Fernando E

Hi all,
 
Very happy to be here and introduce myself. I’m Robert, from Belgium. I’ve been a modeller for most of my younger years, working with plastic models (airspace and armor). Even then, while roaming the model shops I’d look up at the wooden kits and thought: “someday”.
 
Lately, my interest in model construction sparked again, and this time the notion of wooden modelling was clearly set in my mind. After doing a lot of renovations in my house, I’ve come to love the material, it’s flexibility , it’s relative ease of handling and the looks.
 
Contrary to years ago, a lot of information is readily available, so I started roaming the web for anything I could find, studying build logs on this site and viewing countless Youtube videos. I realise seeing something done and doing it yourself are two completely different things, but this gave me a hint of the challenges before me, and a lot of tips and techniques. I’m cautious by nature, so I like to get informed as much as possible before diving in.
 
After looking at a lot of kits, I’ve become interested in buying a kit from Occre:
 
“Widely” available in Belgium (meaning in stock at the closest store) Their wood quality seems to be ok, from what I read from reviews They provide detailed plans with lots of visual aids They provide complete video build logs of certain ships which were very helpful in finding out the specific challenges for each model.  
I read the “Cautionary Tale” post here, so I was thinking of finding a model that was not too difficult to make, but on the other hand would provide me with the necessary material to learn the techniques necessary. Planking and rigging look to me as the biggest hurdles.
 
So after all this, I narrowed down my selection to 3 Occre models: HMS Beagle, HMS Terror and the Buccaneer.
 
HMS Beagle: seems straightforward, but rigging seems very complicated compared to the other two
 
HMS Terror: rigging a bit simpler, but the extra difficulty of having to attach the metal plating to the bow, as well as the specific white zone around the ship (sorry, don’t know the nautical term)
 
Buccaneer: smaller than the other two, hull seems to be more complex to plank. Specific geometric design is also a challenge I think.
 
Building in earnest is probably going to start in December/January, I’ll set up a dedicated build log then, but I’d like your expert opinions about my possible model choice. Any hints or tips are very much appreciated. Thnx in advance!

Hello fellow builders,modelers. I am in the process of building a 1/25 scale 1886 SMS Sperber. The model is printed on a Prusa printer in sections. The hull sections are 7.5 inches and there is 9 of them. The hull is done and primed. The drive train is being installed. It has been a long project with many re visions.  The rudder and slag is made out of copper sheet.

Hi everyone. I'm a newbie from Western Australia. I have just purchased the Artesania latania Cutty Sark and am excitidly awaiting its arrival. Do we do constuct blogs on here?

Many thanks Sam for your quick response.
 
Cheers.......Fernando 🍻

OOPS...apologies I meant Sam not Lou!!!
 
Cheers........Fernando

Hi Lou
 
I'm interested in the AOS Beagle. Will you ship it to Australia? I'm happy to pay by paypal or direct credit to your account.
 
Cheers...........Fernando

Not much new to show. I'm preparing yards. Lot of sanding and lot of mess.

Fernando
 
Hello.
 
Thanks for checking the list unfortunately the BEAGLE was sold already - sorry. 
 
I'll be posting an updated list next week when all the transactions are completed. If anything changes I'll let you know.
 
Thanks! - Sam

Hi Tedirene,
Welcome to MSW.   Your Golden Hind looks great.  I suggest you open a build log on Endeavor as it's a good way to get help and having others look over your shoulder.

Signed on a few months ago while searching for answers on the web during my first build, the just completed Dusek, Golden Hind.  I was astonished by the level of skill and freely shared knowledge presented here on these forums.
 
I'm a retired soldier living in beautiful east Tennessee with my wife and two schnauzers.  I found the Golden Hind very challenging and frustrating at times but overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.  I probably used enough wood to build two or three ships though.  I'm a bit self conscious about the outcome but I'll post a picture of it anyway.  I've just begun working on Constructo's Endeavor and I've begun planking.  As this is a single planked hull and my second build, it's a bit daunting and I am proceeding very slowly and carefully.  I have been watching Chucks outstanding planking videos and doing some reading.  I think that many of the things I learned here and while building the Hind will make for a better ship this time around.
 
 
 

I finished the lanteen yard so it is ready for the sails. I remade the yolk piece because the kit supplied piece was about .5mm thick. This one is 2mm which is what the plans show. I fixed all the wrappings with Dulcote Lacquer. In the past I have used thin CA but I am trying the get away from it for fixing knots and the lacquer seems to work well so far. And it dries nice and clear.

For the sails I have made two patterns from the plans. The jib is shown full size on the plans but the main sail is shown at 1:3 reduction, so I had to enlarge it on the photo copier and stitch the parts together. Not too hard to do since there are so many straight lines on the sail plans. I want to make the bolt rope out of one piece of line so I made a really long line on the rope walk for the main sail. In my new workshop I have a really long counter that I can run the rope walk on so I can make lengths about 6 feet now.

Now I need to decide how to represent the panel lines on the sails. The instructions say not only to sew them but to make them very prominent, which goes against everything I have read about model sails. I will probably just draw them on the fabric like I have done in the past.
I finished up the deck furniture except for the oars which I am still painting. I put the boat onto the cradle I built for it (no more socks to have to look at) and glued down the barrels, capstan bars, boat hook, grill cover, bucket, and hatch cover. I also glued the tiller to the rudder and hung the rudder on the gudgeons. I also added the eyebolts and belaying pins to the rails. I used a smaller diameter brass rod for the pins than the 2mm diameter pieces that came with the kit. They looked too thick in my opinion.


So now its sail making and rigging. I have also started drawing up the plans for the case I will make for this model.

It`s russian birch
And in Russian Navy at that time, the masts were white

Top mast ready and full height reached! She is quite tall. Mast cap with Iron belt. There will be also 2 Iron belts on the mast head but I want place stays and shrouds first. 
Comparision with RC 1:48 (she is waiting for the rest of the rigging in the dock) 

Hello to all,
 
My name is Tony and I live in northern central California, retired.
Many hobbies, but I like the down time ship building allows me.
I can spend hours researching and fitting a ship piece, I'm sure many of you can attest to that.
 
Completed my first boat build about a year ago, though it took a few years to complete as life got in the way.
The boat is the Baltimore Clipper - Dos Amigos and is a block wood hull.
I learned many things about boat building from this build and now am moving up the ladder in complexity.
 
I expect my new build,  Enterprise 1799, will also be a multiyear project.
This build would be a fun challenge for me if I had all the materials and instructions ( which I don't ), without them it will be "funner" .
 
There's my introduction .
 
PS. Found a few pictures of the completed Dos Amigos I did, so posting them.
 
Tony
 
 
 
 

Thank you very much for all reactions! 
 
Preparation of the mast. It is carved from 6mm dovel. Not sure what kind of wood that is. Top mast, yards, boom, gaff are all in pear again. First  I was sad that the main mast is not also in pear but now I like the light color. It will look good with contrast of other pear items. 

Thanks Fernando.
 
I installed the mast and added the block and tip. It really rakes very much forward. In the second picture you should be able to see the brass sheaves in the block.


I made the three dowel pieces of the lanteen yard and glued them together. I tried using wood clamps to hold them together but they kept rolling out of alignment so I used these magnets on a sheet of metal which held them nicely.

There are other pieces that get attached to the yard which I will add when these dry. There are also wraps of line around these dowel pieces that I need to add too. In the mean time I have started making the two oars. Soon it will time to make the sails - the kit supplies material to make them but it is a bit thick so I may use some thinner cotton that I have left over from the Constitution build (the sails I never added).

Working on the las details of the hull. Anchors, ladders etc. 
It is very close to stand the mast! 

Adjustments of tiller tackles.
According to the scheme from Dirk I draw the lines to AVOS plans to see how much I need to move the bulwark double blocks. It turned out that not much which is great as it will not be in the way of latrine doors. I have take the tiller out of the model and made Iron belt with 2 eyes for tackle hooks

And the result (the coil will be replaced later) 

It looks much cleaner then before.. 

Nice work Tom!
 
Cheers...........Fernando    

Nice work Tom!
 
Cheers...........Fernando    

Hi Dirk,
 
thanks for your comment. Looking at your picture it is clear that the tiller has to move around the circle which the setup from the kit will not allow! I had this section in mind for a long time. I plan to re-do it anyways. Use iron hooks instead of strap on the tiller (so the tackle can be easily removed) and also I will look at the possibility to move the bulwark block more aft.

Binnacle house and companionway secured on the deck. 

Finaly all guns secured in place. I'm So glad There are only 8 of them. Can't imagine doing 40 of those! 

Good Morning kids!
 
I just wanted to post a couple of photos of some of the items that I have made to assist with my first build. They really are nothing fancy, their focus is on cheap and cheerful. I thought this might help for those of you looking for ideas on how to save some money with this already expensive project. If you have any suggestions, questions or comments please let me know and I will do my best to respond.
 
The photos below are the following.
 
A steam tube, guillotine for cutting specific angles and lengths, an adjustable keel rest and a lockable, adjustable keel clamp(which I absolutely love). I have also included a photo of the desk I made specifically to build this vessel. please excuse the strange colour. I entered into a rather weird negotiation with my girlfriend and somehow ended up agreeing to paint this desk "teal" in exchange for the permission to build it.

 

Few more images with half of artillery fully rigged.