gjdale

Amazing, as always, Daniel. Just superb!

Just excellent Andy.

Popeye - I'd like to be a fly on the wall for THAT conversation!

Very nice work Nick. All looks very clean and precise. Your little jig for helping rig the catharpins looks like an excellent idea.

Craig,

Perhaps I should have prefaced my comments with a disclaimer as I have never built an AL kit. My comments were based on experience with other kits from a variety of manufacturers. I just assumed they would all do it this way (which seemed logical to me). It may be that AL have their own way of listing kit inventory.

Think I'll pull up a chair for this one too. Pass the popcorn please Mark.

Fantastic Gil. Thanks for sharing your technique.

Beautiful, as always, Karl.

Impressive work Andy, even if it does get a little repetitive for you.

Changes to the Admiral's guest room must be done incrementally so she doesn't notice too much happening at once.  Although there is something to be said for a big comfy throne and ipad for Netflix(err...I mean research).

 

I also have a workbench in the garage with a proper working stool and what not if the build begins to require it.

Or, you could make such a mess in the lounge room that the Admiral actually orders you to make whatever changes are necessary in the guest room (thus re-named as the shipyard). Worked for me.......

Good to hear you've got a proper set-up in the garage too - you'll make use of that as you progress, especially if you start scratching some parts.

Lovely planking job there Augie. If you get bored with football, try tuning in to the Cricket and watch us giving the Poms a severe thrashing (which they thoroughly deserve!) Don't worry if you don't understand the game - you'll soon pick up that we're winning, and that alone will provide many hours of satisfaction. :D

Great result Mark. See, I just knew that you'd come up with an inspirational solution!

Gaps? What gaps? I see nothing! (To quote SGT Schulz......if you remember that show......)

I've used pretty much the same method for blackening as Bob described, although I do thoroughly clean the parts first using firstly white vinegar, and then acetone. Might be overkill but it works. I also use the solution uncut (100%). Rinsing thoroughly in water (I use distilled water) afterwards is very important to halt the chemical reaction. I've previously had all sorts of problems with chemical blackening, but since I switched to the Casey Birchwood product after a recommendation from Danny Vadas, I've had no problems at all. And the best thing about chemical blackening........there is no waiting for the paint to dry!

Well, that's something of an improvement - enough to restore your honour at least!

That chair looks pretty comfy, but it's gonna get interesting as the build progresses. I think I'll sit back in my own comfy chair and watch the modelling space evolve with the build. This could be fun!

I learned that one first hand from Sjors and Anja, Mark!

There's no "t" on the end Bug.

Looking good Patrick. Must be a good feeling to move into this new phase of the build.

I agree with Jim, Craig. The kit contents list should tell you how many stock strips of each dimesion, which is what you need to check for inventory. When it comes to cutting smaller pieces, always use the shortest available stock of that dimension and wood type that will do the job. That should ensure that you don't run out.

Nice to see planking started Sean. You might want to investigate a more sturdy work surface though mate - that picture looks like a disaster waiting to happen to me.

Fantastic work, as always Gil. It's really handy having you just that little bit further ahead of me so that I can start to think about what's next while having your pictures to assist that contemplation. I'm afraid that boarding pikes are one detail that my build will not be getting.

Thanks again for your conversation and assistance on shroud trucks, shroud cleats and mast cleats. I am now quite satisfied with the way mine have turned out and they wouldn't even be there were it not for your assistance in the first place.

Of course you use them Derek - otherwise your grandson will think you don't like them!

Sorry to hear of the oops with bowsprit again. The further we go with the rigging, the more careful it seems we need to be. Nearly poked my eye out on the fore yard today - thank goodness for the Optivisor, which saved me (several times).

Yep, as flash as a rat with a gold tooth Danny!

Your little launch is turning out very nicely Mike. Hope you don't get too distracted by the 1:1 project!

Very sorry to hear that Mick. Best wishes for you and the family.

Thanks again for all the nice comments and "likes".

Daniel (Dafi) - thanks for the unashamed sales pitch, but I don't think I'll be needing your product.

A small update......

Following the advice/opinions of you good folks, I made a minor tweak to the Mast Cleats prior to installation, which required re-blackening as well (no prob )

And here are the Foremast set installed (Main and Mizzen Mast Cleats have also been installed):

And with the Truss Pendant falls re-done to belay on the Mast Cleats:

This shot shows the forward Kevel Cleats (with working sheave) installed, with the Fore Yard Lifts belayed to them. (The Kevel is on the right of the photo, next to the bulwark):

And finally, those pesky Shroud Cleats.  I've finished installing the Foremast Shroud Cleats.  Fortunately, the Main Mast Shrouds don't use any Shroud Cleats.  So, just the Mizzen Shroud Cleats left to install.  The only real difficulty in installing the Foremast Shroud Cleats was the fact that the Foremast Yard was already in place, causing a "poke your eye out" hazard (the optivisor saved me several times).  The Mizzen ones should be a little easier to do.

Taking a photo of the installed Shroud Cleats also proved problematic.  This is about the best I could do in that regard.

All in all, I'm pretty happy with the way both of these cleat sets have turned out.

What is it about the VICTORY i also cant wait to build one but keep puting it of with the excuse that my skills arnt good enough yet. its as if its the ultimate kit build and once finished anything that follows will be somehow less satisfing .gee this sounds deep .I just hope once i do finally build one i dont take up fishing instead

I think it's just Nature's way of telling you to wait for the Amati/Chris Watton version to be released!