaft of the masts is there to prevent oil from my hands getting all over the masts. (I was a messy baby, too.)
  3. Overworked724
    Trestle trees painted. As are the bases of my main and foremast. Glued on the cleats at the base of each. Aligned by simply marking a piece of masking tape...taaadaa! Moving on!...
  4. Overworked724
    Got the crosstrees painted. Working on the collars. Loaded up my special dowels with the appropriate rigging widths. Getting ready....rigging spiders are crawling out of the woodwork already.
  5. Overworked724
    Created some new closed heart collars. You can see the photos below...the ones I originally made (left) were too small. You can see the original trial size on the right which is slightly too big. The one in the middle represents my target size. 4mm in a side. (Sounds like a Goldilocks episode) The photo below shows my open hearts and closed hearts vs the laser cut ones. My hand made ones are certainly more crude...but screw it. I spent a while trying to get the technique down. I’m using them on the ship. 😁 They represent a lot of effort. 👍🏽 Moving on....
  6. Overworked724
    Thank you, Lou! Damn the torpedos!
  7. Overworked724
    Not a bad bit of progress today. Step by step. Got the foremast chuck in place. Also got the boom rest seated on the main mast along with the boom rest supports. In a pique of curiosity, I decided to try the mast hoops on both masts to ensure things lined up. As neither mast is stained, the effect is kind of vanilla...but I wanted a test fit. Glad I did as the ring bolt I made for the main boom was interfering with the settling of the mast hoops! Minor thing but noticeable. Since I still had the option, replaced with a smaller eyebolt. Resolved the issue handily! Ok...moving on!!
  8. Overworked724
    Breakthrough!!!! I finally got my technique down for making a decent boom rest (wrap around) for the main mast! In truth, the process is easy...just needed to step back and rethink it. Used a compass and a 1/32” basswood sheet. Cut the inside out, then filed to fit the mast, followed by trimming and rounding the outside edge. Eureka!!!!
  9. Overworked724
    Executive decision. Remaking the closed heart collars. The open hearts are as good as I can get them but the closed hearts are actually too small. The detail isn’t the problem...the gap that the rigging will need to fit into is too small and is more rounded than it is triangular. So will increase the size by 1mm and take another stab at them. Funny...I thought the closed hearts would be hardest. So...taking a step back. Order of attack: 1. Remake the closed hearts 2. Build the boom rest! (Think I finally got the process down to make a full wrap around boom rest) 3a. Finish up building/pre-rigging the bowsprit 3b. Finish up building/painting/pre-rigging the fore and main masts 4. Stepping the Masts Day!!! 5. Drink a stiff scotch before beginning the adventure of rigging my first wooden model ship!!
  10. Overworked724
    Thanks, Lou! But in truth...the jury is still out on whether I use my scratch collars or the ones I just got online. But at least I can say I can come close to making them!
  11. Overworked724
    Well...I can say I can now create an open heart collar from a basswood strip. Wondering if I should put that on my resume! These are 5mm on a side...although Chuck’s were 4mm, I’ll call this a success and move on!!! They came out fairly decent, too.
  12. Overworked724
    Finally got the technique for making semi-decent closed-heart collars! These things are TINY! 3mm on a side is about the limit of my capability. Started with larger stock stock to get the technique down. Then went to smaller stock wood strip to try to repeat at a smaller scale. Proof is in the pudding. 😎 Moving on to the open heart collars!
  13. Overworked724
    Funny thing...writing about my 'building blocks' (pardon the second pun) has just given me a flurry of creative inspiration!
  14. Overworked724
    Time to vent a bit. The main and fore mast have a fixture above the cleats near their base. The main mast has a 'boom rest' on the plans. As Chuck's practicum references, the ship plans call for a wrap around boom rest for the main mast, and they omit any such feature on the fore mast. Chuck improvised and put in a chuck (pardon the pun) on the foremast to hold up the mast hoops. On the main mast, he put a 1/2 boom rest which serves the same purpose, plus also holding up the ship's main boom. Both features point aft (to the back of the ship). Making the chuck on the fore mast is not a problem. Easy enough to make. It's the boom rest on the main mast which is a bit of a problem. I have basswood sheets, and trying to carve out a semi-decent 1/2 (or whole for that matter) circle which wrap around the mast is quite difficult for me. Not certain how best to accomplish this task, as I have tried a number of ways - never to a satisfactory result. (often accompanied by a lot of swearing) So...this is the main issue that has held up my progress on the masts. Something as stupid and inconsequential as a simple 1/2 circle 'boom rest'. Ok...yes...I have made some 'passable' boom rests. Am I happy with them?...No. I think I have a solution, but have not yet attempted. We shall see. But, I had the same issue of hand making my open and closed heart collars as Chuck described in his practicum. I tried making the collars but my results were...um...substandard. Since I required these little bits to finish up 'pre-rigging' my bowsprit, I got similarly stalled until I could get them made. I am sure it would be a useful skill. Perhaps I am simply using the wrong tools/wood/technique to get to the final 'acceptable' end result. But in the interim - I want to move forward with my model!!! And. since Model Shipways omitted inclusion of these vital parts of the kit - I opted to try ordering some of appropriate size. (Believe me - the relief of ordering the parts for a few buck vs. creating a half-assed approximation of those tiny pieces was indescribable...cheers to me for problem solved!) OK....my vent is over...moving on.
  15. Overworked724
    Ok. Main boom is done. The parrels using black beads was awesome idea (whoever’s it was!). The metal bands turned out stellar using my Tamiya/Sharpie/Razorblade technique. 😁 One thing to note is that I used black wire for holding parrels between the jaws of the yolk. Easy to crimp once it’s on the mast. Moving on to the next set of sticks!
  16. Overworked724
    Finishing up the main boom. Surprised at how well those beads I got at JoAnn fabrics finished the look!! The cleats I got from Syren (Chuck’s company). I tried making my own cleats but it’s a skill. Preferred to have them look good and they were cheap. Laser cut parts, shaped with sanding then painted. Used wood glue to apply to stained boom. Only thing left is the metal bands which I’ll put on this evening. Then it’s on to the next set of sticks!!! Moving on...
  17. Overworked724
    Worked a bit on the main boom this evening. Got the chocks for main sheet and foot ropes made. They are tiny...but easy to make. Drilled in the sheaves. And stained. Painted my cleats black, and have my tape (simulated iron banding) and eye bolts ready. Should be able to finish the boom tomorrow. Moving on!
  18. Overworked724
    Lou... that worked like a charm!!! Thank you!!!!
  19. Overworked724
    Well, I’ll give the ol’ college try!!! Got the mast hoops stained, formed, and ready for when I step the masts. Good progress...but I’m getting used to making spares just in case. You can see how well the Golden Oak darkened the manila folder paper. It saturated it very quickly and dried just as fast. Moving on!!!
  20. Overworked724
    Well...I type my content. Then go to upload photos. And click the pics (iPad) in photos I want to upload. But the chronology in my iPad is not the chronology I end up with in the post. How do I post content, then add a photo. Then post more content, then add another photo? I’d like to post photos as I explain in my blog...but I only know how to post them all in one big dump at the end of a post.
  21. Overworked724
    WILL SOMEONE TELL ME HOW TO KEEP THE PICS IN the ORDER I AM POSTING THEM IN MY REPLY!!! Good grief.
  22. Overworked724
    Sunday shipyard saw me ignoring the trestle trees and jumping on shaping the last of my ‘sticks’, namely the gaffs and main boom, and taking a swipe at the mast hoops. Followed Chuck’s advice on the mast hoops. Manila folder trimmed to 1 mm thick strips. When I trimmed with a razor or scissors they tended to twist. After some practice, could trim them off without having them curl up. Not certain if that matters. Next thing was a ‘larger dowel to shape the hoops. The smallest I had was still too big. So adapted using Tamiya tape around a dowel with same diameter as the masts. Worked like a charm. Using carpenters glue and NOT CA glue. Seems to work much better. Stained the strips in Golden Oak stain. Will post pics of the hoops later after the stain dries. Got the fore and main gaffs started and finally got the main boom on a decent track. Chuck painted his fore and main gaffs black...seriously thinking whether to follow this...the gaffs after they are stained might be complimentary to the main boom. Jury is out on this one.... Moving on!!!
  23. Overworked724
    Ok!!! Made my own path to the bibs and cross trees. Used the kit blocks for lower part but glad I made the mast caps myself. Nice result. Will paint tomorrow!!! Moving on!
  24. Overworked724
    The tape on the base is there to make it easy to align the mounted ship in the correct orientation so I can slip the screws in without difficulty. Tried it. Works like a charm. Simple is good.
  25. Overworked724
    Ok. Work got in the way but am back at it...albeit gradually. Pics show the inserts and screws for a solid attachment of the case to the base. I realized I can always remake the base if I want...but it’s a good fit and solid. Can also create a cherry boundary to hide the nuts if I wish. Will tackle it later. Made the parrel arms for the boom and gaffs. Also prepped the main and fore topmasts. Completed the swivel gun stocks and guns. Turned out very nice!...no pics because the more I post the more I’m tempted to glue them in place!!! I plan to put them on LAST. I don’t trust my ability to not accidentally knock them off...and they will go on easily. Moving on...

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