Kenneth Powell

Working on upper ratlines.

In the photo above it seems I'm off a little from my lines, but when I pull the paper up close things are right-on.

Slow going but once I can sit for a while and get in a rhythm, it really moves along.

One thing that has helped is that I moved the model from my basement with no natural light to my sunroom with northern exposure. Here in the Gulf South I get plenty of indirect sunlight year-round.

I can see better and natural light improves my mood to tackle these tedious or what I preserve as difficult items.

I'll march on and complete the ratlines.

Comments welcome - Kenneth

The metal is easy to bend by hand if you take your time and progress slowly - no heating required. I filed, sanded and bent by hand both the wood and metal a little at a time until they fit each other and the hull.

Hope this helps.

- Kenneth

Enjoy this build.

Everyone on this site is helpful and talented.

 - Kenneth

Jon -

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried it and it worked. I used the rotary tool to cut small slices then painted and rigged them up.

I actually lowered the tool and tube into a cardboard box while wearing safety glasses to keep the micro-sized disks from flying away - or putting an eye out.

This is why I like this group. Excellent tips from very talented people with no criticism, just encouragement.

Ratlines are next.

Comments welcome - Kenneth

Thanks JS. 

I'll look into it.

- Kenneth

I've been working on backstays. The plans call to use thimbles. The way I made them was to bore a hole into the end of a dowel then slice them off. When I used what I considered the appropriate size, they split. The instruction book said it's possible to hollow out a deadeye, but they split. What worked for me was to go up very little in size on the dowel and bore the smallest hole possible that would accept the rigging line. It took a while to sand them under magnification. They look a little oversized and a touch out of scale compared to the plans, but here they are:

This is how the plan looks:

This is how my model looks: 

I have a bunch more thimbles to make and a few backstays to finish.

Comments welcome - Kenneth

I finished all the shrouds and thing did line up - mostly.

I'll work to complete the standing rigging.

Comments welcome - Kenneth

I certainly hope so, Dave

Upper shrouds. Man, these things are small.

I tried to add the metal hook and all but decided to make this way. Trying to solve that issue is another thing that put me so far behind.

Comments welcome - Kenneth

Hey Dave -

Thanks for looking in. The build is going slow. Life and stuff always seem to get in the way.

The heat index today should top at 112 here on the MS gulf coast so I think I'll stay in and work on upper shrouds.

- Kenneth

Awesome Build!

I can't believe it's been this long since I've posted.

I did complete the lower shrouds.

Thank goodness the wood is patient.

Comments welcomed.

Stay Safe - Kenneth

I hope you are recovering well.

I haven't posted in a while but I have been working on my Rattlesnake.

Along with that I've been home teleworking and I'm more busy now that ever. But, I do enjoy not spending gas money on my daily commute to the sunroom.

Some cleats installed:

Also see the kevels in the above photos. I made 6, 2 were backwards and 1 split. I was surprised how quickly I cut the 3 new ones. I guess I was in a groove.

I made a gig to build the chainplates:

I've installed the chainplates but haven't taken photos; somehow I skipped that but will make up for it.

I put together the rails with the deck buckets. I couldn't find too many models with the deck buckets but I did add them:

Also the front rail:

Then the hand rails to the deck buckets:

Next I installed the rudder and tiller:

That's it for now.  With afternoon temperatures around 94 - 97 and heat indexes between 105 - 110 here on the Gulf coast, I'll spend more time in the indoor shipyard.

Comments welcome.

Take care and stay safe - Kenneth

Awesome!

Seems we're looking through water at the shallow bottom.

Kenneth

This is really looking great and growing before our eyes.

Issue Slim sun block before the FL sun bleaches his bones 😀

Kenneth

Maybe Snowball can help him out.

Excellent workmanship and Slim looks ready to go!

Kenneth

Everything looks great, the color, fit and finish. This is a really nice build.

And it looks like Slim is putting on a little muscle mass from all the hard work. 🙂

Kenneth

Thanks, man.

You could call him 'Slim'

I have been working on my Rattlesnake:

Finished the anchors

Finished other deck additions

Painting cleats for later installation:

Comments Welcome

Kenneth

The bulkheads break easily and when you least expect it.

She's looking good, good luck with the rest of them.

Kenneth

I just edge-glued 1/16 planks and cut to shape and stained like the decks.

Now that the guns are in I installed the fixed gangways.

The guns under the gangway are very cramped even though the measurements came off the plans.

Comments welcomed.

Kenneth