desalgu

Thanks Bob! Here is progress on ratlines. I have the lower port ratlines done, and am over halfway done on starboard side. I'm getting a little faster at it. About the time I think I'm starting to get good at it, I'll be done. And then who knows when I'll do it again!

I've been plugging along with rigging. Finished the shrouds and stays, and I've been working on ratlines. Just finished ratting the port lower shrouds, so took couple of photos, and thought I'd let people know I'm still working. Now that winter has arrived, I'll pick up speed a little bit although I'm always slow at rigging. I get very distracted from models with other hobbies when the weather is nice. The kit plans call for 0.10 black thread for ratlines, but I'd used the majority of it for seizing shrouds and stays, so I knew I didn't have enough to do ratlines. I had black thread in a couple different diameters that I thought would work, and decided on the slightly larger "heavy duty" thread. I probably should have used the thinner regular thread, but by the time I figured that out, I had already done too much to change without it looking goofy. So I kept going. I started on the mizzen mast since it looked easier. I'm not sure it makes much difference though. It took a bunch of knots to get good at tying them, but now I can do it fairly quickly. Tweezers really help grabbing thread ends, and the "extra hands" thingy helps hold the ends of threads while you're tying knots. The large gap between the inner shrouds gave me some trouble, and I just did the best I could. I have had to glue every couple of knots as I go along to keep them from coming slightly loose as I work across the shrouds. I used CA and it works fine, although you need to let it set before continuing across the shrouds. If you accidentally touch the thread to the CA before it sets, a little part of the thread becomes stiffer, and it's harder to tie the next knot depending on where CA hit the thread...if that makes any sense. I learned to go slow, and it wasn't a problem.

Here's some progress photos of rigging efforts. I'm working on the topmast shrouds and ran low on rigging thread. Ordered some Amati thread, but it looks a size too small. Seems I recall someone else saying the same in another build log. Got some more ordered hoping it matches the size in the kit. I also started work on the main stays. On the main shroud deadeyes I had trouble with them twisting or rotating a little and not staying lined up. Not sure what caused this other than I could not get the deadeyes oriented perfectly. I fought this for a while, and then decided to add a small strip of wood just above the upper deadeyes like I've seen on other ships to keep them aligned. And here's an overview of where I'm at rigging. Really just getting started. I use clothespins or small alligator clips to keep threads out of the way or apply a little tension to them. I'm waiting to tighten lashings until I get all the shroud lines done.

I'm guessing a lot of people following my build log have given up on me. I just took a long break from working on the Duchess. It's been a year struggling with not seeing quite as well up close after cataract procedure (the good part is I see a lot better at distance). A bigger problem was trouble with bright lights, or for a while with much of any light. I kept removing bulbs from overhead shop lights in the hobby room, but never could stay in there long. With time, though, things have gotten better, and I have no trouble working there now. Still don't seen as good closeup as I used to, so it's more difficult to work on model ships, but it can be done. I also had a couple of other minor health issues last year, so I didn't get much done on a lot of other things besides models. So I'm back on the Duchess after a long layoff. I can tell I'm out of practice. I'm a bit frustrated that I'm not doing the same kind of work that I was doing, but then I've never been very good with rigging and knots. My fingers and thumbs seem larger than I remember. To make any progress I decided to use simple knots simulating others. Otherwise, I doubt I'd ever finish, and I'd like to finish the Duchess. It will look fine as long as you don't look too close, about like my other models, LOL! Rigging is always difficult to photograph, and mine won't look too good up close. I'm just getting started. I have the lower shrouds done and am finishing up the futtock shrouds. I'm following the order of the manual, but was very tempted to do the stays first, then the shrouds. I prefer working from inside out, and from low to high. I've also attached blocks and footropes to the yards, and I'll attach a photo.

Fiddly is hardly the word for your windows! Absolutely incredible work. You are moving up to a different level and will be carving figureheads before long. 😄

Great work as always! You always amaze me. The checkerboard floor came out real nice. Some thin plastic over it to protect it for a while would be a smart move. Loved your tool for creating small square strips with a plane. I need to learn to make little tools and jigs like that to make things easier. I tend to just jump in without thinking. You're braver than I am to make window frames from scratch. The test window frame looks pretty good from the photos. No matter which window frames you use, you may end up having to add shims or something to get the proper fit. I think it's personal preference whether you use the Micro film or thin acetate sheets for windows. Or you can be a wimp and not use anything like on my models. Whatever choice you make, it would be nice to be able to see the inside of the cabin with the floor and other items. David

Your model is absolutely amazing! I can only echo what everyone else has said. And I agree, the boxwood is awesome. I'm glad you left the hull unpainted to show it off. Now I'm embarrassed to put my photos online. I'll be using your excellent build log a lot while doing rigging. Rigging is my major weakness, I have such fumble fingers. If I can do a tenth as good as you've done, I'll consider it a success. I'm glad you had a good trip. I've read a number of books on antarctic exploration which were fascinating. I have another friend that I think is on an antarctic cruise ship right now. I'll have to switch over to HMS Winchelsea and keep learning from your build logs.

And here's a couple of photos of my efforts seizing shrouds. I've been struggling with this, trying to add more detail than I did on previous model. I've been somewhat successful in that, but then I overlooked some of the basics. With the long layoff, I've gotten a bit sloppy about things. This is after a couple of redo's and is probably the best I can do right now. I haven't tightened or tied off the lashings yet. I still have one more shroud pair on the port side left to do.

I started on the shrouds and then I decided to glue the ship's boat to the deck. It looked like the shrouds might interfere with my fingers when working with the ship's boat. I'm still struggling with both my closeup vision and my skill level. I've tried readers and a magnifier, and couldn't use either for any length of time without starting to get headache, so I'm still trying to figure out if there's something I can do to get a slight improvement. I don't need much. Here's how the ship's boat looks on the deck. The camera shows all my difficulties seizing ropes.

Derek @DelF, I looked at your build log, and you're done! It looks amazing, a superb job!! Your rigging is something to behold. I have no idea how you manage to do it so quickly. I go at a snails pace, and that's with me simplifying knots. After doing the bobstays, I realized I should have doubled up the ropes. But I'm going to leave it as is, and treat is as a learning experience. I have a couple of references on rigging, but have been lazy about using them. They can be discouraging because I'm so poor with doing knots with such small threads and in tight places. Shrouds are next and I'm about to give it a go. I'm thinking I'll try something like what you did on Speedy. That would be a major upgrade to what I did on Siren. Can't thank you enough for your excellent build logs! Did your trip to Alaska go ok? And speaking of bobstays, here's couple of photos:

By now Derek you are way ahead of me, and I'll be using your log as a reference. I've already scanned a little of it, and as usual, your model looks fantastic. I'm trying to get going again on the Duchess. With a long layoff, I'm way out of practice, and I'm learning to work now that I'm not so near sighted after cataract procedure. Without my glasses instead of focusing at a few inches, it's about at about a foot. It's still a case where I'm constantly putting glasses on and taking them off, but I was always doing that. It's not all that different, and I'll get used to it. I left off ready to start rigging with the bowsprit gammoning. It took a few tries to get it halfway decent, and it will have to do. Then I started attaching some blocks to the main yard. Attaching blocks to all the yards and doing the foot ropes is going to be a slow process. I think I'll work on some of the other bowsprit rigging at the same time so it doesn't get too repetitious. Not a lot to show this time, but wanted to let everyone know I'm back.

I'm in awe of your work. Bricks are awesome! And very nice deck planking.

Obviously, I've been taking a break from ship building, so thought I'd let you all know what I've been up to. We had a late spring, and then it turned instant summer in July. With the good (but hot) weather, I started playing a lot of golf. I got into it and played more golf this summer and fall than I've done in several years. I'd also noticed my father hadn't been keeping his yard very good last year, and this year really let things go. They've always had a nice back yard, but after my mother passed away, he hasn't had the motivation to work on it. So I started a project to dig out couple of small flower beds that were completely overgrown. On the non-golf days, I worked in his yard. After golf or yard work, I was too tired to work on models in the evening. Then I started another project to scan his old slides, so I've been doing that in the evening. It's slow process, but pretty mindless. After weather cooled off in the fall, he started helping in his back yard, and we made significant progress. Still lots to do, but he's gotten interested again which is good. I've scanned 1000+ slides, and I'm about halfway done. Next week I'm starting the procedure to have cataracts removed. Doctor will do one eye next week, and the other 2 weeks later. The lens they are putting in are not full correction, so hopefully I'll still have some closeup vision without my glasses, but it's a bit unknown. I'm very near sighted, but if I remove my glasses and get real close, I can see ok for detailed work. Removing cataracts should be an improvement for overall vision, and it may or may not be an improvement for detail work. I'll still need glasses afterward, but they won't be near as strong as what I have now. If all goes well, it will be at least a month before I can try to resume ship building. Everyone's going to have their models finished before I can get going again!

Rob, I forgot to check MSW and adjusted the masts without looking at what others did. Two of my masts were off a fair amount. The main mast was a little too vertical, but was off quite a bit laterally (sideways). The mizzen mast had about twice as much rake as plans showed. The foremast, for whatever reason, fit just like it was supposed to. I made simple angle patterns for the main mast and mizzen mast so I could match the rake to the plans reasonably well. I also aligned the hull laterally with a small plastic level and used a t-square to align the masts vertically looking from the front (or back). I just eyeballed everything to get it aligned with the rake angles and the t-square. I adjusted the masts by removing wood from one side for a length of about 1/2 inch at the bottom of the mast. This is the part that fits into the lower holes, and it doesn't show. I didn't make any changes to the upper holes in the main deck. Then I glued on extra wood on the other side of the mast from where I removed wood, so the mast would fit in the hole fairly good. I didn't want it loose fitting. This took a fair amount of filing and fiddling to get the rake to match. And of course I forgot to take a photo before I glued in the masts! Here's a couple of photos of the end result. I've also made a little progress on the yards. Here's their current status:

Rob, Thanks for comment on mizzen mast rake! The mast wasn't in the bottom hole, and it turns out it won't fit in the bottom hole without too much rake. I've had something not quite right in the stern section, so it wouldn't surprise me if the bottom hole is a little off. I've had other things that didn't fit quite right on the stern and had to "adjust" to fit. Never did figure out where I messed up, but suspect it had something to do with the plywood bulwarks. I had trouble with those because I didn't understand the curvature. I think it threw everything else off slightly, one of those early errors that propagates all the way thru the build. I'm pretty good at doing things like that!