texxn5
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texxn5 reacted to lb0190 in Charles W Morgan by texxn5 - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1:64
Great picture John! Thanks for sharing.
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texxn5 reacted to GLakie in Charles W Morgan by texxn5 - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1:64
Nice picture John! Can't wait to see the rest.
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texxn5 got a reaction from edmay in Niagara by lb0190 - Model Shipways - 1/64
Hi Larry. I just spent some time going over your log again from start to now. You've come a long way m friend. She's looking really good. Starting to wonder if I have the patience to build this thing after finishing the Morgan. The guns are really a challenge. I really enjoyed seeing the ship today and took about 180 +/- pictures. The real ship only has 2 guns rigged on her so it's hard to realise what she's like with all the guns on deck. I'll post these on my website over the next few days if the "limited" internet access that is available to me here at the RV park allows me. The anchor rope currently is stowed on deck forward of the Foremast, some of the models at the museum show the ropes going aft on deck and then down a hatch, but I could not get access to that area to see where they might go. All of the pictures will be posted in the Gallery section of my website, and I'll provide you with the link once I have them posted. If you need any of the individual pictures just tell me which ones and I'll email them to you. She's a beautiful ship, and yours will look wonderful once finished. Hope these will help you.
Enjoy,
John
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texxn5 got a reaction from augie in Charles W Morgan by texxn5 - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1:64
Toured the Niagra today. It started out raining (.25") before noon. About 1:00 it cleared off and turned out to be a beautiful day. The ship sails tomorrow, so there was a lot of activity on board and they restricted where I could go and how long I could stay in one spot for photos, but I think overall I got a lot of good ones. There is an area inside the museum for model ship builders. There are currently 2 builds of the Model Shipways Niagra at the same stage of build. Hull planked stage. When I was there 2 years ago, they were building a 1/2" scale scratch build which is now finished and on display. I have photographs of all of this. I am going to post these photos on my Morgan website in the Gallery Section over the next few days as internet access here allows. If I can't get them posted I will do so as I can. I will make a post here with a link for anyone interested in the Niagra once it's archived. It was really cool to actually be on my next build
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texxn5 got a reaction from edmay in Charles W Morgan by texxn5 - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1:64
Hello again everyone. Thanks for all the well wishes, thoughts and prayers for my brother in law. We will be dearting Pittsburgh soon, however, as most plans go they are subject to change we might decide to stay on the east coast since we're almost there - don't know yet. I would like to visit the Niagra in Erie, Pa since that might be my next build. I wanted to post this one picture (not ship related) and I will post others in the proper place later, but this one is a 58 year bucket list item and I wanted to share it especially for members that do not live in the US since it would be hard to travel to. When I was 8 yrs old I saw pictures of this house and was so fascinated by it I almost became an Architecht and I have always wanted to see it. It was built in 1937.
Frank Loyd Wright's "Falling Water" last year this was voted as the #1 of the top 100 most enfluential architechtural structures and achievements in all time.
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texxn5 got a reaction from Piet in Charles W Morgan by texxn5 - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1:64
Toured the Niagra today. It started out raining (.25") before noon. About 1:00 it cleared off and turned out to be a beautiful day. The ship sails tomorrow, so there was a lot of activity on board and they restricted where I could go and how long I could stay in one spot for photos, but I think overall I got a lot of good ones. There is an area inside the museum for model ship builders. There are currently 2 builds of the Model Shipways Niagra at the same stage of build. Hull planked stage. When I was there 2 years ago, they were building a 1/2" scale scratch build which is now finished and on display. I have photographs of all of this. I am going to post these photos on my Morgan website in the Gallery Section over the next few days as internet access here allows. If I can't get them posted I will do so as I can. I will make a post here with a link for anyone interested in the Niagra once it's archived. It was really cool to actually be on my next build
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texxn5 got a reaction from lb0190 in Niagara by lb0190 - Model Shipways - 1/64
Hi Larry. I just spent some time going over your log again from start to now. You've come a long way m friend. She's looking really good. Starting to wonder if I have the patience to build this thing after finishing the Morgan. The guns are really a challenge. I really enjoyed seeing the ship today and took about 180 +/- pictures. The real ship only has 2 guns rigged on her so it's hard to realise what she's like with all the guns on deck. I'll post these on my website over the next few days if the "limited" internet access that is available to me here at the RV park allows me. The anchor rope currently is stowed on deck forward of the Foremast, some of the models at the museum show the ropes going aft on deck and then down a hatch, but I could not get access to that area to see where they might go. All of the pictures will be posted in the Gallery section of my website, and I'll provide you with the link once I have them posted. If you need any of the individual pictures just tell me which ones and I'll email them to you. She's a beautiful ship, and yours will look wonderful once finished. Hope these will help you.
Enjoy,
John
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texxn5 got a reaction from Salty Sea Dog in Charles W Morgan by texxn5 - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1:64
Toured the Niagra today. It started out raining (.25") before noon. About 1:00 it cleared off and turned out to be a beautiful day. The ship sails tomorrow, so there was a lot of activity on board and they restricted where I could go and how long I could stay in one spot for photos, but I think overall I got a lot of good ones. There is an area inside the museum for model ship builders. There are currently 2 builds of the Model Shipways Niagra at the same stage of build. Hull planked stage. When I was there 2 years ago, they were building a 1/2" scale scratch build which is now finished and on display. I have photographs of all of this. I am going to post these photos on my Morgan website in the Gallery Section over the next few days as internet access here allows. If I can't get them posted I will do so as I can. I will make a post here with a link for anyone interested in the Niagra once it's archived. It was really cool to actually be on my next build
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texxn5 got a reaction from lb0190 in Charles W Morgan by texxn5 - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1:64
Hi Larry, she's supposed to be leaving to sail to Huron on Wednesday. If at all possible I want to be there to photograph the event. I might see if she messes with her anchors then. I'm sure she's just moored to the pier, but you never know???? I'll see what I can get for you.
John
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texxn5 got a reaction from Landlubber Mike in Charles W Morgan by texxn5 - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1:64
Toured the Niagra today. It started out raining (.25") before noon. About 1:00 it cleared off and turned out to be a beautiful day. The ship sails tomorrow, so there was a lot of activity on board and they restricted where I could go and how long I could stay in one spot for photos, but I think overall I got a lot of good ones. There is an area inside the museum for model ship builders. There are currently 2 builds of the Model Shipways Niagra at the same stage of build. Hull planked stage. When I was there 2 years ago, they were building a 1/2" scale scratch build which is now finished and on display. I have photographs of all of this. I am going to post these photos on my Morgan website in the Gallery Section over the next few days as internet access here allows. If I can't get them posted I will do so as I can. I will make a post here with a link for anyone interested in the Niagra once it's archived. It was really cool to actually be on my next build
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texxn5 got a reaction from popeye the sailor in Charles W Morgan by texxn5 - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1:64
Toured the Niagra today. It started out raining (.25") before noon. About 1:00 it cleared off and turned out to be a beautiful day. The ship sails tomorrow, so there was a lot of activity on board and they restricted where I could go and how long I could stay in one spot for photos, but I think overall I got a lot of good ones. There is an area inside the museum for model ship builders. There are currently 2 builds of the Model Shipways Niagra at the same stage of build. Hull planked stage. When I was there 2 years ago, they were building a 1/2" scale scratch build which is now finished and on display. I have photographs of all of this. I am going to post these photos on my Morgan website in the Gallery Section over the next few days as internet access here allows. If I can't get them posted I will do so as I can. I will make a post here with a link for anyone interested in the Niagra once it's archived. It was really cool to actually be on my next build
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texxn5 got a reaction from Beef Wellington in Charles W Morgan by texxn5 - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1:64
Toured the Niagra today. It started out raining (.25") before noon. About 1:00 it cleared off and turned out to be a beautiful day. The ship sails tomorrow, so there was a lot of activity on board and they restricted where I could go and how long I could stay in one spot for photos, but I think overall I got a lot of good ones. There is an area inside the museum for model ship builders. There are currently 2 builds of the Model Shipways Niagra at the same stage of build. Hull planked stage. When I was there 2 years ago, they were building a 1/2" scale scratch build which is now finished and on display. I have photographs of all of this. I am going to post these photos on my Morgan website in the Gallery Section over the next few days as internet access here allows. If I can't get them posted I will do so as I can. I will make a post here with a link for anyone interested in the Niagra once it's archived. It was really cool to actually be on my next build
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texxn5 got a reaction from lambsbk in Charles W Morgan by texxn5 - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1:64
Hi Larry, she's supposed to be leaving to sail to Huron on Wednesday. If at all possible I want to be there to photograph the event. I might see if she messes with her anchors then. I'm sure she's just moored to the pier, but you never know???? I'll see what I can get for you.
John
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texxn5 reacted to Brucealanevans in Charles W Morgan by Brucealanevans - FINISHED - Model Shipways
It is worth investing in at least one very good tweezer, that is kept carefully away from potential damaging gunk when a cheap workhorse tweezer (on the left) will to for holding or placing pieces. Watchmaker type tweezers work great; I have two - this (on the right, protective case above) - is one of them.
I will say that as an old guy, putting one small thing inside another small thing is sometimes a real challenge. For instance, for the small anchor fastening chain, I had to get a small cross bar (steel wire fine gauge) into and through one link in the smallest guage chain in the kit.
Could not have done it without a piece of equipment I would never buy, but that fell into my lap.
My wife is a surgeon and had an old set of surgical loupes (glasses with two magnifiers built in, one on each lens) that she had to replace. It turned out our interpupillary distances are close enough to identical to allow me to use these for very, very close work when reading glasses alone won't work.
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texxn5 reacted to Brucealanevans in Charles W Morgan by Brucealanevans - FINISHED - Model Shipways
This, my third wood model, was the one in which I vowed no brass would be visible if the piece wasn't supposed to be brass.
I used and was satisfied with Blacken-It, but that has become unavailable.
Casey's Brass Blackener works, but seems to rub off a bit to easily and I ended up touching up with black paint a lot.
These products are what I'm using currently.
The cleaner to soak pieces to remove grease and finger prints, then into the appropriate solution to blacken.
The pewter blackener works well on brittania metal (I used it for my anchors for example). Both from Blue Jacket.
The other "steel" blackening solution (Presto Black Concentrate) I found on the Internet, and is diluted 1:10 for use. Works well on steel (I have used some steel wire in the model) and brass (as long as it's not coated like much of the brass or copper wire for jewelry is). Once VERY dry, I coat with a matt acrylic.
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texxn5 reacted to Brucealanevans in Charles W Morgan by Brucealanevans - FINISHED - Model Shipways
OK, this was an extravagance that I indulged for my 66th birthday;
A Proxxon drill press and a x-y micrometer adjustment table.
Usefull for precisely drilling spaced and straight lines of holes. (You have to spend some time with right angles to precisely mount the table onto the press' work surface)
Can be used to mill (in 2 dimensions) with milling bits, but that is somewhat hard with the soft and easily split along the grain basswood of the Morgan kit.
If I were starting again, I would buy something harder and closer grained for some pieces -
Definitely the slats for the skylight - even with the tool I could not drill the number of holes/cm that were required for the full complement of horizontal rods without the slat splitting. I had to reduce the number of rods to complete the piece.
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texxn5 reacted to Brucealanevans in Charles W Morgan by Brucealanevans - FINISHED - Model Shipways
I bought a set of dental picks, and the main use has been applying glue.
It is easy to get glue just where you want it - along an edge, in a hole, etc.
Also immediately useful to remove any excess glue squeezed out and potentially visible.
I always have a small square of waxed paper taped to my glass work surface, and on that a large drop of CA will stay useable for hours.
(note, no kids in my house )
For wood glue, I put some on a 3 x 5 card - useable for 5-10 minutes only.
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texxn5 reacted to Brucealanevans in Charles W Morgan by Brucealanevans - FINISHED - Model Shipways
For coamings, bases of deck houses, edge trim (like on the shelter top) mitered corners look great.
This micro miter box (Micro-Mark again) does a great job creating mitered corners for small pieces of wood.
We all (or at least I) are gear crazy and buy more tools than are good for us, but this one is definitely a keeper with a model like the Morgan, which once the bulkheads and keel are assembled, is basically a scratch built kit aside from the metal castings and a few laser cut wood pieces.
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texxn5 reacted to Brucealanevans in Charles W Morgan by Brucealanevans - FINISHED - Model Shipways
Secondly, double-sided tape is your friend.
I regularly put a couple of pieces down on the cutting mat to keep things from moving when trimming wood sheets, etc.
Also useful for holding wood in alignment when gluing side to edge (constructing deck houses) or end to end (as for coamings).
In either case, some heavy right angle irons, together with the visible lines on the cutting mat, keep the vertical alignment in place.
These angle irons were from Micro-Mark.
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texxn5 reacted to Brucealanevans in Charles W Morgan by Brucealanevans - FINISHED - Model Shipways
As I finish the hull, I thought I'd pass along some helpful things I learned. No claim of originiality; I picked these up here and there, including some from posts on this site.
Firstly regarding work area: a large piece of tempered glass on the work surface is very helpful - keeps things flat, paint and glue can be easily cleaned off with a single edge razor blade, CA glued pieces don't stick well.
I use a cutting mat on top of it, offset so I can use the most appropriate surface without a lot of shifting around.
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texxn5 reacted to Brucealanevans in Charles W Morgan by Brucealanevans - FINISHED - Model Shipways
After more than 1 1/2 years at this, I'm approaching being done with the hull.
Put on the shelter roof last night.
Next is the rail/pump area around the mainmast, and then a few random things like the grinding wheel, some barrels, and a careful review of the plan sheet to make certain all of the deck eyebolts, cleats, etc. are in place.
Likely will need to take a break before beginning rigging/masts as real life intrudes again.
Oh well, by this time next year I'll be retired or, at the worst, part time; more time to play either way!
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texxn5 got a reaction from GLakie in Charles W Morgan by texxn5 - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1:64
Hi Larry, she's supposed to be leaving to sail to Huron on Wednesday. If at all possible I want to be there to photograph the event. I might see if she messes with her anchors then. I'm sure she's just moored to the pier, but you never know???? I'll see what I can get for you.
John
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texxn5 got a reaction from GLakie in Charles W Morgan by texxn5 - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1:64
Hello to all. I am currently in Erie, Pennsylvania and plan to visit the US Brig Niagra on Tuesday. For any of the Niagra fans if you need any specific photographs please let me know and I will make sure I get a good photo for you. I will photograph it extensively since this will be my next build after I finish the Morgan. When I was here 2 years ago she was sailing in Lake Michigan and I didn't get to go aboard. Let me hear from you soon.
John
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texxn5 got a reaction from Piet in Charles W Morgan by texxn5 - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1:64
Hi Larry, she's supposed to be leaving to sail to Huron on Wednesday. If at all possible I want to be there to photograph the event. I might see if she messes with her anchors then. I'm sure she's just moored to the pier, but you never know???? I'll see what I can get for you.
John
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texxn5 got a reaction from Piet in Charles W Morgan by texxn5 - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1:64
Hello to all. I am currently in Erie, Pennsylvania and plan to visit the US Brig Niagra on Tuesday. For any of the Niagra fans if you need any specific photographs please let me know and I will make sure I get a good photo for you. I will photograph it extensively since this will be my next build after I finish the Morgan. When I was here 2 years ago she was sailing in Lake Michigan and I didn't get to go aboard. Let me hear from you soon.
John
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