texxn5

Mobbsie made a serving machine for me.
 
I can use that now because I'm at the part to make the shrouds for the San Ildefonso.
I have one question.....
The shrouds that going from the tops to the deadeyes.....till where has the shrouds to be served ?
I know the shrouds will be served till the futtock stave.
Is that at the end of the mast knee where the futtock stave has to be placed?
I mean the knee where the tops hit the knee to give the top support.
 
And a picture of the serving machine that Mobbsie made for me. 
 
 
 

Gents,
 
A good place to look for brass supplies are on model railway suppliers/web sites (not to be confused with glorified toy shops).  Those of us who do railway models get through loads of the stuff. I could supply the details of several UK suppliers but that would not help you.
 
In the US it is worth looking out for K&S products. Their web site is http://www.ksmetals.com/index.html . It is a Chicago company. If you look on this site you will see product lists and a list of suppliers - for example it includes a supplier in Houston Texas and one in Hollywood Florida. The site even includes a few "how to videos".
 
I have had a packet of their brass shim for ages which I use for odd detail. It contains about 10 small sheets ranging from thin to gold leaf thickness. See photo below.
 

  
I had better add the usual disclaimer - I have no link to K&S other than as a satisfied user.

Looks like a success Augie.  How did you remove the planking or get the glue to desolve without damage?

Wow, finished and pictures to prove it......what can I say that hasn't been said.  I love the pictures...Congratulations on a job well done....

Thanks again everyone for visiting and your "like" votes, it's much appreciated.
 
@ Popeye, yeah, only two small cuts and the last one didn't even bleed     I's just a nuisance when I clean my hands with MEK.  Yes, the details will make it look more authentic and then to think that I was not going overboard with detailing - - - hmmmmm - - - - must have had rocks in my head    
 
This morning before lunch and helping the Admiral with making Thanksgiving dinner, I did spend some time in the COLD shipyard.  Yes, it was cold at Palm Coast, Florida, down to 10 degrees C       In any case I braved it and made two small net cutter pieces for the dive plane top guards.  Instead of soldering them on I am trying CA glue and see how they hold up.  I just need to be careful not to bump them too hard, I may cut myself - - - again 
 
Then I thought to make a harpoon from the info I gave to texxn5 at the kit build section.  For the result of my try go see John's build log.
 
Okay after fiddling with harpoons (and my father could have used one when they were cruising in the Indian Ocean in 1939.  They caught a shark and used the boathook to drag the monster on deck) I finally quit procrastinating with cutting the hole in the bow side for the side anchor.  After I removed the small piece of the side I was elated.  It was not as bad as I had imagined.  I also removed some of the side planking bulkheads to allow enough space to house the anchor      It's now just a matter of desiding how big / small this anchor should be and by looking at the pic of the K XVI Kreek send me I can estimate it pretty well.  
It's a lot simpler then I was thinking of and can make it happen so that I can stow the anchor on board and also let it go down.  I'll also make the cowling above and in front of the opening as the pic of the O 20 shows, somewhere in my log. 
 
This gives me now also more confidence in opening one of the mine tube locations and install a tube with a model of a mine.  No, I wont make a mine loading trolley, too much like work   
 
Now it's also a matter of getting some copper to make the anchor and the screws.  I think I'll try a copper water pipe junction, can buy some at the local hardware store.  After the anchor stowage place is done I'll paint the topside green, hopefully soon.
 
That means - - - the conning tower   
 
Okay, here are the pics of this morning's work.
 

The final net cutters installed, I think - - - I hope.
 

This is the place where the side anchor will be housed.  The opening is still in the rough, much more work is to be done before we can stow the anchor.  It'll have to be opened up some more on the bottom and some wood removed from the frames inside to allow me to cement the back wall and sides in.  Then the cowling on the outside, veneer or brass shim ???  Don't know yet, will experiment with both.
 
Cheers, 

Hello friends, 
 
Today was spend with more figuring how and where to frame the lower part of the conning tower.  Here too  a lot of small detail can be added to the inside.  According to the drawings there is a lavatory and  a shower inside.  No, I think not.  There are three doors on the port side for access to the inside and I'll make them operable but no interior decoration    
 
I also made two small net cutters of 5 teeth for the forward end of the docking bumper or wale and cemented them on.  I did cut my right thumb on one of them, they are sharp little critters    Okay, I'll get the purple heart now.  But it's only the second small cut i got on the whole build - - - so far, knock on wood.
 
There are two more net cutters to make and solder on the leading edges of the top guard for the trim planes.  I'm still thinking about the side anchor housing, apprehensive about cutting into the side and then making the door look good and believable.  I have to do it but I'm still nervous though.
 
After I drilled a few pilot holes for the AA gun tubes and the periscope locations I managed to knock one of the bollards off.  I wiped the deck with my hand and there one flew off.  Took me 20 minutes of crawling on the floor looking for it and finally found it, it's back on.  Yeah, yeah, I could have made a new one in that time   
 
Okay, that is it for tonight.  

only two cuts.........must be a record for that somewhere.............geeze,  I got a small cut on my thumb ..don't know when it happened.   your putting some super detail into her.........looking soooooooo sweet!

No major milestones but time for an update.
 
Planking continues.  The mishap with the flying paint jar on the port side was eradicated by removing most of the planking on that side, including 2 of the simulated sheaves, and starting over:
 

 
The starboard side is at the same point.  All of the sweep port openings and gun deck gun ports are completed:
 

 
I'll be working my way up to the forecastle and QD with the planking.  Then a good sanding before I add the second layer of planking to the main and channel wales.
 
 
 
 

Looking really good, John. Let me do some digging - I recall an article in (I think) an old NRJ about building a harpoon. Will see if I can find it tomorrow.

guess we don't have to worry about you Piet,  if the world goes to crap.......you can fashion your own weapons! :D
 
   they need you on  'walking dead'!

absolutely magnificent Sjors you have done her proud

Well Done my friend, your perseverance and patience has paid off.
 
You have a fine lady to be proud of, she's been secretive, difficult and lovely, just like the real thing really.
 
Be Proud   
 
mobbsie

The final update!
 
This is the end of the build of the 'Le Mirage' by Corel.
I know that there are a few mistakes here and there, but that is ok and I have learned from it. 
 
She gave me a lot of problems and at some point I wanted to quit.
But thanks to the individual support of Anja, Mobbsie, Augie and all of you who followed me on this journey, she is now finished and ready for her maiden voyage.
 
Again I want to thank you all for your invaluable support, friendship, feedback, good words and likes you give me along the way.
 
I will now continue my build of the ' San Ildefonso' and I hope to see you there to accompany me.
 
 
 

 

Hi Sjors, I have to make about 18-20 of them.  lots of work.

Aye, Pequad it shall be, could look good at the helm

Wow, Piet, that is fantastic, and will work like a champ.  I should have known you'd be tryng it out.....I'll try to duplicate......thank you.....we haven't eaten yet, so in a little while I'll probably be out of commission.....oink.  Hope you and Gwen had a good one.....

Jason,  wish I could take credit for that, but my friend Piet made it.  Looks great doesn't it?

Aye...!!! With a one legged captain and canons made of hearts!

VERY NICE, Piet.   Make a whole bunch John!  With this new technique in your armamentarium I can almost see a scratch Pequod in your future

That harpoon looks for real !
How many do you have to make John ?
 
 

That's a nice looking harpoon John!

Hello piggy John and piget Diane,
 
Did some work in my shipyard this morning and could not resist trying my hand in making a harpoon.  First I used a 0.5 mm brass rod and peened the end flat and then filed a point to it.  Problem was that the shaft end was rounded and i could not get it squared let alone indented to make it look more like an arrow head.  Oh I guess with some more fiddling or a retry I could probably make a usable harpoon but .5 mm is below your scale anyhow.
 
Next I took a 0.9 mm brass rod and the same happened there.  Too rounded at the shaft end .  I guess with some more smashing with the gebanger and the pin punch I could probably get somewhere but I figured that it would not look good enough and too time consuming to make 24 of them.
 
So, what I did was cut a small piece of 0.1 mm brass sheet or ship stock and soldered it to the flat spot of the brass rod.  I then slowly filed it to a point and recessed the part at the shaft end with a knife shaped file.  To eliminate frustration my recommendation is to do the same.  It only takes about 15 to 20 minutes to make a harpoon.  If your harpoon point looks different, no prob, just model it to look like what you need. 
 

arrow on the left is from 0.5 mm brass rod, the one on the right from 0.9 mm brass rod with 0.1 mm brass sheet soldered and shaped to the flattened end of the rod. 
 

The same as above but with a an Exacto blade for scale.
 
Cheers,

Thank you so much Piet, I knew I could depend on you especially with metal work.  Details are really what it's all about.  Your sub is really taking on a personality.  I will assume the roll of pig tomorrow, actually I already am, cooks perogative....eat as you cook to make sure it's tastes right...we've been maiking stuffing and apple pie.  Our best  to you and Gwen.....aw...go ahead...join me in the pig trough.  I'm rolling over and Diane is calling me pig.  So I will also take this non topic for the opportunity to wish everyone a very Blessed Thanksgiving, and may we all reflect at this time just how much we have to be thankful for whether it is health;, wealth, bounty, and most especially this blessed life that we all enjoy.....may God Bless all of you and your families in this joyous celebration of thanks to our creator....take care and enjoy...........all of my friends........John & my Admiral, Diane...... 

Thank you so much Piet, I knew I could depend on you especially with metal work.  Details are really what it's all about.  Your sub is really taking on a personality.  I will assume the roll of pig tomorrow, actually I already am, cooks perogative....eat as you cook to make sure it's tastes right...we've been maiking stuffing and apple pie.  Our best  to you and Gwen.....aw...go ahead...join me in the pig trough.  I'm rolling over and Diane is calling me pig.  So I will also take this non topic for the opportunity to wish everyone a very Blessed Thanksgiving, and may we all reflect at this time just how much we have to be thankful for whether it is health;, wealth, bounty, and most especially this blessed life that we all enjoy.....may God Bless all of you and your families in this joyous celebration of thanks to our creator....take care and enjoy...........all of my friends........John & my Admiral, Diane...... 

Thank you so much Piet, I knew I could depend on you especially with metal work.  Details are really what it's all about.  Your sub is really taking on a personality.  I will assume the roll of pig tomorrow, actually I already am, cooks perogative....eat as you cook to make sure it's tastes right...we've been maiking stuffing and apple pie.  Our best  to you and Gwen.....aw...go ahead...join me in the pig trough.  I'm rolling over and Diane is calling me pig.  So I will also take this non topic for the opportunity to wish everyone a very Blessed Thanksgiving, and may we all reflect at this time just how much we have to be thankful for whether it is health;, wealth, bounty, and most especially this blessed life that we all enjoy.....may God Bless all of you and your families in this joyous celebration of thanks to our creator....take care and enjoy...........all of my friends........John & my Admiral, Diane......