Overworked724

Ok. After spending 2 solid days trying to get metal to stick to metal (which is impossible without welding apparently), I finally made an executive decision. Paper pintles/gudgeons (P&G's) it is. But I've learned a few things. 
 
Paper is is easier to deal with, but it is fragile. You can see how they deform and lose their integrity after painting with acrylics. (Solved using a black magic marker). Don't have acid free paper, so maybe next time. 
 
Photos below. 
 
To put this in perspective...I have built and painted three rudders, and made multiple sets of P&G's of both paper and copper stripping. I have sliced my fingers repeatedly, and my hands are literally caked with glue (wood and CA), white and black paint, and blood. 
 
I am quite serious when I say that the rudder is by far the most ridiculous chore yet. I did not enjoy it. 😏  The end result is OK...but frankly would like to say that the next time I do this part of a ship it will be with pins and premade parts...I mean really...what kind friggin manufacturer is too bloody CHEAP to put them in a 'beginner' kit!!!!??? This was way more difficult than it should have been. And doubly more so for a beginner like me. 
 
Ok. Sorry ... my Vent is over. 
 
I used a yellow manila folder for the P@G's, 22g wire of the pins, carpenters glue for prep and mounting. No paint...just a black Sharpie to avoid damaging/deforming my paper P&G's. 
 
Moving on...to get a beer and ignore this model for the rest of the evening. 
 
 

Acid free paper....I am going to have to look that one up!  Thanks!

I hate Pintles and Gudgeons. Model Shipways was too cheap to include them...sigh. Paper P&Gs are difficult. The water in the paint (acrylic) breaks down the fibers and it loses its shape, and starts to disintegrate upon too much manipulation. Metal does have some advantages. 
 
Hey...great idea...how about some folks give me some ideas!?  
 
I dont have metal cutting/soldering tools. So how do I make these things?
 
going to bed...

Oh...and the catheads turned out pretty good!  

Well...can say I have been making many attempts at the pintles and gudgeons (P&G's). None in the 'kit' so have to make them.  As I said, I gave up trying to make them out of copper. So made a few attempts with paper.  The right paper and technique eludes me, but if I can hack it through with a decent result, I'll call it a win and move on!!
 
Following Chuck's guide, made a simple jig with wood and a 22g piece of wire to prebend the paper P&G's. Then used the same gauge wire to make a string of them (used Wood glue...seemed to be easier to manage than CA glue).
 
Drilled a small guide hole into the upper edge of each gap in the rudder for the pin to fit into  The 'pin' in this case is simply the small excess of the 22g wire left after trimming. 
 
They turned out ok...but the proof will be in the painting/mounting. We shall see!
 
Moving on...  

Note to newbies like me...ship plans are useful for visual guides. I copy and cut out various portions of the deck i am working on to ensure my ruler/divider is not lying to me.  I find that the more you progress, the easier it is to get some type of assymetry in the look/shape. I have quite a few areas on my model where this has occurred. The plans help my visual brain recover from the gaps in the measurements. 
 
As Gunny Highway would say..."Adapt!!! Overcome!!!" 

After considering my next steps, decided to suck it up and make the cat heads. Overall was a good attempt. Nothing quite as terrifying as cutting off chunks of your ship.   Was extremely careful not to overtrim the gaps in the cap rail to fit the catheads. 
 
Will paint tomorrow. Moving on....to bed. 

Nice progress!  Looks sharp and the filler blocks are set just right. Also like the use of faux deck below cannon carriage to ensure no issues with porthole alignment. Good idea. 

Ok. Going to stand back and admire my progress a bit. The chain plates I made turned out really nice and I am glad now I decided to make my own via wire/solder. The metal was very easy to bend and trim. Made for a fairly painless chain plate attachment and the effect was very clean. After it was done, I had to consider how much she is starting to look like an actual ship!!!
 
Moving on...
 
 

Thanks, Russ!  Well, I can honestly say that they will need to be ripped off since they certainly won’t be coming loose anytime soon. Will be putting in pins for the next build though. 

Ok. Going to stand back and admire my progress a bit. The chain plates I made turned out really nice and I am glad now I decided to make my own via wire/solder. The metal was very easy to bend and trim. Made for a fairly painless chain plate attachment and the effect was very clean. After it was done, I had to consider how much she is starting to look like an actual ship!!!
 
Moving on...
 
 

Thanks, Bob!  I totally understand that!  Very good tip which I will follow in future. 
 

Ok. Going to stand back and admire my progress a bit. The chain plates I made turned out really nice and I am glad now I decided to make my own via wire/solder. The metal was very easy to bend and trim. Made for a fairly painless chain plate attachment and the effect was very clean. After it was done, I had to consider how much she is starting to look like an actual ship!!!
 
Moving on...
 
 

Thanks, Russ!  Well, I can honestly say that they will need to be ripped off since they certainly won’t be coming loose anytime soon. Will be putting in pins for the next build though. 

Nice work on the chainplates. I totally agree with Bob about fastening the channels. Been there, done that. When they come loose in the middle of rigging, it does not look or sound pretty.
 
Russ

Nicely done Patrick. Just a suggestion: prayer is good, but pins are better. Many of us have learned the hard way that pins are your best friend at points of stress. 
 
Bob

Ok. Going to stand back and admire my progress a bit. The chain plates I made turned out really nice and I am glad now I decided to make my own via wire/solder. The metal was very easy to bend and trim. Made for a fairly painless chain plate attachment and the effect was very clean. After it was done, I had to consider how much she is starting to look like an actual ship!!!
 
Moving on...
 
 

Ok. Going to stand back and admire my progress a bit. The chain plates I made turned out really nice and I am glad now I decided to make my own via wire/solder. The metal was very easy to bend and trim. Made for a fairly painless chain plate attachment and the effect was very clean. After it was done, I had to consider how much she is starting to look like an actual ship!!!
 
Moving on...
 
 

Got the port side channels/deadeyes installed. No pins for the channels...will simply say a prayer and hope the carpenter’s glue holds. 😁🙏🏼  Fairly lined up and not a bad result. 
 
Touch up paint is in my future. But if I only mount it with port side facing out, then I only have to do half the rigging!!!
 
 
 
 

A little time today spent on the build. Taking it slow and carefully.... Placed the simulated lower deck in place today. The edges of the planks are rubbed with a pencil graphite at a 45 degree angle. This tends to slightly reshape the long edge of the plank and show some darker edging nicely. Once glued in place, the planking was stained with Golden Oak. Funny thing, though, my golden oak looks less golden and a bit darker than others'... I wonder if my stain is old or something. M'eh. ;-) 
 
~john
 
 

Making headway on the filler blocks now. Peter's advice was perfect: Make them slightly larger than needed then sand down to size for a perfect fit. The slight bowing of the bulkhead former is coming out. I am gluing the blocks in one pair at a time from stern to bow. There's no reason to the direction.... I just decided to start that way ;-) 
 
~john

The adventure DOES start!  Had some time to figure out that an empty vodka bottle makes a fine way to soak rabbet strips for a keel  ;-)  It is now curved around the keel and waiting to dry before I glue it in place. After that, onto the rabbet itself.  In the meantime, I am starting to hunt around for filler block material. I was thinking balsa, but not quite decided. Any commentary or advice on this? Perhaps something stronger would be appropriate? 
 
~john
 

Note to newbies like me...ship plans are useful for visual guides. I copy and cut out various portions of the deck i am working on to ensure my ruler/divider is not lying to me.  I find that the more you progress, the easier it is to get some type of assymetry in the look/shape. I have quite a few areas on my model where this has occurred. The plans help my visual brain recover from the gaps in the measurements. 
 
As Gunny Highway would say..."Adapt!!! Overcome!!!" 

After considering my next steps, decided to suck it up and make the cat heads. Overall was a good attempt. Nothing quite as terrifying as cutting off chunks of your ship.   Was extremely careful not to overtrim the gaps in the cap rail to fit the catheads. 
 
Will paint tomorrow. Moving on....to bed. 

John - Thanks for your note!!!
 
Can't tell you how much I appreciate the kind thoughts and support!  The furniture has been fun to build...and frankly, I was surprised at how well it turned out considering it was my first attempt at such an endeavor!  I actually read (and have reread) your log on the Sultana and you accomplished that which I could not have done - make the ship look realistic using the included metal parts.  My skill in painting is pretty poor - and I simply had no idea how to prepare/trim/sand down the parts without completely destroying them.   (My shameful secret - I am scratch building the furniture and whatnot because I don't know how to prepare the supplied cast metal parts.  )
 
I have a long way to go - but my brain is already trying to get past the rudder, paint touch ups, catheads, stanchions/rails, knight heads, cheeks, chain plates, deadeyes, trim, masts, spars, booms, and sprit...it is the rigging that scares me most!  Never done it before...rigging looks so complicated. 
 
But, onwards and upwards.  I am simply trying to log as much as I can of this build for myself and for future newcomers to the hobby to follow - and avoid my many impatient mistakes (e.g. Drilling the gammoning hole in the wrong place on the stem!!  Over sanding the foredeck!!  Using CA glue to support my planking!!....etc. )!  This is my first wooden ship model...and I am sincerely hoping I can finish it...!  (The admiral already has plans on where to put it.)