DSiemens

Many Happy returns Daniel, It was interesting that Sarah thought you were much older than you are , I too had the same thought, It seems that Sarah is still quite young as well judging from the picture in the builder thread.
 
I must echo the thoughts about working with the finer grained hardwoods. Basswood is nice but has it limitations as do all woods. if you have a Lee Valley store close, they sell small blanks of the fine grained woods for turning pen bodies etc, they are very reasonably priced as well.
 
The hull shape looks great.
 
Michael

HAPPY BIRTHDAY --- and many happy returns.
 
You had better pile on some more of these as, according to Sarah, you don't 'fit' with the rest of us relics  

Hello Daniel,
 

 
Enjoy and have a great day.
 
Take care,
 
Anja

oh....WOW!    congrats,  my friend...........have a great day!

I totally understand Bob.  We would never know but you would and it would bug you every time you looked at it.  You'll enjoy it all the more after the redo.  

I apparently was being papparazzi'd by the Admiral while I was shooting the final pictures of the Santa Maria.  I was so focused I didn't even know until she started posting things on Facebook.  She took a great shot though so I thought I would share.  
 

 
Also one other update for those that wonder, still no bonsai tree yet.  Apparently she knows a guy that grows awesome ones but he only comes out when it's warm and with all the snow lately he's been staying in.  I'm sure I'll get it though.  Once I do I'll post a picture and let you all decide if it was worth the trade.  

Matt - You should submit one or two of the reflection photo's to the calendar deal.  I think they have a good chance of making it.  I sure wouldn't mind looking at one of those for a month.   

I apparently was being papparazzi'd by the Admiral while I was shooting the final pictures of the Santa Maria.  I was so focused I didn't even know until she started posting things on Facebook.  She took a great shot though so I thought I would share.  
 

 
Also one other update for those that wonder, still no bonsai tree yet.  Apparently she knows a guy that grows awesome ones but he only comes out when it's warm and with all the snow lately he's been staying in.  I'm sure I'll get it though.  Once I do I'll post a picture and let you all decide if it was worth the trade.  

Matt - You should submit one or two of the reflection photo's to the calendar deal.  I think they have a good chance of making it.  I sure wouldn't mind looking at one of those for a month.   

Wait you have two lobster boats, the America, the Gothenburg, and an F-15?!?!      I'm not sure how you keep up with it all but they are coming out great.  Looking forward to more great pics.   

Can you name both?
 

Time for a small update.  Didn't want Andy to sail off without some fond memories.
 
We have ventured into the realm of running rigging (the brown stuff) with the installation of the spanker boom and gaff.  Their addition has certainly filled out the stern.
 
It was a little hard getting the right background but I think you'll get the idea.  She has now reached her full LOA.
 

 

 

 
Will be moving forward now with topmast halliards, etc. before we get to YARDwork  .

Well... Now you've got instructional photos... So if you find yourself in the "rubber room" (personally I think it may rank only slightly above "dog house"), you can go with pride knowing you're in good company.... With the rest of us nuts
 
Andy

Well John putting the bulwark on was tough enough for me. it is amazing what the camera sees that I don't. this is all for now.
 
 
 

 

 

 
Michael
 

Not sure you could catch fish with a Fokker.

This looks like a book I will have to look into.  I have been building miniatures and putting them in bottles the last year and a half.  I have built two ships with split hull's with the purpose of fitting it in the bottle.  
 

 

 

 

 
I'm not sure if this is the same as the book or even the same technique.  I'll have to get a copy and see.  

Looking great!  I love the molding above the keel.  Sorry to hear about your jaw.  Hope you feel better soon.  

You mean like this....
 

You mean like this....
 

I'd bring cookies but i ate them.  

There's a lot of interesting similarities but no it's not nearly that old.   Wish I would have thought of that one though it would have been more fun.  

Paul Gauguin?  Maybe?

Thanks John.  
 
Hyposphagma I gave that a try but it's super glue so no such luck.  A little sanding and a little paint and I think it will be ok.
 
Here are the updated photo's  I just need to get the sails done some sea done and she's ready to bottle.  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
I was trying to get in with my macro lens but it seems this project my be to small even for that lens.  All well that's what makes it so fun.
 
The forward stay is a bit loose.  This is because it needs to flod back to get into the bottle.  With as wide as the bottle neck is the other sails don't need to fold so I was able to get the lines nice and tight.   
 
 

Great work!  Well done sir.  Oh and don't get lost in the snow it's crazy out there.  Think I'll stay in where it's warm with a cup of cocoa and a ship to build. 

Thursday, May 17th 2012

I decided to remove the bow filler segments and replace them with larger ones, so they will fill the front of the bow and make it easier for me when I start planking.

This was not a very productive week for the Half Moon.  But I made some progress.


I glued the transom on the frame, keeping the lower surface leveled for the triangular connecting board, which is also glued in place, secured with the help of a rubber band. Could not find a place to use a clamp for this one.


I was not happy with the small bow filler segments the kit provided, so I removed them and replaced them for larger ones, made out of balsa.
Did a lot of sanding to get them in the right shape.  They are glued in place, but need a little more sanding to get them just right.

The beak head platform is still not glued. I will wait until I'm sure it is not in the way for my new 'bashed' bow.

I fitted the masts, but they won't stand in line. Only when I give them a little help with toothpicks, they will continue to stand up straight and in line.
I can shape the bottom of the deck, so they will come in line. But that's a too narrow space to work. Instead I will use sticky paper or tape to wind round the bottom of the masts, so they will fit better before I glue them in place.

Sorry, no pictures of that yet     Later, I promise.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Monday, May 28th 2012
 
From the deck planks, provided in the kit, about 11 of them weren't straight. That was a bit too much   So I did away with them, into the spare wood parts section.
From the left over wood parts I found other planks which were straight, but of a lightly darker color.

I tried to do the caulking on the main deck with thread, but that wasn't a success. After sanding the thread kept coming loose and fuzzy. So I removed the thread. The decks now all have their layer of varnish. The lines are clearly visible, so I'm not sure if I will caulk the deck.

As you can clearly see in the pictures the main mast was made from a different type of wood then the other masts. So I did away with this one as well. And yes, I also found a new one in the spare wood parts sectionwhich was made from the same wood and had the correct size. I'm happy   

While the decks are drying I made the gun ports. But no, I will not place them yet. First I have to fare the hull.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Friday, June 1st 2012
 
No update yet. But I came across a picture of the deck of the Half Moon. Just wanted to share with you.
 

 
 
Sunday, June 3rd 2012
 
The main deck looked good at first sight. But when you look closely, you can see that the horizontal lines aren't straight. And after a second layer of varnish, it looked even worse   I knew it was going to irritate me when I left
it like that. So, I decided to strip the deck from it's planks. But no more spare ones to choose from. So, I had to go and buy new planks for the main deck. And then I will plank it with straight lines. Let's just say it's good practice for planking and cutting planks straight.

Yes, I did mark of the deck. But my problem is I can't seem to cut straight.  For cutting straight lines I now use my cuttingboard. It has horizontal and vertical lines. So no more 'excuses' to not cut straight.

The shop only had dark strips of wood (mahogany), so I ended up having to replace the planking of the other three little decks as well.
I stripped the main deck and sanded it for a smooth surface. The three little decks were sanded smooth with the sander.

After the first layer of varnish was dry, I rubbed a thin layer of dark stain on the decks.
The decks are in place, but not glued yet. I first had to make sure the masts will still fit the holes.


 

 

 

 

 
 

Monday, June 25th 2012
 
From one frame I had to remove the tops. The tops were straight on the outside, instead of obliquely to the other frames. So I removed them and made new ones. They turned out ok.

I glued the gun ports in place and measured them to the right size. The edges of the gun ports still need more sanding to make them  the right size.

I dreaded having to do it, but I could no longer postpone it. I now, had to begin the first planking. The planks are 1.5 mm thick and 5 mm wide. The planks that cover the gun ports were measured and cut to the approximate size before gluing them in place. Because I also used short planks at the bow, a few planks tore. The likely cause is that the planks were too short to enable the forces acting on the flexure to spread out. The other planks that were placed on top and under the gun ports were used in full length and they didn’t tore. But it is still an adventure in itself.

In between cutting, wetting, drying and gluing the planks, I made the ladders, gratings, capstan and the boat. In my opinion I think the boat is a little to big for the deck. It's hard to tell, because not
all the deck fittings are made. So I will see.

I also found myself a new wood filler to use. It's from Deluxe, a model lite wood filler that is extremely lightweight and sands easily.

I really don't know why I'm telling you this, but the can of stain is so darn hard to open ...... The last time I used it, my hands were all covered with the brown stain. I grabbed an empty jar of applesauce and
poured the stain in. This jar is so easy to open. 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Sunday, August 12th 2012
 
First planking is finally finished. I made mistakes and errors in judgement with this planking. It isn't looking the way it should, and it has given me a lot of headaches  especially the bow section.
That is also why you see lines of demarcation in the planking there instead of just one plank length.  This has become a 1st degree 'haphazard planking job'.

It will need a lot of sanding, filling, more sanding and modeling to get a nice smooth surface for my second planking.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Sunday, September 2nd 2012
 
Filling and sanding is finished.

I painted the inside of the gunports. I’m a miserable painter, I know and I’m sorry.   That is why the gunports don’t look square anymore, but they are.

The bow does look terrible, I know, but it has a smooth surface for the second planking.
I didn’t want to show you this at first, but I thought, what the heck. You may all know and see that the bow was the hardest part to do.
And after the second planking ...... no one will ever know how bad it looked, except for us here.

I sorted out all the planks so I will not make a mistake placing them in the correct order. Made a picture of how it will look.
 
I have planked the stern (upper, middle and lower part). The different woods used is difficult to see (tanganika, walnut, tanganika).
But that might change after a layer of varnish. Edges still need to be sanded. That’s my chore for today.

For the wale there is only one peace of walnut board 2x2 mm. That is one short. But I will find another one somewhere in the spare parts section.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Sunday, January 6th 2013
 
The edges of the stern planking are sanded.
The side strips and the stem and stem knee are glued in place.

Second planking on the port side lower hull is finished. It went better then expected.
But I ran out of tanganika board for the starboard side. So I have to email Corel if they will send me some.

The color of the lower hull is to light for my liking, so I will stain it in a darker color.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Friday, January 11nd 2013
 
Today I received my package from Corel. Talking about great service....  
The new strips are even better then the ones supplied with the kit. 
 
Now I can continue the planking.
 
Sunday, February 17th 2013
 
YES, Finished uploading my build log 
 
To be continued ……….