capnharv2

Ed,
 
Earlier you said "Only lines 4" and above on my model use made rope."  I was wonder earlier, is this 4" diameter or 4" circumference?
 
I prefer working with diameters, but am aware that circumference was used historically
 
Thanks for the clarification.
 
Harvey

I ordered the same stuff from ME years ago. It didn't look like any of the other boxwood I had, so I chalked it up to experience.
 
It's sitting around someplace. Maybe I'll need some expensive firewood . . .
 
Harvey

I placed the fore and mizzen mast back into the model to see how things look...coming along nicely.
When I have time I kinda get some stuff done.  Now that the front porch is finished.
The Great Republic gets to sit on the mantle in my Den.
 
Rob

Just a quick comment on the storm.  Thankfully, our home in Lumberton remains high and dry and no wind damage.  Unfortunately, not the case for thousands of our neighbors living in low areas near the Lumber River.
Had power for most of the time.... actually managed to make progress in the shipyard.  Spent the morning rigging the bowsprit spar.
 

I haven't got myself back into the swing of things yet to tackle the shrouds(probably this afternoon....been pretty sick).
 
However I did want to show some pics of the banding process for the yards.
 
Again...I like to use anything and everything I can get my hands on to aid in my builds...not to exclude the use of any Dental items.   Here are some dental copper bands used in temporary crown fixtures and margin stabilization procedures.  My collection is ample enough to permit me to fabricate bands for every location on the spar....so no having to make by soldering or the like for specific bands....just cut the size I need from the pre-sized material.  I use a dental diamond cutting disk to cut off each band.
 
Rob

Rigging the bowsprit with 60 mph winds howling outside my shop.... makes it pretty interesting, to say the least.
Not sure how long we will continue to have power today, but quite sure it will go down as this storm moves through at a turtle pace.
Flooding is our biggest concern.
Thoughts and Prayers much needed and appreciated.

Yikes! snow?  My sweetheart has been asking me from day one..can we replace the front windows?   She found the replacement windows and I put them in...along with a front porch...veranda...French doors...etc.
 
Now I will spend this evening working on the mainmast of the GR...Yeah.
 
Rob

Sheathing complete.

Ed,
I remember your concern about the fragility of the iron backstay spreaders. Has the addition of the first backstays helped that concern?
 
Harvey

I have been so busy this summer on home remodeling(In addition to many other things), I have had little time to continue the upper shrouds and ratlines on the main/mizzen masts of the Great Republic.
Here is a quick image showing what I have been up to on the front of the house.
I first added the two front windows(the large 6'X6' and the smaller 2.5'X5' to the left.  next I built the 30"X8" porch roof and added a 4"X16" veranda on top of it to be accessed by the new French doors I installed where an existing window was.  I also added the small roof over the door.
The railing is nearly painted in this picture and a gate(Off to the left) was being made at the time of this picture.
 
All the painting is finished(gate too) and all that is left is to make the maple cap for the rail to finish off the addition.
 
I've been busy...but I will return to the Great Republic very soon.
 
Rob

Steve,
I think you did the right thing.  Been there, done that as have others.   Now to sit back patiently and wait for you to figure out what's next.  

CaptainSteve,
 
I'm sorry to hear that you won't be finishing your Constitution. Your build log was always a joy to visit, and hope you find a suitably fun project soon.
 
I'm still hammering away on my Connie, after 11 years. Slow progress, but steady.
 
Take care my friend,
 
Capnharv

CaptainSteve,
 
I'm sorry to hear that you won't be finishing your Constitution. Your build log was always a joy to visit, and hope you find a suitably fun project soon.
 
I'm still hammering away on my Connie, after 11 years. Slow progress, but steady.
 
Take care my friend,
 
Capnharv

CaptainSteve,
 
I'm sorry to hear that you won't be finishing your Constitution. Your build log was always a joy to visit, and hope you find a suitably fun project soon.
 
I'm still hammering away on my Connie, after 11 years. Slow progress, but steady.
 
Take care my friend,
 
Capnharv

Gentlemen, I appreciate all of your observations.  Although she still looks a little clunky compared with the masters on this site like Doris, it is the best I can do.  I promise you that I am a much better surgeon than a sculptress.  I have lowered the figurehead, making sure the bowsprit clears the top of her head.  I have also re-positioned her so that she looks to the horizon.  I started painting with a coat of acrylic gray primer.  The clay soaks up the paint and this helped seal it.  The rest of the painting was done with various acrylic paints.  The apple and the buttons on her skirt are gold leaf.  





At this point all that remains is cleaning the ship, touching up the black paint on the wale and installing a base.  I do not plan on masting and rigging her.

I debated back and forth whether I should put a flag on the ensign staff.  Although few models of this style are shown with flags, I decided to make one.  My reasons were that the model needed a pop of color and I had never made a flag before and wanted to see if I could do a good job.
 
The technique that follows is exactly what was demonstrated by Gus Augustin at an NRG Conference a few years ago.  I determined that the correct flag for 1775 was the red ensign.  I drew the outline onto both sides of a piece of plain copy paper with pencil.  Next, I cut the flag out, leaving extra paper inboards to make straps to secure the flag to the staff.  The flag was shaped by crushing it in my hand, being careful to leave the inboard edge flat. 
 

 
The flag was gently wet in a bowl of water and the crinkled shape was formed after laying the wet flag on a piece of glass.  I did not touch it again for a few days but Gus states that one should wait at least 24 hours.  The flag is then (sort-of) flattened and painted.  Start with the light colors and gradually go darker.  I used Poly-S and Model Master acrylic paints full strength. 
 

 

 

 

 
Once the flag was dry I air-brushed it very lightly with gray to soften the colors.  Finally, I reformed the flag and secured it to the staff.  Overall, I am pleased with the appearance.
 

 

 

 
 

What Mark said
 
Harvey

That is very impressive!
 
Harvey

But they'll get lost a lot faster.

Here are the pics of the finished model :







 
I'm taking a break from building ships for a while. My next project is a free download of a Card model - a vintage Yamaha YA-1 motorbike. I'll put up some pics of my progress in Shore Leave.
 
Danny

Thank you aviaamator, some photos of work start on the cant frame. A greeting

Roger,
 
His follow on book "Easy on the Helm" is also fun reading. I'm not sure of it's applicability to gaff cutter modeling, but it's interesting and insightful. I need to dig it out again.
 
Never sailed a gaffer? If you're ever in Seattle, drop me a line (I know a guy . . . .).
 
Seriously, one of the joys of sailing traditional rigs and building models of traditional rigs is the synergy it brings to both hobbies. I've had countless experiences on Amie that helped me build a better model, and countless times my (limited) ship model experience has helped me become a better sailor.
 
That's why I strongly recommend going aboard and (if possible) take a short sail on a traditional boat. I believe you can build and rig a better model because of it.
 
Thanks!
Harvey

Hello, I put some photos of the progress of work.

Very nice work Albert. What sort of magic do you use to keep your workspace looking like a medical operating theatre?
 
Michael

With all the sudden and unexpected interest, I'll throw you good folks a bit of a bone (not one of Freyja's chew bones though). I'm out of the shipyard for the near future, but I'll share a few pics of how far I managed to get with the planking. Not really too many more strakes left to go, I can't remember if it's eight or nine by my last count. The wales are done, but not fully painted, just the top and bottom edges.
 
And popeye, it's not so much the pitter patter of little feet.... more like the thundering footfalls of a herd of galumphing baby elephants!
 
Andy