John Allen
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Battleship Alabama BB60 Converted to a museum Mobile Alabama. In the early 70s looong time ago we (Alabama Marine Police) had an office on the second deck in the old officer quarters. We had to rotate on call 48 hrs at a time. I roamed all thru the old girl from the bridge down to the engine room. When they got it ready for the public we were evicted. Thanks for the memory John Allen retired Alabama Marine Police Stationed Dauphin Island, Alabama -
Archjofo, I believe you have built what I can only call a ship that belongs in a museum. Well done KUDOS 12 times over
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Jaager, Thanks for your advice Poplar is easy to obtain. Tupelo is as pricey as boxwood. I will be using 2x4x33 to 36 both basswood and tupelo are to pricey in these lengths. Will have to mull over what would be best. Thanks John
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grsjx, Thanks for the reply this is what is great about MSW its like model building DIY encyclopedia for dummies (no inference to users I include myself in that group) except its on the internet. Someone always has an answer. I appreciate the link for Koa wood, and advice. Thanks John
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Papegojan 1627 by mati - FINISHED - 1/48
John Allen replied to mati's topic in - Build logs for subjects built 1501 - 1750
Well Mati, Outstanding your choice of woods is primo. Very clean, and pleasing to the eye. Nice flow pristine. John -
I am about to plan and start a scratch build of the double hull Polyenesian canoe Holukea. I am gathering input from any of you master wood carvers on which would look better & be the easiest to carve? I have a lot of 100 year old Cypress that was dragged up from a local bayou and may be to soft??, and also have some beautiful Red Mahogany (which is hard as a rock. I waffled between Pine and Fir and was going to paint the hull. After much consideration felt a truer representation of a natural look would be better since they were carved from Koa logs. All suggestions welcome Hope I don't get demerits for posting under wood instead of builds. Thanks John
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for every problem there is a solution kudos walt b
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Roger, Thanks for the heads up. Would like to plan a trip for that. Born in Wareham Mass, raised in Groton Conn. before moving south. Had visited Mystic Seaport as a kid several times would be a nice trip and i would enjoy seeing my old stomping grounds as a child. (if any are left been a loooong time. Thanks again for the heads up.
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Dashicat, You come from a proud people and have an interesting background, I come from peasant farmers who migrated from Yugoslavia. It's a shame what happened to the Maori when Europeans began to settle the area. Same thing with our native Americans. Genocide alive and well. Now just a historical note. Better stop I'll get dinged for not staying on the subject. Checked the link you sent grand canoes fantastic carvings. I am about 3/4th away from finishing my Victory, and will start the canoe while still on that build. It should be interesting the only thing I have ever carved was a turkey. At first I waffled between wide basswood sheets or stock strips over frames. To stay true to the builders I'll go with solid wood 2X4 stock by 26 to 36 inches. I bought a cheap set of chisels, I was leaning to basswood but anything over 24 inches gets pricey. I'm going to get both pine and fir to see which one may be the easiest to carve unless someone has a better suggestion. It ought to be interesting. Thank you for the reply and the link. John
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For what its worth I have had good luck using different sized cans clamped to the desk. with a candle or sterno inside gets super hot. after soaking twist the plank to the rotation of the can. You may have to play with it to get the right twist. It works quick. caveat will also cause burns if not careful
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Coats and Clark Thread for rigging
John Allen replied to bigcreekdad's topic in Masting, rigging and sails
1200 yds I should have gone to joannes -
Coats and Clark Thread for rigging
John Allen replied to bigcreekdad's topic in Masting, rigging and sails
left out 50 yard spools John -
Coats and Clark Thread for rigging
John Allen replied to bigcreekdad's topic in Masting, rigging and sails
I found it at in Mobile at a Micheal's I bought the tan and black here are the #s caooo11- C5 -S920-8530 it comes in yard spools it is called Dual Duty plus% cotton its cheap approx. $ 2.50 a spool if I remember right. Love it cant beat the price you can waste as much as you want and don't have to scrimp -great on ratlines these were approx 40cm John -
Looking good can't wait to see the finish, I had the chance to sail on one in the late 60s when I started with Alabama Marine Resources, this one was in Bayou la Batre Al. Sadly Camille got it. Thanks for the memory! John
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Tools and Supplies for My "Shipyard"
John Allen replied to daveward's topic in Modeling tools and Workshop Equipment
Lets add a scroll saw Harbor freight $ 99.00 Can always upgrade down the road if you get into scratch builds. -
Tools and Supplies for My "Shipyard"
John Allen replied to daveward's topic in Modeling tools and Workshop Equipment
Harbor Freight offers a cutoff saw for $ 30.00 cheap investment to begin with, beats using a miter box and hand saw. -
Tools and Supplies for My "Shipyard"
John Allen replied to daveward's topic in Modeling tools and Workshop Equipment
Dave my 2 cents I found like mentioned before the capped PVC for soaking, I use 3 different diameters of cans, clamp to a table. insert a candle or sterno can gets super hot (I touched got burned and touched again to make sure and got burned again). It is super quick and you can bend any type of angle or twist and bend several in a matter of minutes. Listen to these good folks most tools I bought several years ago are know dust collectors. For what it's worth good luck. John -
Thanks Roger just checked Amazon they have both will order. John
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Roger, Great advice, would appreciate a link to your 1/2 hull builds. I can see where it would make things much much eeasier. Many thanks John
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Thanks for the link I have been following hope she comes up to the northern gulf coast. John
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I have a block of basswood 2x2x10 and will play with it, having basic carving tools and and no chisels will see how it goes(also no carving skills). If it seems overwhelming will go the frame route, will be easier. I think that your right on with frames and strips. That being said your right they were carved out of Koa wood logs and to be faithful to the original builders probably should be carved from block. Hows that for being decisive! Will see what others suggest and go with the overwhelming to carve or not to carve. Thanks grsjax appreciate your input.
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Also meant to add if I uses frames and strips it may be easier could also get into the 30 to 36 inch range but need a super glass like finish on the hulls. Thanks
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Need advice, am taking a break from my victory and perusing a scratch build I want to tackle. The Hokulea a double outrigger canoe that was built in the 70s and navigated the globe. You Aussies and Kiwis should remember it made several stops in your areas My problem do I use basswood blocks and carve the hulls. Or basswood sheets that can be steamed and bent to form the outside hulls. Any help will be appreciated just in planning stage boat will fall into the 24" range. See attached thanks John
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