Tim Curtis

I have completed topmast shrouds and backstays. Begun the long slow process of adding the ratlines. Spend many happy hours listening to Winston Churchill's history of the second world war on Audible whilst doing it. Utterly relaxing. Most wonderful escapism. Here are the current results.

Decided that I needed to build out one yard to learn was was needed after doing some detective work between the instructions, plans and other sources and did my best guess. But first the kit supplied blocks, all sizes needed help. All needed to be sanded from square to an oval shape. The singles were easy but the triples really needed a great deal of fixing.
 

 

 
Next thanks to Johnathan I sorted out the stud sail booms with the lash line inserted in the inner hole since it had to stay in place for both stored and rigged positions and the end hole getting an eyebolt for the hook to set or retract the boom as needed. The lashing was tied off with a square knot and ends tucked under the boom and cut off.

 
I then added the sling after turning thimble rings from brass and darkened. I also added the triple blocks as well. It took a couple of fittings to get the length of the rope correct fitting over the cap as well as the lashing rope tied to the end loop. 
 

 
Here is a test fit of the foremast yard in place. Now I can finish up rigging the jeers temporarily. I am using 1/32" removable pins to locate the yard in position on the mast. 
 

Hopefully by now I know what is needed on the rest of the yards.

I have completed topmast shrouds and backstays. Begun the long slow process of adding the ratlines. Spend many happy hours listening to Winston Churchill's history of the second world war on Audible whilst doing it. Utterly relaxing. Most wonderful escapism. Here are the current results.

Final standing rigging (backstay will be last so it doesn't get in my way)...
 
 

Carl, Rob, Christian, Niles and the likes - thanks for your kind words, encouragement and patience on this slow voyage...
 
Jesse, Dave - Of course you are right, but no matter how many times I tell myself that it doesn't help...I probably have one of those personality disorders along the lines of "well he did it, so why can't I?"   And yes, its gets me into trouble with those fixes around the house that I maybe shouldn't be tackling.. 
 
Anyway a little update as I really can do no more to the bow at this point, which means I need to get back to the stern...then I remembered that that was basically the reason for me taking a break and starting work on the bow...There are a couple of questions at the end.
 
Once the cheeks and the rails were done, I needed to tackle hawse holes and the bolsters.  These had me really thinking, but first step was once again to shape from some thick stock, only this time I had to take it even slower as pretty much the entire interior face needed to fit tightly against the hull because any errors would be really obvious once the holes were cut.  The balsa filler blocks were also removed (Interestingly, you can see the outline of the recess that I had put in a long while ago to try to introduce a void behind the expected hole placement to look a little more authentic...seemed a good idea at the time but they would have been in slightly the wrong place)
 
The holes themselves are ~6mm in diameter, and taking a drill bit of that size was clearly out of the question.  The hole centers were estimated and I drilled with a 2mm bit in a hand drill.  This was large enough to get a round microfile in to gradually enlarge and then use a larger round file.  Once the holes were approx. 4-5mm and still quite rough, some tapered dowel was used with sandpaper around to again gradually enlarge until they were approximately the right size.  All the time doing this, the bolsters were held in place with fingers so everything would align - I didn't want to commit to gluing in place just yet.

Once again, I knew I'd be making my own out of castello, but continuing the trend I think the kit supplied parts are way undersized.

One other item to take care of is the Gamming knee, the kit supplied part was generally oversized, but it was necessary to cut a new piece because the back of the knee was undersized.  Not sure how much of this will be visible, but it fun to make.  The hole is for the mainstay collar, some alteration will likely be needed on the head timbers but that is for another day.  This is not attached yet.
And the final results...these pieces seem to really bring out the face of the ship and to my eye really add some character.

 
Some questions:
The bulwark are considerably thinner than they would be in scale, and although the photo makes it more obvious, this is apparent if you look for it.  Also, I know that the hawse holes were lined in lead, but I'm not seeing this as a feature standing out to me looking at models, in many it seems these were just painted ochre...would welcome other's thoughts and suggestions here.  I'm leaning toward a 'lead like' grey just on the inside of the bulwark but not extending over the bolster. For fellow Diana kit builders.  I placed the waste rail on the starboard bow side only as it seems to me that this could cause problems with the fitment of the bow grating against the hull - anyone have any experiences on this?  
 
 

Yes..
But very advanced... (Photo spy today)

More progress

Hello friends.
Frames stand.
Karl
 
 
T E I L  3

Hello friends,
numeros broken frames (Thicknes 3,0 mm) and also a lot of curses
arranged me the model in the graduation 1:36 (Frames thickness 4,0 mm)
as across section with inside removal to build.
However only half of the ship with a lenght 0f 780,0 mm.
Regards
Karl
 
( Sorry Google Translator)
 
 
Part 1

Summer is here, so my 1:1 scale boating has picked up on Lake Tahoe, but I have not been completely dormant. Finished the wheel, companion and skylight. All are dry fitted right now. 

I have been finishing the bulwarks, and  rails for the quarterdeck and forecastle. Everything is dry fitted right now. I assembled the pieces, then filled in any gaps and spaces with spackle, sanded, added primer, then finally painted each piece. 

Here are pictures of the finished brig other than a couple of paint touch ups here and there. Being my first ship build I learned quite a few lessons that will certainly benefit future builds. I plan on building the USS Constitution and will do a little more research and study the plans before starting the build.
 
I would also like to thank those that provided both guidance and encouragement during this build. 
 
Here are a random sampling of overall and detail pictures. 












 
Now to move on.

Hey everyone - we had one of those gorgeous days today so I opened up both ends of the garage and went to work. Hammocks, hammocks and more hammocks. I've been working on those on and off for some time now. And I am HALF WAY finished tonight. From cutting the fabric to binding them up each one takes about 4-5 minutes. And there are 71 shown in the pix below. I would also include some wastage, as I began the final placement maybe 10% of them were either too big/small or just looked bad and did not make the cut.
 
I glued them in place with a little CA. My goal there was a good even row, the tops in good alignment. A close inspection will show that in order to do this, some of the bottoms are barely touching the rail. Even with all that there is still not perfect alignment.
 
As I have stated previously, this is how they will be displayed on my Niagara. I don't plan on wrapping them in a cover or anything like that.
 
At least half the crew can sleep now
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

Yesterday in my house quietly knocked on the Muse! I went back to work on the Hyacinth!

Fire control/Gun directors (some of them)
Will start building the masts today

Good evening to everyone, work continues with deks lamps .
Have a nice evening.
 
 
Adrian .

I have placed the three machines on a turntable, and saves a lot of space

Although some busy, I still took the time to make the fifth figurehead, a little bit of regret is that some of the flaws of wood
Cn processing out of the sculpture is quite accurate, basically the same as the design,because it was not polished yet, so looks more rough.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks Dirk.
 
Rigged the anchors today.
 

 
Also made the entry way stanchions.  These were made just like the belaying pins.  They were turned in my dremmel.  I started with a 1/16" strip.  I drilled the hole forst while it was square and then turned the four stanchions.   They were painted black and then made to look like metal.   I wont add the rope from them because they always lay funny.  They are not heavy enough to lay correctly and leaving them like this is much neater.  They werent glued in yet when I took the photo below.  
 

 
And that about does it folks.   After 3 years or so I have completed the Cheerful.  I enjoyed myself a great deal and learned so much with this project.   Here are some preliminary images of the completed model.   Hopefully I will find time to make the base and case soon.  But now its onto the barge.....
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you.
After longer break a little step forward.

Here is a little update of the stern block fillers 
to make these blocks was a bit tricky 
because there is 2 curves in a very small aria 
the planks must touch the stern at least in 30 degrees because you need after all sand the stern and making hem 3 mm include the first plank  !  So after making the curve between the bulkhead to the stern you must make a a other curve in the end of the first curve i mean in the aria were the block filler meeting the stern ...

by the way i didnt glue the gallery supports until now ... 
and after all thanks God im very happy that i didnt do it until now ! There was a very massive sanding work in that aria of the block filler so without the gallery suport it was easy to work and also by doing the sanding /fairing work without the gallery supports it keep me from making any damage to the gallery supports ! 
Cheers , 
Michael. 

Thank you Robin.
 
Here now some pictures with the ship at his final place and with lights on 
In reality the light is not so bright, that comes at the pictures because I had the shutter of the camera open from 1-4 sec. But it's bright enough that you could see most parts inside (also the rest of the dust )
 
Regards,
Siggi

Continuing planking the deck and started with the nibbing.  Once I had a close look at it, it turns out that's it's not that difficult.  It's just hard getting clean precise cuts.  And of course it's a slow process but I'm progressing non the less.
 

Hi Giampie
 
Superb work again and again. Here in Sydney they keep saying house prices can't keep going up but they do - I keep saying he can't keep getting better and better but you do every time you post.
 
For me watching your work taking form like this helps dull the edge of the news every day of people, towns and cities being destroyed. It nice to know that there is something beautiful like your L'Amarante, Eds Naiad and Clipper Young America, Druxeys Barge, Karls 74 and all the other members beautiful work being created which will be around hopefully well after we take our leave.
 
Cheers Pete
 

The anchors in place: