leginseel

Cannons completed

Aft deck equipment almost completed and anchors and culverins are in the spray booth waiting for their final coat.  Looking at the aft quarter galleries now which doesn't look like and easy job.  Done an initial paint job but not totally happy so I'll give them another look.

Aft deck equipment almost completed and anchors and culverins are in the spray booth waiting for their final coat.  Looking at the aft quarter galleries now which doesn't look like and easy job.  Done an initial paint job but not totally happy so I'll give them another look.

Cannons completed

Hi martin
 
That is magnificent.  I wish I had seen it before I had started this anchor business.  It's probably a bit late now, but I will look to see if I can modify a couple of things.  Thanks very much for bringing it to my attention.
 
Bob

Kieth: thank you for taking the time to help.  I think I have made some changes consistent with your suggestions. I shall post photos  in the next day or so.
 
Jim Thanks you you too.   I had thought to drop lines from the cathead to the anchor as shown in the first of your photos - it's certainly a superb model. The second - kedge anchor - shows the flukes on the deck.  In my case the hammock netting prevents this.  I have come up with an acceptable alternative (to me anyway), though I am not overjoyed with it.
 
Alan (AON) Is building the Bellerophon version of the Vanguard, and I know there are others doing the same. This may help. The figurehead shows a rather odd-looking  head being held rather threateningly in the hand of Bellerophon.  As a fan of the Sopranos my first thought was for a horse's head or that B had bumped off his horse Pegasis, but it seems that it is a goat's head from the chimera, a mythical Grecian horror with the head of a lion, the body of a goat and the tail of a serpent!
 
This is from the plan.

The figurehead supplied.

This is the chimera.

 
 
 
 

Hi Bob,
 
Like you, I'm always looking for ways to make/attach/rig things on my ship ~ and I have to say that I've been getting lots of ideas from your build log.
 
I found a couple of photos of a British frigate which show the anchor stowage used on that model.  I'm not at that stage yet but I think I'll be trying to adapt something like this system for my model. (Just like yours, my model isn't a frigate but I think the method will adapt.)
I don't know if it will be helpful to you, but here are a couple of photos anyway >>>

Jim. 

Hi Bob
 
Once again I must congratulate you on a superb and very clean build.
 
I'm wondering where you would let evolution attach the third arm. For ship modelling purposes a good place would probably be on top of the head to be able to hold your piece of ship in a triangular grip...
 
While stowing that anchor on my Pegasus I simply put a line around the base of one of the lower deadeyes.
 
BTW why don't you like Granado's gun carriages?
 
Cheers
Peter
 

Paul, that's a great picture you you uploaded, good details for the gunports.  Yes, you are right about the lower rabeted stop on the gunports.  I started fixing the linings as per the manual supplied with the kit, after I had already done a few, from some images on the internet I realised that there is no stop on the lower edge as your photo clearly shows.  Since I had already done a few I decided to continue with them.  As for the blocks and rope I will keep that in mind when i come to them.  I still have a bit of a long way to arrive to that part.
 
Nigel  / Michael, thank you for your comments, much appreciated and encouraging to go on.
 
Rich, when I rigged Bluenose II I used the bee wax on the ropes.  I agree it made it much easier to handle.  As for the Quarter Galleries, I'm afraid yes the black rectangles have to be painted.  The quarter Galleries are something I have to do some homework about as how I am going to finish it. There are a few things that probably I would finish differently from how it is shown on the manual.  The Quarter Galleries have a lot of detail and if not well finished will ruin the ship. One of the headaches I have is how to pass the wires to the three lanterns which I intend to put lights in.  Again, I will see to it when its turn arrives.  Yes there are a few things in the kit which could have been better but on the whole I don't think it is a bad kit.  That's what is nice about building wooden ships,  there are no fast rules how to go about doing things.  It is not just take out of the box and glue, even though it is a kit and not scratch building,  you have to put to test your skill.  Sometimes you are satisfied with the result, sometimes not and you try again until you achieve a result to your satisfaction.  If you ruin a piece of wood it is not the end of the world, you get another piece and begin again.
 
Robert    
 
 
 
 

Thanks so much Chris and Nigel

Fabulous work and it's been a real joy to see it develop.  Looking forward to your next build.
 

Hi Robert, the deck planking and the 'tree nails' look great.  I agree that to add mid plank nails, whilst totally authentic, would detract from the clean deck planking.  Lovely job and I follow with interest.
 

Fabulous work and it's been a real joy to see it develop.  Looking forward to your next build.
 

Hi Robert, the deck planking and the 'tree nails' look great.  I agree that to add mid plank nails, whilst totally authentic, would detract from the clean deck planking.  Lovely job and I follow with interest.
 

Hi Robert, the deck planking and the 'tree nails' look great.  I agree that to add mid plank nails, whilst totally authentic, would detract from the clean deck planking.  Lovely job and I follow with interest.
 

Thanks Jason. It turns out the ensign that I was experimenting with is the correct one.
 
Meanwhile I have been trying to stow the anchors - which at this late stage has turned out to be very frustrating indeed.  The process lends support to my contention that evolution, if it does its job properly, will result in humans eventually having three hands: one, to hold an object, and the other two to do the work.  At the moment nothing is finally tied off, and I can see in the first two photos there is a bit of stray thread hanging near the middle of the anchor, and i neeed to reposition the knot a little.
 

 

 

The second (kedge?) anchor is a pain.  Tying off the lower end is straightforward.  Where to tie the fluke end is a mystery  - to me at least.  The only place I can see is the rail and that does not seem to be very satisfactory at all.  At the moment the thing is held in position by gravity and grave threats to its existence.
 
Suggestions are invited - indeed, are compulsory.

 

The plan is of no help whatsoever.....

 
....and while having a general whinge, the Granado gun carriages are quite disappointing.  I have ordered some carriages from Syren which seem to be the right size, or at least may be modified to fit.
 
 

Thanks for the explanation Dan! I will be sure to use the correct terminology from now on.
 
Luckily for me, I had today off so I was able to complete the deck nailing on the planks already placed.


 
I think it turned out better than I thought!  I tried to use a pen and a pencil, but I kept adding small lines whenever I tried to pick it up of the decking.  Instead, I drilled 1064 holes. I then filled them up with cherry wood filler and sanded it smooth.
 
I also started to make the frames I removed.
Using thr scroll saw, I made these.

 
I made the other side too but not sized yet. I haven't glued them in because i want to finish sanding/shaping them,  and it will make it easier to add the last of the deckk planks.

Robert,
I am sitting here laying planks on the main gun deck as I look at your main gun deck on the computer. I must confess that I am having the same arguments with my self as to when is enough, enough. I confess that I do like the look of the end of plank tre nails. But, only if they are done with exquisite neatness as you have done. I don't think I have the steadiness to get this done and have just about decided to skip this item. With all the rest of what is going on around the busy main gun deck, I don't think they will be missed. As for the single tre nails every foot on the planks; I definitely think this is overkill.
 
The model looks great. Keep on going and continue to stimulate me with your skills
 
Regards
 
 

Elijah, Jean-Philippe and David, Thanks so much guys. I currently have the fore sail on and am just finishing belaying the remaining lines. The end is close, very close

Shipyard Update:
Ratlings:
 
A bit of an update to where the "rats" are at.
A good two weeks of part time tying knots > the Fore and Main mast lower shrouds are done.

Taking shape with lower ratlines on Fore and Main Masts
 

Fore Mast Stb Ratline
 

Main Mast Starboard Ratline
 
Some close ups of the ForeMast ratline - knotting in progress.
 

Above: The process I followed was to tie every 6th full length ratline first(loops each end), followed by the intermediate 3rds(shorter by 1 shroud).
Aim being to hold the shrouds evenly, then fill in the pairs between(where the clamps were). 
 

Above:  Each ratline from the jig was tied to the shroud with 2/half hitches to the loop, then 2/half hitches about each inner shroud towards the rear.
Every 6th looped to the back shroud.
The 5 ratlines between the 6th's, half hitched 1 shroud back.
At the bottom, every 6th first (red end line #4, blue length) and then the 3rds (blue #1 & 7, with pink highlight for the length)
 

Above: Further up, every 6th first (red end line #10) and then the 3rds (blue #13, with pink highlight for the length)
This way I kept track of the type and length of each ratline I added.
 
Mizzen Shroud Ratlines:
Setup the paper template on the Starboard shrouds, and made a start this week.


I decided to loop each end of the Mizzen ratlines to the shrouds.
Close up of the end loops. Shows the loose ends not cut cleanly though. Hard to trim them off close without cutting the loop.
 
Plenty more to go.
 
 

Your wood work is so much tidier and neater than mine
Are you using Caldercraft's wood
Think if you are going to add treenails they should be correct ie at least across the plank ends (Not sure about over the deck beams this might be too much

Again look at that actual picture of Victory the tree nails hardly shoe

Often its a matter of what looks right

In Anatomy of Nelson's Ships Longridge talks about lifting the fore copper slightly higher as it looks right
 
GREAT WORK

Nigel, Richard, thank you for your comments.
 
Paul, thank you for the information on the treenails.  I ignored the treenails in between as I was afraid the deck was going to look too crowded.  It is a question that still lingers in my mind if I should have included them!!!
 
Michael, thank you for your nice comment, I try my best.  You are most welcome on my shipyard and if you have any suggestions for my build I would be more than glad to hear them.
 
Mort, thank you for your information, much appreciated.  The monograms look great. I guess the 3/32’’ should be ok for the 1:72 scale cannons. I will try them.  It will be a nice detail.
 
Now for another small update.  Just finished the gunport linings.  A lot of patience was needed. 

 
 
 
This is the jig I used to fit them.  Very crude but very helpful.  Got the idea from similar jigs on other builds.  I must admit I got a lot of ideas and learned a lot from this great forum.

 
 
Robert

Hi Robert, I personally thought that the comments re joggling were a bit harsh.  Model building is a hobby for enjoyment and such suggestions could be said a little more sympathetically as we are not all perfect.
 

The lanterns are now installed my having delayed as long as possible - partly because of their fragility and partly avoidance - because it's a rotten job.  I first tried to mount them by simultaneously putting the three supports into the holes drilled into the stern fascia.  This was not a good idea.  Best glue the two prongs of the upper support in first, then carefully slip the lower support through the hole provided in the upper support and then manipulate it towards, then into the hole drilled for it in the fascia. Then, of course, the lanterns didn't want to sit properly...   I found the whole business rather fraught.  At least they came out respectably in the end.
 

 
 

 

 

 
To my pleasant surprise the Granado showed up today. A quick look suggests that is quite high quality.
 

 
 
 
 

Ironically Jeff, the Cutwater is the only part of the whole assembly - correctly termed the "Knee of the Head" - that you HAVEN'T made . It's an extra narrow piece that fits in about the middle of the knee at water level (drawn in blue in the pic), and could be easily replaced if damaged.
 
I find it useful to know the correct terminology for the parts of a ship, as it makes communicating with other builders a lot easier if you can refer to a part by it's real name (saves confusion, both in the modelling world AND on the real ship ). So for future reference the various parts of the Knee are : 
1. Standard
2. Gammoning Piece
3. Chock
4. Bobstay Piece
5. Lacing Piece
6. Gripe
7. section of the Keel, not actually part of the Knee

 
Not a bad job for your first attempt at scroll sawing, you'll get a lot better with more practice (I'm STILL learning ). A tip when making a complex part like this - cut, sand and fit ONE part at a time before cutting the next. This way you can use the already made parts as a template to mark the next pieces at the joins between them.
 
Your deck nailing has come up really well - not overdone, but still visible .
 
  Danny