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Overworked724

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Everything posted by Overworked724

  1. Overworked724
    Someone asked me where my profile name came from! In fact, the admiral wants to get a dog...she told me unexpectedly while she was cooking dinner. I said it would be fine provided I could name it...she asked me what I would name it...and I said, "Capt'n Fluffy McDoogles". She did not like it. Don't laugh....I'm serious. Side note: The ice cold stare of a tiny, slightly pissed off, Japanese woman holding a razor sharp carving knife can give you nightmares. Moving on...to the timber heads. 😜
  2. Overworked724
    Tiller arm is completed. Again. Not trying for perfect...arm was simple. Trimmed a section off a 2.1mm thick basswood strip. Sanded it down and rounded off the end. Drilled in a hole with a #78 drill bit into both the tiller arm end (tiny tiny hole!) and into the little black ball I made out of black sculpy. (Yes...sculpy comes in black). Stuff is awesome...made a few little BB's of black sculpy then baked them up (175F for 20 min). Drilled a small hole in the BB of sculpy then trimmed a small piece of 28G wire and connected the BB on the end of the tiller. (Stained the tiller after sanding) End result looks pretty decent. Also measured with rudder and binnacle in place...so no interference there. Running out of deck furniture...need to mount the rudder soon. Side note: just discovered the embedded dancing emoticons. Posting just became more exciting. Moving on...
  3. Overworked724
    It's worth stating that I feel like I am in kindergarten. You won't see high tech ship building techniques or nitpicky research questions to ensure historic accuracy. What this build is is quite simple...fun. I'm having fun! The small joys of overcoming minor challenges during the hard but rewarding act of creating something I can take some pride in. My ship building skill set might be small...but it's growing! (Baby steps)
  4. Overworked724
    Windlass is done! The black thread (2 wraps) with a touch of CA glue for shine gives a good impression of metal bands. The wood was prestained prior prior to any glueing. The guide holes and the wire did a decent job of keeping me honest during glueing. Used carpenters wood glue so I could take my time while the glue setup to make minor adjustments in alignment. Good tip: I marked the bottom of the dowel to keep the consistency of when I cut my thread and to ensure when I put the entire thing together (7 pieces in all) that the windlass had a seamless look. Not a bad job for my first try! Pretty happy with the result. Compare it to the piece included in the kit...I just shake my head. Time well spent. 🍻 CHEERS! Moving on.... (Note: When making the separate parts and planning to fit them back together, I marked each of them along one face of the hexagonal barrel (before cutting it into separate pieces) so I could align them back when glueing the final piece...the marks are on the bottom, where a viewer cannot see the thread overlap or the pencil marks used for alignment!)
  5. Overworked724
    Windlass 101: Measured dowel and decided to use painter's tape to allow me to sand down the center. Walaaa...instant cog. Then cut out center, filed in the teeth, and drilled in some guide holes into the barrels and cog to allow greater control and stability both during and after glueing. The parts are small, so this once again took some time. Will plan to use black thread instead of tape for simulation of iron bands. Square holes are easier...predrill the holes and use a jeweler's Phillips head screwdriver to square it out. Looks pretty good so far, but still have some ways to go before I can have a Windlass Party!!
  6. Overworked724
    Ok. Decided to try to get a bit of progress on the windlass. As before, following Chuck's practicum. However, I am crap at trying to shape a dowel. Truth be told. So I was liberal in experimenting with other doewls. Rather than try to get a perfect 1.8mm diameter taper from the middle to end of barrel, I decided to keep it a homogeneous diameter. (Just trying to give the ship a warm look, not win a beauty pageant!) Happily, I did finally manage to arrive at a roughly hexaganol shaped barrel. Also made 2 separate sets of windlass cradles in case I screw up. 😁 Moving on....
  7. Overworked724
    I think option 2...with the added clarification that I design and test fit the cheeks first. Then I can fill in the current hole and then drill the new one before putting in the cheeks. Should be less stressful and give a cleaner look. We shall see. 🙄
  8. Overworked724
    Yes...I am now looking at the stem/stern more critically as I prepare for future activities. I am loathe to say this...since my wales curve up a bit higher towards the bow, I mistakenly drilled out the gammoning hole higher on the stem than it should have been. Crap. What to do....two options. 1. Live it and adjust 2. Fill the current hole with some colored wood filler (try to match the wood) and redrill the gammoning hole AFTER the cheeks are in.... hmmmmm. What to do.....
  9. Overworked724
    The ship pumps are done! Not too bad for my first scratch built pumps. Once again, totally agree with Chuck P. On his assessment of the pumps provided in the kit. They are awful. The molding is also pretty shoddy, so if you plan to use them, be prepared for a lot of filing! I will say that the furniture provided in the kit is 'useable' but would not impart much warmth. It really is a great feeling to see something which looks more natural. It also makes the appearance of the deck much more authentic!! I consider my pumps and my binnacle to be my two best accomplishments so far. Considering using the kit supplied windlass...need to think about this a bit more...🤔 Moving on! note: the pumps are small! I really took my time and also took the cowards way out by reinforcing the tiny joints with slow CA to keep the wood for splitting.
  10. Overworked724
    So...my nautical knowledge being in its infancy, had to look up what a binnacle was. Still, without seeing firsthand what it was, I was following Chuck's practicum to get the gyst for my own binnacle construction. Funny enough, had dinner last night at Dover Straights (seafood restaurant) and the reception desk had an old binnacle. Had to snap a shot...😊 On to pumps. The kit pumps are abysmal so Chuck is bang on the point ... trying to make them is difficult. Quite small but my binnacle construction is giving me newfound hope I might not totally botch the job. Problem I encountered was using tape to simulate the iron banding around the pumps. Simply could not do it...so used thread instead with CA to give it some shine. These pumps are so small I don't think a casual observer should see too much of a difference. Also, the spouts were simply too small for me to manage as a rectangular shape. Simply snipped off the tip of a toothpick and inserted into hole made with a pin vise. Thinking ahead, decided to drill straight through barrel to allow for insertion of a pin once they are ready to be glued to the deck. May not need it, but will have the option once they are ready. A pin will help keep them centered and aligned if I need to adjust them before the glue sets. Moving on... to watch the Bears game...😁
  11. Overworked724
    The more I zoom in on the deck in these photos...the more I realize I could have done much better on my gratings!!! 🙄
  12. Overworked724
    Ok. Binnacle is done. Used Manila folder for doors, and painted the tip of a 3mm dowel gold and the very top of the dowel white. Trimmed off the 'pseudo compass' with a razor blade. Door handles are shortened pins. Also added side bolts which will be used to 'tie down' the binnacle to the deck. Chuck Passaro is right. It looks a thousand times better. Photos below. Time well spent and supremely satisfied with my first binnacle!!! Moving on....
  13. Overworked724
    Made two additional rudders without the gaps for pintles/gudgeons. Try a few honestly valiant efforts on the ship. Also crafted together the guts of my binacle. Feet of the binacle made out of toothpicks cross section. 😊 Took a slightly different route but it turned out ok. Will use Manila folder (thick paper) to makes doors. Then paint and move on.
  14. Overworked724
    After ship club last night - I have some newfound confidence. I am not longer worried about the rudder anymore, but no longer have a clear picture on how best to mount it...so will prepare a few more rudder mock ups to have for examining some alternative pintle/gudgeon ideas. In the meantime, will move on with preparing the deck furniture. Moving on...
  15. Overworked724
    Ok...I got to say...the walnut transom outer veneer looks awesome. Not historically accurate, but sweet just the same. Love the contrast. 😁 Moving on....to drink my beer.
  16. Overworked724
    Wellll....screw it. That transom could be better but it could be worse, too! Besides, it's not too bad for my fifth attempt. 🙄 So, on it went. Damn the torpedos. Time for for a few baby pictures of my build. Then it's off for a beer and a couple days off due to work and club meeting. One thought. I no longer believe this is an acceptable 'beginner' kit. First, it's a block of wood with plans. No real kit here. Honestly, without Chuck's practicum and my ship club, I would probably have thrown in the towel. Still might!!! But the frustration of failure has been drowned out by some really good successes and great experience. Will sally forth and hope for the best! 👍🏽 I already have the 'fashion pieces' (the edge pieces that cover the corner seams on the stern between transom and Wales) planned. Then it 's on the next interesting adventure on this build!! moving on.....
  17. Overworked724
    Hi CA Nope - that's simply the way the angle of the wales ended. The port wale angle a bit more than strbd right at the transom. Minor issue - and not one I will fret about. When looking stright on, it's equal, and from the top you won't even notice it. Best Pat
  18. Overworked724
    Yeah...I have not put transom on yet. It's the difference between airbrush and paint brush. I used too thick paint and the brush strokes stand out. Debating redoing the transom (again). On a a high note...the wales turned out pretty decent. 😊
  19. Overworked724
    Trimmed off the excess wales hanging off the stern. Added the stern trim which evens out the slight overhang left over. Actually looks fairly good. Used a 1mm square basswood length, painted then cut to fit. Nothing to stop me from adding the transom except the bloody rudder. 😑 Sigh. Will take it up with ship club on Wednesday. On on a side note...I hate the paint job I did on the transom. every time I make progress I feel like I make more mistakes. Ugh. I can understand now that a ship that looks perfect to an outsider is a graveyard of errors to its builder that only the builder can see. 🤔 Moving on.....
  20. Overworked724
    Wales on...but a heart attack narrowly averted due to the intervention of Chivas Regal. I mean...come on! Isn't there an easier way to put on wales? I preshaped (via plank bender) and prepainted. But this was still a difficult task. I only have two hands, and each wale was like getting control of a pissed off 2 year old!!! Result was ok, but needed to double up wood glue with some spots of slow CA (Zap a Gap). I hate using that stuff, but saw no alternative. Next time, I'm predrilling some holes and using nails. Will paint the edges and leave the front unpainted until it's on the ship. Then will use wood filler/paint after the wales are on and set. 🙄 Moving on... Thank God!
  21. Overworked724
    Thank you, CA! My journey has been frought with errors. There will be more before it's over! But the deck planking did turn out decently, much to my surprise!!! Update: Wales are ready...but too terrified to put them on tonight for fear of screwing up. Instead I finished the traveler rod and block on the transom. Moving on...tomorrow... after a beer!👍🏽
  22. Overworked724
    Well...TGIF! Finally decided to bear down and attack the ladder. The thing is tiny and scratch building it (even with the help of the small ladder schematic in Chuck's practicum) is difficult. I tried a few techniques to get a straight ladder and let's just say I was demoralized by the results. Also considered (and tried) using heavy paper. No dice. Finally jumped on line a saw a YouTube video of a lady making a dollhouse ladder using toothpicks and a drill. Easy enough! I just scaled down and used two pins (clipped with wire cutters) to make the tiny frame... Then added the steps. WaaaaLaaaa!!! Not perfect. But also not awful. Will NOT be trying to improve on this result. Moving on....
  23. Overworked724
    Hi Elijah! Yes. Those are pinheads from some very small pins (my wife is a crafty seamstresses). I used my micro drill bits...forgot the drill bit size...and enlarged the block holes. Then I drilled into the sides of the block some small holes for the pins. Cut the pins to fit...then a dab of CA glue on the tip and inserted into the block. Pretty easy to describe. Hard to do. (Hint. Get a magnifying glass!)
  24. Overworked724
    Ok. Moving on. The rudder. Made it too short so the rudder arm was never going to look right once attached. Frankly, it probably would have been scratching the deck once attached. Not exactly historically accurate. So...rebuild the rudder!? Nope. I like the idea of adapting so decided to extend it since WOOD IS FORGIVING so they say. While looking for a good source of wood, my wife suggested a fireplace matchstick. WaaaaLaaa! Also shown is the block of the traveler arm. This little sucker was a real pain to build. I made two. One you see in the pics below...the other is somewhere in the ductwork of our house...as the first attempt popped out of the tweezers and into the heating vent. 😔 Sigh.
  25. Overworked724
    Hi Lou... Chuck's practicum is probably the most thorough teacher/guide for the Sultana. However, you may find yourself, like me, deviating according to your tastes. I underestimated how much actual 'scratch building' there is in the kit...but it is quite the fun project. Most importantly, it gives you some training wheels as you learn the process...so it's a perfect starter kit from that perspective. Any future kits (and my next one is purring on idle in the shipyard....waiting to be unpacked) will go much smoother due to the learning on this one!! Just a note...the food poisoning was from raw oysters at a restaurant! The Admiral (my wife) ate the same ones (but not as many) and only I was affected. Not exactly fair - but now I can boast that I barely survived (not too far from the truth) and that she surely would have died if she'd contracted the same bacterial infection!! In other words, I took one for the team!! (Funny how guilt trips will work on husbands but not on wives...unfair that...) Best Patrick

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