jfhealey

Fascinaing - and a great deal of thoughtful engineering. I'm following with keen interest. Fred

Fantastic! And please post pictures of the construction of the cover and base. Fred

Welcome back indeed. Have you tried the Syren cap locks on the gub carriages? If not, I highly recommend them. Fred

Beautiful ship, beautifully made and so nicely set off in its case.

Tthat is a really helpful pictorial explanation. Thank you. Fred

This is all coming together beautifully. A lovely model of whch you should be very proud. Fred

Faultless work beautifully photographed. The work of a real craftsman. Fred

A beautiful model beautifully displayed. What next? Fred

This really is a very lovely model.

Your photo sequence suggests its an easy stage - or at least you found it so. I'm with Glenn but with an added helping of hair torn out. Super work. Best wishes Fred

"Bit of a perfectionist" doesn't quite cut the mustard Erik. Superb! Best wishes Fred

As do I. And yours too Giampiero.

Thanks chaps. JJ - it's perhaps not for me to say but a lot of us are following Portland with a keen and anticipatory eye. Perhaps you could alternate - 2 weeks on Portland and a week on Winnie or something like that. Fred

Good afternoon all. Here is an update on my Winnie build. It feels like a significant milestone because at last the bowsprit - that I made such a long time ago - is in. I had to fix it in permanently as I wanted to both glue and peg it to the gundeck and I could not plank the centre of the fo'c'sle until that was done. Here she is in the garden on a rare day when the sun has shone. Two things in the picture below. First I placed railings around the headwork. I guesss there must have been railings. Using the heads without would have been a very precarious occupation - certainly not a place to skive off work for a cigarette break. But should the railing extend all the way back to the main rail I wonder? Secondly I placed a little chock on the outboard end under the boomkin. I appreciate the contemporary model does not have one but had I been the builder (of the real thing) I'd have put one there for support and stability, so my model is getting one. I turned the boomkins incidentally and the bent them with heat. I thought that easier than shaping the Syren parts. Cutting the fancy rail was not a job I looked forward to - but it went ok. I used pins and epoxy for a relly secure fix. I can see my gammoning chocks are too big but I can live with them. One, I suspect, of a litany of historical errors that I shall make with the masting/rigging. Lovely lines fore and aft. I think I will finish up the fo'c'sle area/bow end and then work my way back. In fact there are only a few detail bit and pieces to go. The end of the Syren bit is in sight - the masts are largely made so I hope to see real progress by the year end. Best wishes Fred

Don't say that Ben! Though there may be an element of truth in it. I'm following everyone with interest and will update my Winnie post in a day or two or maybe three. But I will certainly update. Best wishes to both of you. Fred

Wonderful. You are a master craftsman. Best wishes Fred

Wonderful. Do you have any pictures of the manufacture of the entry steps? Best wishes Fred

Very impressive indeed! Like many I suspect, I am following with keen interest. Are the gunports on the lower gun deck going to be closed? Best wishes Fred

Your patience and attention to detail is there for us all to see. Looking great. Best wishes Fred

The headrails are - at least I found them so - the trickiest part of the model. And, as others have said, they matter very much in terms of the overall appearance of the model. You have pulled it off really well - but thats just in keeping with the remainder of your workmanship. Superb. Best wishes Fred

Hah!!!

Hi Matt The Science Museum in London used to have a wonderful collection of model ships. I believe that collection and much of what was on display at Greenwich has now been moved to the Royal Navy historic dockyard at Chatham (east of London but not a long journey from there) - which is apparently well worth a visit. Its on my list of places I'd like to go but my home in Cornwall is the other end of the country. If you are coming to the UK London area then it will be worth checking the website and perhaps planning a visit. Best wishes Fred

We were a long time waiting for an update - but well worth the wait. Your Winchelsea is looking lovely. Best wishes Fred

Simply brilliant. A build that will live long in the memory. Fred

A lovely model indeed. Very, very nice work. Best wishes Fred