TK1

Right, finally on to the build!
 
A delayed start, since I'm away from home caring for my parents, but got my wife to bring me a care package including the kit.  And fitting as my father was a great wooden model ship builder, and this will be the last one built in his house and using some of his tools.  But, I digress...
 
The first few steps see you building up the keel from 3 pieces, then attaching the 3 frames and longitudinal beams.  Finally, bulwarks with gunport cut-outs are attached to each side.  All pretty simple so far, but without an alignment jig or proper baseboard, it was all a bit fiddly and required a couple of squares, a drill-press vise, a couple of levels, lots of measurements, and even more clamps.  
 
Here's the photos of the first few steps - apologies for the messy work area (he was recently doing plastic models so it's been a hunt for ship/wood tools but I'm making do!); and the large pics, I couldn't edit on his PC.
 
Next up, the first layer of planking and on to the lower decks.
 
Thanks for looking - early days but it'll get more interesting soon, I promise!
 
 

Right, finally on to the build!
 
A delayed start, since I'm away from home caring for my parents, but got my wife to bring me a care package including the kit.  And fitting as my father was a great wooden model ship builder, and this will be the last one built in his house and using some of his tools.  But, I digress...
 
The first few steps see you building up the keel from 3 pieces, then attaching the 3 frames and longitudinal beams.  Finally, bulwarks with gunport cut-outs are attached to each side.  All pretty simple so far, but without an alignment jig or proper baseboard, it was all a bit fiddly and required a couple of squares, a drill-press vise, a couple of levels, lots of measurements, and even more clamps.  
 
Here's the photos of the first few steps - apologies for the messy work area (he was recently doing plastic models so it's been a hunt for ship/wood tools but I'm making do!); and the large pics, I couldn't edit on his PC.
 
Next up, the first layer of planking and on to the lower decks.
 
Thanks for looking - early days but it'll get more interesting soon, I promise!
 
 

Right, finally on to the build!
 
A delayed start, since I'm away from home caring for my parents, but got my wife to bring me a care package including the kit.  And fitting as my father was a great wooden model ship builder, and this will be the last one built in his house and using some of his tools.  But, I digress...
 
The first few steps see you building up the keel from 3 pieces, then attaching the 3 frames and longitudinal beams.  Finally, bulwarks with gunport cut-outs are attached to each side.  All pretty simple so far, but without an alignment jig or proper baseboard, it was all a bit fiddly and required a couple of squares, a drill-press vise, a couple of levels, lots of measurements, and even more clamps.  
 
Here's the photos of the first few steps - apologies for the messy work area (he was recently doing plastic models so it's been a hunt for ship/wood tools but I'm making do!); and the large pics, I couldn't edit on his PC.
 
Next up, the first layer of planking and on to the lower decks.
 
Thanks for looking - early days but it'll get more interesting soon, I promise!
 
 

I used some string to measure the length of upper deck clamp required for the curvature of the bow.
Cut my length, steamed and clamped it in place to dry.
Glued and clamped that on the next day. Below you see it running up to the stem post.

Today I sanded the stern counter beams. A little more work to go on them before I install the upper deck clamps back there.
I wasn't really happy with my work closing up the stern but after today's sanding effort I feel much better about it.
 

Always been fascinated by a cross section model.
If you don’t mind I will pull up a chair.

Finally, a fully rigged cross-section at the 1/48th scale. I will be following your progress with enthusiasm. That should be exciting.
I was not aware of that kit maker and will explore their offerings.
 
Yves

Hi all,
 
I decided to finally venture back into wooden ship models, after a long break where I focused on plastic kits (ships and other subjects).  But I have been getting into woodturning also, and love working with wood.  Having built my fair share of full-hull (mostly POB) models both kit and scratch, this time I have decided to focus on cross-sections.  This lets me focus on fittings, masting/rigging, and detailing a smaller model which is easier to display, won't (hopefully) take years, and less workspace to build.
 
So I thought - where to start?  I managed to pick up the cross-section kits from DeAgnosti of Victory (1/72) and Endeavour (1/48) off a builder who only did the main ship builds.  And I have a HMS Vanguard (1/72) with a damaged hull which I'll use as a basis for a cross-section of that, and there's some other nice kits and pracitums out there now.  But to start, I thought I'd go for something potentially simpler.  Enter, the Modeller's Shipyard HMS Sirius.
 
I won't go on too much about the ship itself, many are familiar with the flagship of the First Fleet which settled Australia.  But in short it started life as Berwick, built in 1780 then bought by the Royal Navy in 1781, she had a few adventures before being renamed Sirius in 1796 as a 6th-rate and prepared for the journey to New South Wales. Wrecked in 1790 off Norfolk Island.
 
As for the kit - some contents pics below before I get started.  All timber and fittings appear nicely done, with the deck planking laser-engraved sheets rather than initial planks.  I'm thinking of using these for simplicity this time around.  Mine weren't engraved very well, so I'm waiting on replacements.  Not as many parts as a proper kit, but all nicely packaged. I can't comment on accuracy at this point - I read some questioning of the full HMS Sirius kit by MS, but as I get the frames made I'll do a measure against drawings I have.  Instructions appear very good, but no actual scale plans are included.
 
In terms of improvements I plan, beyond individual planks TBC, I will aim to:
- add copper plates, since multiple sources describe the ship as being coppered
- add more items in the hold.  It comes with a few barrels and an (anchor?) cable, but records state she was heavily laden for the voyage so I'll add more barrels, sacks, etc - maybe even the ship's surgeon's piano it reportedly carried!
- replace engraved gratings with built-up wooden ones
- improve mess deck details like the hammocks, tables, etc and add lanterns (lanthorns?), maybe some gear, etc
- include additional cannon details and tools
- try to make nicer barrels
- and maybe other improvements like pumps, any identified missing rigging details, etc.
 
So, thanks if you've read this far!  I hope to make a start on it this weekend, along with setting up a space for "indoor" tools (any major surgery will be done in the shed).  Really this intro is just to motivate me to start, and complete, a build log 🙂
 
 
 

Hi all,
 
I decided to finally venture back into wooden ship models, after a long break where I focused on plastic kits (ships and other subjects).  But I have been getting into woodturning also, and love working with wood.  Having built my fair share of full-hull (mostly POB) models both kit and scratch, this time I have decided to focus on cross-sections.  This lets me focus on fittings, masting/rigging, and detailing a smaller model which is easier to display, won't (hopefully) take years, and less workspace to build.
 
So I thought - where to start?  I managed to pick up the cross-section kits from DeAgnosti of Victory (1/72) and Endeavour (1/48) off a builder who only did the main ship builds.  And I have a HMS Vanguard (1/72) with a damaged hull which I'll use as a basis for a cross-section of that, and there's some other nice kits and pracitums out there now.  But to start, I thought I'd go for something potentially simpler.  Enter, the Modeller's Shipyard HMS Sirius.
 
I won't go on too much about the ship itself, many are familiar with the flagship of the First Fleet which settled Australia.  But in short it started life as Berwick, built in 1780 then bought by the Royal Navy in 1781, she had a few adventures before being renamed Sirius in 1796 as a 6th-rate and prepared for the journey to New South Wales. Wrecked in 1790 off Norfolk Island.
 
As for the kit - some contents pics below before I get started.  All timber and fittings appear nicely done, with the deck planking laser-engraved sheets rather than initial planks.  I'm thinking of using these for simplicity this time around.  Mine weren't engraved very well, so I'm waiting on replacements.  Not as many parts as a proper kit, but all nicely packaged. I can't comment on accuracy at this point - I read some questioning of the full HMS Sirius kit by MS, but as I get the frames made I'll do a measure against drawings I have.  Instructions appear very good, but no actual scale plans are included.
 
In terms of improvements I plan, beyond individual planks TBC, I will aim to:
- add copper plates, since multiple sources describe the ship as being coppered
- add more items in the hold.  It comes with a few barrels and an (anchor?) cable, but records state she was heavily laden for the voyage so I'll add more barrels, sacks, etc - maybe even the ship's surgeon's piano it reportedly carried!
- replace engraved gratings with built-up wooden ones
- improve mess deck details like the hammocks, tables, etc and add lanterns (lanthorns?), maybe some gear, etc
- include additional cannon details and tools
- try to make nicer barrels
- and maybe other improvements like pumps, any identified missing rigging details, etc.
 
So, thanks if you've read this far!  I hope to make a start on it this weekend, along with setting up a space for "indoor" tools (any major surgery will be done in the shed).  Really this intro is just to motivate me to start, and complete, a build log 🙂
 
 
 

Hi all,
 
I decided to finally venture back into wooden ship models, after a long break where I focused on plastic kits (ships and other subjects).  But I have been getting into woodturning also, and love working with wood.  Having built my fair share of full-hull (mostly POB) models both kit and scratch, this time I have decided to focus on cross-sections.  This lets me focus on fittings, masting/rigging, and detailing a smaller model which is easier to display, won't (hopefully) take years, and less workspace to build.
 
So I thought - where to start?  I managed to pick up the cross-section kits from DeAgnosti of Victory (1/72) and Endeavour (1/48) off a builder who only did the main ship builds.  And I have a HMS Vanguard (1/72) with a damaged hull which I'll use as a basis for a cross-section of that, and there's some other nice kits and pracitums out there now.  But to start, I thought I'd go for something potentially simpler.  Enter, the Modeller's Shipyard HMS Sirius.
 
I won't go on too much about the ship itself, many are familiar with the flagship of the First Fleet which settled Australia.  But in short it started life as Berwick, built in 1780 then bought by the Royal Navy in 1781, she had a few adventures before being renamed Sirius in 1796 as a 6th-rate and prepared for the journey to New South Wales. Wrecked in 1790 off Norfolk Island.
 
As for the kit - some contents pics below before I get started.  All timber and fittings appear nicely done, with the deck planking laser-engraved sheets rather than initial planks.  I'm thinking of using these for simplicity this time around.  Mine weren't engraved very well, so I'm waiting on replacements.  Not as many parts as a proper kit, but all nicely packaged. I can't comment on accuracy at this point - I read some questioning of the full HMS Sirius kit by MS, but as I get the frames made I'll do a measure against drawings I have.  Instructions appear very good, but no actual scale plans are included.
 
In terms of improvements I plan, beyond individual planks TBC, I will aim to:
- add copper plates, since multiple sources describe the ship as being coppered
- add more items in the hold.  It comes with a few barrels and an (anchor?) cable, but records state she was heavily laden for the voyage so I'll add more barrels, sacks, etc - maybe even the ship's surgeon's piano it reportedly carried!
- replace engraved gratings with built-up wooden ones
- improve mess deck details like the hammocks, tables, etc and add lanterns (lanthorns?), maybe some gear, etc
- include additional cannon details and tools
- try to make nicer barrels
- and maybe other improvements like pumps, any identified missing rigging details, etc.
 
So, thanks if you've read this far!  I hope to make a start on it this weekend, along with setting up a space for "indoor" tools (any major surgery will be done in the shed).  Really this intro is just to motivate me to start, and complete, a build log 🙂
 
 
 

Thanks Bob.  Good point on it attracting dust, and weaken the rigging.  Will give it a miss and stick to paint or shellacked black rigging.  Just checking I wasn't missing some amazing new development in my absence from wooden ship building 🙂
 
Darren

Thanks Mike, that's the sort of thing I was after.  Your barrels look excellent so will try your method out.
 
Cheers,
Darren

Thanks Bob.  Good point on it attracting dust, and weaken the rigging.  Will give it a miss and stick to paint or shellacked black rigging.  Just checking I wasn't missing some amazing new development in my absence from wooden ship building 🙂
 
Darren

Hi all,
 
Browsing an online store to see if I needed to add anything to an order, and I came across "black rigging wax".  Looks like the clear/natural beeswax I'd used in the past, but a black paste.  Hadn't seen it before.
 
Does anyone use this or have opinions on it for tarred/blackened rigging?  Not sure if it would dye natural rigging black enough, or end up being a messy coating.  Seems like a good idea if it's suitable to give a shiny, tarred look to standing rigging.
 
Willing to pay the price to experiment, but thought I'd ask - a search only turned up a brief mention in an old build log.
 
Thanks,
Darren

Hi all,
 
Does anyone have info or instructions on making model barrels from individual staves, made from glued-up wedges of wood?
 
I recall seeing a tutorial on a scale model horse-drawn wagon forum (now defunct) many years ago.  I'm sure it was using a calculation to divide a circle into the required number of staves, then working out the angle to rip these on a mini tablesaw.  They were then glued up and turned on a lathe.  Making the barrel shape naturally gave the 'staves' a narrow top and bottom.  Looked quite convincing, and I'd like to try this vs the laminated staves on a form.  
 
I plan to try and work it out myself, but maths isn't my strong point so wondered if anyone had tried this or knew of a tutorial?  A search here and on google didn't turn up anything.  Will share if I work it out!
 
Second, maybe easier question - what's best for the iron hoops?  Given the shape, I imagine brass  would be hard to get the flare(?) to lie flat.  Perhaps black lining tape or similar?  Open to ideas 🙂
 
Thanks,
Darren
 

Thanks all.  I figured it was a minefield and it would certainly vary by ship, location, age, navy vs merchant, wood, etc.  So some great information so has given me some guidance and stuff to think on.  As mentioned, I realised many kits came with 5mm planks regardless of scale so figured there had to be some form of real-world convention or formula.  Wefalk's point about size and strength in relation to fastenings and Bob's on the amount of bend make sense too.  Similarly on Steven's point they got narrower, certainly more modern ships seem to have narrower planks than records of older ones.
 
A starting-point at least, and seems like 10 or 12 inch up to 18 inch was the norm in many cases, allowing for variables, and gives me something to go on.  I don't think I have Mondfield's book, will have a dig around otherwise will order it.
 
Off to do more thinking and research, as always!  

Thanks,
Darren

Plank widths would also vary depending upon the amount of curve to the frames. The lower planks below the curve of the bilge were called the "broads" because the flatter shape of the hull permitted wider planks without the need for extensive backing out to shape the plank to match the curve of the frame.

Darren,  I am not sure if there were standards, but there is some information available.   This is not a straight forward thing.   Which ship, year nation?  The Lady Nelson that you list in your signature may have been different than rated ships as she was an armed survey vessel built in a private yard by John Dudman.  Contemporary information for rated British ships is available and may be similar, if not the same, for Lady Nelson.
 
If there were wales, some scantlings for rated ships are in the Establishments and can also be found in the Shipbuilder's Repository and Steel's Elements of Naval Architecture. They all give the thickness of the plank of the bottom as well,  but not the widths.    Some cross section drawings show the planks width, and there are planking expansion drawings that show the individual planks from which you can get an idea on the widths.   Looking at the planking expansion drawing that I have  of Squirrel (24), 1785, as one example, the widths were about 10" for the plank of the bottom midships.  The strakes all tapered so the widths varied a lot from the dead flat to the bow (down to about 6.5" at the stem) and from the dead flat to the stern post (widening from 10"  to over 11")   
 
From Steel and the SR the thick stuff above the wales was 13" wide, and the wales were anywhere from over 15" wide down to about 9.5" wide depending on the size of the ship.   Also, depending on the ship and era, the wales could have been anchor stock or similar planking rather than strakes of planking found on the rest of the hull. The planking above the thickstuff for Squirrel is 8" and was different for various ship sizes.   
 
Lastly, ships contracted to private yards commonly had contracts with scantlings, including  information regarding the planking.  They were pretty detailed on the various thicknesses and gave some information on the widths as well.
 
Sorry to hit you with maybe too much information, but if you can narrow things down to one ship, members can probably steer you to reliable sources for accurate information.
 
Allan

Hi all,
 
Thought I'd say hello.  I am returning to wooden model ships/boats after doing plastic kits for around 7 years... it was 2013 las time I posted here it seems, apart from a couple of posts in 2017 on plastic things.  But time to get back to the good stuff!
 
I stopped when we renovated our house and I lost my workshop - I mainly scratch-built so didn't have space in the house for tools, so picked up a couple of plastic ships and that led down the path of plastic kits for the intervening years.  Now in a new place with a lot more room, I've decided to get back to wooden models.
 
At this stage I'm starting back up with kits - I have started the Pinnace and next up is the Longboat both in 1/24 from Model Shipways.  Very nice kits (thanks Chuck).  But a few scratchbuilds planned in the future.
 
A few of my past builds pictured below for your amusement - 3 wooden ships (1/50 Schooner for Port Jackson from Modeller's Shipyard, and two scratchbuilds, 1/48 Sheer Vessel and 1/64 HM Brig Supply)  plus a few more recent plastic ships and subs in 1/350.  Other wooden boats are relegated to the shed for now.
 
Looking forward to learning more as always and contributing where I can.
 
Darren
Australia

Hi all,
 
Thought I'd say hello.  I am returning to wooden model ships/boats after doing plastic kits for around 7 years... it was 2013 las time I posted here it seems, apart from a couple of posts in 2017 on plastic things.  But time to get back to the good stuff!
 
I stopped when we renovated our house and I lost my workshop - I mainly scratch-built so didn't have space in the house for tools, so picked up a couple of plastic ships and that led down the path of plastic kits for the intervening years.  Now in a new place with a lot more room, I've decided to get back to wooden models.
 
At this stage I'm starting back up with kits - I have started the Pinnace and next up is the Longboat both in 1/24 from Model Shipways.  Very nice kits (thanks Chuck).  But a few scratchbuilds planned in the future.
 
A few of my past builds pictured below for your amusement - 3 wooden ships (1/50 Schooner for Port Jackson from Modeller's Shipyard, and two scratchbuilds, 1/48 Sheer Vessel and 1/64 HM Brig Supply)  plus a few more recent plastic ships and subs in 1/350.  Other wooden boats are relegated to the shed for now.
 
Looking forward to learning more as always and contributing where I can.
 
Darren
Australia

Hi all,
 
Thought I'd say hello.  I am returning to wooden model ships/boats after doing plastic kits for around 7 years... it was 2013 las time I posted here it seems, apart from a couple of posts in 2017 on plastic things.  But time to get back to the good stuff!
 
I stopped when we renovated our house and I lost my workshop - I mainly scratch-built so didn't have space in the house for tools, so picked up a couple of plastic ships and that led down the path of plastic kits for the intervening years.  Now in a new place with a lot more room, I've decided to get back to wooden models.
 
At this stage I'm starting back up with kits - I have started the Pinnace and next up is the Longboat both in 1/24 from Model Shipways.  Very nice kits (thanks Chuck).  But a few scratchbuilds planned in the future.
 
A few of my past builds pictured below for your amusement - 3 wooden ships (1/50 Schooner for Port Jackson from Modeller's Shipyard, and two scratchbuilds, 1/48 Sheer Vessel and 1/64 HM Brig Supply)  plus a few more recent plastic ships and subs in 1/350.  Other wooden boats are relegated to the shed for now.
 
Looking forward to learning more as always and contributing where I can.
 
Darren
Australia

Hi all,
 
Thought I'd say hello.  I am returning to wooden model ships/boats after doing plastic kits for around 7 years... it was 2013 las time I posted here it seems, apart from a couple of posts in 2017 on plastic things.  But time to get back to the good stuff!
 
I stopped when we renovated our house and I lost my workshop - I mainly scratch-built so didn't have space in the house for tools, so picked up a couple of plastic ships and that led down the path of plastic kits for the intervening years.  Now in a new place with a lot more room, I've decided to get back to wooden models.
 
At this stage I'm starting back up with kits - I have started the Pinnace and next up is the Longboat both in 1/24 from Model Shipways.  Very nice kits (thanks Chuck).  But a few scratchbuilds planned in the future.
 
A few of my past builds pictured below for your amusement - 3 wooden ships (1/50 Schooner for Port Jackson from Modeller's Shipyard, and two scratchbuilds, 1/48 Sheer Vessel and 1/64 HM Brig Supply)  plus a few more recent plastic ships and subs in 1/350.  Other wooden boats are relegated to the shed for now.
 
Looking forward to learning more as always and contributing where I can.
 
Darren
Australia

Hi Steven.  Happy to catch up sometime.  I do get to Ballarat regularly (the closest Bunnings!) or let me know if you head up this way.  I've also just joined the Ship Model Society of Victoria so hoping to meet a few people through that once meetings start up again.
 
You have a couple of very interesting builds there!
 
Darren

Welcome back, Darren. That's quite a collection you've got there!
 
I note that you're just down the road from me. Maybe we could get together and talk ship modelling at some point.
 
Steven

Hi all,
 
Thought I'd say hello.  I am returning to wooden model ships/boats after doing plastic kits for around 7 years... it was 2013 las time I posted here it seems, apart from a couple of posts in 2017 on plastic things.  But time to get back to the good stuff!
 
I stopped when we renovated our house and I lost my workshop - I mainly scratch-built so didn't have space in the house for tools, so picked up a couple of plastic ships and that led down the path of plastic kits for the intervening years.  Now in a new place with a lot more room, I've decided to get back to wooden models.
 
At this stage I'm starting back up with kits - I have started the Pinnace and next up is the Longboat both in 1/24 from Model Shipways.  Very nice kits (thanks Chuck).  But a few scratchbuilds planned in the future.
 
A few of my past builds pictured below for your amusement - 3 wooden ships (1/50 Schooner for Port Jackson from Modeller's Shipyard, and two scratchbuilds, 1/48 Sheer Vessel and 1/64 HM Brig Supply)  plus a few more recent plastic ships and subs in 1/350.  Other wooden boats are relegated to the shed for now.
 
Looking forward to learning more as always and contributing where I can.
 
Darren
Australia

Welcome back Darren.  You have built some really nice models.  Looking forward to seeing your future builds.