RGL

Slow plod, I have added the stanchions for the stern, bow and amidships. They come with a 0.1mm copper wire which does not blacken well and does not run as well as a 0.01mm rigging line. My eyes hurt this is so small now. 2 hours to do the bow. To the naked eye it looks great compared to the etch railing.

Slow plod, I have added the stanchions for the stern, bow and amidships. They come with a 0.1mm copper wire which does not blacken well and does not run as well as a 0.01mm rigging line. My eyes hurt this is so small now. 2 hours to do the bow. To the naked eye it looks great compared to the etch railing.

Slow plod, I have added the stanchions for the stern, bow and amidships. They come with a 0.1mm copper wire which does not blacken well and does not run as well as a 0.01mm rigging line. My eyes hurt this is so small now. 2 hours to do the bow. To the naked eye it looks great compared to the etch railing.

Too much? My wife bought this last night on an online auction for $130. I've been in a quandry for ages about building a glass cabinet, but this kind of solved it! 

I am hoping the more experienced modellers here may have an answer to a question about the dimensions of the cat head that I have been trying to resolve for awhile.
 
From the contract documentation I have been able to determine that the cat head sided and moulded dimensions were 13 inches (square) which ties in with other literature I have read.  From a reasonable lithograph, and interpreting the other literature such as Goodwin, the most likely design for the cat head would have been the upward canted design as evidenced in HMS Warrior (contemporary to the ship I am researching - HMCSS Victoria).  The following link shows this design with the upward canted cathead and knee support.  http://www.stvincent.ac.uk/heritage/warrior/anchor.html
 
What I have not been able to find is a rule of thumb, or formula that determines the length of the Cat Head overall - I have found the formula for the knee in Goodwin and one for the Cat Tail (also in Goodwin).  I am assuming that the overall length of the 13" square timber would have been determined by the angle of the cant and ensuring sufficient clearance from the ship's side for the anchor not to strike/foul on her sides when catted.  Is there any rule of thumb / formula for determining this length, or at least some guidance on what offset distance (from the hull) to use?
 
A related question, is the fitting of whiskers, again stipulated in the Contract and indistinctly shown in the lithograph.  From 'The Kedge Anchor'  I understand that these were the iron outriggers with sheaves, fitted to the cathead, which had guys reeved through them to set up the fore chains.  I am trying to determine at what sort of angle (direction and length) these protruded?  Can anyone point me to a reference or provide a clearer understanding please?
 
cheers
 
Pat

I received this as a Christmas gift last year and recently decided to give it a shot.  The model comes packaged in a 6"x6" box and works up into a 5 1/2" model stem to stern.
 

 
The materials consist of two steel sheets with all parts attached via sprues.  Construction is of the "insert tab a in slot b" type.  The tabs can be folded over or twisted 90 degrees to lock the parts together.  Steps are laid out in a series of diagrams - no text here.
 

 
Tools used for construction - a wire cutter to cut parts loose (some have three attachment points and I cut one before twisting the parts loose) and a needlenose plier to fold or twist the tabs to lock in place.
 

 
The order of steps is logical and I was able to follow with no deviation.  Here is a shot of the underside that shows several of the tabs twisted and locked in place.
 

 
A few shots of the finished model follow.  The pieces were not dangerously sharp, but I wouldn't recommend this for younger kids.  I was thinking about getting one to build with my 7 year old granddaughter, but I think I'll hold off on that.  I have a paper pirate ship I picked up a few years ago - we may start there.
 



 
A size comparison with my Bluenose in progress
 

 
and the model in it's display location atop my monitor.  We'll see if the cat allows that to continue.
 

 
Overall the model went together well.  The pieces were strong enough to take some flexing, the assembly plan was logical (although a third hand would be useful at some points), and the completed model holds together well.  In short it was just the thing to help me keep my hand in model building, while I continue in my Bluenose doldrums.  It's a fun little project that takes a short amount of time and provides completion satisfaction quickly.  Now I can say I have a completed build!
 
Bob
 

I left mine off for a long time to keep them out of the road. Looking very sharp though.

That's the thing about plastic, you can't just bin it and start over. After doing a 10 year build on a wooden ship and redoing lots of mistakes, I'm finding the amount of pre fitting is far more time consuming. Good to see another plastic build here! I shall follow with great interest.

You are really doing a wonderful job of detail.  It is amazing at the scale you are in.
David B

Greg, your detailing is going superbly.

Big guns attached to the deck. I have decided to completly re do the 47mm and 37mm, as I'm just not happy with them. There is plenty to do in the meantime.

Then the paintjob, the 2.5 inch barowski, the 37mm (I have done them in all black but may use a gun down version of the 47mm yet), the 47mm which have some white on them as they will be going onto white pedestals, , the 75mm and the showpiece 152mm.
 
I'm not sure if I want to just re do the 47mm all over again and just order another set.

The last of the prepared stuff, being little funnels along the ship, the capstans which I have not painted in black and white stripes, as I tried and it looked crap, nothing detracts from a model than a crap job! the Captain's cabin skylights on the rear deck and the maxims at the bow.
 
Back to the grind now of railings, but I think I'll take a break for a while and do some gardening.

Big guns attached to the deck. I have decided to completly re do the 47mm and 37mm, as I'm just not happy with them. There is plenty to do in the meantime.

Just as a comparison, I found an old photo of my swivel guns from my Endeavour, then compared the size of these things to it. 

The last of the prepared stuff, being little funnels along the ship, the capstans which I have not painted in black and white stripes, as I tried and it looked crap, nothing detracts from a model than a crap job! the Captain's cabin skylights on the rear deck and the maxims at the bow.
 
Back to the grind now of railings, but I think I'll take a break for a while and do some gardening.

The last of the prepared stuff, being little funnels along the ship, the capstans which I have not painted in black and white stripes, as I tried and it looked crap, nothing detracts from a model than a crap job! the Captain's cabin skylights on the rear deck and the maxims at the bow.
 
Back to the grind now of railings, but I think I'll take a break for a while and do some gardening.

The last of the prepared stuff, being little funnels along the ship, the capstans which I have not painted in black and white stripes, as I tried and it looked crap, nothing detracts from a model than a crap job! the Captain's cabin skylights on the rear deck and the maxims at the bow.
 
Back to the grind now of railings, but I think I'll take a break for a while and do some gardening.

The last of the prepared stuff, being little funnels along the ship, the capstans which I have not painted in black and white stripes, as I tried and it looked crap, nothing detracts from a model than a crap job! the Captain's cabin skylights on the rear deck and the maxims at the bow.
 
Back to the grind now of railings, but I think I'll take a break for a while and do some gardening.

Big guns attached to the deck. I have decided to completly re do the 47mm and 37mm, as I'm just not happy with them. There is plenty to do in the meantime.

The last of the prepared stuff, being little funnels along the ship, the capstans which I have not painted in black and white stripes, as I tried and it looked crap, nothing detracts from a model than a crap job! the Captain's cabin skylights on the rear deck and the maxims at the bow.
 
Back to the grind now of railings, but I think I'll take a break for a while and do some gardening.

The last of the prepared stuff, being little funnels along the ship, the capstans which I have not painted in black and white stripes, as I tried and it looked crap, nothing detracts from a model than a crap job! the Captain's cabin skylights on the rear deck and the maxims at the bow.
 
Back to the grind now of railings, but I think I'll take a break for a while and do some gardening.

The last of the prepared stuff, being little funnels along the ship, the capstans which I have not painted in black and white stripes, as I tried and it looked crap, nothing detracts from a model than a crap job! the Captain's cabin skylights on the rear deck and the maxims at the bow.
 
Back to the grind now of railings, but I think I'll take a break for a while and do some gardening.

Just beautiful work mate!

Just beautiful work mate!