Pierretessier

dry fit of the keel
next step assembly of frames on keel

Yes looking real good. Question Don, is that the rope that comes with the kit?

20 strakes are now completed on the port side and I have to admit I am much happier with the way this side has give compared to the other. Now it is time for another break in planking to go work on La Couronne but up next is where I have to start making some bigger decisions. The next push will take the planking up and over the two false gun decks which by itself is not a big deal however, with the modifications I am wanting to do to attempt to detail the cabins, I need to finish figuring out how to build them.
 
I am also debating on if I will add any planking or other details that could be seen down through the gratings to the lower decks. Also the false deck for the weather deck still needs to be set in place and I would like to plank it over before the sides are up. I need to set the foreward most bulkhead at the bow so I can shape the hull planking to fit that angle and there are many other little details and things that I keep thinking of doing before the planking closes off the interior. 
 
I have a feeling that that there will be lots of hours coming up soon of test fitting and research  more that actual building. On the plus side, this log will start to get a lot more interesting as more than bad planking will soon be shown! 

Elijah- Thanks for stopping in, I'm looking forward to your next build log
 
Pierre - The rope for the handles is from Syren(.63 mm) and the the rope tying the lids together is just normal polyester sewing thread that I put a serving on
 
Ian- Hi! Thanks for the compliment and I hope things are going well for you
 
Bob - Thanks, I appreciate you dropping by
 
Dave - I was thinking of your builds when I finally cut up my rosewood board. I bought this board almost forty years ago and have never cut into it
 
E.J. - Hey how are things? Thanks for that, I may just go to my little cabinet and have a refreshment 

Yes looking real good. Question Don, is that the rope that comes with the kit?

Yes looking real good. Question Don, is that the rope that comes with the kit?

Yes looking real good. Question Don, is that the rope that comes with the kit?

Good morning all, Thanks to all those who have stopped by, left likes and/or comments.
 Just a small update. Some progress such as nailing the main rail(with .4 nylon fishing line) was a bit of a waste of time. I was so happy with the results on the companion way I thought I would do more of it not realising it would be lost in the dark grain of the walnut. Although it may look like what a house fly may have left behind the nails can be seen(if you really look close) on some of the close ups. Breast hooks, knightheads and the aft rail were also completed, I replaced the kit supplied walnut with rosewood for these. Another detail that is hard to notice is the rope used to tie the hatch lids together. I finally put my Syren serving machine together and decided to serve some line for the first time and give it a try. The line served is just normal sewing thread and I used the same thread for the serving, the final rope measures approximately .5 mm and again you have to look real close. 
 

An eye was seized in one end of rope then the other end pulled through and tied off with a couple of half hitches 
 
Take Care and Thanks for stopping in.

Good Morning All, Thanks to everyone for stopping in, for your likes and comments. This a new one for me, two updates in a week, but without my vehicle(another story) shipyard time has increased. I have completed the back rails which I will show in my next post as they aren't attached yet and will complete the breast hooks today as Mike is on edge waiting to see them. For now I have nailed the companion way and made some cleats from rosewood.
 

Here I am showing how I mask it to try and get a relatively straight line.
 

Here are a couple of shots showing holes drilled and nails in place. I used .4 mm nylon fishing line. First side I cut these off using flush cutters then sanded smooth, this side I used a sharp blade to cut off then sanded. The blade worked much better and very little sanding was required, just enough to remove excess glue. Should be noted the companion way had several coats of poly on it to prevent any stains from the ca glue.
 

 Here are the results, I think the .4 mm fishing line is the right scale and looks good. With a little more practice I may do a deck someday. I also found some light brown .3 mm fishing line that I may do a test section on my Pegasus with. 
 

Here I'm just showing the steps of making cleats. As you can see they are fairly large about 10 mm so they were fairly easy to make, that's one of the beauties of working at this scale.  The first one is after rough shaping on the Byrnes disc sander and the middle one is after some fine tuning with riffler file the cleat on the right is the kit supplied one. I would not normally spend twenty minutes making a cleat but I only need two so I thought what the heck. As you can see I have two extra ones that I am willing to offer to members here before I list them on ebay 
 

Here I'm rough shaping it on the disc sander.The thing off to the right in the picture is a crepe block used to clean the sanding disc, this helps prolong the life of your disc or belt if you have a thickness sander. You can get these at Lee Valley they are cheap and last forever.
 Thanks once more for stopping in and have a good one.
 

Have not been here for a bit....WOW I am floored. This is museum quality. Nice work mate!

Looking good!
 

Thanks Pierre, much appreciated.
 
-Bug

Friday & Saturday, March 17-18, 2017
 
Some few progress after nearly a month's absence . . A lot of work will be hidden with the bottom timbers
 
01 - 20170316_203251.jpg

02 - 20170318_153309.jpg

03 - 20170318_153348.jpg

04 - 20170318_153339.jpg

05 - 20170318_153322.jpg

06 - 20170318_153333.jpg

See you soon, Jack.

Nice work Jack, it's almost sad to see all that beautiful framing being hid

Hi Don, many thanks for your suggestions.
 
Regarding the assembling instructions I am in contact with Zoran who sent me a (for the moment) unofficial new version of them. In addition to the Croatian and English language, this version contains also instructions in Italian language.
 
The new document is much better than the old one, the English has been revised and the Italian seem to be written by an italian man . . surely it better clarifies some not clear sentences contained in the old text.
 
Many thanks for this gift to Zoran, very good behaviour from him . . greatly appreciated.
Regards, Jack.

Hi Jack, congratulations on your new build and I know you will enjoy it. Having watched your last build I have no reason to believe you will have any problem making this a beautiful boat.
 Having some experience, but far from an expert, with these kits my best piece of advice is to follow the plans very closely. Unlike many others these are very precise and by all means take your measurements from them. Look very close at them, a problem I keep having, and you will find all the information you will need.
 The instructions are a little vague at times and hard to understand( I am finding it is getting easier as I go along) but what they lack the plans make up for. If you do have problems give Zoran a email, he is a great guy and has always come through for me and most times the same day.
 It is my understanding that they are in the process of re-writing all of their instructions for their kits so they may very well appreciate your help in re-writing these.
 In the meantime enjoy your build and I will gladly follow along.

Today I did a bit of turning - bollards and the 6 larger winches. The plans only show the 6 deck winches whereas photos / videos clearly show some smaller secondary winches which I will have to make and position.
 

The critical task was marking out the position and making sure that I drilled the mounting holes in the correct position. Check twice cut once was the watchword of the day.
 

Nothing much further to add other than a few photos.
 

 
 

dry assembly of the keel, long process of adjust and check
last picture beginning of assembly

Haven't posted in a bit but all I've been doing is working on the hull planking.  I haven't been able to spend a ton of time on the Bluenose, maybe an hour a day, 2 or 3 days a week if that.
 
i wanted to also mention that the deadeyes that come with the kit are laser cut on the billet.  You have to cut each one out and you have a deadeye that is only 1/16" or so thick. I decided to buy some 4 mm deadeyes from Syren.  Wow, these are nice, they come in three pieces, but assembly is simple.  They are a lot thicker and you end up with a groove in the middle of them.  Very impressed.
That loose plank under the clamp is there to remind me that I have already cut and fit the final extension plank to finish that row.  I didn't have time to install it today.
 

So, after more then 3 years I can tell you that the rigging is done....
Not the total build because there are a few things that has to be done like.....hammock netting ( yep, still to do ) anchors and lanterns.
But as it goes in the whole build now and then an update.
Don't ask me where all those ropes are going.....I don't know it anymore.
I have done the best I can do with it.
At the end it looks like spaghetti and all the time the hands are in the way.
I had the feeling that tying blocks will never come to an end.
Even at the last drawing I have to make blocks.
I think it is to difficult to show it in the first drawings.....
I try to put all the ropes on there own position but even that was not possible.
The belaying pins are that small that I can not put an hair around it !
I try because you don't see the difference with my grey hair or the grey rope 
But i'm satisfied with it.
Then rest me only one thing and that are pictures.
 
Sjors

'She is looking sweet indeed. 

Have not been here for a bit....WOW I am floored. This is museum quality. Nice work mate!

Have not been here for a bit....WOW I am floored. This is museum quality. Nice work mate!

'She is looking sweet indeed. 

Officially finished my first build.
Finished her with a Minwax wipe on poly, gave it a nice finish I was looking for.
 
She is now proudly displayed on the mantel.
Time to clean up the bench and get ready for my next build....