EricWilliamMarshall

For completeness, a few images with the broken bits fixed. Thanks shotlocker and ccoyle for the kind suggestions! I’m all for fool proof!

Doh, my apologies! To your question of the masts: I just finished the Revell’s USS Constitution in 1/196 scale, somewhat similar size in the real world but, I assume, a simpler kit (heavy frigate vs. ship of the line). I used the plastic masts without issue. I will note that the masts and spars can flex, which means taut lines can become slack, which is a pain.

Thanks for the kind words! Given my readings in the forums, I’m going try a Midwest kit. Something simple and easy to complete, that will work as my introduction to wood. I’m open to suggestions.

Regarding accessories: Just to gush at the photos, if nothing else, take a peek at http://www.dafinismus.de/index_en.html . I believe that fellow is a member of this forum as well.

Very cool snazzy technology! A bit like ships we model... I finished the model - that is to say, there this more to improve but I have made it to the end of the instructions and I’m ok moving on to the next project. Many thanks for everyone’s time, insights and sharing. (I’m now poking about looking at drafting sites as well). Included are a couple of photos (although I cleverly damaged it while setting up the photo). The line work does not distract from the whole effect.

I’m calling it done! It was was finished but it fell while trying photograph (ouch) and when I’m back to the ‘workshop’, I’ll fix the damage and create a better base. Again my thanks to everyone who stopped by and peeked in or shared sometime and wisdom. The next stop will be something wooden but small and simple.

My first effort - near finished. Thanks for your time, wisdom and warm welcome!

How’s the build going?

Despite my wandering and rework, I have made some progress! So thanks yet again for everyone’s support and insights! I have just fore mast sails, a ship’s boat and clean up left!

I’ve ordered a book by Toss and a few on ship modeling. I appreciate everyone’s forbearance. The kit is very “light” on the use of knots. In fact, it is skipped entirely.

Making progress with the sails!

Added the first sail

Beginning the painting of the vacu-form sails!

Yet more questions: how do folk keep tension on the strings while tying the knot? And the obvious follow up: how do you tighten a slack string?

The standing rigging is complete!

I did suffer a few set backs. Two steps forward and one step back...

A couple thoughts about the kit for those who might work on this kit: 1) secure the guns on the lower deck - I left the transom off, to put guns in back in. 2) the pieces labeled deadeyes and channels (parts 75 and 76 for example) have pins which are about as big as the ejector flash; it is easy to clip off the wrong bit. The channels/ deadeyes assembles need to stand proud of the hull otherwise knots can’t be tied later the assembly. It is a bit counter-intuitive since this is a bit finicky and flimsy. They only attach at the bottom and via the pins. The need to be fairly secure since the rigging will tied to them to the top of them. 3) the ratlines need to be aligned with the deadeyes. The ratlines are slightly problematic. Look at the instructions regarding the riggings starting at step 19 to see how the alignment of the ratlines and deadeyes interact with rigging. There is a lot flash and two little tabs at the bottom of ratlines. The tabs align the ratlines on the deadeyes- the whole setup is very flimsy and easy to pop apart. 4) I found the thread in the box hard to work with and suggest replacing it with any other thread! 5) the yards don’t need to be attached until step 21 instead step 10 as in the instructions. The are easy to pop off in handling the model when rigging. 6) the top of the ratlines don’t align well with the masts. But they don’t have to as long as the bottoms are secure. 7) the box top image does not match the model, nor do the photographs on the box match the instructions’ paint scheme or rigging. 8 ) there is rigging illustrated in the instructions that is not described, just shows up in the background of other steps, suggesting a missing step or two. 9) the simple rigging instructions is the only place where the sails are identified by part number (or letter, in this case); this may be a bit of surprise when you get to the installation of the sails in the advanced instructions and there is simply one image of all the sails attached!

https://www.thenrg.org/modeling-clubs.php list a few clubs in the UK (at the bottom) and https://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/clubs/A/General lists some others. A phone call to https://www.dockyard-model-shop.co.uk might be the fastest way to track down a lead. Good luck with your hunt. My heart goes out to you; dementia is a tough.

The entire http://mswshipkits.ampitcher.com/KitDetails.html?kit=10252 is missing an image. Who should I contact?

The real world tends to intrude rudely. I'm merely following along and I'm not in a rush - this is your leisure time! Again, thanks for sharing! Regarding your machine tools, I love there is a domain in machining/metal work where no one complains about the small size of their equipment. I believe you mentioned being drawn to the challenge of small-scale modelling (and the ease of storage/display). I'm curious: what drew you to machining in such a small scale? Have you always worked at such small scale?

Besides the beautiful and skilled work, I want to thank you for the clear descriptions and clear photos! It makes it a pleasure to follow your work. May all your attempts succeed on the first try!

Bob, thanks for sharing! That is a window into a world I had never given much thought to (and have just spent several hours online wandering through parts of that world). The pen I used is from an old set my parents had. There is such a wealth of technology that hidden or near lost, once a new technology comes along. I have a set of molding planes, which is what was used before routers came to wood working. They are more adaptable and safe enough that my little kids could make moldings for our porch rails, when I fixed our porch. I noticed there here are some folks using these drafting tools on model trains as well. I had to just stop myself from looking at ever more items on eBay! I’m a sucker for beautifully made old things. Thanks for widening my world!

Wow, I’m left speechless (or wordless?) Thanks for the deep dive (or perhaps, more accurately, the tip of iceberg)! Bob, how did you become so interested in this corner of the world?

To ccoyle’s original intent (as I understand it); I came across a quote from Ira Glass (NPR radio): Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, and I really wish somebody had told this to me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But it's like there is this gap. For the first couple years that you're making stuff, what you're making isn't so good. It’s not that great. It’s trying to be good, it has ambition to be good, but it’s not that good. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is good enough that you can tell that what you're making is kind of a disappointment to you. A lot of people never get past that phase. They quit. Everybody I know who does interesting, creative work they went through years where they had really good taste and they could tell that what they were making wasn't as good as they wanted it to be. They knew it fell short. Everybody goes through that. And if you are just starting out or if you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Do a huge volume of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week or every month you know you're going to finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you're going to catch up and close that gap. And the work you're making will be as good as your ambitions. I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It takes awhile. It’s gonna take you a while. It’s normal to take a while. You just have to fight your way through that. —Ira Glass He is speaking of writers, but the same applies across many disciplines and, certainly, here, I believe. More detail can be found here: https://jamesclear.com/ira-glass-failure

Kits gifted in the last century: Billings - Oseberg Viking ship (model 518 from the ‘90s), Authentic Model - Opium Smuggler (also from the ‘90s), And I was gifted or found at garage sales, this century: Mantua Models - Black Falcon (‘Brigantino Cosario del 18” Secolo’, from the 70s?), Heller - Le Glorieux (plastic, missing the sails, age unknown), Heller - HMS Victory (plastic, missing sails and slightly started by the previous owner, age unknown), Constructo - Union (the newest of collection - purchased ten years ago), Sterling - Sovereign of the Sea (clipper, a kit from the ‘70s?) So you can see I love the idea of ships models but I have been unsure how to jump in for a while. My set of models is very light on instructions and techniques. I received the Viking ship first and couldn’t for the life of me understand how the planking in the box was supposed to match the picture the planking on the box! Every couple of years I would bump into the box in the attic and open it and wonder! So you can see why I’m just delighted to find this community!!