petervisser

Hi All,
 
I have been busy in the shop of late due to the self isolation and making some progress. But boy, there is no rushing with a model ship so things are going slowly. I have been detailing some more of the main deck and added some fairleads and mooring bits here and there. I have also tackled the railings on the foc'sle and aft deck which went rather well considering. I tried my hand a soldering and it went so-so. In the end, I found that they didn't need it, and all is well seated without. I had intended to solder them so I could paint the railings off the model. But they looked so good without solder that I decided to paint them in situ. Therefore I had to tape off the stanchions at the base. Now the tedious painting begins. One coat of primer and two top coats. It took 2 hours for the first coat. Yikes. As mentioned earlier, model ship building is not done at lighning speed...
 

Congratulations on your very fine looking Bellona. I was following along and you had a very interesting build log. I like the fact that you kept with the all natural wood finish. it really shows off your craftsmanship.
Cheers,
Peter

A quick productive trip to Bendigo this morning, I knew the book shop
had the Sailing Ships of War. But bought the other 2 as well.
Hooroo Chris

I'd like to plug Oxford Companion to the Seas. Lots of wonderfull info in alphabetical order no less! It covers a broad range of topics and should answer all your queries. The book is widely available on the internet at a very respectable price.
Cheers,
Peter

Had my first serious go at airbrushing today, starting with priming the anchors:

The unpainted bits on the shanks are where I held the anchors - that part will be covered by the stocks. I then sprayed the hatch covers, the swivel guns and finally the anchor top coat.:

Once I'd realised that you need to control the paint flow quite carefully - a light misting being preferred to a heavy coat - I was able to paint the swivels far more quickly than I'd have managed with a brush, and with a much smoother coating that doesn't hide any details. You'll have to take my word for that as I can't take a decent closeup with my iphone!
 
The anchors went well, although to be honest a brush would probably have been as easy. Similarly, I tried airbrushing the pearwood channels but the result wasn't noticeably better than brushing. 
 
However the gratings were much easier with the airbrush, although I noticed when they dried that they're not quite evenly coated. Another quick go should sort that.
 
Cleaning the airbrush after use is a pain and took me about ten minutes, but like anything I expect it will get easier with practice.
 
Overall I'm quite pleased.
 
Derek

I'd like to plug Oxford Companion to the Seas. Lots of wonderfull info in alphabetical order no less! It covers a broad range of topics and should answer all your queries. The book is widely available on the internet at a very respectable price.
Cheers,
Peter

I'd like to plug Oxford Companion to the Seas. Lots of wonderfull info in alphabetical order no less! It covers a broad range of topics and should answer all your queries. The book is widely available on the internet at a very respectable price.
Cheers,
Peter

Good morning,
 
i havent updated for some time, doing so nnow. Somethimes i feel i make 2 boats in one, coming up with new ideas. Summing up the pics, I had to reinforce nose, sticking in thick wooden nails. I was never satisfied with bow floral ornament, probably still undoable with carving even at this scale, so I tried to paint a new ones, with acrylic Golden metallic color. I have to say I am quite a satisfied with outcome myself, with tinest brush possible even small birds on tiny vineyards line are visible now. it really glows agains sunrays. I made rail winches out of some old rivets stuck into wooden block: i finally made cabin doors and made proper horizontal base for decks to follow reality more...Made davits lanyards. Finished ratlines and forestays. I made topsail yard to be attached at deck. updated catheads with release levers and chain eye...i almost finished 1 side of sheathing, ending with 480 individual pieces of brass plates...still another side to come but that will be done later as I run out of brass. I must say before bow curvature disaster  all looked bleak but as I managed to repair that most important flaw , all seems really fit to me. foremast stay heartbocks are not really nice but I juct made them out of remained roundblocks  leftouts from shrouds. they are quite fragile so i couldnt push wires more to them, but im sure knowing myself iwill repair them sometime in future. I attached 2 of three bowsprit guys, and from that pic you can see reewed topgallant rail outer wooden rails nicely stepping out of stright line to lean outwards making more steeper agressive curvature going in line  with toprail. I tried to rivet the outer side of bulwark iron walls and attached eyed to deck. At this point all shourds and ratlines are fit, I secured lifeboat to the vessel _no pic unfortunately, and varnished Hull of the vessel with vax oil. I must say I found painting eith acrylics and putting semimatte vaxed oil afterwards really works visually for me. This Acrylics drying almost instantly, even not dilluted just brushing with good brush is what I used on yard. This is all for now, im adding pics along. Thank you. Have a nice sunday. 
Vlad.
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Well, the railings are completed. It was a bit of a slog. The first coat of primer took 2 hours to apply to all the railings. Phew. That was a bit much, my neck and back told me. Thereafter I painted them in sections as they still wanted two coats of white. But now they're finished and I am pleased woth the results. Modelling will now take a back seat for a few months as summer is arriving and the outdoors and the yard call for some attention instead. I hope to putter with the ships boats during rainy days, whenever they happen. Cheers guys!
 

Well, the railings are completed. It was a bit of a slog. The first coat of primer took 2 hours to apply to all the railings. Phew. That was a bit much, my neck and back told me. Thereafter I painted them in sections as they still wanted two coats of white. But now they're finished and I am pleased woth the results. Modelling will now take a back seat for a few months as summer is arriving and the outdoors and the yard call for some attention instead. I hope to putter with the ships boats during rainy days, whenever they happen. Cheers guys!
 

Finally, here are some photos of the gunwale stanchions and trim along with the attachment of the foc'sle deck. I didn't think I would bother with the trim and stanchions but other builders of this model added them so I had to try and keep up. I have finally found a re-purpose for the styrofoam trays our meat gets packaged in. They are perfect for holding tiny fittings while they get painted!
What with the foc'sle deck being added, I had to afix the bowsprit in place. This made the model instantly longer by 8.5" so it is alot more susceptible to damage. Yikes!
 
 

The hull trim has also been added. The strips were pre-bent and prepped with paint or stain before they were nailed/glued to the hull. This whole process was pretty tricky and it did not turn out perfectly, but it will have to do. Next time around I think I will glue them on while the hull is bare wood and paint or finish them in place with masking tape. I did however rough up the paint with sandpaper so that the glue had a better chance of holding.
 
 

A milestone on Bellona...the first of the yards being prepped for final fixing...….to think I came within a hairs breadth of scrapping Bellona because of the way it was going is a lesson to others to just keep persevering. Loads of errors and mistakes but I think they add to Bellona overall character....well that's my theory and i'm sticking to it. 

I've cut the transom out of 3/64" thick stock. This is the third attempt and it seems it was the proverbial charm.
First one the scroll saw went a wee bit out side the lines. The second one succumbed to heavy handed me.
I rough cut it on the scroll saw leaving the lines. I then fine tuned it with knives, files and sanding sticks.
 

 

 
I've clamped the transom in place so far the fit doesn't look to bad to me.
 

 

 
Before I permanently glue it in place and plank the upper counter I will test fit as many pieces to see if there are any potential issues.

Having built the Billing Bounty, I can tell you it is no easy feat for a first time builder. The Bounty was the 4th Billing kit I tackled, so it with the experience gained from earlier builds and lessons learned, it was a very rewarding and enjoyable experience. And that's what you want out of this challenging hobby. A project that you can start and finish with minimal frustration and maximum pleasure. There are countless unfinished models out there where the builder went in with the best of intentions but a lack of tools, experience and patience. And there is nothing worse than tossing out a perfectly good kit that has been started and never completed.
If you are still keen on building a model ship (and who wouldn't be?...) then pick a kit that you really like the looks of, and figure, hey I can do this! Billing make some very nice kits in the beginner and advanced beginner category which you might be interested in.
I have included a picture of my own Bounty with this post. The rigging alone should be enough to scare you away....🙂
 

Having built the Billing Bounty, I can tell you it is no easy feat for a first time builder. The Bounty was the 4th Billing kit I tackled, so it with the experience gained from earlier builds and lessons learned, it was a very rewarding and enjoyable experience. And that's what you want out of this challenging hobby. A project that you can start and finish with minimal frustration and maximum pleasure. There are countless unfinished models out there where the builder went in with the best of intentions but a lack of tools, experience and patience. And there is nothing worse than tossing out a perfectly good kit that has been started and never completed.
If you are still keen on building a model ship (and who wouldn't be?...) then pick a kit that you really like the looks of, and figure, hey I can do this! Billing make some very nice kits in the beginner and advanced beginner category which you might be interested in.
I have included a picture of my own Bounty with this post. The rigging alone should be enough to scare you away....🙂
 

Having built the Billing Bounty, I can tell you it is no easy feat for a first time builder. The Bounty was the 4th Billing kit I tackled, so it with the experience gained from earlier builds and lessons learned, it was a very rewarding and enjoyable experience. And that's what you want out of this challenging hobby. A project that you can start and finish with minimal frustration and maximum pleasure. There are countless unfinished models out there where the builder went in with the best of intentions but a lack of tools, experience and patience. And there is nothing worse than tossing out a perfectly good kit that has been started and never completed.
If you are still keen on building a model ship (and who wouldn't be?...) then pick a kit that you really like the looks of, and figure, hey I can do this! Billing make some very nice kits in the beginner and advanced beginner category which you might be interested in.
I have included a picture of my own Bounty with this post. The rigging alone should be enough to scare you away....🙂
 

Oh happy day...ratlines all done and dusted..

I just use the "rack of the eye" when doing the rats, I don't have a gauge that I keep too or a measure behind the shrouds....just clove hitch and go...starboard side completed....Victory and Greyhound look on in the back ground.

been a busy bee as of late...….most of the shrouds completed.

So the other day I bit the bullet and started finishing the figurehead. Again it might not be perfect but it's about 4mm big and difficult to handle and I've lost count of the amount of times I dropped the pieces on the floor and yelled 'DON'T MOVE' to my other half while I scanned the floor to find whatever I'd dropped, and the expletives that he's heard made him chuckle. So here it is...at long last finished and painted. I also decided to stick the decorative window pieces on as well to see the finished effect...looking good so far 😄

Hi - finally got the rudder coppered & hinges on & painted accordingly.  Hard to tell from the pictures,but it was tapered at the back edge & toward the bottom.  It is removable,so I will set it aside & move on to another area.  Thanks for looking!
 

 

 
Mark

Dear fellows, There is working mess is the shipyard. I cant explain how much beauty and real complete feel  rigging adds to the ship. I glad i went for it. Even when ratlines are  not there. I was playing with idea tried to splice rope to show off some 3 cord stopper but i was swearing so much i gave up . Not worth hassle with 60 deadeyes i would be probably dead or end up in psychiatric however it is doable though. I just hope i am doing rigging right. Those colors really match with boat. Not sure if photos show that enough.i am definitely glad for fine lanyard rope. V. 
 

Back in February, Luekutus started a build log for the Billings Calypso which jogged me into finishing a project that I started probably 10 years ago. I really appreciate that he has planked his, it looks great and I’m looking forward to seeing more! My goal was to build a nice model for the mantel that was a good scale and not a warship. While I’ve done some basic research, my model is not 100% accurate and I’ve taken some artistic license in some areas. 
 
The Billings kit is crude by today’s standards but can be spiced up with a bit of detailing and is the best available today in a large scale. The helicopter supplied is AWFUL! I’ve given up on trying to make it look nice and am looking for an after market substitute in 1:48 that’s close. I added some 1:48 welding gas cylinders that look fine and the rope I’ve used is the truly nice stuff from  Syren. Most of the trim is Evergreen and a lot of the wood is from my spares stash. 
 
Enjoy,
 
Don

Nice sunday to everyone,
its been week I posted an update, but since then hell of a things went on a cutty.
I tried to sum up all important works in pics, as since corona quarantine  I am at home with privilege to work a lot more than before I try as much as possible to speed up. Closing up is very near probably one more post before I quit as standing rigging shrouds are already hanging from masts and that would be end of titanic cutty.
So Masting.  Everything will be on pics, so I will try to comment on it. I started final polishing and cleanup of small things and building remaining small parts. As by nature i am very unpatient person, I found workarond how to save a day, usually when I start working I know if day is being dog or sweet. if dog i let it pass as eveything comes up ugly, and when a good day apears I work as much as possible. I made steering wheel bunk, and after securing all deadeyes / bases still to be painted black / I already made shourd ones. After new bow with knightheads, I finished outr side of bulwark rails attaching new wood support and metal plate with simulated rivets which allowed me to remove inner support for rails. I finally removed white ugly wooden supporters of rail underneath from deck side to make bow bulwarks look cleaner. I sanded off down side of catheads to make them unlinary shallower at one side, and put them on place. well as much as I hate glowing surfaces, I did not figure out another protection from dust as varnish. If you have another solution any advice more than welcomed. o I put on deck 5 or so  coats of varnish ,more and less diluted  and after first 2 I scraped upgrain with razor. I put more work again on lifeboat reworked thwarts blonde and fixed according they should be and put metal knees. installed nameplate and made small fore "spray rail ". Installed bow bell. I made stern gratings cover,..aligned both nameplates in bow according plan so I had to put them a bit outwards .... secured stern bollards, made skylighs, still some things to make. rail winches , beef casks, poop bell...but leeaving as i need more patience securing masts scared me, as I left them with square holes /stupid idea/ so i had to align them all and instert some triangle wood sticks to secure them . but worked. at this point I started standing rigging. hanged shrouds and seiging them in pairs up masts. still have to put bowsprit chains...i painted stairs white. Next chapter. - rigging.
thats all for this week folks, big thanks for great  comments...support, for any remark comment, like etc...and stay healthy!Vlad