Jorge Hedges

The work to do isn't that bad, it is just the drilling concept, but hey, your idea is the one that I will probably use, as I can probably bend a steel wire, and use it as a punch. Thanks! Jorge

Yes, you basically got it with my prior message... and yes, saw the Dremel adapter and thought of it too big as well. Appreciate your assistance... this I will try to see what I can do with a small burr wrapped in masking tape for some type of greip. Thanks again! Jorge

It is a Cross Section build, so I missed some of the interior treenails BEFORE installing the planks!!! Huge mistake on my part! 🤦‍♂️

Hello All! Looking for suggestions related to a miniature angle drill / drill adapter. Long story short, forgot to drill some wood strips before installing, and would like to see parts/suggestions before looking at the stripping the wood option. Appreciate your assistance; greatly appreciated. Merry Christmas! Jorge

1:72 scale; construction paper should work well, or black tissue paper... will give it a try then. Thanks! Jorge

Hello! Quick question... I have a very thin, flexible plastic sheet that look very nice to simulate the caulking between hull framing and planking and deck planks. I have normally used a very dark lead pencil, but I am intrigued, and was wondering if any of you have done so. If so, would regular wood glue work? And if so, how do you cut off the excess? Thanks for the input! Jorge

Those are damn nice pics!!! Now I have a very good idea of what to do. Thanks!!!

Now, to make this interesting... I have attached pics of bench knees... 1st and second pics are the kit's contents; the other pics are what I am thinking of scratchbuilding... please let me know your opinions, as this is still a WIP, and would love your observations/recommendations. Pretty sure I have to thin out the scratchbuilt ones... Thanks!

Hello All! Been busy as hell with work at home and office, thus slowed down. Please find attached pics of latest work... 1st harpoon completed... I think it came out pretty well; any comments/critique welcome:

Hello All! In a small rut right now... Does anyone have a recommendation on how to build multiple bench knees from a single piece of square stock? I'd like to see how it can be done, kinda milled-type work, as I have a Dremel with the base and milling table, as well as a dremer router-type application base, to see what would be the best approach. Thanks! Jorge

Unfortunately, I have been told that local wood is not really oriented towards model ship building. One of the nicest woods here, the famous Guayacan tree, is a VERY slow grower, and is VERY hard wood to work with for miniatures. It is mainly used for turning the mortar/pestle kitchen tool for mashing garlic and other exquisite pastes for cooking, or to prepare our famous "mofongo" dish made out plantain... basically a tool for mashing the hell out of it. The others are really regular wood that is not suited, thus why I go for walnut in a local lumberyard with a limited selection of what they call exotic wood and try to see what's available every now and then. Pic below is what I was given in terms of wood (in addition to 2 brand-spanking new, complete Model Shipways kits - Mayflower and Constitution - which are posted in my Disarmodel Whaleboat build log here), as well as some tools. Once again, thanks for your time and observations! Very good info you have provided.

I have no plans whatsoever to build the Victory… there’s just deck hardware and wood. No prints either. I was asking about the wood, to see if I could use it in my other, way simpler projects… if I were to build a Victory, I would go the Caldercraft route, as it has been mentioned that it should be the best version out there. Thanks for the heads-up anyway… always good to have input!!!

Hello Jaager! Thanks for your feedback... these I am guessing that were included in a Mamoli Victory kit that was incomplete, so the wood was gifted to me. Either they are crazy old, or like you mentioned, the wood was not the appropriate one at the time. Thinking of testing Linseed oil vs. Tung oil and see results. Also read that a slight, moist wrap would help. I'll see if I can get the wood types, in case it helps. Thanks! Jorge

Hello All! I was gifted a nice amount of wood strip, but I find it to be dry/brittle. Is there anything that can be applied to the wood to save this fair amount of wood strip? Maybe linseed oil? Thanks! Jorge

Hello All! Well, started to paint some of the accessories - no pics yet - with acrylics. I can tell you that the color selected for the rope tubs, lantern case, etc... looks very nice, and will probably look even better with some light weathering, but still on the fence there... let's see fires how everything comes together. Harpoons also painted and look nice as well... will try to start on the harpoon ropes as well this weekend. Now, on a different story... scored so big this weekend. A lady that I know had told me some time ago that her deceased husband was an avid ship modeler, and had a lot of stuff to get rid of. I paid for some of the nice tools she had available, and sorted and listed selling prices for her to sell the others, as she is moving to the US. Lo and behold, I get a call yesterday to drive over a pick up what she had left. To my surprise, she gifted me with 2 complete/sealed kits Mayflower and Constitution from Model Shipways), a building slip, and a number of tools (pics below)... I asked if she was sure, as she could move them to the US and sell them easier over, but she insisted, as she would be discarding them if not rid of them by the end of month. All in all, it always pays to assist someone when help is required. It seems that at the time, her spouse was building a Victory kit as well, but the spare wood strips and some deck hardware/cannons is basically all left of it, as well as stern decorations... maybe build a stern window/crest display with them for framing? Who knows what I can come up with... Pics of the gifted items follows: