Keith Black

When we left Texas for Michigan we were living in North Dallas. I grew up in Arlington as a kid and of course we didn't have air conditioning, just a few fans. I remember sleeping in front of the screen door trying to get some relief from the heat. God forsaken country, 94/95 degrees at 3 AM. that's just stupid hot. My wife was from Michigan and when she said she wanted to retire up here I was all for it. Tomorrow, high of 84 and low of 64. There, at 4 am 84 degrees.

I once plied the waters down there where you live, born in Dallas in 47. We retired to Michigan in 13.

Thank you to all for the comments and likes. The weaving process in a bit more detail for Phil @GrandpaPhil and anyone else that may have an interest. This is not my idea but to whoever thought of it, THANK YOU! The reason I chose the weaving process is because there are too many knots to tie at this scale. On the main's lower shrouds the starboard (and port) have 42 ratlines times six shrouds equals 252 knots. It would be a herculean task for me to tie 252 knots at this scale, I'd go stark raving mad. I use a #12 beading needle for weaving. Obviously if one is working at a larger scale you can use a larger needle. The #12 has a very small eye and one of the most difficult aspects is threading the needle eye. I use a needle threader and when pulling the captured thread and threader back through the eye, the eyes can break or the thread fray and not pull through successfully. The #12 also bends easily which can work in your favor, more later. One must make a guide card to place behind the shrouds as normal except the guide needs to be fairly narrow where the clips can grasp the shroud lines. The first couple of ratlines are the most difficult because of the guide width. The clips must securely clasp the shroud lines to the guide for the needle to pass through the middle (or as close to as possible) of the shroud line. I normally start two or three ratlines up from the first line to help stabilize the shrouds in a straight line making absolutely sure to leave at least an inch tail on the outside shroud lines. I then go back to the bottom ratlines and work up to where I started the weaving process. Because the clips are a bit difficult to attach, most of the time a clasp above and below two lines. Sometimes that doesn't work out and I have to adjust the clips closer to the point of entry. About the needle being bent....in trying to hit center of the shroud line one must move the needle either in or out because the thread wants to roll away from the point of the needle. It's tedious work but not as tedious as tying knots it takes practice and patients. And you slowly work you way the ladder till all the ratlines are woven in. Once all the lines are woven I start on the bottom right side and place a small amount of CA using my needle applicator at the top and bottom of the ratline of the outside edge of the shroud. I proceed to CA first five lines starting at the bottom and trim off the thread tails. and proceed all the way to the top. DO NOT CA the inside shrouds, only the two outside shrouds. Before CAing the left shroud I adjust all the shrouds width to their correct angle and all the ratlines are as horizontal as possible. One that is done I CA the left shroud and ratlines starting bottom up, five at a time. And that's it, it's actually a pretty easy process. Any questions, please ask. Thank you to everyone for following along. Keith

Welp, that's two of us that look alike.

Life's great irony would be if we all look alike.

He seems to be completely consumed with flying. I do wish he would take up where he left off.

Such a neat little model.

Absolutely breathtaking work, Michael.

Please do, Tom.

Pat @BANYAN, Rick @Rick310, and Andy @FlyingFish thank you for your kind comments. Keith, will that get past all the check-in hoopla? Tom, yes we're about 23 miles west of Ann Arbor. This sounds like the makings of an MSW/NRG Noggin n' Natter and I'm up for it!! Our house sits on two lots, 3/4 of an acre in total. The lot on the west side is empty, plenty of room for car and camper parking. We've got a 7 foot fire ring that I burn brush in but we can make it tidy, a quarter cord of firewood and we can stay up all night making S'mores donuts and campfire coffee. Gawd, that sounds like so much fun. Thank you for the likes and for following along. Consider yourselves invited. Keith

It looked very promising. From the bit I read it would seem that nail heads would not have been visible on a ship's hull due to being tarred and plugged. Is that the way you read that? I hope you do a review once received.

Unknown, the link is as it was when I came across it when I researched your request. They probably didn't want all the milk to be free?

Informative read; https://cbaisan.ltrr.arizona.edu/Florida/Florida_wreck_timber002.pdf A mere mention but a possible lead; https://forums.ybw.com/threads/pitch-in-bilges-and-iron-nails.96787/ Off topic but interesting; https://maritime.org/conf/conf-goodwin.php

You do have lots of bench top surface area. I'm working in a phone booth compared to your bench.

I love everything about the model except the windows, IMHO it's too much white. In the original photos I don't see white casings? I think the model looked more realistic in post #61photos. The fenders are spot on, she's a little jewel.

Jay, touchups are part and parcel. You can ignore doing touchups but you get too far along in the build and you'll forget where those needed touchups were/are. Ask me how I know.

I love Gutermann poly threads, great stuff. You're doing great, Tom. I sure don't see any issues.

Welcome to MSW, glad to have you aboard.

Thank you to all for the likes, your support is most welcome. Thank you, Jay. Eberhard, sometimes I'll miss a shroud and won't know I've missed till the thread is pulled through. It's a simple matter of doing it over as there's no glueing till all the shrouds have been woven successfully. Thank you, Phil. Several of us discussed the weaving process pages 16 and 17 but I never actually photographed the needle in action. I'll do so when I weave the starboard side. Thank you, Keith Thank you, Gary. I messed about a little last night seeing how difficult it is adding a figure climbing the rats and 'working' on the spars, tedious. It's going to be a challenge adding the figures in a meaningful manner. Understood and that's the mental process I'm currently going through. Thank you. Eberhard. Thank you, Rick. Thank you to all for following along, I wish I could sit with everyone in a group and chat over strong coffee and artery clogging donuts. God bless each of you, Keith

Whoa, I didn't realize you're working in a space the size of a telephone booth. I see some Gutermann thread on the bench, poly? How do you like it?

Being able to add 'wow' one time is not enough, Michael. Gorgeous work!

It sits on a table or bench top and is only 8 inches, not that much bigger than the third hand you're currently using.

Tom, I hit the like button because of your response to Chris not because of the third hand you're using for a table top vice. Order that Workmate off eBay or PM me your address and I'll buy it for you and have it shipped to you.

Now for some boat stuff. I got the port side House Centipede woven. The port side is the most difficult as I have to work right to left. Shrouds one and two don't get ratlines according to the photographs, only shrouds three through eight. Getting my right hand between shrouds eight and nine to start the weaving process was a challenge. I had to use needle nose pliers to hold the #12 beading needle to pierce shrouds eight through three. But I managed and here the ratlines are trimmed and done. The main shrouds took much longer than the mizzen. I'm trying to complete the actual build of the Tennessee before messing with the figures. But placing the figures where it looks like design and not by chance may require that I do so in unison with the actual building process. The figure below is not in his permanent place, he will eventually replace ole Bob on the starboard side. I did get a chance to to try Minwax Polycrylic flat and the sheen is acceptable. Next up, starboard side centipede. Again, thank you to each of you, for everything. Keith

Tom, I sincerely hope you're able to gracefully accept this. I can not, not at this time. I've thought of you and your post many times these past two weeks. Thank you so very much, Eric. Looking after Maggie is one of the tougher jobs I've had in this ole life. Thank you, Keith. Unfortunately I think Maggie's clicker maybe broke. I'm not giving up but I have resigned myself to life being what it is if things don't get better. Thank you, Mark. You're absolutely correct, it's one day at a time. Thank you, Pat. It befalls us all, I just wish I was able to accept it. Thank you, Glen. Thank you, Bob. That means so much. Thank you, Brian. Yes, having you folks, my MSW family, gives me endless joy looking over the shoulders of each of you as continue with your builds. Thank you, Gary. I carry forth because of my faith and you my MSW friends/family. Thank you, Rick. Your prayers mean the world to me. Thank you, George. Trying to choose the right facility is a difficult task because chances are the facility you choose is going to be it! A very heartfelt 'thank you' for you comments, the likes, and for following along. We journey together and I"m truly grateful for your support.