Paddy

Pete, Mark, Ron, Russ & Antony, Thanks very much for your input and support gents. It all adds to the enjoyment of working on the project plus I'm learning a great deal from all you mentors. P.S. Antony, I like working with and the look of the cherry wood too. Some time back I did a test of Watco Danish Oil natural on the cherry and really liked the finish. If you decided to change to cherry wood on the frames I don't think you'll be disappointed.

The ninth frame is up. Something I think will help with the alignment clamps I’m going to make for installing the permanent cherry spacer blocks will be a set of temporary spreader bars for the top of the frames. If you look close at the top of the last frame I think you can see what I'm thinking. Anyway, a new segment of the construction is about to get underway and I’m looking forward to it. A salute to the dockyard blokes for hanging in there.

Thanks very much Pete. I'll follow your lead on the keelson install.

The last frame was laid up yesterday afternoon and I’ll be ready to add some reinforcing blocks between the frames before I start sanding. Have been trying to decide which wood to use, same as the frame wood? Going through Pete’s log this morning I see that he used cherry, same as his frame wood. So, that’s help me to make up my mind. First though I’ll make some frame clamps to hold the X section in alignment while I glue in the reinforcing blocks. I would now ask if my thinking is in the ball park? P.S. Would it be wise to install the keelson before starting to sand?

Going through you log again in the wee hours, stopped to study your cannon, carriage and rigging. Top drawer work. Looks like you just looped the breech rope around the cascabel. Is that correct? I think it looks good. Again, many thumps up on your grand cross section.

The trim looks very good.

Thanks Jerome.

Thanks very much gents for your comments. Your knowledge and encouragement make this project possible for me. Also, I continue to thank Mike 41 for the design of the gantry type building board that if I use correctly makes the layup of the frames a much simpler process. Again too, thanks to Russ for keeping an eye on the set of my sails and warning of possible knockdowns. P.S. Pete, fairing, now there’s the rub and another coming challenge. Will be making up a noodle sander I think.

Mile stone reached raising the sixth frame today. Pleased with the way it’s going now. Fingers crossed.

Thanks very much to you all. Good stuff and doing a test on some scrap sounds like a good approach.

I plan on staining the basswood in my project using the oil-based wood stain Miniwax Wood Finish after applying Miniwax Pre-Stain wood conditioner. Would there be a compatibility problem painting over portions of the stain later with acrylic paint? Would appreciate any suggestions or recommendations. Thanks

Ron, You've probably said but in a short search I didn't get a hit. Is the decking Holly? It looks very good to me and the paper caulk isn’t shabby either. Well done!

Hi Jason, I think you're doing a great job. Have just started on mine so reading through the threads trying to get my feet on the ground. Again, I think your longboat is looking good. Paddy

Thanks Russ. I've now found that the framing setup is much smarter than me. Like my first pilot instructor said "this airplane knows more about flying than you ever will". LOL. Was he ever spot on in more ways than one.

LOL! After ripping a set of quarter and eighth inch spacers on the Byrnes saw I restarted the frame lay-up. So, we’re back to frames C and B. I’ve changed my technique a bit and now beginning to think the error I made has worked out as an opportunity to improve. Anyway, it’s good to be back to the frame raising and with more confidence than when I started. Thank you gents for your input. P.S. My first chance to use that great little saw. What an impressive piece of equipment it is.

Really looking good Bob.

Yes, dodged a bad squall there. I’ve now replaced the previous supervisor and will watch this one more closely. You're spot on about the motto Russ has. Very good advice.

Russ and Bob, Squared away now and proceeding with new caution. Thanks gents.

Russ, I owe you a big thank you for pointing out a big possible miss step. After gluing up the forth frame, frame 0 in this case, I finally took notice that something in the milk wasn’t clean. Thinking about your previous comment that the frames were looking OK if the spacing was correct I positioned the rest of the frames on the keel and using the spacing I thought was correct found I would have ended with approximately 3/8 of an inch of the keel with no frame. WOW, I have messed in my nest big time. After some self-discussion about being empty headed and cooling out a bit I began to soak the frame glue points with water until each frame released and could be removed from the keel. So, I will now begin again the frame layup with proper spacing. Many thanks Russ for shaking the tree.

Thought I’d give my ship mates a chuckle for the weekend just to let you know I’ve laid up two more frames in my clamping contraption. Not exactly setting my hair on fire, more like just moseying along. Only six more to go now.

You have it mate.

Outstanding work Bob. Top drawer! Paddy

Looks to me like an outstanding start. Build on!

Hi Grant, Yes, that's my understanding. It was the first thing that struck me as I walked down to the docking area. I had no realization of how small they were until actually seeing them. Then on board the Pinta and looking down on the little Nina from the Pinta's (quarter?) deck I was stunned by how much smaller the Nina was. There couldn't have been much room left after loading a year's supply of food, water and live stock too. They even had some horses that they kept in slings to keep them from being injured while aboard ship. As you say the more you learn the more you're amazed at their accomplishments. There were not that many visitors aboard when I was there and it made for a quiet time of reflection trying to imagine what they faced and what it was like those many unknown years ago. As you can tell I was moved by the experience. Just standing under the quarter deck and looking at the great tiller bar, which must be approx. 15 to 20 feet long on the Pinta, all kinds of images came to mind. Anyway, if any of you get the chance go see them. A grand piece of history. Photo one: Stern side by side gives you some idea of the relative size difference between Pinta and little Nina. Photo two: Part of Nina’s rudder and tiller. Photo three and four: The actual models that the shipbuilders in Valenca, Brazil used in the construction of Nina. For more interesting info go to www.thenina.com. P.S. The openings along the cabin structure where not there on the originals as I understand but was a requirement of the Coast Guard for visibility when steering from the cabin area. Update: I stand corrected if I understand what I read this morning. The Nina is an exact replica while the Pinta is changed in dimension some what. I apologize for that and may have miss lead you. Update: 7/25/2013 On reading some more about the original voyage I think it is safe to say that in building the replicas one had to guess about much of their construction as there is very little detail known about them, (Hope that doesn't get me into trouble), but they are still well worth seeing IMO.

Hi Grant, More quality work and thanks for showing us your approach to the gangways. Looks very good.