GrandpaPhil

Upper cheeks are on:

Lower cheeks are in place.

Thank you!

Has anyone ever built a GPM model?

If so, are they good kits?

Thank you everyone for all the likes and the comments!

Mark,

  I’m getting better.  When I started the Victory, two years ago, I wouldn’t have dared to do what I just did.  After pausing to build the Prince de Neufchatel, I am a lot more confident.

I learned a lot.

The biggest lesson was that the hardest part is making that first cut.

I’m completely running off the AOTS plans now and we’ll see how she turns out.

I learned that poster board is actually a good material to build model ships from.

I decided this morning that I would build the head so I can get finish getting the model base coated.

I am making the cheeks from double thickness (1.6mm) poster board because it is flexible and easy to work.

This is leftover material from the Prince de Neufchatel.

 The rest of the head will be mostly basswood.

I’ve done a lot of paint work today.  

I did a lot of gunport lid repair.

 I replaced a couple of other pieces that got damaged during moving.

The Victory looks much better now.  

The cut water will get painted when I build the basic framework for the head, so the cheeks, frames and head rails will adhere better.

1 repaired gunport lid with wire eyebolts:

Quick lesson learned to share with everyone.

Next time I will make my own eyebolts from wire instead of buying plastic ones for my gunport lids.

The nose is all cut out now.  It still needs some minor sanding, but it will work.  I’m happy with it.

New nose dry fitted:

I cut the nose off the Victory.  I am getting the replacement ready to install.

I started from the keel at the stern.  It worked for me.

Thank you very much for the information.

You could always make a bottom.  Just put the model down on a sheet of poster board and trace it out.

Ab,

  How did you support the multiple decks?

Looking good!

I used card stock for my hinges.  A pounce wheel works wonders for dimpling the strapping.

Only if you want to have the studding sails.

It’s a great reference book.  Like I said before, I’m going to build mine from it.

Thank you both!

 I forgot to mention the most important part, I had a lot of fun making them!

Thank you all very much for the likes and the comments!

 I finished the second entry port.  In my opinion it came out better than the first.

It’s still not perfect, but I’m happy with it.  I’m getting better.

The book “The Search For Speed Under Sail” by Howard I Chapelle has plans for a British style 12 lb Carronade Carriage on the plates with the rigging plan for the Prince de Neufchatel.

That’s what I used to make mine.

I’m not big on power tools, because it’s easy for things to go really bad, really quick if you make a mistake, but a Dremel can be useful.

Excellent!  Congratulations on the upgraded shipyard!  I look forward to seeing updates!

Mark,

  I'm sorry to hear this.  I hope things get better for you.