GrandpaPhil

Lol!

I was thinking about building the Winchelsea on my way to work this morning.

I think that I’m going to pick up a 4’ by 8’ sheet of 1/4” birch ply from the hardware store and cut the bulkheads/center panel for both the Triton and the Winchelsea at the same time.

Most of the internal structures for both the Triton and Winchelsea will be plywood and most of the external woodwork will probably be basswood, because I paint everything anyway.  It won’t do me any good to use the better wood.  

I have some chunks of cedar that I would like to use for the figurehead of the Victory, more decorative carvings, the carvings on the Triton and then I’ll carry over the rest to Winchelsea (I have a lot of cedar).

I took the 8 months to build the Prince de Neufchatel because I found Ab Hoving’s tutorial on scratch building from card and I was frustrated with the Victory (what I wanted to accomplish exceeded my skills).

Ab Hoving’s tutorial is excellent.  It motivated me to try a card scratch build.

Plus, I needed more practice.

I chose the Prince de Neufchatel because I kept seeing build logs of the Model Shipway kits and I thought with it being a Baltimore Clipper that it would be a relatively quick build (I was wrong).

I also never expected to get past the making the hull stage.  I expected that the model would end up in the trash.

I didn’t have confidence in my skills.

Every time a problem would come up, I’d do research here to find a solution, or I would just power through it (making the cannons and carronades).  I would adapt and overcome.

By the time I had a fitted out deck I realized that I had come too far to turn back, so I kept going.

Then I decided that I would like a fully rigged model with sails.  The project grew from there.

 I had the most fun that I have ever had building a model and I learned a lot.

 I used a scalpel with a number 11 blade to do my carving.

I’m trying for 1/72 scale, for the most part, to make my models match while not being overwhelmingly large.

 It’s a good compromise scale between detail and size.

That’s awful about the accident damaging the original model.

The new hull looks awesome.

I have the second one under way.  The outer side is done.  The inner side has a pattern glued to it and is started.

It’s going better than the first one.

Lol to both of you!

 Thank you all for the comments and the likes!

Seriously though, CD when you get around to coppering your Victory, let me know.

 I learned all sorts of valuable lessons between the Victory’s hull and the Prince de Neufchatel’s.

 The first is that if you decide to use copper tape, use new copper tape that sticks well.

 I used old copper tape that I found on sale for the Victory, it took me about 30-40 hours to copper it.  The tape didn’t stick well and I had to reinforce it with glue.

 I used new copper tape from an electrical supply house for the Prince de Neufchatel.  It took me about 4 hours to copper the hull.  Peel and stick with a little bit of fabrication involved.

Edit the first post.

You’ll have the option to edit the title.

I made a front piece and side piece for the entry port.

 I did the carvings.  They’re not the best, but they’re the best I could do.  I’m happy with them

I’m still getting better and the whole point of my Victory build is to use it as a learning project.

This is where I left off 8 months ago:

I now feel much better about my modeling skills.

Now we continue.

The Victory is in her new shipyard.

She sustained minor damage in transport, but will soon see progress.

She needs a couple of gunport lids replaced, but I made extras, so no big deal.

Nic,

  That’s an awesome looking model!

Thank you all!

The Prince de Neufchatel is done which puts me one model closer to beginning the Winchelsea.

Thank you for all of the likes and the comments.

The Prince de Neufchatel is done.

Game on for the Victory!

The Prince de Neufchatel is done now.  I have to finish Victory, then game on for Triton.

 I believe that I am going to alter the scale to 1/72.

That seems to be a good compromise scale between size and level of detail.  Plus it worked well for the Prince de Neufchatel, and I believe that I’d like Triton in the same scale.

Congratulations!  Excellent work!

I learned a lot this build.

I learned to watch scale.  That was my single biggest problem.  I used multiple sources, all at different scales.  I also learned that both pages on a plate in a book may not be at exactly the same scale.

I learned how to interpret line drawings better and make bulkheads from them.

I learned how to make my own blocks, eyebolts, deadeyes, gratings and other fittings.

I learned more about carving.

I learned more about the operation of sailing ships, which was crucial during the rigging stage for visualizing where lines ran to.

I learned to think on the fly when trying to make parts.

This is the most fun that I ever had making a model.

I made many mistakes, but I learned from every single one, and I will pass that experience on to my next project, which will be finishing the Victory.

Thank you all for the likes and the comments along the way.  They were very motivating.

Thank you everyone that took the time to teach me more.

Thank you everyone for sharing your knowledge.

I appreciated all of the support and assistance.

The Prince de Neufchatel is done.

It’s my first ever scratch build.

I learned a lot from this build.

I thoroughly enjoyed it.

It’s not perfect, but it’s not bad for a first try.

Thank you all for the likes and the comments!

 The rigging is complete!

All that I have left are the flags.

Starboard stun sails are on and rigged.

In the process of installing the first set of stun sails, I discovered that I had made some mistakes.  

So, I unleashed rigging spiders on my model.  They cut out the the fore course sheets and tacks.  

If you leave them, they interfere with the stun sails.

The top gaff sail is on and rigged.

If I wasn’t adding in the stun sails, I would be done with the sails.

But, I am adding stun sails, so they’re next!

Quick question, is there any record on the masting/rigging for Winchelsea?

Would it be the same as for Triton?

The Main Sail is installed and rigged.