Overworked724

Ok. Wood ‘filler’ is forgiving. Wood not so much. 🤨
 
Redrilled the errant scupper on starboard side. It’s passable but not perfect...but the chainplates will obscure any imperfections. 
 
I’ll note a deviation here from the plans. There should be 5 scuppers in a row on each side starting back from the second sweep hole near the bow. I skipped the hole adjacent to the main mast because I put a butt joint directly beneath that sweep hole on both sides. Symmetry for the win...not.
 

 
It would have looked like crap if I drilled the scupper in the middle of a butt joint...and the steps/rails near that sweep made putting it in off center a non-starter. 
 
Head Bang #1!!!     Note to future self...read the bloody plans. 
 
Ah, well...artistic license for the win!!!
 
Moving on...

 
 
 

Well...was bound to happen....
 
Was drilling the holes on the exterior bulkhead for the scuppers. Slipped and gouged one of the holes pretty badly. 
 

 
I could have clean it up best I could and lived with it...but since I screwed up I thought I would test the old adage “Wood is forgiving!”...a phrase so many of my fellow modelers are fond of saying. 
 
Surgery for the mulligan attempt went like this...
 

 

 

 
...we’ll see how my repeat attempt to drill out that scupper works before I say the adage is true. 😣
 
...Going to bed. 

I'm looking forward to getting proficient with it. Over the next few days I'll attempt to make the deck pumps from a brass rod. Working on the drawing now. 

Robin, your deck really sets the bar!  Beautiful work. 

Nice recovery, Pat. 

Hey thanks guys really appreciate you comments and thanks to all for the likes as well. 
Well honestly I haven`t reached that part in the instructions yet. A lot of my build lately has actually been without following the instructions per say and just going off the plans. First I heard of 3 boats was when Thomas mentioned it. I still need to have a go at the transom decorations and quarter badges too. I started the kit boat a while back but have no idea weather I will use it somehow yet. I picked up the master korabell boat kit with the intension of maybe using it also. I may even have a boat off ship as part of the display, I sadly haven`t even put much thought into a proper stand to mount the ship on either. Oh my 
 
Started putting ring bolts into the deck now. I also want to go through the instructions and make sure I have all the ring bolts on the bulwarks installed before gluing in the bowsprit bits as it looks like the rigging may require some more at the bow and I don`t want to get trapped in not able to drill later.  
 

I decided to ruff in the bowsprit and bitts today. It is a little tricky as you have to do a square tenon to fit into the bitts and the 1/4 inch dowel that came with the kit was smaller than the 1/4" called for in the instructions. I ended with it sitting a good 1/8th inch above the mermaids head. With the undersize dowel I think this is as good as it will get. Nothing is sanded yet just ruffed in... 
 

 

Thank you Thomas  
Still continuing with the deck fittings.  Pinned and glued the fife rail together. The stanchions I turned in pear using my dremel, got pinned through the main rail.  They are slightly wider than Chucks but I am good with it. I then drilled pinned and added the four channels two each to the port and starboard sides. 

So I was not happy with my first go at doing the binnacle. It looked to much like a red dresser drawers so I have redone it with one in oiled pear wood and it is a lot better. I went with a much simpler design, on top I made a mount and added the kit bell, but I may swap it out for a brass bell at a later date. I also added a compass using a thin slice of some brass tube. 
I also reshaped the block ends of the pumps crossbar and cleaned up a couple area's. Cheers ~

 
 
   

A dusty Sunday!  Got the bulkhead tops roughly sanded and squared up.


 
...and finally attacked the sanding of the interior bulkheads. I find that using a rolled up fluffy bath towel twisted double and held with a couple rubber bands makes the perfect sanding cradle. 
 

 

 
My main weapon of choice in sanding is an adhesive backed 120 grit rotary sanding pad doubled up on itself. I trimmed it to shape to allow me easy access across the entire inner bulkhead. Nice thing is it’s thick and holds its shape if you bend it to give it good curvature to reach those curvy areas near the bow. 
 
...and...more bonus pics...
 

 

 

 

 
Moving on!!!!
 
 
 

A dusty Sunday!  Got the bulkhead tops roughly sanded and squared up.


 
...and finally attacked the sanding of the interior bulkheads. I find that using a rolled up fluffy bath towel twisted double and held with a couple rubber bands makes the perfect sanding cradle. 
 

 

 
My main weapon of choice in sanding is an adhesive backed 120 grit rotary sanding pad doubled up on itself. I trimmed it to shape to allow me easy access across the entire inner bulkhead. Nice thing is it’s thick and holds its shape if you bend it to give it good curvature to reach those curvy areas near the bow. 
 
...and...more bonus pics...
 

 

 

 

 
Moving on!!!!
 
 
 

Testing Results:
I have completed 4 different examples of tree nail builds shown below.  I would be interested in knowing which you think is best?
(Funny, in the pictures, they look pretty much the same.)
 
1.  Done using natural wood filler.
2.  Using a sharpened pencil to outline the holes.
3.  Using the tree nails that I made with the drill press and needle.
4.  Using the tree nails from the press, and staining the nails in cherry wood stain.
 
Picture 1 is with 1 coat of tung oil, and picture 2 is with 3 coats of tung oil.
 
 
 

The point I am getting to is similar.  The instructions indicate a 0.55 drill for the holes, and I even dropped down 1 size.  Looking at the scale, it appears like one tree nail would occupy over 1/4 of a single plank.  That seems too big for me.  I am considering just doing the decking only, but have time to change my mind. 
 
BTW:  Number 1 has been my choice as well.

Absolutely wonderful job, Justin. I am not too sure if you are right about your doing the cap rails out of order. I’m actually planning to do the same...saving the cap rails for last. My intention was to prep and paint the cap rails off the ship.  Once on, there would be some minor touch up work. 
 
Enjoy your Thanksgiving!!!
 
Patrick

Again, I can't say it enough, thanks for the likes and comments.  👍
 
Spent the day making pin rails. Started out cutting strips out of cedar 1/8" and 5/32" wide then milling them done to .05 thickness. The wider strip will be reduced to the 1/8" as it curves at the bow. I decided to drill the the holes in the to be curved pieces in a straight line as the curve is so slight on the short lengths. I used a 1mm drill for the holes, as suggested in the manual, on the mill to keep the spacing even and straight. My freehand drilling is suspect a best. I can't believe how you are able to make such perfect patterns by had.
After drill the hole patterns I cut the strips to the correct individual lengths. Using the drill bits as registration the pieces were stacked with the drill bit keeping them aligned.
 
The disk sander made sure the lengths were equal and the end angles were equal.

 
I've had problems with pin rails coming loose on other builds so I'm going to pin these rails as suggested. Trying to align blind pins sounds like a difficult process so I decided to use #9 silk sewing pins through the rail into the bulwark. Drill .029 dia holes through the rails between the belaying pin holes. Painted the rails red to match the bulwarks.
 

 
Pushed the sewing pins into their holes ready to set rail on bulwark.
 

 
Put glue on the pin rail and set it against the bulwark. Push the pins in about 3/32" with pliers and when set snip off the pin protruding even with the pin rail. Touch up red paint and can't see the pins. Tomorrow I'll clean up the pin rails by lightly sanding and then another top coat of paint.
Boy the zoomed photo shows everything but it does look much better to the naked eye.
 

 
 
Thats it for today
Stay well and stay safe
Will  
 

Excellent work! Very clean precise build!
 
Thomas

A dusty Sunday!  Got the bulkhead tops roughly sanded and squared up.


 
...and finally attacked the sanding of the interior bulkheads. I find that using a rolled up fluffy bath towel twisted double and held with a couple rubber bands makes the perfect sanding cradle. 
 

 

 
My main weapon of choice in sanding is an adhesive backed 120 grit rotary sanding pad doubled up on itself. I trimmed it to shape to allow me easy access across the entire inner bulkhead. Nice thing is it’s thick and holds its shape if you bend it to give it good curvature to reach those curvy areas near the bow. 
 
...and...more bonus pics...
 

 

 

 

 
Moving on!!!!
 
 
 

I'm really impressed with your progress. Crisp, clean, well defined. I'm jealous 😜.
Carry on Patrick!

PAINT.   Nope, not my favorite task at all. 
 
I started with the interior bulkheads using Model Shipways "Red Trim."   Its quite red, but I think after one gets over the shock of the color it actually grows on you a bit.   I also think the effect will die down after other details are integrated.  I think it took about 5 coats, following advice from @Gahm and others.   I have till now used the the diluted layering technique but hadn't not lightly sanding between coats which I must say did make a difference in the final result.  I also did a very fine sanding with a 3000 grit to soften the little gloss I had.   

I then masked and had a go with Model Shipways "Spar Black" for the exterior.   I think if I had to do it again I probably would have gone ahead and got the cap rails fully completed prior to this stage, but it is what it is.  I definitely did not quite think out ahead enough steps here, so will caution anyone reading this and contemplating their own build - success seems to be about being 10 steps ahead of yourself!  Ill just have to be extra careful now when the time comes.  
 
I still have some cleaning up to do and need to complete the transom cap but ran out of weekend.   There are a few tiny things that still need to wrapped up in the transom just as soon as I come up with a solution.  In the absence of Thanksgiving (thanks COVID), this year we are repainting the kitchen and den so I might not get much time in the shop over the next week.   As whenever "we" are doing a house project, its general ME doing much of the work, ha.   Over the last 5 years the kids have absolutely thrashed a few drywall corners so Im started in on replacing the metal corner bead and replastering first thing in the morning, then trim and so on...   ho hum.   
 
I hope you all have a good holiday no matter how you are spending it!
 


 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A dusty Sunday!  Got the bulkhead tops roughly sanded and squared up.


 
...and finally attacked the sanding of the interior bulkheads. I find that using a rolled up fluffy bath towel twisted double and held with a couple rubber bands makes the perfect sanding cradle. 
 

 

 
My main weapon of choice in sanding is an adhesive backed 120 grit rotary sanding pad doubled up on itself. I trimmed it to shape to allow me easy access across the entire inner bulkhead. Nice thing is it’s thick and holds its shape if you bend it to give it good curvature to reach those curvy areas near the bow. 
 
...and...more bonus pics...
 

 

 

 

 
Moving on!!!!
 
 
 

Another awesome update! I use sanding disks as well, i cut them in half twice so i have four equal parts, this creates an even tighter sanding area. Looking great!
 
Bradley

A dusty Sunday!  Got the bulkhead tops roughly sanded and squared up.


 
...and finally attacked the sanding of the interior bulkheads. I find that using a rolled up fluffy bath towel twisted double and held with a couple rubber bands makes the perfect sanding cradle. 
 

 

 
My main weapon of choice in sanding is an adhesive backed 120 grit rotary sanding pad doubled up on itself. I trimmed it to shape to allow me easy access across the entire inner bulkhead. Nice thing is it’s thick and holds its shape if you bend it to give it good curvature to reach those curvy areas near the bow. 
 
...and...more bonus pics...
 

 

 

 

 
Moving on!!!!
 
 
 

A dusty Sunday!  Got the bulkhead tops roughly sanded and squared up.


 
...and finally attacked the sanding of the interior bulkheads. I find that using a rolled up fluffy bath towel twisted double and held with a couple rubber bands makes the perfect sanding cradle. 
 

 

 
My main weapon of choice in sanding is an adhesive backed 120 grit rotary sanding pad doubled up on itself. I trimmed it to shape to allow me easy access across the entire inner bulkhead. Nice thing is it’s thick and holds its shape if you bend it to give it good curvature to reach those curvy areas near the bow. 
 
...and...more bonus pics...
 

 

 

 

 
Moving on!!!!
 
 
 

Looks exceptional Robin!! The bigger cannon balls match the carronades and makes the ship look deadlier 😁. And the pearwood deck and fittings look awesome! 
 
Btw are you planning on building all the ship's boats? Or only the longboat? 

Robin, your deck really sets the bar!  Beautiful work.