garyshipwright

Thanks Grant, Ed and Gaetan, its good to be back. Have missed you guys and seems a lot has gone on since I have been gone. Ed the ship that was in the back ground is the Bonhomme Richard, 1779. Built her in the nintys and was the one I built before starting on Montagu. Believe I finished her right around the time the misses had our daughter, which would make Richard about 19teen years old. My how time fly's when your having fun. Gaetan you are so right and building it got me back out in to the workshop and close to Montagu. Seems she kept calling my name, Gary build me and they will come. Thats my story and am sticking to it. Have added a photo of Richard here for you Ed. gary

Hi Alan. I must say you have been very busy the last few years from the research to drafting plans to building her. I went through you build log and don't believe that I would do the plans on the computer, to much of a learning curve. Do believe I stick to pen and paper. Keep up the great job and will be watching your build as you travel the road that many have taken on. Gary

Thanks druxey. I did enjoy building the work bench and always wanted one. Seems the drawers took the longest to build which probably had some thing to do with them being dove tailed together. That was interesting for sure. Didn't come out to bad. if I didn't have the leigh dove tail jig probably would have just made box joints. If any one is interested in building one I added the cover of the magazine showing the bench. Hi Michael. For me it just right. To hard on the eyes if it was any smaller. Hi Mark. Every thing is ok at the moment and seems am very happy to be back to work on her. Who knows maybe I just might get the upper deck built, that is if I get the outside planking done. ;o) Gary

Thanks every one and am hoping the updates will be a whole lot sooner then what they been. Mike she is 1/48th scale, can't remember for sure, about 45 inches long with out her mast, and about 13 inches wide. Gary

Thanks Mark and Ben, good to be back. Gary

Hello Every one. I finally went back to work on Montagu after a long break due to work and a few health issues. I was building some plastic models but nothing like building and working on Montagu. Also have done some changes to the work shop and do believe that I finally have the ship yard just the way I like it. Other then a few larger tools and a new drafting board hung from the ceiling not much more to do but get to work on Montagu. I did finally get around to making my hobby bench and not only was it a joy to build but is even more enjoyable to work on. Hope you enjoy the photos of Montagu. Also added a gantry to the building board that was taken from Eds idealy and book. should come in real handy. For the last couple of days I have been working on the port side channel wale. At first I did it in pear but didn't like the color of it against the frames and changed it to boxwood and looks a whole lot better. If you have any question's let me know, and glad to be back. Gary

No sir have not done the hanging knees yet but have done the upper deck beams and fitted in place. Doing those knees, well that is yet to come. ;0)

Hi druxey. I measured the hanging knees on the plan of the upper deck and they come out to be around 8 inches taken in the movement age of the plan. The contract for her, says that they are post to be 8 1/2 inches sided.

Hay guys the plan is for the Berwick, and if it had a number on it for ordering it has faded. Hum maybe I can find the paperwork on it and it is of the whole wale and upper side planking. I take some photos of it and see if I can find some numbers for ordering it . As far as length's for the planks, seems they run all the way from 31 feet down to 25 feet 9 inches. Have to agree about cutting off the planks just to get them all the same length is a big waste of wood. When they cut them like this it allready was a big waste of wood, but waste or strength they went for strength. Just my two cents guys. Ok I go back to work on my hobby bench now. :o}

Hi Ed and thank you. Love this hobby to much to be to far away. Looking forward to your next book. The last ones were a hit on my list. Gary

Hi Mark and thanks for asking. Seems that life has been keeping me busy, some times good sometimes not so good. I am keeping a eye on you and the other good folks here and must say you are doing a outstanding job. At the moment am building a hobby bench to replace what I am using at the moment which is a make shift desk. If you get the magazine Woodsmith, on the cover, it shows the hobby bench, vol 37/ no 219. Should look real nice when I get it finshed. On a different not, on the wale there is a plan that shows the wale on, I believe a 74 and gives the shape and size of the wale pieces. I have to find the plan and get you a number for it and I will see if I can at least post up one of the photos of it. Hope it helps you. Excuse the plan of the Lyon can't seem to get rid of it. Gary

Mark, Steel has a plate that shows the removable capstan and the parts below it. There are plans that shows a step on the orlop deck for the captsan when it was lowered down. Go in to my log on Alfred and I did build her forward capstan and you can also see the step I installed on the orlop deck. I can't remember what page but should be of some help. Also in the book of the AOS Bellona shows a room on the orlop deck that was called the capstan room, believe its is shown on the amidships section. Wish I could give page number, but am not at home and won't be till the weekend. Mark check page 9 of my build log, it also shows Steels plate. Gary

Thanks druxey and Robin. I do miss it and hope to be back to working on it soon, at least thats the plan. Gary

Hi Mark. Sorry to take so long in getting back to your question, and work is keeping me away from home. As far as the metal pins for holding the trucks in place, came from the scrap bin along with the little eyelets that hold the capsquare in place. They were modifie to look more like the item's and then given a coat of black paint I believe. Some of the parts came from places like scale hardware and model expo, and even hobby lobby. The good thing about getting small parts like this if you can, save's one time to put in to other things, which of course seems that even that little bit of time is spent making a living. Enjoy the photos sir, maybe one day I will some time to work on her. In the first photo, slightly to the bottom left, you can see the spike that hold the trucks in place and in the second photo to the right of the capsquare is the small eyelets and the u shape round copper that is used to hold the capsquare in place. When the small eyelet is installed a small pin is inserted to keep the capsquare locked in place. Gary

Thanks guy's. I went back through the log and redid the photo's. Been working out of town, so sorry about the delay. Gary

Thanks Siggi. I really really like the detail and gives me ideals about adding some of this to Alfred's gun deck. Gary

Good job Siggi and a fine job bringing her deck to life. Now I have a question about the lanthorns and other fine items, and was wondering did you take any pictures of them as you was making them?. Once again sir good job. Gary

Have you thought about just filling the holes with trunnels? When am installing parts and pieces to Alfred I usually hold the parts in place with pins and then fill the hole with a wooden nail. Just a ideal but may give you something to think about. Gary

Hi Guys. I finally got around to redoing the photo's. Just click on the photo and it should enlarge so that you can get a good look at the books. As druxey said it is a little dated back to the 1980's but does help one who doesn't know about them and just may want to add them to their library. Gary

Hi guys. Give me a day or so and I will try to put the pictures back. Can't seem to find them on the computer at the moment so bear with me. Gary

Richard some thing to keep in mind for figuring out the different rates was based on the number of guns they carried. Gary

Hi Siggi. I took a look in Adrian Caruana book, The Age of the System, 1715-1815. On page 388, He says that two inch muzzle lashings were used for lower deck guns. Gary

Mike I have to agree with Greg sir, the Byrnes disk sander has become one of the most commen used power tool in my shop, along with his table saw. It is really a very accurate tool and being able to reset the angles every time is great. Get one, you won't regret it. Gary

Hi Mark. Just want to say thanks for all the great photo's sir along with all the other folks photo's, they are a great help in figure out some of the items and hope you get to take more of them in the future. I did lower the leading edge of the top front rail maybe a hair or two to follow the planking behind it which does run with the sheer and used it as a stright edge. Does seem to have brought it more in line. Lowering it two much just might mess with the items above it. You are so right Mark it is the viewpoint.One can look at it from a thousand view's and still not get it right, having your eyes and others as another set of eyes really help's to see what one doesn't. I found out some times leveling something depends on how other items look around it which sometimes are not level. Here is a old and new showing the top rail forward edge. At the moment it is just pinned in place in case I need to take off another hair or two. Gary

Hi Siggi. From what I can tell her rails are running with the outside sheer. Here is a photo from her plans and another photo showing what I built. Easier to tell when they are side to side. Might just have to take another hard look. Siggi it might be the angle I took the photo at, maybe a little on the high side. Gary