bruce d

Welcome aboard. It is a great place.

Ab, I must just repeat how grateful I am for this tutorial. It is an eye-opener, I did not think I would ever tackle any 3D modelling software, but maybe an old dog can learn new tricks. Bruce

Hello Chris and welcome to MSW. Someone who knows the Medway Longboat first-hand will no doubt give you an answer but it sounds like you have seen the build logs and haven't been scared away: that's a good starting point. I'm like you, my first project jitters are all about the rigging. Bruce

This is getting interesting.

Hello Max, I may be able to shed some light on this problem. The logs for smaller ships for that period have not survived except for a few scattered examples. Spey was not one of the chosen examples. The background story is a sorry tale: in the 1950's someone made a decision way above their pay grade and ordered the destruction of thousands of documents, mostly the logs of smaller ships, because the space was needed. The logs of larger ships went to another location because they were the only ones, in his opinion, that were of potential interest. The National Archives at Kew is where the surviving logs are kept and you are right, there are no logs from Spey held there. However, depending on what you are looking for, there are other files that may be very useful. The work done by escort and support craft was summarised in a number of places and Spey is recorded as escort in a number of convoys. This is visible in the descriptions that appear in the online catalogue (apologies if you have already established this): https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r/2?_ep=Spey&_cr=adm&_dss=range&_sd=1939&_ed=1945&_ro=any&_st=adv I have narrowed the search to the ADM series of records between 1939 and 1945 using 'SPEY' as 'FIND ALL'. Most of the hits are around the role of SPEY as a convoy escort. Where there are 'Honours and Awards', such as ... https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C4850659 ... you will find a report of the action concerned (in this case the sinking of U-386 and U-406) by the commander of the SPEY and possibly other participants. The 'Report of Proceedings' in this one ... https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C17067733 ... describes a convoy and includes the part played by SPEY. There are other sources for more specific issues such as crew, where based, movements etc. that can be viewed in person at Kew. To find these is a little more work because the name SPEY will not appear in their digitised description: the files include SPEY as part of their narrative but are not about SPEY in particular. So, depending on what you want to know, it is possible the information within the files at Kew may be sufficient. If you want to follow this path of breadcrumbs, send me a PM. I was a researcher at Kew, now retired, and may be able to help you 'cut to the chase'. Hope this helps, and again, sorry if I am covering ground already familiar to you. Regards, Bruce

Thanks Bob, very interesting. The book opens to a page with a cut-off machine, is the bandsaw process you describe somewhere else in the book? Couldn't find it. I used to read these every month, wish I had retained it all!

Mustafa, good job, I like your results with the blocks and rigging. Well done.

The author has good credentials: Neil Wyatt is editor of "Model Engineers' Workshop" magazine.

Some plastic chucks are made for the 'UNIMAT 1' lathe which has been discussed before. I had one of these plastic chucks in a drawer somewhere with M12x1 mounting, the same as a Unimat SL/DB, so I tried it. Surprisingly, it was fine for turning light work such as softwoods. No surprise, however, was that as soon as I tried a fruitwood, I believe it was cherry, I needed extra clamping pressure on the jaws to keep the workpiece stable. This is not good news for a plastic chuck. Next was brass and only very light cuts could be attempted. So the plastic chuck is back in a drawer, ready to be sacrificed if ever a one-off job requires it. By the way, I am not certain but the plastic looked like polystyrene. The injection moulding ejector pin marks are clearly visible on the front edge of each jaw. The plastic can be cut easily with any sharp piece of metal. I don't think anyone except a child should rely on these as everyday chucks. The main question for anyone choosing a lathe remains the same as choosing any other tool: what do you want to do with it? Chucks made entirely of plastic are seldom part of the answer. HTH, just my opinion. Bruce

Bravo. A big "well done" to all concerned.

Understood. Many thanks.

Looking at their site and the first 'tutorial', I found there were some features missing on the free version, which should not surprise anyone. I don't know yet if it will make any differnce. For instance, it looks like the pro version allows you to choose from a list of models as a start point. This is visible on the file attached at the bottom of post #36 but the link defaults back to the original (free) ship model template. I mention this so Rene will not waste his time with features we cannot access. My first attempt last night was encouraging. Bruce

Ab, thanks very much for this. Can you confirm the examples you are posting are from the free version? Regards, Bruce

I look forward to this. I have downloaded the DELFTship program and have dabled with it. It is clear that this is a great tool but also obvious that I am in new territory. Thanks again, Bruce

!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will try it, you may have converted me.

Of course!

Christian, I can't believe the final act has played out without trumpets and drums! Well done, I have enjoyed your posts and you should be proud of your Confederacy. It is a great model. Best regards, Bruce

Welcome to MSW, you have come to the right place.

Welcome from the UK.

Kenny, page 152 of this NAVAL ANNUAL may help a bit. https://archive.org/details/CASGA_120403/page/n151?q=thorneycroft+boiler I tried and failed to upload the PDF, must be too large. HTH Bruce

Welcome to MSW, it is a great place.

Hello Dave, I am a late arrival to your log and am very impressed. The cannons look great. Looking forward to more.

That is quite a ship. I will be watching with interest.

There is a lot about him in French sources which I cannot read, but he seems to have been respected by British contemporaries. The attached PDF is typical of how he pops up as a quoted source in British writing. See pages 42, 238, 308 and 322. The-Ports-Arsenals-And-Dockyards-Of-France - 1841.pdf

The document posted is a translation of a French report written by Jean Marguerite Tupinier, Deputy Director of Naval Construction for the French navy and (possibly) later the Director.