hollowneck

LOVE doing this.
The best part.
Marc

Not everyone enjoys rigging, or some other aspects, so no apology needed.  
 
I happen to enjoy rigging, don't know why but all those lines control the yards and sails which drive the ship, and give character to her.  I find rattling down to cause some dain bramage though, but a good ale straightens me out.  And when done, she sure looks good.
 
So, not every aspect gives the same enjoyment, but one must still git 'er done.
 
Keep on building and above all, have fun.                      Duff 

I´d love to see some french frigates, too. La Forte or maybe La Virginie.
 
Or a danish one, they built beautiful vessels like Hohlenberg´s 24-pounder frigate Perlen of 1805:
 

 
Another beauty, Schifter´s Galathea:
 

 
Launched 1833 and made the first danish circumnavigation of the globe in the years 1846/47.

Not that I am getting involved with the topic of kit subject matter but I do feel compelled to respond to this as it was a direct request of sorts...so please excuse the interruption.
 
HSM wrote
 
Oh, one more thing that I would like to see (from Syren specifically) is an option for bulk-orders of blocks. If you could offer a package of blocks to replace all of the kit blocks in the MS Rattlesnake (for example) builders could order that for the MS kit or any similar ship.
 
It is impossible to offer such a package for every kit, but a few generic 20 gun, 50 gun, 100 gun packages at 2 or 3 different scales could be doable...
 
It's amazing how easy something is to suggest when SOMEONE ELSE has to do the actual work ;-)
 
Sadly,  this will never happen but please allow me to explain why.   The answer is three fold.  Just so everyone knows.
 
- First...I would need to double if not triple my output of block/rope production so I could stock enough of these packages for individual kits or ship types.
 
- Second...the amount of time needed to just package up these blocks and rope now is enormous.   So to package by hand different amounts of different sizes included labeled packages and then sort them would take hiring another person to do that almost full time.  And when they were done....they could sit on the shelf for months or even years before someone might be willing to buy such an upgrade package so specific.
 
-Third...It would take weeks...months or even years to research so many specific ships....research that really should be done by the builder.   Especially if I have never built the ship before.  This is a question I get all the time....I got this one just a few days ago.  I think some folks just want the work all done and spoon fed like it was a fast food restaurant.
 
"I am building the Vasa and would like to replace all of the blocks and rope in the kit with yours.   Can you tell me how many blocks and what sizes I would need?   I also need to know how much rope to buy.   The kit isn't very good in this regard so sizes and quantities are unknown to me.  Is there some hard and fast rules that would tell me what sizes to use in the different areas of the rig?  Any help would be appreciated.  I have just finished the hull and I am anxious to get started on the rigging as quickly as possible.  Do have expedited shipping?"
 
I could spend several months writing what would amount to be a treatise on this subject for this customer.....while gathering the quantities and lengths....but seriously...who is building this model.  There are usually many books readily available to help the model builder figure all of this stuff out....as much as I want to be everyone's shortcut and help them out....it is an impossible task.  So please dont get mad if I respond in the usual manner if you should ask this question...
 
​I never built it...but there are several books on the subject.  Please refer to the parts list in your kit as a starting point.  Everything is in stock and ready when you gather up all the information.   You may consider signing up on Model Ship World to ask those questions.   I am sure you will find many people who have built that kit.      
 
Many ask for this because they also believe as a bulk package it will be cheaper.  But in reality because of the work involved as mentioned....I would have to charge a whole lot more.  Its cheaper if you guys do the math up front.  A lot less work for me too!!!
 
 
Oh and if I can slip this in....Wasp is on my short list already.   

Oh, one more thing that I would like to see (from Syren specifically) is an option for bulk-orders of blocks. If you could offer a package of blocks to replace all of the kit blocks in the MS Rattlesnake (for example) builders could order that for the MS kit or any similar ship.
 
It is impossible to offer such a package for every kit, but a few generic 20 gun, 50 gun, 100 gun packages at 2 or 3 different scales could be doable...
 
It's amazing how easy something is to suggest when SOMEONE ELSE has to do the actual work ;-)

Hello again,
 
a friend send me this picture of the now new restored Victory. Maybe they have seen my blog? 
 

 
This is my lobby 
 

 
Regards,
Siggi

Hello,
 
now it is done, the ship is in his case.
The only thing that is left, is to connect the LED's in front of the ship with the switch and the battery. 
 
Regards,
Siggi

She looks stunning! Great job!

Excellent job, Sal! Your Syren is a real beauty!
 
Thomas

The frigate CONFEDERACY has nothing to do with the Confederate States of America.  It is named after the country formed under the Articles of Confederation, i.e. the United States.  Build the model!

Generally-speaking, the walnut strip wood in CC kits are of inconsistent quality; most of this particular wood has only one good purpose: aglow in one's fireplace, keeping you and your shop warm in the winter.  
 
Of all the kit providers (not that many in reality), my experience is that the Victory models line (from Amati) and the Dusek (Czech) brands have very decent strip wood (walnut as well as other assorted woods). Laser or even CNC cut woods for both these brands ranges from acceptable to excellent. My "specialty" is building heavily modified kits wherein I typically replace the majority of the kit's supplied wood. It's worth it to me for the keel and bulkhead pieces which are nominally pretty decent, the plans which range from O.K. to superb and all the "bits" that are critical - like PE brass as well as some of the critical castings (figureheads, decorative pieces, ship's bells, turned cannon etc.).
 
I have focused here only on the "euro" brands, not the American ones (there are only two major ones, which is another topic unto itself).
 
Hope this info will be helpful...months have  passed since your first post!
 
Ron

Generally-speaking, the walnut strip wood in CC kits are of inconsistent quality; most of this particular wood has only one good purpose: aglow in one's fireplace, keeping you and your shop warm in the winter.  
 
Of all the kit providers (not that many in reality), my experience is that the Victory models line (from Amati) and the Dusek (Czech) brands have very decent strip wood (walnut as well as other assorted woods). Laser or even CNC cut woods for both these brands ranges from acceptable to excellent. My "specialty" is building heavily modified kits wherein I typically replace the majority of the kit's supplied wood. It's worth it to me for the keel and bulkhead pieces which are nominally pretty decent, the plans which range from O.K. to superb and all the "bits" that are critical - like PE brass as well as some of the critical castings (figureheads, decorative pieces, ship's bells, turned cannon etc.).
 
I have focused here only on the "euro" brands, not the American ones (there are only two major ones, which is another topic unto itself).
 
Hope this info will be helpful...months have  passed since your first post!
 
Ron

Generally-speaking, the walnut strip wood in CC kits are of inconsistent quality; most of this particular wood has only one good purpose: aglow in one's fireplace, keeping you and your shop warm in the winter.  
 
Of all the kit providers (not that many in reality), my experience is that the Victory models line (from Amati) and the Dusek (Czech) brands have very decent strip wood (walnut as well as other assorted woods). Laser or even CNC cut woods for both these brands ranges from acceptable to excellent. My "specialty" is building heavily modified kits wherein I typically replace the majority of the kit's supplied wood. It's worth it to me for the keel and bulkhead pieces which are nominally pretty decent, the plans which range from O.K. to superb and all the "bits" that are critical - like PE brass as well as some of the critical castings (figureheads, decorative pieces, ship's bells, turned cannon etc.).
 
I have focused here only on the "euro" brands, not the American ones (there are only two major ones, which is another topic unto itself).
 
Hope this info will be helpful...months have  passed since your first post!
 
Ron

Generally-speaking, the walnut strip wood in CC kits are of inconsistent quality; most of this particular wood has only one good purpose: aglow in one's fireplace, keeping you and your shop warm in the winter.  
 
Of all the kit providers (not that many in reality), my experience is that the Victory models line (from Amati) and the Dusek (Czech) brands have very decent strip wood (walnut as well as other assorted woods). Laser or even CNC cut woods for both these brands ranges from acceptable to excellent. My "specialty" is building heavily modified kits wherein I typically replace the majority of the kit's supplied wood. It's worth it to me for the keel and bulkhead pieces which are nominally pretty decent, the plans which range from O.K. to superb and all the "bits" that are critical - like PE brass as well as some of the critical castings (figureheads, decorative pieces, ship's bells, turned cannon etc.).
 
I have focused here only on the "euro" brands, not the American ones (there are only two major ones, which is another topic unto itself).
 
Hope this info will be helpful...months have  passed since your first post!
 
Ron

Hello everyone.  It's been a while since I have posted.  My Syren has been build has been put on hold because I heard the call of another "syren", which I will start a build log for soon.  Thought I would share some pics of where she stands for now.  Towards the end of summer, I finished the treenailing the upper planking and applied a single coat of WBPU to the port side.  The starboard is still un-planked at this point.  
 
Started by lining/marking the treenail locations

 
I drilled to holes using a #70 bit, and then lightly touched the hole with a pencil to simulate a caulk line.  The hole was then filled with Elmers "Golden Oak" wood filler, which seems to be a pretty good match with the castillo boxwood used for the planks.

 
Then everything was sanded down and a coat of water based polyurethane was applied.  I am pretty happy with the results for a first-timer.


 
Where she stands now, on the shelf for a little while...

Excellent job. This model kit is one of the nicest ones available. Congrats on a model that will earn well-deserved compliments for years to come!
 
Ron

Excellent job. This model kit is one of the nicest ones available. Congrats on a model that will earn well-deserved compliments for years to come!
 
Ron

Excellent job. This model kit is one of the nicest ones available. Congrats on a model that will earn well-deserved compliments for years to come!
 
Ron

Excellent job. This model kit is one of the nicest ones available. Congrats on a model that will earn well-deserved compliments for years to come!
 
Ron

Excellent job. This model kit is one of the nicest ones available. Congrats on a model that will earn well-deserved compliments for years to come!
 
Ron

Ray,
 
Good Luck with your Diana. I just completed mine this past December. This is the oldest but one of the best Caldercraft kits. Overlook the poor instructions, toss 'em. The plans are quite good however, the materials are excellent. I loved upgrading this kit.
 
I have some photos in the completed ship gallery here you may want to look at - you know, inspiration! As you'll see, I decided to not copper her. I agree that the Victory Models copper plates are considerably better (I used them on the VM/Amati Mercury brig kit, same scale). YOu may want to think about this approach. Diana's lower hull lines are beautiful and the walnut planking does finish-up quite nicely.
 
Cheers!
Ron
 
 

Ray,
 
Good Luck with your Diana. I just completed mine this past December. This is the oldest but one of the best Caldercraft kits. Overlook the poor instructions, toss 'em. The plans are quite good however, the materials are excellent. I loved upgrading this kit.
 
I have some photos in the completed ship gallery here you may want to look at - you know, inspiration! As you'll see, I decided to not copper her. I agree that the Victory Models copper plates are considerably better (I used them on the VM/Amati Mercury brig kit, same scale). YOu may want to think about this approach. Diana's lower hull lines are beautiful and the walnut planking does finish-up quite nicely.
 
Cheers!
Ron
 
 

I also thought the Conference was very good.  Well-planned. Well-attended. Hilton's facilities were perfect for our members and the staff were good.
 
Thanks to all in the NRG that organized this event - Good Job! Ryland, thanks for posting the pics. As promised, Yukon Mike (Kusawa) remembered to bring a (still cold) can of the Yukon's Chilkoot beer for me. And what might you guess is the beer company's marketing slogan? "Beer Worth Freezing For." I'm not certain any beer is worth freezing for, hmmmmmm...but wait a minute! - if one's blood alcohol level is very high....I felt terrible that I had forgotten to bring a Two Roads brew from nearby Stratford.
 
Catch you next year in San Diego, Mike. I'll buy you a Margarita- promise.
 
Ron

I also thought the Conference was very good.  Well-planned. Well-attended. Hilton's facilities were perfect for our members and the staff were good.
 
Thanks to all in the NRG that organized this event - Good Job! Ryland, thanks for posting the pics. As promised, Yukon Mike (Kusawa) remembered to bring a (still cold) can of the Yukon's Chilkoot beer for me. And what might you guess is the beer company's marketing slogan? "Beer Worth Freezing For." I'm not certain any beer is worth freezing for, hmmmmmm...but wait a minute! - if one's blood alcohol level is very high....I felt terrible that I had forgotten to bring a Two Roads brew from nearby Stratford.
 
Catch you next year in San Diego, Mike. I'll buy you a Margarita- promise.
 
Ron

I also thought the Conference was very good.  Well-planned. Well-attended. Hilton's facilities were perfect for our members and the staff were good.
 
Thanks to all in the NRG that organized this event - Good Job! Ryland, thanks for posting the pics. As promised, Yukon Mike (Kusawa) remembered to bring a (still cold) can of the Yukon's Chilkoot beer for me. And what might you guess is the beer company's marketing slogan? "Beer Worth Freezing For." I'm not certain any beer is worth freezing for, hmmmmmm...but wait a minute! - if one's blood alcohol level is very high....I felt terrible that I had forgotten to bring a Two Roads brew from nearby Stratford.
 
Catch you next year in San Diego, Mike. I'll buy you a Margarita- promise.
 
Ron