Goodshipvenus

Are you going to paint the photo etch parts or leave them as they are?

While the sailors on 18th-19th century warships were always busy scrubbing the desks, splicing ropes, trimming the sails, cleaning the heads, doing repairs, steering the ship etc. what were the many marines on board doing every watch? They couldn’t have all been standing guard or drilling all the time. What duties did they have that would have kept them as busy as the sailors?

I use a method of making my own flags that Gus Augustin came up with.

Cut a piece of quality white paper to the right size.

Wet and crumple it. Dry it. The paper will retain all the creases,

Paint the flag on both sides. You don't have to do a perfect job of painting since the finished flag will hang down with all the creases just like a real one and you won't be able to se if the lines are not all straight.

Mount the flag and crease it as desired.

It actually works.

I'm going to have to make my own flag, so I'll see which will be easiest.

Excellent. Just what I wanted to know. Yes, I have an ensign so I'm going to hang it.

Thanks

Would you hang a flag from it?

Getting close to finishing Sphinx. Originally planned to do a full-rigged version, then realized I don’t have the ambition to do another fully rigged three master.

So, what is this spar attached to the taffrail? Is it a flagstaff? Can I mount a flag on it or will it look silly? Also, should it be tapered? It’ doesn’t appear on any of the plans (Version 1) or photos.

Midshipmen could be as young as 13 or even younger.

Will Speedwell include any of the internal structures such as cabins, etc?

I’m mathematically challenged and I can’t claim to understand how dog watches and other issues of a Royal Navy sailing day was apportioned, but it seems to me that each watch only got four hours of sleep in their hammocks each night before the watch was changed and they had to go on deck. Is this correct or do I completely misunderstand something? If I this was true, then how could men function indefinitely on four hours of sleep a night and still do dangerous work? They couldn’t return to their hammocks after their Watch ended because all hammocks would have been taken down. So, were sailors supermen who got by on little sleep, or do I have this completely wrong?

My Vanguard model of Sphinx has an excellent, detailed binnacle. But, many other models I see, including others from Vanguard, have no binnacle. So, where did the compass go? And if there is no compass in front of the helmsman how did he keep a true course?

Just curious, what would have been the reason for rigging a small ship like Speedwell as a ketch instead of a brig or cutter?

Thanks. Found ivory tulle on Etsy for a couple of bucks. They also have “sand” color.

I use sanding sticks of various widths and also use a shop-vac to clean them. Still, removing char is never fun. Woody Joe’s Japanese 17th century merchant ship was the only laser-cut model I ever built that had virtually no char. Don’t know how they did it.

I always assumed hammock netting on 18th century ships was black (tarred). But, I’ve seen some models where it’s white or beige. Which is correct?

Looks great. I would love to build a POF kit that is actually well designed and engineered, and that has instructions in clear, grammatical English. That’s why I like Chris Watton’s products.  If there’s a list to buy Speedwell when it’s ready please put me on it.

Yes, anchor cables.

If I wanted to place cables going into the hold on my Sphinx model, where would they go? Into the forward hatch near the foc’sl or the hatch in front of the quarterdeck deck (see picture)?

I needed additional brass pins for my Sphinx model and I found that only Modelcraft pins will fit the Modelcraft pin pusher. So I found them on the Modelcraft web site for $3.75. Fair price. But, they wanted $16.95 for shipping, 4 1/2 times the cost of a product that weighs less than an ounce and could be shipped in an envelope with a first class stamp! Instead I found the same item on a modeling website and was only charged $10.95 for shipping! This seems to be a common issue for online sites when you need just one or two small hobby items.

Now I don’t expect a small retailer to provide free shipping like Amazon, but charging many times more for shipping than the cost of the product is just robbery. 
Have other members encountered this same issue?

Currently building HMS Sphinx and I have a question or two on the depth numbers for the model’s bow and stern.  I’ve never seen them on a model before. What exactly were they used for on the real ships? Were they painted on or were they metal plates? Were they copper, as Chris Watton suggests, or black?

Just curious.

But, why were they there in the first place?

I’m moving along on HMS Sphinx and I noticed something I don’t understand. There are “Galley Doors” in the kit ,but they don’t seem to go anywhere or have any purpose. They are located directly behind the stove with a small space between the doors and the stove. The back of the stove has no opening , so those doors don’t lead anywhere or enclose anything. 
 

Any ideas?

Thanks much. I will try that. I assume Wipe On Poly is a matte finish?

On more question: if I do use a stain (which I probably won’t at this point, just sand off the Danish Oil) won’t i still have the same problem of uneven absorption?

What acrylic lacquer do you recommend? What brand name?