Brucealanevans

Update.
Here's the tryworks. I haven't put the side braces and wood sheathing on yet.
This took time but was not really hard. Took some time mixing paint to get a good brick color that wasn't too red - the admiral didn't like the color on my test wall of bricks.
Almost 500 bricks!
I'm relatively pleased, although the eye goes immediately to the "errors". One chimney is a bit wider, and the walls sloped in enough that I had to mount the cauldrons below the top rather than having the room to drop them through the top.
However, I like the overall effort as my modeling skills improve (3rd wooden ship build).
After the supports/sheathing, probably will make the tank and scrap box before moving on to the next most fiddly bit - the winch. I'll have to dry fit the bowsprit and put the bowsprit bitt in place first, I think, and likely the framing for the anchor deck.

So, here is the skylight in place.
I'm relatively pleased with the result, although there's too much overhang of the top window panes - the coaming I put in place was thicker than it should have been so the base part was slightly smaller, and I didn't allow for that when I built the top from the plans.
Overall tho, pleased with the result. 2 weeks of intermittent work.
 
Next on to the next most fiddly bit - the tryworks. After a break.

Once all the rods were in, gluing the end slats to the pillars fixes everything in place. After adjusting the position of the other slats, I fixed them in place with a drop of thin Zap at each joint.
One more side window, and then the two small end windows to go. All the windows for the top are already done.
Looking forward to painting, adding the "glass" and assembly this weekend, perhaps.
 
This thing has been a real challenge to make - everything is so darn small!
I hope with some sanding and a good paint job it will look the way I wanted it to.

The Hull has been declared "done" and mounted on a base.
Will begin working on deck structures next.
Plan to take my time and have the discipline to toss and start over if I'm not happy with anything.
I've been working on this for a year and see no need to rush.

Getting pretty close to starting on all the deck furniture, but every time I look at the plans, I find some detail to add that's easier when the deck is clear.
 
I did put in the 4 freeing ports (on the inside). One is visible on the far left side of the bulwark in the second picture.
Haven't decided if I will make them visible on the outside with incised outlines and small hinges, but I suspect I will.

Instead of painting the area black that will be under the skylight, I put in a "picture" from a 3d modeling program. Not much if any will be visible, but it was fun. I'm going to be using very thin rod/wire for the skylight so some of this, at least forward, may show.
 
I'll probably mount a compass in the aft end of the skylight (on top of the virtual beams) as shown in photos of the vessel. Certainly won't show, but I'll know it's there.
 
Put the scupper pipes in as well, just for fun.

Thanks to John for technique for lettering, which I was worried about.
Done in a black text block in Microsoft Word, then cut out and applied with decoupage glue and coated with 2 thin coats.
 
I "glazed" the stern ports with a product from Micro Mark - a white viscous liquid that can be drawn across small windowed areas and dries clear.
 
I ended up doing the 3 starboard and larboard ports the same way, but without the circular frame.

Fair amount of time to work in the shipyard the last couple of weeks, so I've made further progress on the hull.
 
I did have what can only be described as a disaster trying drill holes to get the angled anchor chain pipes in place. I broke so much of the front end work I actually just cleaned up the shipyard and walked away, not at all sure I would be able to proceed. Had a brainstorm and went back and was able to do an acceptable repair over the next few hours, but I will not be able to actually feed the anchor chain through the chocks. So no anchor chain on deck, and anchors will be in stored position. The more I've thought about this, the better I feel about not having the chains running across the deck.
 
At this point next need to add the sea steps and the pinrails - I think I'll wait with the channels until I have the hull permanently mounted since I'll have to rest it on its side to drill the keel holes for the mounting.
 
Here's the overall look now.

A bit more time to work the last week than I expected, so I finished laying the deck planking. Still a few raised edges to sand but basically done.
I'm not into treenailing, so I simulated on each plank before gluing by drilling small holes and filling them with slightly contrasting wood filler. I'll not be staining the deck - probably just a matt clear finish.
Now I'm consulting the plans and will be adding features that affect the hull and the inner bulwarks before beginning on the deck structures.

Begun the deck.
Built the deck structure coamings and base for the skylight and decked around them. Removeable so I can stain them and build the deck structures on them and put them in place later.

I've had a week with little IRL work and wife off on several travels, so I had more time than usual to work on the Morgan.
 
Here is the current progress.
Decided to paint at this stage since I prefer to use airbrush and since I plan to leave the deck unfinished (except for matt varnish). I didn't want to struggle with masking the deck off perfectly at  a later stage while painting the interior bulwarks. It takes me a while to work up the courage to do the paint job to a good looking unfinished hull ever since I screwed up my first attempt at staining my New Bedford Whaleboat (MS). After that disaster I put it aside as a bad job until my wife urged me to sand it down and try again, which I did with advice from Chuck about progressively finer sanding and diluting the stains. Turned out OK. The airbrush was great for those interior bulwarks with all the stanchions - I didn't want to face that with a paintbrush and multiple coats. Went with the red hull as per the restoration rather than copper just because I prefer the look.
 
Obviously some things will need to be added (channels, catheads, etc.) but I'd rather touch up later.
 
Now on the the deck.
 
Not really totally happy with the white striping - I find it hard to do exactly enough to stand up to close inspections. Looks good from this distance though! The hardest thing is to balance desire to do best work (if not perfect!) and OCD tendencies, which modeling brings out in me.
 
Working now on the positions of all deck structures that require coamings so I can temporarily install the coamings before beginning the decking.
 
Will post some larger/closer pictures once the deck is in place.
Who knows when that will be?
Looking at these posts, I see that I've been intermittently puttering away on this for 11 months already.
 
This is turning into an expensive model - I've used up my holiday equity on a bunch of new equipment for the shipyard. I don't buy stuff till I need it, but my definition of need is a low bar and requires an understanding wife - which thankfully I have in spades.
 

So I've finally finished the planking and a rough sanding. Some work on filler for cracks, etc. yet to go.

No, I'm going to paint it so I think I'll just go with the single planking.
Speaking of which, here it is with provisional planking bands marked out with artist's tape.
Still adjusting, then will mark the lines on the bulkheads and remove the pins and tape.

Now on to hull planking

Well, it's been awhile.
Had an unfortunate accident in the shipyard (misplaced high velocity elbow) and crunched all the stanchions on one side, along with the rails and planksheer.
 
Put the mess aside for a while until replacement parts and patience returned.
I have now repaired the damage and planked the works above the first wale to give everything more rigidity.
Now ready to start the hull planking bands.
 
It looks OK - some variation in fit. I'm always hoping the next build will be perfect. Not yet.

So I've started on a Charles W Morgan build, although somewhat intimidated by the speed and or quality of the currently documented construction projects for this ship.
This model is a stretch for me, given the amount of scratch building involved and the somewhat cryptic instructions of this older MS kit.
I got interested after building the New Bedford Whaleboat, and added this kit to my "to do" stack. Having finished Picket Boat #1 to my satisfaction, decided to defer the Phildelphia Gunboat and take on a more complicated project.
I'm not retired (yet) and have many professional demands on my time, so I end up working in fits and starts and when I need the "therapy".
I decided to go ahead and build the hull superstructure before planking to allow better access for clamps for the waterway, planksheer, rail and topgallant structure. That's where I am now (pictures below). The rail structure is a bit wavy viewed end on on one side, but overall I'm relatively pleased within the envelope of my skillset. I had a few disasters in terms of inadvertant breakage of thin pieces (mainly the main rail) after installation by a misplaced hand while working on another part, but managed to overcome that adequately. I still have to do some sanding on the main rail as the strip I used was a bit wider than the rail is supposed to be - that is evident in the pictures where the rail meets the laser-cut curved rail piece forwards.
Next I'll plank between the planksheer and the mail rail to reinforce that area, and then likely add the wale and plank between the planksheer and the top of the wale.
Then I'll go on to bands A-D
The build logs and galleries on this and other sites have been a great aid.
 
Bruce

Finished the shelter/boat bearer except for the roof.
I put some tools in the racks although they'll be hard to see once the roof is on - tried to keep them in scale.

Well, worked hard on real world work most of the weekend.
Found myself with a couple of hours of free time, so I sneaked into the shipyard and added some trywork tool details.
I put a oil ladle and a scraps strainer on their respective sides of the tryworks, and added a "station" for the mincing knife work creating the "bible leaves" from strips of blubber and skin which would be pitched into the pot, which was done on a plank over a tub, or so my references told me.
I guess I need some small, limited projects to work on from time to time without getting sucked into a big thing like deadeyes, chainplate, shrouds, and so on.
I'll add a few barrels and buckets. I also ordered some s-scale people, to play with trying to whip them into shape to be crew with some modification and creative micro-painting. We'll see.

Finished the Hull today - a real landmark.
Further work will have to wait.
Closing the shipyard due to numerous responsibilities which have been piling up. Need to wrap up several projects before retiring, and have to prepare for an take a subspecialty exam in Clinical Informatics in October.
Probably will open back up after I take the exam in October, beginning with deadeyes, chainplate, etc.
Here are summary pictures of where things are now.

I bought a set of dental picks, and the main use has been applying glue.
It is easy to get glue just where you want it - along an edge, in a hole, etc.
Also immediately useful to remove any excess glue squeezed out and potentially visible.
I always have a small square of waxed paper taped to my glass work surface, and on that a large drop of CA will stay useable for hours.
(note, no kids in my house )
For wood glue, I put some on a 3 x 5 card - useable for 5-10 minutes only.

After more than 1 1/2 years at this, I'm approaching being done with the hull.
Put on the shelter roof last night.
Next is the rail/pump area around the mainmast, and then a few random things like the grinding wheel, some barrels, and a careful review of the plan sheet to make certain all of the deck eyebolts, cleats, etc. are in place.
Likely will need to take a break before beginning rigging/masts as real life intrudes again.
Oh well, by this time next year I'll be retired or, at the worst, part time; more time to play either way!

Deck House -
Left the door open partially, and put the berth inside (with gingham sheet!)
Really can't see it unless you peer in very closely, but was fun.
 
Decided not to plank the roof, since it will be covered by the boat bearing platform.
Which is the next job.

Hurricane House now completed and skylight glued in place.
Next, the deck house, vegtable bin, and roof.
Pretty pleased, although a few measurements and angles, especially the transom and aft bulwarks, are off.

Added the steering wheel gear and fabricated the aft deck houses. I found it easiest to build the houses from 1/32nd thick sheet section by section, and plank them over with a bit of spacing between planks to get the proper look.

Time for another update.
When drilling out the anchor chain pipes to the deck, I came across a nice chain in the proper scale and decided to add the whole anchor chain. Which meant building the anchors.
Bluejacket has a nice blackening solution that's branded for pewter but works well on Brittania metal - used that for the anchors; replaced the metal kit crossbar with a fabricated wood one.
The tie-down chain is very small - I had quite a time getting a thread through one to the links to fasten them down, and to pass a small metal bar through the opposite end end link to hold the chain at a hole (cathead) or eyebolt (bulkhead tiedown at the anchor pad). My wife's old surgical loupes to the rescue once again.