KurtH

Looking great! Actually you are ahead of me. I am taking my time with this build, as it is my first POB build. I will be checking in regularly.

I separated the bulkheads from their MDF sheets: ...and the keel pattern: These pieces slotted together very nicely. I could get used to this! All components are dry fitted for now. As more components are added, this structure will get a lot stronger. In the meantime, it must be handled with great care.

Thanks so much mtaylor for moving my log to the proper time period. Thanks gentlemen for your encouragement. I have been referring to your builds regularly in order to keep mine headed in the right direction.

I have mistakenly put my HMS Sphinx build log in the wrong time period. How does one move the log from one period to another?

Yes, here is yet another HMS Sphinx build. This is a very popular kit for obvious reasons. While there can never be a kit that is 100% "idiot proof", this kit comes as close to that as you are ever likely to find. Not only are the instructions clearly written and accompanied with a wealth of top quality photos, but there are a great many other builds that I can look at. Since this is my first POB build, this build log is intended to document progress rather than instruct others. I would like to build this model as an Admiralty rather than a fully rigged model. I may add scantling details and open up the quarter deck more, when I get to that phase of the build. We'll see. To begin with, here is a photo of the box: Photos of the contents will be posted as the build progresses. To begin with, I am struck by the quality of the materials that are provided. My last build was done entirely in basswood with a few birch dowels thrown in. It will be fascinating to see how pear, MDF, and maple compare. As far as I can see, only the more recently released kits include a display cradle. This kit not only does that but adds a build cradle to boot! I have never worked with MDF before, and I find it really great. Here are the components of the display cradle, and its appearance when assembled. The next step is the assembling and shaping of the lower counter: The parts went together easily and precisely. Looking at the diagrams of the Pandora AOS by McKay & Coleman (the Pandora is nearly identical to the Sphinx), I see that the resulting structure closely resembles the "transoms" in the real ship. Designing this part in this manner makes perfect sense, yet I have never seen it in any kits other than Vanquard. Shaping was done with a sanding block using 100 grit sandpaper. I do not trust myself with a dremel yet. It seems to me than inexpert handling of a Dremel can result in things going very wrong very fast, so I did it the slow way to be safe. Hopefully the planks will like my shaping of this part. We'll see. The next step is doing the same thing for the bow: Again, the structure resembles the hawse timbers in the real ship. Again, I have found that the pieces fit together easily and precisely. The MDF sands very well, enabling sanding in any direction with no splintering. In addition I have not seen any signs of warping. The final fairing and planking will reveal how well my shaping will integrate into the hull shape. Next step is to fit all the bulkheads to the keel unit.

Immaculate craftsmanship! Such a clean model!

Congratulations on a really beautiful build!

Bravo! That is a big, challenging, and complex build. You can be very proud of your work! My heartiest congratulations!

Congrats on the completion of a really beautiful model. Well done!

One more question if I may. Is there a limit to how many photos one can include in a gallery album? If so, what would that limit be?

Thank you so much! I will be following your very fine build with great interest.

Model Shipways dark bulwarks green is considerably darker. My posts of Feb. 14 and 16 shows the color used on the port quarter boat and the bulwarks.

Absolutely immaculate as always!

Thanks Mort! I appreciate your constant support throughout this project starting from before I joined MSW.

I have completed and varnished the display cradle, and have finished and varnished the base board. I modeled it after some cradles I saw in Keith Julier's books on modeling techiques. This will be my last build log post. I understand that all shots of the completed model belong in the gallery which I will begin work on shortly. I began this build in 2007, 16 years ago! There are two reasons it took this long. One reason is that this is a very challenging build, and I had never tried the majority of tasks required. It was therefore a matter of learning skills as I went rather than applying skills already mastered. The other reason was that I needed to take months at a time off during the year to pursue my audio-video jobs. In view of the fact that this is a challenging build, and that I was a novice in most respects when I began, it is not surprising that the errors and flaws in my model are legion. Nonetheless, I am happy with the overall appearance of the model. Actually, I think I deserve an "A" for persistence if nothing else, and I am patting myself on the back just for having finished it. I would like to express my great appreciation for the encouragement in the form of comments and "likes" and advice I have received from other MSW members. MSW is truly a mutually supportive and collegial group of model enthusiasts. I would also like to thank Nic and the folks at Bluejacket who have been a delight to work with, and prompt in sending me all those little items I bought one at a time because I could not always forsee my needs. I also benefitted greatly from the availability of fine rope from Chuck at Syren.

Thank you so much Nic!

Thanks so much gentlemen! Your kind words mean a great deal to me! Once the cradle is done, I will wrap up the build log and start work on my gallery photos.

Thank you so much Tim!

Thanks so much!

I am almost finished with my Constitution model, and I will soon want to post Photos in the gallery. I looked at the above instructions the images of which bear little resemblance to the pages I encounter beginning of the absence of a shadow person avatar. When I go to the editing of my profile, there is no prompt for gallery. Can someone set me straight? Thanks.

Flag installed. This completes the model (!!!!!!). Now my attention turns to finalizing the display starting with the cradle. I would like to do this in mahogany to match the base board. Let's see how it comes out. Worst case scenario- I am unable to improve on what I have, in which case, I will paint the current cradle black. We shall see. More posts to come.

Main braces rigged. Now to see if I can hang the flag in a realistic manner rather than just stick it on.

Gripes installed. The straps are made from black construction paper. I did not use the rings from Model Expo because they were too small and the next size up was too big. These are the same rings I used as breeching rings on the 24 pounder guns on the gun deck. I have lost track of where I got them. Now to rig the main braces. I will also attempt to hang the flag which will add a dash of color. Whether or not I use it will depend on being able to make it hang in a realistic fashion.

Port anchor in place. I used the anchors from the Revell model because they look more like the ones illustrated in the Marquardt AOS. Yeah I know that it should be made fast to the channel, but as the cathead and channel are so far apart, and there are no exposed timber heads to which to tie it, I decided to hang it instead. On the other hand, I have seen some very fine models on MSW in which that option was used. I'll do the starboard anchor tomorrow.

While waiting for the split rings that I ordered from Model Expo to arrive, I finalized the bowhead. Seats of ease and "canvas" (card stock) covering were permanently glued in. Fore tack boomkins were installed and rigged. Once the quarter boats have been finalized, all that will remain will be the anchors, the main braces, and, if I an pull it off, a new mahogany cradle to match the base board.