texxn5

Hi Wayne and Gil, and everyone else. I haven't dropped off the face of the earth yet. I've had a real life project that needed a lot of attention the last 3 weeks or so. I still have some left to do so it might be a bit before the shipyard reopens. I try to keep up with most of you and see your progress. Weather is breaking here it's up to 80 today and tomorrow, don't miss the snow all of you are fighting. Thanks for the picture Gil I'm familiar with their proceedure. That is the stage I'm at right now and will be making chainplates and deadeyes next. I got the blackening process figured out, and that was holding me up from proceeding. I'll be posting things soon. Yes, Piet, the Leffe was on hand to welcome the warm weather.

I'm still sorting things out and testing.  I made a batch of colored glue using EdT's instructions but with black pigment instead of the raw umber he used.  I've tested it and may have to add a touch more pigment.
 
Here's a photo of a wood sample I worked up.  
 
Bottom section is cherry, boxwood, and swiss pear with three coats of wipe on poly, sanded with 600 grit paper between coats. I'm happy with the poly and will (hopefully) use boxwood for the keel, stem, and stern (including rudder).  Cherry is framing and Swiss Pear is the external planking.
 
Top half was with the colored glue.  Boxwood, Swiss Pear, and Silver Maple.   I like the effect though I need a tad more practice with it.  Maybe a bit darker but I'll hold until I can see it under something other than a gray, overcast sky and indoor lighting.  Testing will continue.
 

Glad to see you pop back up John.  We've missed you!

Hey all, this will be a small update for the time being. I am working on more and hopefully may be able to add later.
 
I had only one of my anchors constructed and decided that it was time to get the second one ready. I hope to be adding them to the Niagara soon. I figured I'd show my method for constructing the anchors. I discarded the white metal upper piece and sprayed the lower piece with a thick black metal primer to get some casting texture. Next I glued to pieces of basswood together with a square hole through the middle. After some shaping I took some black heavy paper cut into strips and added the iron bands. I added the brass hoops and wrapped them in black nylon thread and painted over this with flat black paint to hold things in place and cover any bright spots. They are ready to go now. I will be working on adding these 'sleeve catchers' to the Niagara next. 
 
By the way, has anyone been catching the new pirate series on a certain premium cable channel? It is completely awesome and makes for a good background distraction while model building. I haven't spoken with anyone else who has watched it and was looking for alternate points of view on it. I read somewhere that a new series about Blackbeard will be on a national broadcast station soon. I'm anxious to see that come out too.

Hi Wayne and Gil, and everyone else. I haven't dropped off the face of the earth yet. I've had a real life project that needed a lot of attention the last 3 weeks or so. I still have some left to do so it might be a bit before the shipyard reopens. I try to keep up with most of you and see your progress. Weather is breaking here it's up to 80 today and tomorrow, don't miss the snow all of you are fighting. Thanks for the picture Gil I'm familiar with their proceedure. That is the stage I'm at right now and will be making chainplates and deadeyes next. I got the blackening process figured out, and that was holding me up from proceeding. I'll be posting things soon. Yes, Piet, the Leffe was on hand to welcome the warm weather.

Hi Wayne and Gil, and everyone else. I haven't dropped off the face of the earth yet. I've had a real life project that needed a lot of attention the last 3 weeks or so. I still have some left to do so it might be a bit before the shipyard reopens. I try to keep up with most of you and see your progress. Weather is breaking here it's up to 80 today and tomorrow, don't miss the snow all of you are fighting. Thanks for the picture Gil I'm familiar with their proceedure. That is the stage I'm at right now and will be making chainplates and deadeyes next. I got the blackening process figured out, and that was holding me up from proceeding. I'll be posting things soon. Yes, Piet, the Leffe was on hand to welcome the warm weather.

Hi Wayne and Gil, and everyone else. I haven't dropped off the face of the earth yet. I've had a real life project that needed a lot of attention the last 3 weeks or so. I still have some left to do so it might be a bit before the shipyard reopens. I try to keep up with most of you and see your progress. Weather is breaking here it's up to 80 today and tomorrow, don't miss the snow all of you are fighting. Thanks for the picture Gil I'm familiar with their proceedure. That is the stage I'm at right now and will be making chainplates and deadeyes next. I got the blackening process figured out, and that was holding me up from proceeding. I'll be posting things soon. Yes, Piet, the Leffe was on hand to welcome the warm weather.

Hi Wayne and Gil, and everyone else. I haven't dropped off the face of the earth yet. I've had a real life project that needed a lot of attention the last 3 weeks or so. I still have some left to do so it might be a bit before the shipyard reopens. I try to keep up with most of you and see your progress. Weather is breaking here it's up to 80 today and tomorrow, don't miss the snow all of you are fighting. Thanks for the picture Gil I'm familiar with their proceedure. That is the stage I'm at right now and will be making chainplates and deadeyes next. I got the blackening process figured out, and that was holding me up from proceeding. I'll be posting things soon. Yes, Piet, the Leffe was on hand to welcome the warm weather.

Hi Wayne and Gil, and everyone else. I haven't dropped off the face of the earth yet. I've had a real life project that needed a lot of attention the last 3 weeks or so. I still have some left to do so it might be a bit before the shipyard reopens. I try to keep up with most of you and see your progress. Weather is breaking here it's up to 80 today and tomorrow, don't miss the snow all of you are fighting. Thanks for the picture Gil I'm familiar with their proceedure. That is the stage I'm at right now and will be making chainplates and deadeyes next. I got the blackening process figured out, and that was holding me up from proceeding. I'll be posting things soon. Yes, Piet, the Leffe was on hand to welcome the warm weather.

Hey Popeye, looking good. I've been following what you've been doing. Haven't had time to post. Looks like you're staying busy.

John, I just noticed "C.W. Morgan" and popped in. I love it.  Like you, I visited Mystic and of course spent the entire day crawling around the ship.  You've done a grand job on the Morgan.  While I was there, they were making chain plates.  Sorry I didn't get this photo to you a little sooner, but it's probably a bit too big for the model.  Cheers, Gil
 

Ahoy, John -
 
Just thought I'd stop by and see how things are going!

I then stained it a cherry color...and spreayed it with a satin varnish..

I was studying the deck on my ship and the copper oil cooling tank didn't look good to me.....kind of stark.   So I got to thinking.....dangerous at the least...what would they do in real life.....like what about rain, weather, pitching seas, sloshing, so I decided to build a wooden hatch cover for it, it can be removed or tied down depending on the need......also adds some more clutter to the deck......

Sorry to hear this Mark.......I look forward to version II.

very nicely done as usual.  I'm glad you got the challenge too.  That will be a great guide for all of us.  Yes Piet, I'm boiling oil as we speak...

I did the pin rails, both the one surrounding the mast and some side cleats.  Overall, I found this to be easy (must be learning something), if I go slow and careful.
 
The more difficult part was drilling the larger holes in the pin rail supports - the wood wanted to splinter.  I ended up sanding down the 2mm dowel so it would fit in the 1.5 mm hole I prepared.  I also found the need to file down every one of the pins so I didn't force them into the 1mm holes I drilled.  If forced, the would crack the wood in two.
 
I used a bit of diluted white glue to "secure" the pins - just enough so they don't fall out - the lines should hold them in just fine.
 
And, finally, I realize the white metal of the pins probably isn't the right color.  I could, I suppose, paint them a wood color, but perhaps the lines, once belayed, will cover them up pretty well.
 

 

 

 
Thanks to everyone who's looked and commented - I really do appreciate it, even if I don't have time to respond individually.
 
Andy.

A chart room.... lets's see. look now, Piet's getting carried away already
 
First the chimney, I was looking through my books because these came in al sorts and shapes
 

 
But fortunately TFFM hinted me to also check my NMM plans and guess what the chimney was drawn in so getting the shape right was easy peasy. (reminder look more on the NMM plans there is more on it than I had thought)
 
The pyramid shape was diver soldered from some scrap pieces, the funnel turned and tapered on the lathe. 
 

 
The floor was added in front of the stove. And here it is ready to be lit this was really a fun challenge to do, thank you Druxey for inspiring me to give it a try.
 

 

 
Remco

Fantastic looking hearth Remco and also the pots.  Now also a few ladles and pokers and other utensils they may have used.  And while you are at it with making charts you may as well make a few oil lamps for the captain's cabin.  John Texxn5 better get on the ball and cook off some wale oil to sell you   
 
Cheers,
 
 

Nice touch John, it's the "what would they have done" line of the thinking that both adds to the overall look, and gets us in trouble.  
 
AND it creates a good rivalry between the "bashers" and the "scratchers"!  *laff*
 
- Bug

Your hingework is ingenious....looks real....

Thanks Popeye, it looks like a real shipyard now.....many projects underway at the same time....Planking looks really good .... man, planking 3 at a time and playing with plastic at the same time......ok, nice update......looking forward to more...

I then stained it a cherry color...and spreayed it with a satin varnish..

I then stained it a cherry color...and spreayed it with a satin varnish..

update?????.......................................boy??.........................OK!  well,  I took this plank and put it here.............and I took that plank and put it there...........it's all very ad - nausium :D :D    I did take a few pictures last week........I should have posted them,  but i wanted to wait till I had something  a bit more..........positive.     here they are as of last week.
 

 
this is the hull dubbed Larry........I've started to do some tapering to the planks.   I need to defeat the planks wanting to rise off of rib #6,  creating a gap.
 

 
this is the hull dubbed Curly........as you can see,  it seems to want to do the same thing.   I may have fared the rib a bit too much as well.
 

 
the hull dubbed Moe........just sits in the back and laughs.   I haven't gotten to that point with him yet,  so when I do,  I will begin to taper the planks earlier.
 
moving along to the present day planking job........Curly is moving towards becoming completely planked.   I'll need to make an adjustment on Larry.......so I halted progress for the moment.  it's not too bad though.......after sanding and some putty to fill in the plank lines,  I should come up with a decent hull shape.
 

 

 
......still,  in a line-up.......they all look the same
 

 

 
I still have the United States on the other table.......debating whether to plank the decks or not,  at this time.  all I know,  is that it is not going back out in the hallway.   I have other things on my mind