RFP

OK, I guess I must be pretty easy (!)  I'm going to do it...
 
Heartfelt thanks to the encouragement... I'm delighted to see that there are other "grown ups" here and so willing to help.
 
I will do a build log, I can see that is the very, very best way to get expert - and sympathetic - help along the way.  It'll be a while before I start, I'll be in the setting-up-and-gathering-stuff stage for a while, not to mention the requisite and enjoyable research.
 
Thanks again for the warm welcome!
 
Rob
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

In late 1988, I completed a Bluejacket USS Constitution.  It was my second wood ship model kit, and turned out light years better than my first: Billlings' 'Jylland.'  I built the Constitution on the kitchen table, having to clear off and clean up after every session... no sense in making my long suffering wife suffer even more!  Also, I was working full time and doing house remodeling throughout the build.  I must truly be insane.
 
Now, some twenty-nine years later, I've run out of 'projects,' and my thoughts keep returning to another ship build... wanting something without cannons, I'm especially drawn to the Charles W. Morgan.  And here is where I need guidance, encouragement, or just a plain ol' sanity check (perhaps even therapy).
 
Today, I'm seventy seven and long, long retired.  My health is good, eyesight excellent (thank you very much, cataract surgeon!), and my hands are steady.  The kitchen table would not be needed in that I can set up a suitable work area in the 'office' of our modest home.  
 
But I've read and re-read many of the build logs of the excellent Morgan builders here and genuinely feel that I'm just out of my league.  I'm concerned about taking on a challenge the scope and detail of the Morgan, while - on the other hand - that's likely just why I'm drawn to it.  My sweetie-pie wife (of fifty seven years) is quite encouraging... she says 'do it'... saying that even I fail to finish, I'll have great fun.
 
So, I don't know... seventy-seven yeas old and a Charges W. Morgan.... seems like it might prove to be a poor combination.  
 
So, what would you do if you were an old geezer like me with limited experience?
 
Oh, I've attached a couple of photos of my Constitution, NOT for compliments (which it doesn't deserve) but just to show my general capabilities.
 
Thanks for your consideration and whatever light you may shed on this dilemma!
 
Rob Pritchett 

OK, Roger... so, I'm wishy-washy!
 
Since your response to my plea for guidance, I've dug around quite a bit, looking at the Kate Corey.  Oh, it is a beautiful ship, I love the lines and looking a 'Google Images,' there are many gorgeous models of the Kate Corey.  
 
Although I had my heart set on [another] POB model, if I decide to build the Kate Corey, I could always plank over the solid hull just as I did my Constitution.  
 
So, I'm going to revisit this decision... I may still go with the Charles W. Morgan, but the Kate Corey is now a solid contender.  I'm grateful for your kind suggestion!
 
Rob 

A stressful and disappointing morning in the shipyard ....
All I had to do today was tie off two topsail clew lines and add a couple blocks and the static lift.
Unfortunately, tying off the two lines was very difficult due, again, to access to the belay points. In manipulating a 6" tweezers through a maze of obstacles, I managed to tie them off at the cost of breaking off a couple of lower main yard blocks when putting unintentional pressure on the main lower yard and "plucking" several foremast stays to the extent that they are now slack. Very unsightly.
I repaired the broken ties to the blocks and restrung things, but lost the perfect 90 degree placement of all the yards whose lines are already tensioned and tied off. I still don't know exactly what I'm going to do about the stretched and slack fore-stays, but I think I'm going to have to walk away for a few days. I was hoping to get the last top-gallant yard up before taking a break, but that's not going to happen.
Ups and Downs; lots of "next time I'll do it THAT way", etc.

Finished hoisting the Main Topgallant yard (sail furled) and all the attendant running rigging except for the braces.
Now I put the ship up and away, and begin working on the foremast yards. Hopefully the experience of the main yards and the trouble spots due to not recognizing things best done before anything is mounted will stand me in good stead, as this will be essentially a repeat of the mainmast yards. I will repeat the same mixture of set and furled sails on the foremast.
For simplicity sake and my sanity, I have not set/rigged for the staysails. Apparently the main staysails were often not set, but I probably should have set the mizzen staysails - will, however, leave well enough alone.
Learning a lot, and rigging my next full ship - likely Grenado - will hopefully benefit from the experience.

In late 1988, I completed a Bluejacket USS Constitution.  It was my second wood ship model kit, and turned out light years better than my first: Billlings' 'Jylland.'  I built the Constitution on the kitchen table, having to clear off and clean up after every session... no sense in making my long suffering wife suffer even more!  Also, I was working full time and doing house remodeling throughout the build.  I must truly be insane.
 
Now, some twenty-nine years later, I've run out of 'projects,' and my thoughts keep returning to another ship build... wanting something without cannons, I'm especially drawn to the Charles W. Morgan.  And here is where I need guidance, encouragement, or just a plain ol' sanity check (perhaps even therapy).
 
Today, I'm seventy seven and long, long retired.  My health is good, eyesight excellent (thank you very much, cataract surgeon!), and my hands are steady.  The kitchen table would not be needed in that I can set up a suitable work area in the 'office' of our modest home.  
 
But I've read and re-read many of the build logs of the excellent Morgan builders here and genuinely feel that I'm just out of my league.  I'm concerned about taking on a challenge the scope and detail of the Morgan, while - on the other hand - that's likely just why I'm drawn to it.  My sweetie-pie wife (of fifty seven years) is quite encouraging... she says 'do it'... saying that even I fail to finish, I'll have great fun.
 
So, I don't know... seventy-seven yeas old and a Charges W. Morgan.... seems like it might prove to be a poor combination.  
 
So, what would you do if you were an old geezer like me with limited experience?
 
Oh, I've attached a couple of photos of my Constitution, NOT for compliments (which it doesn't deserve) but just to show my general capabilities.
 
Thanks for your consideration and whatever light you may shed on this dilemma!
 
Rob Pritchett 

OK, Roger... so, I'm wishy-washy!
 
Since your response to my plea for guidance, I've dug around quite a bit, looking at the Kate Corey.  Oh, it is a beautiful ship, I love the lines and looking a 'Google Images,' there are many gorgeous models of the Kate Corey.  
 
Although I had my heart set on [another] POB model, if I decide to build the Kate Corey, I could always plank over the solid hull just as I did my Constitution.  
 
So, I'm going to revisit this decision... I may still go with the Charles W. Morgan, but the Kate Corey is now a solid contender.  I'm grateful for your kind suggestion!
 
Rob 

OK, Roger... so, I'm wishy-washy!
 
Since your response to my plea for guidance, I've dug around quite a bit, looking at the Kate Corey.  Oh, it is a beautiful ship, I love the lines and looking a 'Google Images,' there are many gorgeous models of the Kate Corey.  
 
Although I had my heart set on [another] POB model, if I decide to build the Kate Corey, I could always plank over the solid hull just as I did my Constitution.  
 
So, I'm going to revisit this decision... I may still go with the Charles W. Morgan, but the Kate Corey is now a solid contender.  I'm grateful for your kind suggestion!
 
Rob 

and a closeup of the brick work.  All wood.  Yeah - it was fun! 
 

 
 
 

Hi.
My story of a solid hull.
Me at the time was at the tender age of 10.. Doing my normal thing in the morning befor school I would look around our local coves for any driftwood that might have come in during the night.
In doing this one day I found a hull of a ship made out of solid wood.
I picked it up as it was the only thing that got washed in that night.
One of the locals was a model ship builder and spotted me walking through the village with it and called me over.
This turned out to be a very good carving that he insisted that I should continue building it.
With his help this model was completed and is now on display in the local pob.
Solid hulls are not easy and are used by masters for model ship building.
 
The hull was just over 27 inches long and had all the decks shaped ready.
This was my start into this hobby.
 
Regards Antony.

Hmmm... as I recall, the Bluejacket Constitution is solid hull as are many of the models in museums that we admire.   The Princess Royal (got the book from Seawatch) tells about the hull being made from a large bit of wood and not frames or bulkheads.

I think a solid hull is very respectable, and hardly a shortcut. The vast majority of models "back in the day" were solid hull type. As I recall the history of model building in the early 20th century, when the hobby developed, some of the most prominent builders - amateur and professional - preferred solid hulls. People like Charles Davis who felt that the solid hull gave you the best form for the hull. Davis, like Underhill, also worked with POB and POF, and implied what we emphasize on MSW -
 
the goal is to build and enjoy. It matters not the medium (plastic, paper, wood, clay) nor the subject matter (so long as it be ship related, that is). The goal is personal enjoyment. Skill levels differ, but the journey - whatever the duration- is to be savor end.

In late 1988, I completed a Bluejacket USS Constitution.  It was my second wood ship model kit, and turned out light years better than my first: Billlings' 'Jylland.'  I built the Constitution on the kitchen table, having to clear off and clean up after every session... no sense in making my long suffering wife suffer even more!  Also, I was working full time and doing house remodeling throughout the build.  I must truly be insane.
 
Now, some twenty-nine years later, I've run out of 'projects,' and my thoughts keep returning to another ship build... wanting something without cannons, I'm especially drawn to the Charles W. Morgan.  And here is where I need guidance, encouragement, or just a plain ol' sanity check (perhaps even therapy).
 
Today, I'm seventy seven and long, long retired.  My health is good, eyesight excellent (thank you very much, cataract surgeon!), and my hands are steady.  The kitchen table would not be needed in that I can set up a suitable work area in the 'office' of our modest home.  
 
But I've read and re-read many of the build logs of the excellent Morgan builders here and genuinely feel that I'm just out of my league.  I'm concerned about taking on a challenge the scope and detail of the Morgan, while - on the other hand - that's likely just why I'm drawn to it.  My sweetie-pie wife (of fifty seven years) is quite encouraging... she says 'do it'... saying that even I fail to finish, I'll have great fun.
 
So, I don't know... seventy-seven yeas old and a Charges W. Morgan.... seems like it might prove to be a poor combination.  
 
So, what would you do if you were an old geezer like me with limited experience?
 
Oh, I've attached a couple of photos of my Constitution, NOT for compliments (which it doesn't deserve) but just to show my general capabilities.
 
Thanks for your consideration and whatever light you may shed on this dilemma!
 
Rob Pritchett 

In late 1988, I completed a Bluejacket USS Constitution.  It was my second wood ship model kit, and turned out light years better than my first: Billlings' 'Jylland.'  I built the Constitution on the kitchen table, having to clear off and clean up after every session... no sense in making my long suffering wife suffer even more!  Also, I was working full time and doing house remodeling throughout the build.  I must truly be insane.
 
Now, some twenty-nine years later, I've run out of 'projects,' and my thoughts keep returning to another ship build... wanting something without cannons, I'm especially drawn to the Charles W. Morgan.  And here is where I need guidance, encouragement, or just a plain ol' sanity check (perhaps even therapy).
 
Today, I'm seventy seven and long, long retired.  My health is good, eyesight excellent (thank you very much, cataract surgeon!), and my hands are steady.  The kitchen table would not be needed in that I can set up a suitable work area in the 'office' of our modest home.  
 
But I've read and re-read many of the build logs of the excellent Morgan builders here and genuinely feel that I'm just out of my league.  I'm concerned about taking on a challenge the scope and detail of the Morgan, while - on the other hand - that's likely just why I'm drawn to it.  My sweetie-pie wife (of fifty seven years) is quite encouraging... she says 'do it'... saying that even I fail to finish, I'll have great fun.
 
So, I don't know... seventy-seven yeas old and a Charges W. Morgan.... seems like it might prove to be a poor combination.  
 
So, what would you do if you were an old geezer like me with limited experience?
 
Oh, I've attached a couple of photos of my Constitution, NOT for compliments (which it doesn't deserve) but just to show my general capabilities.
 
Thanks for your consideration and whatever light you may shed on this dilemma!
 
Rob Pritchett 

Thanks, Roger, for the suggestion.  Yes, the Kate Corey is lovely, and would be a good bit less complicated than the Morgan.  That said, I'm going to go ahead with the Morgan, I'm looking forward (well, kind of!) to the plank-on-bulkhead construction and all those glorious deck structures.  Yep, I'm hooked already.

Bruce, actually your Morgan build log is one of the very first that I ran across, and I've read it 'cover to cover' more than once!  I really like that the Morgan is still around, just as the Constitution is; that probably played into my decision to choose it over another ship.  
 
Rob

In late 1988, I completed a Bluejacket USS Constitution.  It was my second wood ship model kit, and turned out light years better than my first: Billlings' 'Jylland.'  I built the Constitution on the kitchen table, having to clear off and clean up after every session... no sense in making my long suffering wife suffer even more!  Also, I was working full time and doing house remodeling throughout the build.  I must truly be insane.
 
Now, some twenty-nine years later, I've run out of 'projects,' and my thoughts keep returning to another ship build... wanting something without cannons, I'm especially drawn to the Charles W. Morgan.  And here is where I need guidance, encouragement, or just a plain ol' sanity check (perhaps even therapy).
 
Today, I'm seventy seven and long, long retired.  My health is good, eyesight excellent (thank you very much, cataract surgeon!), and my hands are steady.  The kitchen table would not be needed in that I can set up a suitable work area in the 'office' of our modest home.  
 
But I've read and re-read many of the build logs of the excellent Morgan builders here and genuinely feel that I'm just out of my league.  I'm concerned about taking on a challenge the scope and detail of the Morgan, while - on the other hand - that's likely just why I'm drawn to it.  My sweetie-pie wife (of fifty seven years) is quite encouraging... she says 'do it'... saying that even I fail to finish, I'll have great fun.
 
So, I don't know... seventy-seven yeas old and a Charges W. Morgan.... seems like it might prove to be a poor combination.  
 
So, what would you do if you were an old geezer like me with limited experience?
 
Oh, I've attached a couple of photos of my Constitution, NOT for compliments (which it doesn't deserve) but just to show my general capabilities.
 
Thanks for your consideration and whatever light you may shed on this dilemma!
 
Rob Pritchett 

Bruce, actually your Morgan build log is one of the very first that I ran across, and I've read it 'cover to cover' more than once!  I really like that the Morgan is still around, just as the Constitution is; that probably played into my decision to choose it over another ship.  
 
Rob

Thanks, Roger, for the suggestion.  Yes, the Kate Corey is lovely, and would be a good bit less complicated than the Morgan.  That said, I'm going to go ahead with the Morgan, I'm looking forward (well, kind of!) to the plank-on-bulkhead construction and all those glorious deck structures.  Yep, I'm hooked already.

OK, I guess I must be pretty easy (!)  I'm going to do it...
 
Heartfelt thanks to the encouragement... I'm delighted to see that there are other "grown ups" here and so willing to help.
 
I will do a build log, I can see that is the very, very best way to get expert - and sympathetic - help along the way.  It'll be a while before I start, I'll be in the setting-up-and-gathering-stuff stage for a while, not to mention the requisite and enjoyable research.
 
Thanks again for the warm welcome!
 
Rob
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

In late 1988, I completed a Bluejacket USS Constitution.  It was my second wood ship model kit, and turned out light years better than my first: Billlings' 'Jylland.'  I built the Constitution on the kitchen table, having to clear off and clean up after every session... no sense in making my long suffering wife suffer even more!  Also, I was working full time and doing house remodeling throughout the build.  I must truly be insane.
 
Now, some twenty-nine years later, I've run out of 'projects,' and my thoughts keep returning to another ship build... wanting something without cannons, I'm especially drawn to the Charles W. Morgan.  And here is where I need guidance, encouragement, or just a plain ol' sanity check (perhaps even therapy).
 
Today, I'm seventy seven and long, long retired.  My health is good, eyesight excellent (thank you very much, cataract surgeon!), and my hands are steady.  The kitchen table would not be needed in that I can set up a suitable work area in the 'office' of our modest home.  
 
But I've read and re-read many of the build logs of the excellent Morgan builders here and genuinely feel that I'm just out of my league.  I'm concerned about taking on a challenge the scope and detail of the Morgan, while - on the other hand - that's likely just why I'm drawn to it.  My sweetie-pie wife (of fifty seven years) is quite encouraging... she says 'do it'... saying that even I fail to finish, I'll have great fun.
 
So, I don't know... seventy-seven yeas old and a Charges W. Morgan.... seems like it might prove to be a poor combination.  
 
So, what would you do if you were an old geezer like me with limited experience?
 
Oh, I've attached a couple of photos of my Constitution, NOT for compliments (which it doesn't deserve) but just to show my general capabilities.
 
Thanks for your consideration and whatever light you may shed on this dilemma!
 
Rob Pritchett 

Bruce, actually your Morgan build log is one of the very first that I ran across, and I've read it 'cover to cover' more than once!  I really like that the Morgan is still around, just as the Constitution is; that probably played into my decision to choose it over another ship.  
 
Rob

OK, I guess I must be pretty easy (!)  I'm going to do it...
 
Heartfelt thanks to the encouragement... I'm delighted to see that there are other "grown ups" here and so willing to help.
 
I will do a build log, I can see that is the very, very best way to get expert - and sympathetic - help along the way.  It'll be a while before I start, I'll be in the setting-up-and-gathering-stuff stage for a while, not to mention the requisite and enjoyable research.
 
Thanks again for the warm welcome!
 
Rob
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

In late 1988, I completed a Bluejacket USS Constitution.  It was my second wood ship model kit, and turned out light years better than my first: Billlings' 'Jylland.'  I built the Constitution on the kitchen table, having to clear off and clean up after every session... no sense in making my long suffering wife suffer even more!  Also, I was working full time and doing house remodeling throughout the build.  I must truly be insane.
 
Now, some twenty-nine years later, I've run out of 'projects,' and my thoughts keep returning to another ship build... wanting something without cannons, I'm especially drawn to the Charles W. Morgan.  And here is where I need guidance, encouragement, or just a plain ol' sanity check (perhaps even therapy).
 
Today, I'm seventy seven and long, long retired.  My health is good, eyesight excellent (thank you very much, cataract surgeon!), and my hands are steady.  The kitchen table would not be needed in that I can set up a suitable work area in the 'office' of our modest home.  
 
But I've read and re-read many of the build logs of the excellent Morgan builders here and genuinely feel that I'm just out of my league.  I'm concerned about taking on a challenge the scope and detail of the Morgan, while - on the other hand - that's likely just why I'm drawn to it.  My sweetie-pie wife (of fifty seven years) is quite encouraging... she says 'do it'... saying that even I fail to finish, I'll have great fun.
 
So, I don't know... seventy-seven yeas old and a Charges W. Morgan.... seems like it might prove to be a poor combination.  
 
So, what would you do if you were an old geezer like me with limited experience?
 
Oh, I've attached a couple of photos of my Constitution, NOT for compliments (which it doesn't deserve) but just to show my general capabilities.
 
Thanks for your consideration and whatever light you may shed on this dilemma!
 
Rob Pritchett 

OK, I guess I must be pretty easy (!)  I'm going to do it...
 
Heartfelt thanks to the encouragement... I'm delighted to see that there are other "grown ups" here and so willing to help.
 
I will do a build log, I can see that is the very, very best way to get expert - and sympathetic - help along the way.  It'll be a while before I start, I'll be in the setting-up-and-gathering-stuff stage for a while, not to mention the requisite and enjoyable research.
 
Thanks again for the warm welcome!
 
Rob