canoe21

Hello all, and thank you Denis and JesseLee for dropping in. I sure hope all y'all don't mind me adding some history to this build, it's kinda personal you know. In any case I like to start with actually putting this model together. It may be a small model with few parts but it looks like I'll have a few challenges with it.
 
I started with removing the hull from the mold entry and cleaning it up from the attaching lugs. I then carefully inspected the rest of the hull for any imperfections in the mold. As mentioned in my intro, few were found. There were a few spots at the edges of the deck torpedo cutout at the deck slats that I could remove with a knife-edge file.
I then sanded the outside of the hull with some 360 grit sandpaper using a very light touch.
 
I also had to sand the keel area to make the boat lay level on the my drafting table. I used a long strip of 180 grit and moved the hull length wise back and forth, checking for lateral level. The actual construction of the keel is a whole other story I won't bother you with here.  Whenever my link to the O19 build log is reestablished you could go there and see. Or try dadodude O19 submarine - or something like that.
 
I also decided to make myself a build plate for the future display base. I took a piece of 1/4 inch poplar 1 1/2 wide by 10 inches long. I thought of placing the finished model on two brass bollards and pinned to the base with bamboo pins. You can see my sketch in the photos.
 
Next I cleaned the deck torpedo launcher and the deck piece. Not much was needed. Trying to place the launcher on the intended place didn't work too well so I had to file the little raised round mounting spot. It was also a little too high for the deck piece to fit properly and not level.
After all that was done and now trying to cement the launcher and the deck piece with regular plastic kit cement didn't work for me.
So, I reverted to medium thick CA and had good results. It allowed me some time fitting it and holding with a pair of tweezers. All this took a few hours and had to close the dockyard for a belated lunch and other chores.
 
Here are few pics and I included a few from the actual construction photos as well as as from my O19 build for added clarification.
 



 
The actual deck torpedo launcher assembly at the shipyard waiting to be installed

This is the deck torpedo launcher I fabricated for my O19 model

My O19 launcher installed in my O19 build

 
The deck torpedo launcher aiming, calculating and trigger mechanism called "kerstboom" by the Dutch and meaning  Christmas tree. This was located in the crew compartment.

 
This shows the deck torpedo launcher and the deck piece installed on the model of the O16

 
Here is a photo of the O16 being build showing the section of the hull where the deck torpedo launcher will be placed. As a note of interest, this was an innovation developed by the French. The advantage was that the enemy would not find the sub by tracing the bubble track, the sub would simply move ahead and away from the lunch source. The disadvantage was that it was prone to leak and difficult to use, complicated arithmetic. The bow is to the left in this photo.

 
Hope youns like it.
 
Cheers,
 

great start on her history Piet.  

Okay, I guess it's about time now to introduce you to the O16 and her crew. I'm still translating some of the historical data and sorting things out. If I know how link you to a few YouTube videos you can then also see and hear the discussions about the search of the O16 and her compatriot, the KXVII, on that fateful day in December of 1941.
If I have some time left over this evening I can try to add the first steps in the build.
 
First a few photos of the boat, I may add a few more as the build progresses.
 
Here you see the O16 being readied for launch on January 27, 1936, at the Koninklijke Maatschappij "De Schelde" in Vlissingen (Flushing), The Netherlands. The keel was laid down on December 28, 1933 and commissioned October 26, 1936.

The O16 first time in the water after a successful launch.


A photo of the crew, most likely done in 1937 when the O16 sailed across the Atlantic to visit Bermuda and Washington, DC. The civilian gent is Professor Dr. F. A. Vening Meinz; B.Sc who accompanied the O16 to conduct gravity measurements. May they rest in peace.

Luitenant ter zee der 1ste Classe (Lieutenant Commander) Antonie (Anton) Jacobus Bussemaker - February 1, 1900 - - December 15, 1941. May he rest in peace.

The only survivor of the crew after the O16 ran into a minefield on December 15, 1941, after a very successful patrol.
 
The list of the crew that was lost on December 15, 1941.

Let me now get back to putting her history together before I add my first steps in actually putting this model together.
 
Cheers,
 
 

Kit intro continued:
 
Close-up of the two 40 mm AA guns

 
Close-up of propeller, shaft housing and attaching braces

 
Close-up of dive planes

 
Close-up of the Dutch National flag , brass deck gun and name plate

 
This may not look like a lot of parts for such a complicated boat. For those not familiar with submarines, they have been and are called boats, not ships. This will also be a new adventure for me because of the PE. I never had the pleasure working with it, specially not at this scale of 1:350.  Also the plastic is from molded resin and softer then the plastic found in kits. As you can see the hull and conning tower are solid molds.
 
So, naturally I was excited like a little boy unpacking his birthday present and could not wait examining all the parts and pieces.  I found the quality EXTREMELHY high! There should VERY little or no dressing up work to do. The only dressing necessary seem to be the removal of where the part is attached to mold pour. Looking at the propeller blade I made a mental note to be extra careful with them. Just gently touching them they gave was ever so slightly and can not handle any pressure. The PE also was extremely well done. Here too I noticed that some of the parts are extremely tiny. The dressing off of the attaching tits should prove a real challenge for my eyes and hands.
 
I for one want to give Boris Mulenko, the designer and producer of this kit, a heartfelt BRAVO.
 
Okay folks, the next post we'll start with putting this kit together and let all y'all know how it's all working out. I also like to include the history, life and death of the O16 and to honor the gallant crew. As I have mentioned before this is living history with a personal involvement through my father and having been the innocent victim of the aftermath. Sure hope you don't mind.
 
Cheers, 
 
 

Hello everyone,
 
Traditionally we show what's in the kit we received. So today I like to I like to do just that. Here are a few pics of what came in the box from PaccificCrossRoads for the O16 kit.
 
The Kit Box

Little box (110 X 80 mm or 3.4 X 3/1/8 inch) of all the small parts and pieces.

Kit included 2 identical PE

Assembly instructions

 
Instructions for the periscopes and transmit anttenna

Detail photos with pre war paint scheme

All the parts and pieces in the kit. #1) trim planes, #2) deck piece above the deck torpedoes, #3) Deck torpedoes, #4) 88MM/3.4 inch deck gun, #5) 40 mm AA guns, #6) Conning tower, #7) AA gun retract bun lids, #8) Propeller shaft housing with propellers and attaching braces, #9) Dive planes, #10) Rudder, #11) Brass cannon barrel, #12) Dutch National flag, #13) the double PE.

 
Close-up of the deck gun, side launch torpedoes and deck piece

 
Close-up of conning tower

 
Continue on next post.
 
Cheers,
 
 
 

Thanks to all who looked in and clicked the like button, much appreciated.
 
Hello Denis and thanks for dropping in.  The answer is no, this boat was build a few years earlier and was a class of one, rather unique I'd say.  The Royal Navy was constantly trying to improve their submarine designs which resulted in better boats at the cost of low production.  That last one did not seem to be important.  
 
Hello Vivian, good seeing you here in my humble little shipyard. This model is being constructed on my drafting table in my studio - it's rather small you see and more comfortable temp wise then in the garage with 32 to 35 degrees C.
 
Cheers to all,

would this be a plastic kit of the sub you modeled from scratch?

Hello friends,
 
It has been quite some time sins my last build log and my work on the VOC ship Surabaya.  Many things have come in between but I am trying to spend a few hours so once in  a while on a build.
I recently obtained a plastic kit of a Dutch WW II submarine that was active during the very beginning stages of the war against the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJP).  This particular boat was rather unique in that it had two important new innovations. One was that about 49 % percent of the traditional riveting was replaced with a new welding technique and that a new steel alloy was used for the pressure hull allowing her to dive to a greater depth.  After trials proved successful the Koninklijke Marine (KM) or Royal Navy, carried these innovations over to their later build submarines.  This included of course by father's submarine, the O19.
 
The kit builder of the O16 is Boris Mulenko who started up PacificCrossRoads and his work can be seen at www.pacificcrossroads.net.  Boris is also a member of MSW. Right off the bet I must say that I have no financial interests in his company, other then a mutual respect for the men who fought heroically and gallantly against a determined better trained and equipped foe.  His plan is to produce kits of all the ships involved in South-East Asia of the so called ABDA fleet.  Abda is the acronym for America, British, Dutch and Australia.
 
Obviously, my interest is not just for the sake of building a model.  I was indirectly involved due to my father's service in the KM.  He was killed in action during the last major battle on the Java Sea about one year after the O16 was lost in the Gulf of Siam, north of the Malay coast. I heard my father cussing the Japanese for the loss of his comrades.  Before my father was promoted in rank to Adjudant he served on the submarines and knew most of the men in that service.  The submarine service is like a close-knit family as our submariner member can attest to.  In any case, I was then only 7 years old but keenly aware of the coming events that would change my life forever.  You can read about my background on the intro pages of the O19 build log.
 
Let me stop here and continue in a day or so.  I can then give you all the history of this boat with her war log before proceeding to the actual build of the kit.
 
Cheers,   
   

Thanks Mark and Lawrence for looking in and the helpful info.
Yes, Mark, I got to make that very long link thingy to work but I have seen so many using only a short link. That's what I was after. I have tried every which way but can't seem to get it. I have printed all the instructions regarding this issue but am still in the dark. Still struggling and trying though.
 
Hey Lawrence, yeah, I have put the "Surabaya" on the back burner for a while. I got busy with studying physiology and nutrition to try and stay ahead of physical i.e. medical problems. I have started a build log in the model section of a resin model of a Dutch submarine. After that one is done I'll attempt to make a diorama with the Young America at sea. The scale for that one will be 1:3000, at least I'll try. It'll have a glass lamp as dust cover, like I did for the topsail schooner diorama. After this project is done I'll get back with the "Surabaya".
I'm also trying to set some time aside to make a paintings with colored pencils. I like the medium, especially now that they are colorfast and wont fade.
 
cheers,

Hello everyone,
 
No update on the Surabaya yet except for a few minor items just to let all yuns know that I'm still alive and kicking.
 
I have been too busy with all kinds of stuff with the latest some mega HUUUUUGE landscaping, as President Trump would say.  Well, actually not all that huge but still very time consuming.  Had to trim back a bunch of sweet viburnum bushes that have  actually grown into trees of about 30 feet tall.  Branches that are 8 inches in diameter!  That also entails cutting all them down into manageable sizes for the city to pick them up Wednesdays.  I'm only 1/4 through all of them and took this week off on that project to fix my toilet water tank cover and our neighbor's rattan lawn chair.  In replacing the flusher gizmo I laid the cover on the edge of the bathtub but our new cat Boomer jumped on it and it fall to the stone floor.  Broke into 4 large pieces.   
Just a lot of other yard work and no Jan, not the ship's yards   Then grocery shopping cooking and baking bread.  Well you get the idea about not having much time for building ships.
 
Okay, what I have done is sketch a few more lions for the bow but the more I look at this project the more I feel to stick with the traditional Dutch looking lions.  They may not look much like the real animal but are nevertheless nostalgic.  Of the many I have seen on pics I like the one on the Batavia replica the best and will attempt to make the carving look like it.
 
However, I decided to build the ship's boats first.  One boat and one sloop.  The question has come up before in how to tackle it, either by using a plug or go the plank on frame route.  In looking at the drawings I copied from Hooving's Pinas or Fluit ships, they seem to be doable in plank on frame.  Besides it being a challenge and having had the experience in building two sloop models for my O19 submarine as plank on frame, I believe I can do it again.
 
Here is another however though.  I acquired a plastic model of the Dutch submarine O16 from Pacific Crossroads and must give that build all priority. When I start the build log I'll write the appropriate intro.  This project will be to honor the valiant crew who gave their life for freedom.  Yes, my father knew the crew quite well.  The submarine service is a small community.
 
I'm also anxious to start another diorama, this time in a scale of 1:3000 of the Young America at sea.  This too is a challenge to me, to see how small I can make them and still look convincing enough.
 
So then, let me end by adding a few pics of the things discussed here, except for the landscaping stuff. 
 

 

 

This is a pencil drawing I made a long time ago from a 3X5 black and white Kodak photo by business partner took while on safari in Africa.
 

Here is the Batavia replica lion. Looks great and has character.
 

Ship's boat.
 

Ship's sloop.
 
   
Ship's sloop.
 

This is our latest charge, Boo Boo the cat.  I call him Boomer and he responds to it quite well.  I thought to stick with submarines rather the calling the poor guy Boo Boo .  Sad story in how we wound up getting him but he is a very lovable cat and he an our little girl cat are now getting along just fine.
 
Okay, this is it for now and hopefully I can start with the O16 kit soon.
 
Cheers to all,

I’m fascinated by the method of construction.  Well done.
 
Bob

tail frames are positioned at each end of the keel
 
Calculation of the narrowing of the frames between the master frame and the tail frames used the geometric "mezza lune" technique. rising of floors can also be calculated by a geometric technique
 

using these techniques, a half hull block model of the central hull was made and  faired
 

As was done by the original shipwrights of the venetian Arsenale, ribbands were then used to make the bow and stern frames.

]
 
lines were taken off at each station

it been a while since I last posted....fine time for me to get the itch to do something.......my weekend is almost over!   there's not much left to do on the Jolly Rogers, just finish the braces,  rig the tack lines,  the course sheet/clew lines,  and the anchors....oh,  and of course, the pirate flag.   starting with the braces,  I had rigged the fore mast braces,  so I continued with the mizzen braces.

there were only two sets.......the mizzen course yard and the Mizzen top sail yard.   I then noticed that I didn't rig the pair for the main and fore top gallant yards.

I hadn't tied any blocks for these lines,  so I ran them through the blocks for the fore top sail yard braces.  I ended up doing the same for the main top gallant yard, running them through the main top sail yard brace block,  that I had tied to the mizzen mast. 

I also pulled a blunder.........I had tied the tack lines for the fore course sail on the port side.......I also tied on the sheet/clew line.  when I got back to it.....I saw this and forgot why I had done it,  so I cut it off.........DUH!!!   now that I remember,  I need to tie another on on in it's place,  as well as the lines for the main course sail.   I began to rig the tack lines.

the stand works great......I haven't had any problems with the model becoming topsy-turvy,  with the exception of knocking off those darn gun port lids!   I just keep gluing them back on as I go along,  thankful that I haven't knocked loose any cannons in the process.   the top gallant braces are dry enough by now,  that I can trim off all the excess thread.   the redirection in the rigging process doesn't look bad at all.  

Another thing that I'm looking at,  is the bow spirit and boom.   I did not rig any sheet/clew lines for the sails.......and I'm sure that the yards must have had braces.  I didn't rig any blocks for any of this.....I'm kinda stuck on what to do.  I can remedy the braces dilemma.....but tying blocks for the clew lines might be a bit tight....I may forgo them.  I'd really like to finish her this week.........

the clew/sheet lines were rigged.......it wasn't till I rigged the lower and top sail braces,  that I realized I forgot to photog the steps.   so I took 'em...focusing on the groups.  first the clew/sheet lines.


then the braces......I like how the blocks show up in the rigging



I'm done just in time to take Gibbs out...........time to appease the carpet monster  

She looks nice all dressed up.....
 
Frank

small progress here..........side tracked with thongs to do 'round here and humidity.   haven't had this much of a problem with it here......but it has been play'in hell with the rigging.   we all know what happens when additional lines are belayed with it going on.........sag    but I've done my best to thwart it as I've gone along.   all of the sails are on the model now......that's a plus.....now it's time to rig them up.   the fore mast clew lines are set to be belayed.

with the main sails,  as they were cemented in place,  the lifts were rigged,  but not belayed.

....the main course sail..........and then the top sail lifts.

the top gallant yard was straightened out,  after it's bout with the carpet monster.......sewn........and added to the model.  just a hint of damage is all that's left.

it's lifts were added too..   once the lift lines are terminated,  the clew/sheet lines will follow,  and then I can work on the braces.   then the tack lines and the anchors.......and that should put the finish on her.

I find myself doing what I usually do during my visits here..........working on the model,  while browsing.   I'm getting the best of both worlds,  although one can be much more tedious than the other     I have done the main mast clew/sheet lines and started on the braces.  I also find that I had better look to see if the admiral has any more of this tan thread in her sewing box,  because I'm running out.   more updates in a bit  

I started off on the wrong foot this morning.........I sewed the main top sail........but I had it set up upside down.  .....had to take it all apart and redo it.   then disaster struck.......the admirals comes in and shows me this bent piece of plastic.........it is the top gallant sail yard!    it was right here on the table.........I saw it!   I must have knocked it on the floor,  and the carpet monster got it!  she found it just under the bed.........the dreaded cave of doom........sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssst!   luckily,  it's just bent......with very little distortion,  and two of the single blocks are missing.
I'll sew two more on and get it sewed before anything else happens to it  

I did do a little to this model yesterday.  it's so humid here............been this way for a couple of days now.   the lines on the model are drooping a little........I was kind of afraid to do any rigging.  If I did,  it might cause all the other lines to stay that way.......not good.   I did find one mistake.......the up haul line for the main stay sail is wrong......I have it routed through a opening in the top,  and it will be in the way in cementing the main top sail in place.   white glue has it's good points.   I was able to untie the line and reroute it to the railing at the base of the main mast.

I tied the line on for the course sail and top sail lifts.......I still have the top sail and top gallant sail to sew yet.   I likely get them done today and then I can continue.  in the meantime,  the clew lines will hang in limbo.

thanks Scott for the kind comment.........I'm not that good with weathering and stuff.   it's just something I tried out........happy to see that it came out good and well received.  as for the ship's boats,  they were the same....the smaller one inside the larger one.......looked terrible.  I was going to leave it at that,  not being able to come up with a good solution.....but then I stumbled onto that thwart part in my plastic bin {I have a small collection of plastic spare parts}.   with a little modification,  I was able to fit it into the large boat and add the chocks.  I've seen these chocks in other logs...that's where I got the idea from in the first place     I hope it works for you as it did me.
 
I dunno Carl........a quicky to me,  is something you throw together fast....no mods and extra stuff to slow you down.   I wasn't even going to paint it at all     then the crazy thoughts came and blew all that out of the water.  I don't regret though....the model did come out looking better for it.   I'm waiting for the finish to come.......I have other fish to fry  
 
 
OK......what did I do yesterday?   well.......I did the rigging for the fore top and top gallant sails.....

...and then tied the main course sail to it's yard........cementing it in place on the main mast.

so,  now I'm down to two sails {cripes........I'm beginning to sound like the count on Sesame Street}......three billowing sails..........TWO billowing sails!........ {and then you hear Sonny and Cher.....
....and the beat goes on...........
.....the beat goes on.        NA-NU..........NA-NU!

I did two more sails yesterday......lashing the yards on.....and I had a better time of it.   knowing when to avert problems is a big help    the lower fore sail assembly is already done,  so the two additional sail assemblies,  complete the fore mast.   I quickly looked up the names of these sails to make it easier.......I may be wrong.....so be kind and let me know    so.....anyway...before I knew it,  I had the fore course and the top sail cemented in place.

I rigged the fore course sail lifts before adding the top sail......the lifts for that sail was next.

the sheet/clew lines are not done yet,  so not to make it too confusing.  the top sail.......for this large a sail,  I probably should have given it a pulley assembly......but I opted to use single blocks instead.   the fore course sail got the pulley assembly.

the top gallant sail was the last assembly to be cemented in place.

I'm thinking that this would be a fixed yard,  so no lifts would be needed.....simple fixed lift lines was added to it.   I will have to do the same to the main top gallant sail,  but I had to remove the single block that were tied to the yard.

once all of the lift lines were rigged,  they were set up to be terminated.  once that's done,  I can rig the sheet/clew lines.

one thing I see,  that I will have to remember to do, is rig the tack lines on the fore course,  before the sheet/clew lines are done.   three more sails to go......the main set.  it might appear that I've added a lot of the rigging......actually.....no.   this model has most of these lines.......I'm merely doing it differently,  adding in some extra detail due to the use of these blocks.

thanks Frank.........and to all who hit the like button      there are seven sails to go.......the idea starts out with trying to speed things up a little.   the process of sewing on the sails does take a bit of time.   the day was also devoted to tying on all the blocks that will be needed to rig the yards.   all I have left of the gray blocks are a few double blocks......I may be 1 shy,  I'll have to tie them and see.    having made the observation that the extra eye on the ones I already tied,  will not be needed...I cut them all off.   I believe this is where the phrase "you'll live to regret it" comes to mind,  because now that I'm at this stage,  examination the line routing is proving otherwise.   so I will have to make do with what's here.........it's not as bad as it sounds though.   as an example,  I rigged the lifts for the lower mizzen yard,  after tying on the single blocks for it.

clothes pins will keep the lines taught until I get around to terminating them.   blocks for the upper yards were tied on.......a pair for the lifts,  and a pair for the sheet/clew lines.   I put these two lines together for this model........should prove to be interesting.  here is the top fore mast yard and the upper mizzen yard.

these are just single blocks........the lower fore and main yards are done with a pair of double blocks,  and a pair of single blocks.

the double blocks are there......their just folded up under the yards........it's good that they are this flexible.   they will conform to the rigging when done {this might be the thorn in the side of many a modeler}.   sewing on the bow spirit sails was done by hand {naturally}......holding them and sewing them as I went along.   I did the same for the upper mizzen sail......as mentioned.....time consuming {but then again.......so was tying on all the blocks}.  I need to trim off the excess thread.

in doing the lower fore mast yard....I started to do it by hand.....then I thought I'd try something different.  I got out the 'helping hands'  and set the yard up on it.    well.......first it started out badly,  having continued backwards {I had to remove four or five loops}.   then it compounded with the loose thread getting hung up on all appendages sticking out on the 'hands'.   coupled with the fireworks that was going on outside.......I was getting rather vexed.

by the time it was done......I was fit to be tied >insert pun<  I saw that perhaps the clew blocks could have been more to the center.......there's quite a gap there.   I though of maybe tying on a couple more blocks,  but then it would appear like a bunt or leech line,  and I really don't want to go that far into it.  so,  it may stay like it is.

note the double block on top,  and single below.........the use of these block is far better than those stupid rings     six more sails to go............not tonight though.......I left this,  to something a little less tedious.   the upper mizzen yard assembly was cemented in place.   while it was still drying,  the lifts and clew lines were rigged and weighted,  to hold the yard in place as it totally cured
    it's an interesting set up.........the sheet/clew idea doesn't look too bad  

starting out as a sheet line,  it's simply run through the corners to keep the sail in place...........then through the block as a clew line.

the lower lifts, upper lifts,  and upper clew lines need to be terminated at this point.   I will do this tomorrow,  as I tie the other yard assemblies.   hopefully,  I can get them all done,  so I can do the fore mast...........tall order?

sorry about the late reply gents.......I wrote this the other night and forgot to post it      I should know better than to visit during the work week,  as I am usually quite tired and tend to fall asleep at the computer.  the admiral ends up herding me into the living room,  where I'll end up sleeping on the couch.  I hope to retire someday  
 
7-2-2017
 
thanks Piet.......with the large scale Revell kits I've done in the past....I've had the chance to try things out.   some of the running rigging can be done somewhat limp,  and will have hardly any impact on the rest of the rigging  
 
thanks Patrick........Gibbs is hardly an issue........I do my best not to drop anything on the floor     the trawler is 1:30......I think.....the Jolly Rogers is 1:130........yepper,  big difference!   I have a large living room.......that's where I put up the big shelving that I photo'd the group.  I'm thinking of moving them around to try and add another shelf.   then again,  there's no complaints about me putting up another one     thanks for the kind word!
 
I do have a few pictures in the camera still..........the spanker have the sheet lines and the vangs now.   I've also done the mizzen stay sail.   next will be the rest of the sails......then I can do the lifts and braces.   thanks to all who hit the like button  
 
7-4-2017
 
I love this new feature in the reply submission.......without it,  all that I had written would have been lost.   it brings it up and gives you the option to keep it or delete it....perfect for guys like me!  hi there Frank!  I can't believe I'm working with plastic sails either     they're just right for this model though....it's the rigging that I'm focusing on.   I'm trying to incorporate the way it's supposed to be done,  as opposed to how it's done with plastic kits.   there is so much that is left out........for anyone to add any into their builds,  will enhance the model quite a bit!    one oversight I did was to rig blocks with a eye bolt on both ends.......with the way I see the lifts running,  the extra eye will not be needed.  no biggie.....I can simply trim them off.   I also forgot to add them for the lower mizzen yard......but that's not a big problem either.   I'm almost out of the gray blocks.......I will have to use some of the brown blocks for the yards.....I have no more single blocks in gray.  you might say I wasted four of them......adding them to the backs of the fore and main tops,  but I'm not going to remove them,  since they seem to add a tiny bit more detail.   I finally got the pictures out of the camera too.   here's where the model is so far.........the vangs and sheet lines for the spanker sail.


then the mizzen stay sail......


then the lower mizzen yard.........I forgot to add the blocks

I'll see how much 'yard' work I can get done today  

I'm not a big fan of using CA for rigging.........for the very reason you see in some of the pictures.   it seeps down the thread and makes it stiff and hard to shape.   for most of the rigging,  I used white glue.   I ran into a bit of trouble with the spanker sail........punching holes in the wrong edge.   I took the one out of the Flying Dutchman kit to replace it.........I'll either trim the other sail,  or fish around in the box of sails for something that will work {I have an abundance of these sails from the Cutty build}.   of course the angle of the gaff didn't match the original sail and I compensated for it......but  I also forgot to do this with the replacement sail.   no harm though,  cuz I was able to do it.   

I added  a single block on the upper step of the main mast for the upper mizzen stay sail.   as I did with the main mast stays,  I will do with the mizzen stays,  tying a double block to each one of them.


they came out just as well too    I did the mizzen back stays before rigging these two.


the running rigging needs to be done,  in regards to the spanker sail.  eye bolts were added on both bulwarks,  and one was added to the rudder.   after I add two more eye bolts,  I can ad the monkey chain.


and this is where I leave off again.   there one more stay sail to hang,  and then I can move on to the yards........eight of them....seven will have sails.   more soon!
 
thanks for look'in in  
 

time for an update     I've been busy with the standing rigging......it's been interesting,  since the masts are pretty flimsy.   getting them so they are not contorted out of shape has been a trial,  but I've done a reasonable job of it.  where I left off was with most of the standing rigging done on the fore and main masts.......the mizzen had suffered a set back,  with the spanker gaff breaking off.   the build stand I made is working out very well,  in keeping the ship stable and upright......I've been able to go a lot further.   the first thing to be done,  was to cement the spanker gaff back in place.  I had to use the lift rigging to help with holding it in place as it dried.


while this was drying, the sails were sewed to the bow spirit yards and they were cemented in place.

it's been quite some time since I dealt with plastic sails.......they came out well.   the jib sails were cut out,  along with the main stay sail,  and these too were tied and rigged into place.




it can be seen that the spanker gaff was dry enough to complete the lift rigging.   the mizzen wasn't out of the woods yet though.........one cuff later,  and one of the shrouds became dislocated underneath.   I had to wait till all cement points were dry,  so I could remove all the clothes pins and repair it.   the mizzen stays and back stays have wet to be done anyway,  so that will get pushed back for a little while.  I need to add a couple more lines to the bow,  as well as the anchors.

sorry I didn't get back last evening.........I had supper and Zonked out.   .....tough day at work     these two pictures were taken before the camera decided it needed a recharge.   I was at my desk,  so the pictures may not be too good.   the blocks work well.......here is the what the lower one looks like.......the bottom main stay is doubled and will look thicker that all the rest.

the stay will terminate with a pulley assembly at the base of the fore mast......like this...

then I realized that doing the stays in this manner,  would be too much for the mast trees.....causing them to bend very easily.   I had to add the back stays to help me out.   later,  it ended up on my table.....I had to stand to better run the rigging.   I didn't take too many pictures...feeding the camera.......but I ended up with this bit of progress.

here's a better shot of the main stay rigging.

.....and the pulley assemblies associated with them.

the mizzen will only have this one stay that is done this way.........it's not tied off yet.

the other blocks you see will be devoted to the braces.    there is one other stay that I need to add to the mizzen........I may do it this way as well.

this is the standing rigging ......so far.   I will do the rest when I get back to her.   then I can start the running rigging     thanks for looking in      thanks for the good word Piet........and thanks to those who hit the like button