cog

having started out with one of these non laser cut kits......I actually thought it was rather interesting.  the funny thing of it was though,  that the bulkheads in the first Nordkap kit.......as well as this second one I have now {which is even older},  were cut out already.   the instructions mention and list the sheet numbers that they were printed on,  but no sign of the cast off wood in the kit boxes.  my friend Harold,  who owned the first kit,  had most of the hull frame assembled,  so I thought that he cut them out.   the second kit proved that theory wrong.
    I think that's what I enjoyed most....having to cut out and shape the parts.   of course,  at that point in time,  I didn't even own a scroll saw.......had to do it all by hand tool.   I still would like to try a laser cut kit of this model though.........mainly,  just to see how much easier it would be,  and to save the parts panels,  so I can clone other hulls

DECK HOUSE
 
NOTE: THIS DECK HOUSE WAS DESIGNED TO LEAVE A 3 FOOT CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE SIDES OF THE HOUSE AND THE BULWARKS. THIS IS NOT ENOUGH SPACE TO ROLL THE 6 POUNDER CANNONS PAST THE HOUSE TO THE STERN CHASER PORTS, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE PIN RAILS ARE ATTACHED TO THE BULWARKS. THE DECK HOUSE SHOULD BE 4 TO 6 FEET NARROWER (1/2" TO 3/4" AT 1:48 SCALE).
 
I took measurements of Chapelle's drawing of the 80 ton revenue cutter and drew the outline of the deck house on the 2D CAD deck plan. Then I switched to 3D and constructed a 3D model. From this I generated 2D plans for the parts of the deck house. As you can see, I made some changes to the companionway hatch as construction progressed.

This image shows the basic parts of the house. I measured the angles between the house sides and created triangular supports to hold the pieces in the correct configuration while the glue dried.

The sides are 1/16 inch basswood and the roof is 1/32 inch thick (1.5 inch at 1:48) aircraft plywood. The sides and center support created a very stable structure, even without the roof attached.

The skylight frame was built up from eight 1/16 inch thick basswood strips trimmed to the proper widths. The tiny window mullions were too thin to cut from the brittle basswood so I used 0.032 inch square polystyrene strips mortised together with the ends in cavities in the top wood frame. I have a clear plastic window to fit into the skylight frame after everything is sealed and painted.

The companionway was a bit of a puzzle. I have seen several variations on real schooners and models, but the revenue cutter drawings only show the outline of the top with no details. I decided to build it like almost all similar companionways I have seen were put together. I added 0.042 inch square (about 1 mm) polystyrene strips for the rails the hatch top slides on. After the house is painted I will add door hardware and latches used to hold the doors open (the doors will be closed). I haven't modeled anything inside the deck house so I painted the inside of the hull below the skylight black.

At first it looked to me that the space between the house roof and the bulwarks was very narrow. However, it measures about three scale feet, more than enough room for easy passage. The roof edge is only two scale feet above the deck. I will probably add wooden handrails along the roof edge.
 
Next I will add support strips between the bulkheads around the edges of the house to support the deck planking. After the deck is laid I will add coamings around the house sides.

I am still trying to find out where they placed the binnacle. On some more modern schooners the companionway was offset to the side and the binnacle was on the centerline of the deckhouse roof just forward of the tiller/wheel. Maybe there will be room between the tiller and the deck house to place the binnacle on the deck just aft of the companionway.
 

still not the easy way out, as would be expected ... look forward to see the finished tracks ...

Well, another quick coat of primer  to cover the new brass, then panels preshaded for chipping

First a happy new year to one and all. Thanks to all who have visited and pushed the like button.
A tiny bit (no pun intended) of an update. Drilling the mounting holes in the dorade vents with a .020" drill bit.
 

 

 
Next I needed to sort some pins, the reason they need to be sorted is because the heads are stamped and some are really out of whack.
 

 
You can really see the difference in the next picture.
 

 
Then once the heads were chosen for size a second sort was done by setting up a test for concentricity. this was a simple roll test and if it rolled a good distance then it was OK.

 

 
Next the were set up in the small pin vice in the lathe and filed down to about half the head size, I didn't measure this but it is around .031" they were rounded polished and then a slot put in to create faux round head screws, which are actually pins that will hold the Dorade vents to the cabin sides.

 
Test fitting the "screw" in the vent next to a "standard" pin
 

 
That's it for now. 
 
michael

Nope, my first one enetered only in 1994 (not an early adaptor  )
 
Jan

Very clear, thank you Kortes

still not the easy way out, as would be expected ... look forward to see the finished tracks ...

Not even  a first edition, Jan ...?

Thanks for the comments, and likes gents. Hope to do some more work before we switch years ...

the snowman has left the front yard............just about all of the outside decorations have been taken down.   tomorrow........"operation tree stuff".........we de-ornament the tree and stuff it through one of the living room bay windows!      of course,  it's a lot more fun,  once ya get a snoot-full.......but for this year,  I'll be doing it without a net..........I'll be sober     naturally,  there will be massive needle loss.........but,  depending on which bay window I use,  it can cut down on the collateral damage {there are three sizes of bay window in our living room}.   it doesn't damage the window........it goes out stump first.......rather comical if ya think about it. ...........
 
but I ramble.............there was some progress today,  worthy of an update      being away from the table for a couple days,  I kinda snuck up on it....did some easy stuff..........like adding reinforcements to the aft cabin,  behind the helm room.   basically,  just some 1/16 squared pine strip along the edges to straighten any warped wall panels,  squaring them up and making them stronger.

......ran some up the corners too.  as can be seen,  I mapped out where the lower cabin is to be.   but lo...........the more I looked at all the excess room on the deck pad,  the more I became unsatisfied.   it could be a bit bigger,  I thought to myself...........

roughly,  15 mm was added to the length of the cabin........couldn't do the width though........don't want to block any potential stairways.  the sides and back walls were cut from 1/16 basswood sheet,  and they were given some portholes and a door {the only one I had left}.   there are none on the back wall,  although,  I still have a few portholes left over.........I could add some.   but for the time being,  it will be left blank.........I can do other things,  still locked away in the back of my mind {scary}.   as the back wall was being held in place by a rubber band,  1/16 square strip was being added,  just as I did with the aft cabin.


as I mentioned I was going to do with the entrance way casements,  I gave them a curved sculpt and added the adjoining casement,  leaving an opening for a stair way.



the pit for the companionway was adjusted.......trimmed for the proper swing of the doors.   then there was the task of sanding some of the depth away from it........should have used narrower plank strip to make the box {live and learn}.......{remember whose think'in this up  }.  I found this out when I marked how deep into the pit,  the doors went.   when it was shallow enough,  the floor was cemented into place.

the floor will be planked next........I'm think'in .05 mm,  so not to add too much depth to the pit.   I'm not too sure if anything more needs to be added before paint.  as I recall,  I added two control panel in the Nordkap helm room......one on each side wall.  we'll see     so now........here's another dry fit on deck..........keep in mind that it is still missing some key detail.......hand rails,  railings,  conduits and piping........other small fixtures.


I may round off the adjoining casements.......some sanding........but this is the gist of the cabin structure assembly.   difference #2 to the original Progress is the entrance casements

Ok.....OK.......the amount of portholes is difference #3............I can see how many I have left,  and add them accordingly   {note also that those are the old portholes....they are plastic,  like I had in the first Nordkap kit}.   but,  I need to keep in mind that this is an updated Nordkap fittings kit,  and the use of brass,  wood,  and plastic,  was tossed into total upheaval!   but then again.......I can't build a kit without bashing and adding stuff,  so why would a semi scratch be any different.......whoa....is that possible?  bashing a scratch build?    what a concept!!!    wrestling with the snowman this afternoon kinda wore me out..........I was going to open up the anchor boxes......and start to fit the margins.   should I continue,  I will try and post the update.......if not,  it will be the goal for tomorrow.   the last thing I did was to add the last bow beam....sanding and fitting the outer skin,  will be next to do in this part of the ship.   thanks to all who hit the like button.........hoping that I'm not boring the bejebbers out of ya   

more to come soon   that glue bottle was almost 3/4 full when I started!

thanks OC........it was a very nice Christmas for us {I think I made out like a bandit  }   my movie collection grew immensely,  and I got three more models.......plastic {much to the admiral's lament}....she'd rather see me working with wood.   thanks for the good word   
 
thanks for the Christmas wishes Lawrence........we all have that curse.......with all the projects I look at,  if I was to be up to date on all the progress,  I'd never have build time     no need to apologize.......I'm just as guilty    we had a great holiday, here at the wharf.....I'm certain that you and your gang at the shipyard had as equally a good time!  
 
oh.......I've been looking Vossie........that disc sander is something I'm looking at next    since I seem to have the habit of buying these older kits,  that tool is gonna make life a lot easier.  I intend on sprucing up the wharf next year   icky-mae     I also bought an accessory kit for my Dremel......i'm planning on using it more than I have been {which is next to zero}   I've always been a hands on guy.
 
this past week was horrible.........no time to devote to the projects.  I'd no sooner start play'in around,  when I'd have to go do something else.   now that the major part of the holiday has past,  I hope things go back to normal..........but I'm still faced with packing decorations up for another year {but it goes a lot quicker  }.   I know it's a bit late,  but I hope that everyone had a great and merry Christmas!
 
there was an update for the prior week...........not too big,  but fun to do   

It seems your xmas pressy was building time without reserves ... looks already impressive, whilst I am waiting for the detailup set - I ordered it in Germany as postage and price were a better deal than from RGL's corner or for that matter even the UK -  you are at full spead ahead ... ah well, I could always squeeze in another minor build if the brass fittings take to long ...

Thanks for the comments, and likes gents. Hope to do some more work before we switch years ...

Not even  a first edition, Jan ...?

it seems for some most of life is defined as a contest, others just like pleasing lines ... a certain flow. I particularly like the cabin's roof as it breaks the rigid lines of the caulked planks

Good day all  -  Happy Holidays to all,
 
First day back on the pearl in what feels like ages, any way  I decided to carry on working from the inside - out,  this ment  working on the canons starting by assembling the canon/carriages, then I fixed the breach ropes and working on two at a time  - I applied a few coats of paint then weathered them,  I also fitted a thin strip of wood under the carriage to aid gluing them down to the deck.
I used the same trick as the previous canons - I drilled  two fine holes through the bulkhead to take the breach ropes.
 
So two have been placed and glued down,  when they are fixed I will place the breach ropes with the right amount of sag - then glue them through the holes.
 
Just two pics folks.

In order to install hinges, I had to use a non typical method. I hope the photos will explain everything.
 
 


 
 
 
 

still not the easy way out, as would be expected ... look forward to see the finished tracks ...

Looking very good Carl, nicely done paintwork.
 
cheers
 
Pat

You're a braver man than I Danny.  The tracks just look daunting enough and then having minimal instructions to boot.   Makes my head hurt.

Thanks for the comments, and likes gents. Hope to do some more work before we switch years ...

It seems your xmas pressy was building time without reserves ... looks already impressive, whilst I am waiting for the detailup set - I ordered it in Germany as postage and price were a better deal than from RGL's corner or for that matter even the UK -  you are at full spead ahead ... ah well, I could always squeeze in another minor build if the brass fittings take to long ...

Last boat at the davits, oerlikon platform, and started rigging the fo'csle, first two lower railings done ... in all, nearly three hours work ...
 

magnificent ...
 
How did you attach the hinges, Kortes?