Fernando E

Welcome to this site from another shipmate from downunder.

Cheers...... Fernando 🍻

Nice recovery Rod 

Cheers.............Fernando 

Hello Jason, I won't take any credit for how I inserted the window.......it was a pure fluke on my part.! I went to my Norfolk Build page, copied the URL (the address ) at the top of the page then "pasted it on this thread and magically the window appeared 😎 . I've done it for my Santa Lucia Build (see below) and it works a treat!

Cheers............Fernando 

Hi Rod

I was planning to do the Endeavour but thought I would practice one more time on another build before I tackle the biggie! The Perseverance is only my fifth build, the first two were relatively straight forward and my third build was my first attempt at a bluff bow....the Norfolk, which was also my first build I put on this site (see below)

As to current and past builds on my signature I did try to put it on some time ago but could not find out how to do it. Will give it a go again later today....I must admit that computers are not my forte!

Cheers..............Fernando 

Many thanks for your kind comments Rod....very much appreciated. I actually started the model back in early January (or should I say pulling it apart back then as it was my twin brother who started it some 25 years ago but realised it was way to difficult for him as a beginner. He gave me the kit to "sort out" and I gave it back as a birthday present!). I am semi retired and luckily had a bit of spare time to spend on it before I headed off overseas in July, hence why it was a relatively(!) quick build. I think you would find it a quick build as well after seeing what you are doing on the Endeavour. 😊 

As far as I'm aware Mantua/Panart still makes the kit. Last time I looked (some months ago) a kit was for sale on e-bay. 

Cheers..........Fernando  

Hi Rod, your Endeavour is coming along very nicely. I don't envy your next chore....950 clove hitches

Cheers..............Fernando

Welcome aboard from another shipmate from downunder. 

Cheers........ Fernando 🍻

First update on how the build is coming along.

The false keel had a very slight bow to it but no real issue as this would be fixed once I built a simple jig to straighten it out once the bulkhead frames are in place. One good thing with this kit is that there are marks on both the bulkhead frames and the false keel keel to ensure that they are at least correctly placed (third photo below).

This is where the first problem arose.... bulkhead frame 4 was way too short on the port side. The starboard side fitted in perfectly once I dry fitted the false deck (to make sure if this was an issue for any other bulkhead frames) but the port side was about 1.2 mm out!. As this will be covered by two layers of planking I was not too concerned (just a bit annoyed ) as I could put layers of  spare deck planking to pack the the frame out. I'll pass on this issue to Modellers Shipyard so that they can look at this for any future kits.

Once all the bulkhead frames were square with the false keel these were glued into place then the false  keel was also glued on. Overall not a difficult process (other than the short bulkhead frame!) 

Once the glue dried it was time to start the fairing of the bulkheads as well as packing out bulkhead 4. Another issue then arose  in that the ply used was starting to fall apart when fairing. Again not happy with this but will continue with it and hopefully will not look too bad once finished...glad it will be covered by two layers of planking!

More to come....

Cheers.............Fernando 

Dave...... you've already got me hooked on your next project 😋 if it's as good as your Endeavour (and I have no doubt it will be) I'm already booked in for a front row seat!

Cheers..... Fernando 🍻

A couple more pics....

Cheers..........Fernando 

Lower deck area...

Upper deck looking forward towards the wheelhouse

Hi Vinnie

Had another day on the Kanangra Ferry today and here are a couple of photos to show you where we are at. As you can see there is still a lot of restoration work to be done on it (and we haven't even started on the engines yet). At least it will keep me occupied well into retirement!

Cheers...............Fernando    

Welcome aboard and enjoy the journey !

Cheers.............Fernando 

Hi Vinnie and Welcome back from your holiday!

Your model is coming along nicely, those blocks look good as well as the rigging. The wood finish also looks beautiful....well done! 

Did you get a ride on the James Craig? It's a great looking vessel and is part of the Sydney Heritage Fleet (not part of the NMM). I'm a member of the fleet and helping restoring a 106 year old Sydney Ferry. Lots of work to be done and will take another 10 years or so before she ready to again take on fare paying passengers but a great way to spend some spare time....sanding, painting, scraping woodworking etc.....a nice distraction from small model boat building😎

Cheers................Fernando 

Hi Lou

This is the third kit I have bought from them, the first was the HM Cutter Mermaid and the other was the Colonial Sloop Norfolk (which was my first build log on this site).

The company sells a variety of kits as well as does it's own Australian historical kits (see the following website https://www.modelerscentral.com/model-ship-kits/).

From my limited knowledge of kits available in the market I have found their stuff generally very good. I have completed a Panart kit (The Santa Lucia which I recently completed and did a build log on this site) as well as an Artesina Latina  small boat kit which started me on this great hobby a couple of years back. I would have to say that the Modellers Shipyard kits were way better than the Pannart and the AL in terms of wood provided as well as fittings and most importantly for me...great instructions including, if needed, you can buy a DVD of how to build your particular model. One other point I would make is that when I have had an issue with any faulty parts (not many at all) I have contacted them and they have immediately replaced it free of charge......no questions asked! Great service from these guys . Again, this is my personal opinion and others who have been doing this hobby much longer than I have will no doubt have a different opinion.

Saying the above I plan to do the HM Endeavour next and I'm not sure whether to get the Occre Kit or the Caldercraft Kit.....whichever way I go it will be interesting to compare it to the Modellers Shipyard Kits!

Cheers.............Fernando 

After a short break from the shipyard I have decided to start my next project which is another Modellers Shipyard kit of the Brig Perseverance. The Brig was built for Robert Campbell a Sydney merchant a few short years after the colony of New South Wales was established. She mainly sailed off the coast of south east Australia and southern New Zealand in search of seals for their fur and oil. The Captain of the Perseverance discovered Campbell Island (named after his employer) as well as Macquarie Island (after the then Governor of the Colony of New South Wales). As I have an interest in early Australian colonial history and can still see the old sandstone Campbell Stores building in the Rocks in Sydney I was keen to have a go at this build.

First a few obligatory pics of the packaging as well as my very clean shipyard desk!

The contents of the box are as expected and other than one sheet of the laser cut ply showing a lot of burn marks (which I'm not too fussed about as I will be painting or covering these parts with mahogany strips) it all looks like good quality fittings. I did order some new rigging rope from Syren as I have not been too happy with the quality provided in previous kit s from Modellers Central....the rope arrived very promptly (thank you Chuck!) and looks fantastic!

The instruction booklet is, as usual, very detailed (57 pages) with plenty of photos (129 photos!).  

More pics to follow....a word of warning to those who want to follow the build progress.......it will be a slow one!

Cheers................Fernando 

Hi Dave

Looking absolutely brilliant....very impressed!

I'm also seriously in awe of your rigging set up.......no wonder your work looks first class.

Cheers..............Fernando 

Hi Barry, you may have already seen some of the YouTube videos of the build which may be of assistance to you. If not already done my best bet would be to get in touch with Occre and see if they have any more detailed plans, though it appears that what you have is all there is.

Good luck with your build and welcome aboard the shipyard. 

Cheers..... Fernando.🍻

Hi Dave,  I 'll follow along on this one as well as my daughter has always been very interested in the work of Charles Darwin (she's an environmental and biology scientist!) I was thinking of doing this model at some stage in the future to give to her as a present.

Cheers...........Fernando  

Enjoy the build James, and I look forward to your build log

Cheers....... Fernando🍻

Welcome aboard  James from down-under in Sydney.  

My first serious build about 2 years ago was the  Cutter Mermaid by Modellers Shipyard. I did not go for the deluxe kit as I didn't have the experience of copper plating and I also preferred an all wood finish.  The model is now in my grandsons room and hopefully one day he will appreciate it (he is after all only 6 months old !).

As a newbie I found the plans for the kit easy to read and follow with plenty of photos to help you along the way. As it was my first kit I also bought the DVD on how to build it.........also very very useful. 

Enjoy whatever you decide to build as its a great hobby to have and you will get a lot of ideas and help from all of the members. 

Cheers...............Fernando 

Hello Antony and many thanks for your very kind comments....very much appreciated.

I had a great time in the England visiting my sister in Polperro as well as seeing one of my daughters graduate from Manchester Metropolitan University with a Masters of Zoo Conservation and Biology....(a very proud Dad)!

I did get to Portsmouth and spent the day visiting the Historic Dockyard and spending a considerable amount of time on the Victory as well as the Mary Rose museum. In fact we did not leave the area until late in the day then spent a great evening in one of the local pubs for some fine ale and a local seafood dinner. The weather gods were very kind to us as in the 3 weeks we were in the UK I think it rained (very lightly) on two days😊

I was also lucky enough to visit Jersey to see where my daughter spent three months working at Durrell Jersey Zoo as part of her studies. I did have time to visit the Jersey Maritime museum in St Helier...I would thoroughly recommend a visit if anyone is there on a holiday. The ship models alone are worth seeing. 

As to my next project....the Admiral surprised me by giving me a copy of Ray Parkin's HMB Endeavour (1st Edition no less) which means she wants to see more of me at my shipyard! Having a look through the book plus the fold out plans makes me  keen to start on this model sooner rather than later but decided on one more build before the Endeavour which will give me more practice on planking etc and hopefully fewer mistakes in the future. That build will certainly be a marathon not a sprint!!!

I have a Modellers Central kit of the Colonial Brig Perseverance 1807 which was , I'm told, the first brig built in the early colony of Sydney. I'll be starting a build log in the next week or so.

I've also tagged you to make sure of keeping up to date with your Mayflower build....sounds very interesting and I look forward to your build log!

Cheers...............Fernando 

Looking good Attila!

Cheers.............Fernando  

Hi Rod and good to see you back at the shipyard and I hope your holiday was relaxing.

The Endeavour is coming along very nicely and I'm looking forward to seeing your post on the rigging and to find out how difficult (easy!!!) it is on this build.

The Admiral surprised me by giving me a copy of Ray Parkin's HMB Endeavour (1st Edition no less ) which means she wants to see more of me at my shipyard! Having a look through the book plus the fold out plans makes me even more keen to start on this model sooner rather than later but I'm planning on one more build before the Endeavour which will give me more practice on planking etc and hopefully fewer mistakes in the future.

I'll leave it to you to decide on whether you will finish the Endeavour with the standing rigging only. I've seen a few model displayed this way and they look just as good as a finished model....personal preference is to do all the rigging and no sails.

Good luck with the rest of the build and with whatever you decide. I'll keep on watching with interest.

Cheers............Fernando  

Hi Tom....many thanks for your kind comments.

Cheers............Fernando  

Hi Danny

STUNNING............what more can I say!

After that you deserve a break.

Cheers..............Fernando