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Brucealanevans

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Everything posted by Brucealanevans

  1. Thanks all. Since this build is right at the edge of my abilities I’m very pleased with it so far. The admiral thinks it’s my best so far.
  2. I have managed to get the cannon placed and breech ropes rigged. It was surprisingly difficult to persuade the eye bolts at the ends of the breech ropes to seat in the pre-drilled holes. In the end, it took two tweezers - one curved - and my optivisor to manage it, and even then often two or three tries before success. Because of all the fumbling I didn't put any glue on the ends of the bolts to avoid smearing it all over (as everyone says, don't ask me how I know). I dribbled a bit of white glue diluted with water on each where it protruded from the hole to secure them. After drying, nothing visible. I wanted to finish this part before shutting things down for 6 weeks, so I wanted to place the out-haul anchors. I was reluctant to use the brass eye bolts and split rings due to the hassle of blackening them and the probability of some of the blackening disfiguring the deck. Since a nice roll of 28 gauge black wire came with the kit, I made the split rings and eye bolts with that. I've never done that before and I have to say (with the proper tools including a good cutter with sharp points and a fine needle nose pliers) it was surprisingly easy and an hour's work provided me with 28 nice black rings with attached bolts. Put those on the deck and I'm pleased with the look. That's it for now. Cleaned up the shipyard, put away the tools and vacuumed the carpet monster. Will start on the additional deck structures when I return.
  3. Well, I've finished 28 12 pounders! I love the resin cannon from Syren. I wish he had a size suitable for the upper deck 6 pounders. Going to be able to get them installed before leaving the shipyard for 6 weeks or so to travel and stay east. I have definitely decided not to install the cannon tackle, and therefore probably will not install the (upper) eyebolts beside the cannon ports. The thought of blackening and installing 56 eyebolts to no purpose led me to this decision. Judge me if you must. Touched all the cannon up, and will drill the holes for the ring/eye bolts tomorrow and then glue the cannon in place and insert the breech line bolts. Excited that when I return I can leave the tedium of the last several weeks behind and start on more varied construction projects. By the way, if you follow the Manual's procedures, there are not enough split rings and eye bolts included with the model. I requested more and received them quickly from Model Shipways. Unfortunately, the split rings were a smaller size and passing the breech line through them was a nightmare, using every trick in my book. Ended up using the kit rope (stiffer and slightly smaller) on those few I had left to do. On the positive side, the smaller rings - joined with eye bolts - were perfect for the pull handles on the forward hatch covers, replacing the bent over eye bolts I had used per instructions but the look of which I simply wasn't happy with. Will be back in 6 weeks or so.
  4. Well, went about it a different way. Firstly, discovered that if I want to use the kit carriages, I needed to modify them due to the fact that the cannon barrels I'm using (Syren resin barrels) have the trunion symmetrically placed rather than offset to the bottom. This resulted in a depressed pointing position for the barrels. So I ditched the piece above the rear axel, made the other piece 1/32 rather than 1/16 thick, and built up the trunions a bit with black shrink wrap tubing. With those modifications everything worked. Secondly, I found it easier to drill all the holes for the iron work (11 per carriage) before assembling the carriage. I then assemble the carriage and glue a small length of black monofilament line into the holes for "bolts", paint the carriage, and then cut the line flush with the carriage. Then glue in all the eyebolts and the ring/bolt combinations. Finally, seize the rope to one ring/eyebolt, pass the rope through the carriage eyebolt, the cannon ring, and then the other carriage eyebolt. Having marked the 3 1/4" on the rope, I seize it to the last eyebolt ring with the cannon dangling on one side clamped by the rope next to the ringbolt and the ring clamped on the other side of my "third hand" apparatus. I found this easier and much less messy than trying to get the carriage ring/bolt well seated in the carriage holes if I made the entire rope structure ahead of time per the instructions. YMMV but it works for me. Once I got my workflow figured out (not how the instructions do it) I am able to make 3 complete cannon every two days with the hours I have allotted for modeling. Have completed the port battery (but not attached yet). I have dithered about adding the gun tackle. Rigged some up - just to convince myself I could do it if I wanted - and decided finally that for an admiralty hull model it didn't make sense, and gave a cluttered look at this scale I did not like. So no tackle. If this were a fully rigged "sea going" model I would add it. Trying to decide whether to press ahead and finish all 28 before I leave town in several weeks or take a break and make one or more of the deck structures. I am tired of cannon at the moment.
  5. I'll make all 28 to this stage, then finish off the barrels and rig the main rope. Then back to the carriages.
  6. Faced with construction of 28 12 pounders. While waiting for some stuff to create a good finish on the cannon barrels after drilling and gluing the eyebolts in all 28, decided to work on the initial steps for the carriages. Got the idea for a jig from a Bossman (I think) post (thanks). Constructed a simple jig to hold the axle pieces and the sides in correct orientation. Four spots of Titebond in the notches of the side pieces for the axle pieces, slide the side pieces in, and as they say over there 'Bob's your uncle'.
  7. Well, a real milestone: finished the deck, added the scuppers, the stairs, and the cleats, to the best of my ability. I was very glad I had just ordered a new set of mini wood files to take to stock a (small) model workspace in our second place in Marblehead Massachusetts which included a straight file just 1/32" on edge - perfect for making the slots in the uprights for the steps. Looks OK, warts and all. The planking was tedious, and after congratulating myself on finishing it, realized the next step was drilling hundreds of little tiny holes, filling them with Elmer's wood filler, and then sanding again and again. Once the wipe on poly was put on, I'm really pleased with the treenailing - it doesn't draw the eye but clearly there when you look for it. I don't like the look when the treenails are dark or otherwise prominent. Thankfully the deck is not stained - any residual wood filler repels the stain as I learned on previous builds. Now I'll go dark for I know not how long as I take on the construction, painting, and rigging of 28 12 pounders. I probably won't finish that before we leave for a month or two in Massachusetts and I won't be working on this model there (I have a small but very complicated Fokker Triplane to feed my construction addiction there - hence the small workspace).
  8. Thanks for the input, Bossman. Yes, I have used Syren blocks on all of my models and if I decide to fully rig the cannon will definitely order those. I'll likely experiment first to see how hard it would be, but leaning to do it. Meanwhile, completed the gun deck structures except for the two small scuttle covers. Nothing glued yet. The main grate, as seen in the pictures, had a through and through laser burn that could not be sanded out and is quite unsightly. Didn't glue that one in, and requested replacement from Model Shipways. I love their replacement policy - it certainly helps make me a loyal customer.
  9. Thanks for the advice Gary. Still deciding. Meanwhile, finished the bulwark painting, placing margin planks and waterway. Constructed the floor for the quarterdeck cabin. The instructions had the alternating strips glued to a 6x6 piece of 1/32 basswood before cutting into strips. Provided however was a 4x8 piece. To get the diamond pattern, had to remove and patch parts of the completed glued strips (Thank you Byrnes saw - that walnut is HARD to cut with a knife or razor saw) to get something that would accept the pattern to fit the floor. A lot of work and difficult to match the pattern. I know basswood strips come in 4 inch widths, but I'd strongly suggest obtaining or making a 6 inch square before gluing on the alternating strips prior to cutting across to make the alternating pattern strips. I wish I had done so. At any rate, here we are now, ready to start on the coamings.
  10. Finished the inner bulwarks and painted them. Placed a few of the beams to double check that all was shipshape and symmetric. Glad to have reached this point, with mainly deck work to go for a while (to say nothing of lots of cannons). Speaking of which, I am undecided as to whether to fully rig the cannons other than the main rope, given that this is an admiralty model and I do plan on leaving half of the quarter deck unplanked to show both the construction and allow a view of the underlying quarter deck compartment. I'm sure a double take at the size of the blocks involved and the idea of placing a fabricated hook into each will not play a role in this decision. Any advice?
  11. Thanks for the likes. Each time I make a decision about what to do next I lean towards something “different”. Don’t think I’ll ever build another masted gunship. Been there done that. If I ever finish this build I believe the galley is next. After a visit to Malta a few years ago I will modify the La Real (Dusek) to at least resemble a Knights of Malta galley from the era of the Great Siege.
  12. Yup there is a lot of exacting work in the construction of this hull. I have a Dusek galley and Grenado in my stash but I don’t know if I’ll get to them. I’ll be working on the Confederacy for some time yet. would like to build the galley but may give the grenado away. I have a very fiddly Fokker triplane model I’ll eager to build. I may take that to our second home to work on when we spend time there, as I would only need a smaller set of tools and no need for my power tools or airbrush stuff. Running out of display room in the house anyway - 5 ships not including the current project. Thank goodness it’s an admiralty model. I’m not at all eager to take on another fully rigged ship or a big planking project after this monster.
  13. Milestone of sorts today. I finished the exterior of the hull - rudder constructed and placed, and photo-etch bits including the sweep port hinges. Next work day begins work on the interior! In general I'm reasonably pleased with things so far, given that this model is at the bleeding edge of my abilities. I didn't want to take the rudder off after the number of times I had pins snap off, so I've decided to leave it in place and fix it with a couple of clamps (removed for the pictures) to protect it from inadvertent forced movement.
  14. No I didn’t use those. In fact once the false deck is on the holes for the short mast “stubs” - this is an admiralty model - are quite shallow with the central spine of the frame just below the holes. I suppose if one wanted to do a fully rigged model one could cut out from the frame and use those for support. or they’re just for setting the angle of the abbreviated masts. But then why 2 of each. mid PM Chuck P and ask him.
  15. Returned from a month at our second place in Marblehead, MA (no shipyard in the house there at this point) and got back to work on this monster of a model. Have finished up the stern and quarter galleries with all decorative trim items. Pretty happy with the result given all of the minor mis-alignments, insufficient sandings to follow the prescribed curves, and so on causing multiple work-arounds to have things at least OK in the end. Unfortunately, it does look like the yard-hand putting the letters on the stern had a bit too much grog. End of a chapter. I cleaned up the shipyard prior to moving on to the rudder.
  16. Quick question: I was curiously trying to fit the drop decoration metal piece underneath the quarter gallery. The instructions say it is notched for the wale, but it isn't, and for it to fit a truly prodigious amount of filing would be necessary to create a notch to allow it to lie against the sides so that the upper surface of the casting fits against the "floor" of the quarter gallery. Is it supposed to be notched as the instructions imply/say? Do I need to request replacements if they are (now) notched? I shudder to think of the work and metal dust that will be required/created to remove the amount of metal that would be necessary to create a fit. What was your experience?
  17. Finished the transom and quarter gallery windows, and re-positioned a trim strip on the transom to make a more symmetric appearance and make certain of a constant height space for the decorative strip below the windows and the "CONFEDERACY" name letters. Next will be the decorations, but that will have to wait until after our 2 visits out east to put our Marblehead second home in order. The closeup makes the black paint look bad - much better in person.
  18. Finished the transom and quarter galleries, ready for the windows. This involved a lot of re-work and not an inconsiderable amount of wood filler. Every slight error or discrepancy in the placement of the stern frames, side blocks, curve sanding, and placement of the initial planking strakes can add up. Doing this again, I'd be even more meticulous about precise placement with engraved lines, distances prescribed, and sanding the gentle curves of the stern and the transom prior to placement of the transom piece. I think building the rear of this model accurately, beginning with the frame placement, is one of the most difficult aspects, at least for me. Also to watch out for: be certain that the spaces between the trim strips (some of whose placements are dictated in the end by the above tolerances) are sufficient to allow placement of the decorative pieces to come. At any rate, next the windows (having verified that the decorative pieces will fit). Unfortunately, real life puts the shipyard on hold for a while - we are in the midst of selling a second home condo in Minneapolis (75 miles away), buying a second home in Marblehead Massachusetts, and moving everything from one to the other and getting that place set up. Probably a month before I get back to the Confederacy.
  19. Brief side trip to install cap rail on the transom. note to those who follow : if you use the laser cut cap rails on either side (as I did) since the exposed 1/4 “ surface is cross grain it will stain darker than the thin strip in the middle that completes the cap rail. (Noted after staining by this builder. Not a huge deal but appearance would be improved if I had anticipated this) Maybe a sealant would help
  20. Finished the bulwark thinning. Not my favorite modeling job. Only working on the model a couple of hours a day so took a while. Now onto the quarter gallery construction!
  21. Chuck:

    a quick Confederacy question. 
    when thinning bulwarks to 1/8 “ at the top, what should I aim at at the deck level so that everything works out for interior planking, deck planking, framing etc. 

    thanks in advance. 
    bruce

  22. I need some help here from Confederacy veterans. I know I need to thin the bulwarks at the top to 1/8”. how thin do they need to be at the deck level for the deck planking to work out?
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