niwotwill

Center planking completed. Several logs mentioned how difficult the center planking had been for them. The manual simply states to start in the center and makes no mention of dificulty. During this process my wood bin got its fair share to fend off hunger. I found it necessary to add an additional plank that facilitates a slight notch around the largest hatch. This worked well finishing the planking by making a logical plank length to build off starting the 4 plank shift pattern. The walnut wood is more varied in color than I wished but after scraping at the mast hole the colors were not as varied so i'm hoping that the deck will blend into a more uniform pattern. Tomorrow I'll start the second plank of the 4 plank shift pattern.

Couple of days working on the center plankings between the furniture pieces. A lot of measuring, cutting, filing and fitting and making a new one. Slow and methodical work with not much to show for the hours spent. This is where I stopped today. The starboard piece laying on the false deck is the next to be notched around the companionway and skylight. Studying the work I've done and how it progresses along with several decks where the bent the planks rather that ribbing them into the waterway I decided to nib them. I feel the bent deck planking makes the deck appear to bulbous and the straight seem to be more common.

Started post and went to lunch so I'm not sure how the photos got reversed. OOPS on my part.

Another short update. The center planks completed from bow to first hatch. th Now its on the lining off the deck for final planking. Prior to lining the deck I needed to protect the finish planking. I've used foam rubber on another model with copper plating with great results. No damage. I'll use the same method this time. Bought a remnant of 5" foam at JoAnns. Cutting a slot the length of the hull and then cutting along the sides creating a valley where the ship sits. I also find that this is very helpful when rigging on the top of a lazy susan. Now on to lining off the deck for planking.

Short post bringing everything I completed up to date. Finished all the deck furniture Lined off the hull First plank laid More planks tomorrow

So I thought I was ready for planking but, I forgot the small forward hatch and galley cover. Needing my mill and having everything packed in boxes from the move forced me to unpack 14 boxes of shop stuff. Spent two days doing the first organizing in my new space. I have some tall cabinets on order so I'll do a proper job of organizing. With the mill found now how to put together. Took quite awhile to remember what went where and then put it all together. Spent the afternoon aligning and squaring and thank goodness for lasers to make it level and square. It had been two years since I cut any wood and I can't tell you how good it felt. Found the stock from the larger hatch and went to work. Previously I had made the grate using Syrens kits so it was striaght to the coaming. True confessions the wood bin was well fed. Completed grate after one coat of wipe on poly Next on the the galley vent

Two years and a lot has happened to me and the family. First we left Arizona and returned to Colorado. One morning while sitting at breakfast I said "I don't like it here and want to go home" my wife said "I don't like it either". We put the house up for sale and in two days we had many offers. Choosing one we soon discovered we had no where to go. Back in Colorado and setting up a workshop. We hired a professional moving company and they made custom shipping crates for my models. Nothing was damaged but I think the vibrations in the moving truck caused some breakage in the gaff rigging that will need to be fixed before starting the finishing. All that said I'll soon get back to Syren after finishing some other chores. But just wanted to say I will be back on site finishing the Syren

It would be funny to say "Well I'm back" since I've been gone for 2 years but I'm back. A little history 4 years ago we moved to Arizona to become snowbirds but it never felt like home. In Nov of 22 we moved back to Colorado. New house, no shop, and too many boxes. I did a miserable job of packing my workshop and now I don't know what box has what. We finished our walkout basement and framed up an area for my shop. All that being done today I finally started just unpacking boxes not knowing what I'd find. One box had soldering equipment both soft and silver solder. Put all of the equipment in a wall cabinet and boy did that feel good. So much to do but I'm back. Now I'm ready to start planking the Cheerful's deck so new will be progress posts.

Love the wipe on poly. Makes the planks have a finished appearance highlighting how the wood takes the poly and changes the color. Now the trunnels really become part of the visual experience. Very nice Kenny

Amazing Andrew. Love the net and the catch in salted boxes. I believe they salted the catch. I am in awe of your work.

started making the boom and gaff until the shop got too hot. Little AC unit can't keep up to the Arizona summer heat. But as I started to making boom jaws I came across some parts and have no idea what or where they are. Help Many thanks for the likes and looks

Standing rigging completed and now on to chapter Not much write but here's a few photos Plan view Foremast Mainmast Looking forward Looking aft More to come as I get started with Yards, Parrels, Foot ropes and rigging blocks. Thanks to all for the looks and kind words

Great job on the green tail and the flesh tones. High lighting the subtle features is well done. Best Regards Will

I've decided to press ahead before the lower mast ratlines. I added the top fore mast shrouds, sheer poles and futtock staves with the catharpins. Next i'll add the sister blocks and the top mast fore and back stays. a Don't know when I'll get back to the Syren. Next week I have a daughters graduation from Arizona State with a degree in Electrical Engineering. We have family coming starting tomorrow and through next week. On the 16th we head to Colorado for 4 weeks so it will be the middle of June before any work. Thanks all for the looks, likes and kind comments. Regards Will

All the comments are right on spot. I've built two of Chris's fishing boats and can testify to the quality of the kits along with the finished product. Enclosed picture of completed fishing boat Eyrcina making a wonderful display. Regard Will

Back in the shop working on Syren. A lot of work/time to complete the snugging up the lower shrouds. Next was the futtock staves a simple but detail necessity. I a strip of ebony left from a previous build to make the futtock staves and then lashed them to the lower shrouds. The futtock shrouds were a simple matter of the the lines through the eyes below the upper mast deadeyes to the staves. Had to take a day making more rope when I think I have enough rope of a size I seem to need more. Reading all the logs along with several books I decided to take an easier way to make my catharpins. I served i" on two pieces of line to create the center one piece. I the draped the lines over the staves using clips on each of the four pieces of rope. This way I was able to center the served 1" section in the center between the staves. That done I could seize each line without pulling the center out of alignment. With all that done it is as another poster said "it so crowed in here you can't see the individual knots". I've decided to complete the upper shrouds and fore & back stays and do the ratlines at the same time. Regards Will

Looks fantastic. It was very interesting about the sail scale on your drawings as on Erycina the sails were correctly scaled. You are doing a beautiful job she's going to be great. Will

Finished, Finished, Finished The last thing to do was the final shaping of the sails simulating a starboard tack hard to the wind. To achieve the final sail shape required many tests of different material. First I tried to spray on diluted white glue but as it dried the sample started to curl and when completely dry became almost cylindrical. Next was a flat gloss varifane sprayed with the same results as the glue. Next was clear lacquer sprayed with the air brush to keep down the overspray. When it dried it became very stiff and fragile but held the shape as I wanted. During reading about lacquer I had read that it has a tendency to yellow with age so with the being fragile and yellowing that was a no go. Lastly on a lark I tried plain old aerosol hair spray and voila. I covered the decks and using a 16" box fan on lowest setting about 4' from the model I sprayed one coat on the sails. The sails became dark with wet spray which took an hour to dry to the original color. A series of photos of the completed Erycina Well she's finished and makes a beautiful display model with colored sails and red and green paint. I want to thank everyone who followed along the path and especially all those who helped with much appreciated help. Many Regards Will

Just a quick update. Rather than work on Syren I decided to finish all the small boats I'd started. Then I came down with covid and its been a long recovery, but not I back to Syren. Will

Finally got back into the shop on the Erycina. With the shrouds and forestay done it was time for ratlines. On another model I borrowed a neat little tool for ratline spacing. Take a thin piece of wood long enough to cover all the shrouds with a width the same at the ratline spacing. Glue sandpaper to the wood (I used 320grit) place one piece behind and another in front clipping them together. (I use alligator clips). Tie the lines and slide the knot down to the spacer wood. Wood with sandpaper. I use glue sticks for glueing the sandpaper also works for patterns much better than rubber cement. spacers placed spacers clipped (I remembered to describe this method afterthe ratlines were done but not shaped) Time to lift sails and running rigging. This was fairly straight forward and there's not much to show. Added the parrel rope to main gaff and rigged per drawing. Lashed the sail to the boom and routed the boom sheets to the block. Tied the topsail to the topmast added the halyard, down haul and tied the gaff. Mizzen sail like the main sail with the exception of tie off points. The foresail and jib were very straight forward with little explanation. One last set pictures of the basically completed Erycina. Need to make hanging ropes at the tie off points and one last thing forming the sails. Using a box fan set the sails in a tight starboard run but I haven't decided how to keep them in shape. Thoughts are use dead flat water based variphane thinned and sprayed with an airbrush. Just thinking. Will

Feeling better and able to spend some hours working on Erycina but truly I had to read my log to remember where I had been doing before covid. I spent some time making sure the pins are snug enough to stay in place while inserting into the lower deadeyes. Once the jig was completed started hanging shrouds. As I've stated I'm leaving the kit as designed, no kit bashing this time. You will see that the shrouds have not been served and I'm using furnished line instead of making my own even though the kit line is not up to ropewalk rope. I threaded all the deadeyes leaving the lines loose until all shrouds were completed. Next the deadeyes were evened while tightening the shrouds. First starboard shroud First port shroud Starboard main and mizzen Port main and mizzen shrouds All deadeye snugged up but still loose for future adjustment if necessary. Next was the topmast shrouds following the same procedure but with a wire formed to keep the bullseyes at a uniform distance. I finished the day with the main stay. I know I said i was not going to kit bash but the main stay to an eye on top of the stem was too much. Following the "Master Hand" drawings in Sailing Trawlers I want to rig my fore stay as done on Master Hand. Problem was I had already made the stem and bulwarks so I had to modify my approach Master Hand forestay came down to the stem through hole and exiting inboard to be bent to the gypsy winch. Unable to drill the exit hole a hole was drilled through the stem and a groove made along the front of the stem for the line; You can see the groove and line entering the through hole Pulling the forestay tight required a method of using 3mm closed hearts from "Syren Models". Once lashed to the forestay and winch end they were lashed pulling the forestay tight. Thats enough for today maybe tomorrow I can get the ratlines. Will

Andrew you asked about rigging and specifically serving as shown in March's photos and Master Hand drawings, I've decided to leave the kit as designed. Meaning I'll use the furnished lines and not attempt modeling originality by making my own rope, serving as shown. Also with the down time reading Sail Trawlers I see a few things that could be done to model originally. (specifically chapters 5 & 6) Thank you for your kind words about covid. I've only spent a couple hours in the shop as I still get very tired. Tuesday was a bad day as I again had a fever with the aches but not as bad as the first this one only up to 101.6. Again thank you, Will

After watching the Cheerful planking its hard to imagine getting better planking, but you've done it. I can see you're using the Byrnes thickness sander to achieve these excellent results. Glenn I love to watch your logs they keep getting better. Regards Will

Andrew Fantastic what more can be said. Tell me how you weathered the boxes? The colors are correct (really period correct) do you mix your own colors? You've got to finish the remodel of daughters bedroom and get back at Nisha. I'm feeling better and getting more strength from covid and can't even imagine how people in the hospital feel. Regards Will

Jean-Paul I must say each time I look at her i love the wood colors. Wonderful job. Regards Will