Walter Biles

Thanks, Bob & Popeye
I have been too disturbed and upset to concentrate most of this year.  Now they are starting to find things they can do to help her, I hope to be better able to concentrate on something for a while at a time.  

Thanks, Bob & Popeye
I have been too disturbed and upset to concentrate most of this year.  Now they are starting to find things they can do to help her, I hope to be better able to concentrate on something for a while at a time.  

This past half year has been tough.  My son died in July, and since then, my wife has been in bad shape.  Everywhere from 75-180 miles away.  She is now on dialysis.  I have put over 4000 miles on my vehicle trying to keep up with her.  She could not even get to my daughter's for Christmas, because of weakness.  Finally I am back home and the dialysis is helping her strength return a bit.  She is still in nursing care. 
 
I am hoping she can come home sometime soon on home dialysis.  Meanwhile I am "Home Alone".  Maybe Now I can concentrate enough to get some work done on my model. 

I'm trying to get back into building.  I got "Boatbuilding"  by H. Chapelle, and "Lofting a Boat" by Roger Kopanycia.  I hope to be able to learn more about what I may be doing wrong, or right in Lofting and building a boat.  I have the second book already, and should have the first within a few weeks. 

Glad to see you're back.  Come see if any of my books will help.
 
Bob

I'm trying to get back into building.  I got "Boatbuilding"  by H. Chapelle, and "Lofting a Boat" by Roger Kopanycia.  I hope to be able to learn more about what I may be doing wrong, or right in Lofting and building a boat.  I have the second book already, and should have the first within a few weeks. 

I'm trying to get back into building.  I got "Boatbuilding"  by H. Chapelle, and "Lofting a Boat" by Roger Kopanycia.  I hope to be able to learn more about what I may be doing wrong, or right in Lofting and building a boat.  I have the second book already, and should have the first within a few weeks. 

Here are the last two planks I added to the Meridea.  I now have a different camera which takes much more detail, once I finish learning how to work with it.  
 

 

Completed
 
Yes, the Pequot is now finished.  If you look closely at the pictures on the Pequot web site you will probably find details that are missed.  This is because I could not find enough information on those parts.  Some details I know are not correct but it was better to put something in those places than to leave them empty.   It has taken a year from start to finish, and this is the smallest scale I have worked in but it has been a fun build.  I want to thank everyone who has followed me in this endeavor.  I consider you all my friends. Now for some pictures.
 
Bob
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looks marvellous, Bob.
 
Very well done.
 
Cheers
 
Patrick

The plans show, what I believe to be, a ring of fire buckets around the stack.  I had made the ring with the holes in it but had not made the buckets when I mounted the stack.  It was ‘fun’ squeezing the buckets through everything, using tweezers, to place them in the holes.  I also mounted the dory on it’s davits at the stern.
 
Bob
 

 

 

Just realized I haven’t shown an overall picture in some time.  So here it is.  Almost done but not quite.
 
Bob
 

 

It seems that a lot of people have trouble with soldering.  Most people who are good at soldering have their own methods that they have used for a long time.  This is my method.  My main soldering iron is an old 50 watt Unger that I’ve had for 40 or 50 years.  The liquid flux is also so old the label is gone and I don’t remember what the brand is.  The solder is the smallest diameter that I can find and I don’t care if it is rosin core or not.  The problem most people have is using too much solder.  The solder I used for this ladder is .020” (.5mm) diameter. 
 
This is the same ladder I did above but with more pictures.  First I painted the angles with flux and tinned the inside.  After placing the treads in the fixture I tinned the edges of the treads.  Then the angles were mounted on the fixture with one leg of the angle under the treads.  All the parts are then pushed tightly together.  Next I liberally painted everything again with flux.  Now all I had to do is heat the angle enough to melt the tinning solder that is already on the parts.  Using solder on the outside of the angle transfers the heat to the inside better.  In the final pictures you can see there is no buildup of solder that needs to be cleaned up.  The solder on the outside is easily filed or sanded off.
 
Well that’s the way I do it.  The main things to remember is the parts must be clean, use plenty of flux, the parts must touch, don’t use too much solder and practice until soldering becomes comfortable. 
 
Bob
 

 

 

 

 
The next three pictures show the part with no cleanup. 
 

 

 

 
 
 

Bob, I agree with Carl.  You are too modest.  Your work is brilliant.  

There’s a ladder that goes from the pilot house down to the main deck.  I know that there are companies that make photo etched ladders but I don’t know which ones make good parts or how to order the one that I want.  Then I would have to wait for it and hope it is the right size when it gets here.  I’m just not up to that kind of stress.  So I made my own.  The photo I am following shows the ladder with ten treads.  Measuring the model makes the treads .090 inch.  So I sanded a 3/32 square strip down to .085 inch on one side.  To make the fixture I used a .005” brass sheet as a spacer and  glued the square strips between two supports.  The treads were cut from the .005” sheet and squeezed into the fixture.  The sides are 1/16” brass angle.  Sorry I didn’t get a picture of the ladder mounted in the fixture.  But here is a picture of the fixture and the a couple of the finished ladder.
 
Bob
 
 

I decided to take a break from the Pequot itself and build the three ships boats.  There were two launches which may have been alike, but I wanted to make then different, and one dory.  The two launches which are 2.75 inches long will be mounted amidships and the dory is 2.5 inches long and will be at the port stern.    Now it’s back to the Pequot.  There’s still a lot to do on the main deckhouse, rails on the upper deck, and on, and on. 
 
We’ll just have to wait and see what Bob will do next.
 
Bob
 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the likes, the comments, and just looking in....
 
Not a big update, but deck furniture (except for the mizzen mast step and the oven) are mostly done.  The main mast partner is coming out as I'm not happy looking at the picture.  Other than this partner, the oven and the mizzen step, everything else I salvaged from Version 1 for this build hit the scrapbox.   The main mast partner should be following.
 

Finally back in the shipyard.  Only part time at this point but waiting for the last of the "re-decorating" projects that the Admiral ordered to arrive.  
 
I'm planking the lower deck and adding waterways at this point.  No pics yet as I'm experimenting with the best way to meet the "French style" of deck planking.  Seems they used a combination of tapering, hook scarfs in places, and drop planks. Then there's the mix of plank widths to contend with....but that's different headache at this point.   Once I'm done planking (and re-do's) I'll post some pictures.  

Happy Birthday Mark. I hope you and Janet are having a nice holiday, and birthday.  You are both in my prayers.  We'll be sticking to the home front this holiday.  There are a lot of people on the road this holiday, and I hate driving in heavy traffic.  My best to you both.

Good job with that jig. That is the one major downside to laser cutting is the char that often has to be removed without sacrificing the precise cut dimensions. Looks like you may have an effective solution to the problem.

Your right Lawrence, I’m lax in my entries.  I’m envious of those modelers who seem to have the camera in their hands at all times.  When I’m building I don’t even think about pictures until afterwards then it’s like, ‘I should have taken pictures’.  But then of course it’s too late.   Anyway I’ve been making some of the parts for the foredeck.  It will be crowded by the time I’m through.  The part are only set in place but here is where I am now.
 
Bob
 

 

Thanks for the birthday wishes... 
 
Well.. it was back and forth.. cutting, breaking or feeding the carpet monster today.... but the gallery tops are done. The Admiral approves, which is good since I'm building this for her.  So Happy Dance...  
 
I've only tacked the roof tops in place as I'm going to fiddle with some settings over the next couple of weeks and see if I can get better parts for the decorations.  Doubtful, but worth a shot or two... I'm thinking a nice Kentucky Bourbon.    
 
Pictures below.  
 
Carvings are started and I'll work on them at a leisurely pace. But for now, I'm going to start the lower deck.  Less fiddly, methinks.   But first.. I need to refresh myself on the plans, make some spales, and put in a small dedication plaque.   Did I mention, clean the workshop and do maintenance on the power tools?  
 

 

Happy Birthday Mark. I hope you and Janet are having a nice holiday, and birthday.  You are both in my prayers.  We'll be sticking to the home front this holiday.  There are a lot of people on the road this holiday, and I hate driving in heavy traffic.  My best to you both.

Happy Birthday Mark. I hope you and Janet are having a nice holiday, and birthday.  You are both in my prayers.  We'll be sticking to the home front this holiday.  There are a lot of people on the road this holiday, and I hate driving in heavy traffic.  My best to you both.

Happy Birthday Mark. I hope you and Janet are having a nice holiday, and birthday.  You are both in my prayers.  We'll be sticking to the home front this holiday.  There are a lot of people on the road this holiday, and I hate driving in heavy traffic.  My best to you both.