daveor

Hi Aldo, thanks for the great information you provided - I have a load of options to digest now. I have also ordered Vol 2 of TFFM and when it arrives I will review that too. daveor

Hi Caroline, Those are some great links thanks. Researching the deck planking is progressing well, thanks to all of the extremely helpful people on this site! I'll continue looking into it and post a new update soon. daveor

Hi Caroline, That's very kind of you to do! I saw the planking in your build log, which looks great. Were you going for historical accuracy? I would really appreciate it if you could give me the dimensions you used if you don't mind. I'm not sure how to link to a particular image, but in this post: http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/710-hms-pegasus-by-vulcanbomber-victory-models/?p=13713 I think I can see the planking well enough to figure out you used a four butt shift? I'm probably going to order the volume 2 of the swan series but it'll be a little while before that gets here. daveor

Andy, I really do appreciate the input from all of the experienced builders on the site and it's very reassuring to know there's someone there you can ask for advice. daveor

HI Alistair, I'm based in Ireland - I've updated my signature. Thanks for the input on the books. I'll probably just get one of the volumes for now and see how I go from there. Seems like quite a strong recommendation for volume 2. daveor

Hi Andy, Thanks for the book reference. I was looking them up and they're fairly pricey, especially when you take into account the shipping. Have you used these books? I was wondering if I could get away with just volume 3 (BUILDING THE SWAN CLASS SLOOP PEGASUS 1777)? I'm interested in going for the greatest degree of historical accuracy that I can. Your comment gave me a chuckle; I was imagining the universe where I end up concluding that it would be just quicker and easier to build a full size replica of the Pegasus :-) daveor

Does anyone know the scale plank length for the Pegasus and whether the planks are laid using a three butt or a four butt shift? Alternatively, where I could find out? Thanks, daveor

Hi all, My first question concerning the deck planking - when to do it. I've been looking through a few of the build logs and here's what I've noted: 1) Instructions indicate planking the two deck sections before gluing them onto the bulkheads at this point in the build. 2) Ray's build log seems to show the deck glued into place and then planked in-situ at this point in the build. 3) Spyglass's build log shows the deck planked separately and then put into place but with the gunports put on first so that the tops of the bulkheads can be cut off and the full deck planked in one go. 4) Seasick's build log doesn't seem to go back that far. 5) flyer's build log doesn't seem to go back that far. 6) vulcanbomber's build log doesn't explicitly mention deck planking as far as I can see, but it seems to have been done before the first hull planking and the gunports are in place. 7) realworkingsailor's log shows the deck in place in the first picture in the build log - no gun ports, no hull planking. I'm wondering if, based on all of the above experience, people would have any thoughts on whether there's a best way to proceed? My inclination is to glue the deck in place and plank in there as per Ray's build log.... daveor

Hi Alistair, Thanks for the input. With the exception of the most aft bulkhead (the thirteenth one), I'm pretty happy with the shaping. A test plank fits well over the bulkheads in about five or six different locations. Regarding that final bulkhead, I found it very hard to know how much needs to be shaved off and I suspect a bit more shaping of that one will need to be done when the planking actually starts. daveor

Hi all, An update on the balsa retrofit, which I have just completed. Turned out to take a lot longer than I expected - nearly two weeks since my last post. The shaping was performed by using a test plank to check for fit and a knife, file and sandpaper. Anyway; Built up balsa "sandwiches" in front of the first bulkhead, between first and second bulkheads and between second and third bulkheads: Filled the area below the deck with a solid piece of balsa: Finished shaping the balsa at the bow: Filled the area between the twelfth and thirteenth bulkheads using a balsa sandwich and the area below the deck between the eleventh and tweltfh bulkheads with a solid piece of balsa: That was a surprisingly large job, but moving on now to looking at planking the deck. I might have a couple of questions about this for the more experienced builders as I figure out what I'm going to do. All the best for now, daveor

Andy, Caroline, Thanks for the input. I'm working on a balsa retrofit between the bow and stern bulkheads at the moment so another update to follow.... daveor

Hi all, two questions for anyone who might know: 1) should the rabbet be able to hold the width of both the first and second plankings or just the first planking? 2) where the keel has been thinned aft of the bearding line, should it be thinned by twice the thickness of the first planking or twice the thickness of the first and second plankings? thanks, daveor

Hi Caroline and Ray, Thanks for the input regarding the balsa fillers in the bow and stern. I saw the fillers in Ray's Pegasus build log and I had thought that the kit provided plank termination patterns would probably suffice. Since my last post I have fitted the bulkheads to the keel, as well as the plank termination patterns. I'm looking at the model now and I'm sure that I could still fit balsa in over the termination patterns if I decided to. I think I'll get some balsa next week and experiment with fitting it over the termination patterns. daveor

Andy: Thanks for the picture; your stern shaping seems to be about the same as mine. In fact, I think I may have chamfered mine even a bit more than yours... Aldo: I appreciate the advice, I'll definitely do that when it comes to the planking. Best regards, daveor

Hi everyone, a brief update on progress over the last while, which has been all about shaping the keel, bulkheads and plank termination patterns. I started by shaping the bulkheads at the bow. I used a planking strip to estimate how much shaping was required and I think the fit is pretty good now. The finished shaping can be seen here: I then shaped the bow plank termination patterns. I shaped them separately and then dry fit them in place and shaped again to make sure the overall shape of termination patterns plus bulkheads is consistent. I shaped the bulkheads and the stern plank termination pattern using the same technique. I also thinned the keel at stern end between the bearding line and the end of the keel. I tapered to a maximum reduction in thickness of approx 2mm off total thickness. I carved a rabbet along the bow and bottom of keel and also into the tongues of the walnut prow (as per the advice above from Ray and by reviewing Spyglass's build log). I still haven't glued anything together because I'm not 100% convinced of the shaping of the bulkeads at the stern. The bend in the planks over the last couple of bulkheads seems to be quite substantial so it's very difficult to assess whether you've shaped them correctly. I'm going to keep trying to test fit planks to the bulkheads until I can convince myself that they're shaped correctly. daveor

That's great advice Andy, thanks. Ray, I will definitely look up your build log. In fact I have already started reviewing it. I'll post another update soon. daveor

Hi all, My first build log so I don't really know what I'm doing but I'll have a go... Received the kit and checked that all the components were present. I noted that two small photo etched parts seemed to have been manufactured incorrectly so I immediately contacted the company that I bought the kit from and a replacement part was dispatched almost straight away. I started by dry fitting the bulkheads, plank termination patterns, prow, decks, etc together to make sure I understand how everything is supposed to fit together. I also built the temporary stand that comes with the kit to support the work. Now that I'm pretty sure I know how these parts are going to fit together, I've started working on shaping the keel and bulkeads to create a better fit for planking. I've also marked a bearding line on back of keel. There aren't any build logs that I can find that show these early stages of the build, so any advice that any of the other pegasus builders have, I'd love to hear it. daveor

Hi robboxxx, Thanks again for the input. I'm thinking that I'm going to buy the Victory Models HMS Pegasus kit over the next week or so. I've pretty much decided that it's the next kit for me. Originally I had thought that I would create a shopping list of all of the tools and other things that I was going to need to make the kit but now I'm thinking that I'll get the kit and then start dealing with the issues that arise. daveor

Hi robboxxx and thanks for the input. I have started a shopping list of tools and I will add your suggestions. On the point of clamps, I was also looking at getting a keel clamp - a lot of photos in a lot of different build logs seem to have them. Is that something that is worth having do you think? daveor

Hi all, I wanted to keep you updated on my progress on research and selecting a new model. I thought it might be interesting for someone else who is in my position of having completed one model and looking to get more serious about the hobby...a research log of sorts! :-) So to begin here is the entire list of everything I own related to this hobby at the present moment; Tools/kit: A Dremel Craft knife with spare blades Two small pliers Mini hammer Bent-nose precision tweezers One small flat file Two woodworking augers - I used these to press pilot holes for drilling with small drill bits Precision drill bits from 0.3mm to 1.6mm (larger drill bits available from general DIY tools) Sewing needles - Used these to make hems and seams in sails Plastic ruler Cutting mat - I have intermittent access to this because it has been "borrowed" by kids :-) Consumables: White wood glue White spirits 1 x 14ml tin matt black enamel paint 1 x tin ronseal quick drying clear satin varnish (bought in local hardware shop) Fine grain sandpaper Various spare bits and pieces of wood and fittings left over from completion of last model As I have been researching which kit to buy next I have realised that I am missing a lot of very basic knowledge; I don't know enough of the names for all of the various parts of ships, I don't know enough about rigging, I certainly don't know the correct knots to use in various places in the rigging. I also know that the tools and supplies that I have above are not going to be sufficient to make a decent job of a more complicated model. Therefore, I have decided that an appropriate first step is to invest in some books. Looking around the Internet I found quite a good build log site (hmsfly.com) which had some suggested books. I reviewed them on amazon and they seemed interesting, so I have ordered the following books; Period Ship Kit Builder's Manual by Keith Julier The New Period Ship Handbook also by Keith Julier The Art of Rigging by George Biddlecombe The Arts of the Sailor: Knotting, Splicing and Ropework by Hervey Garrett Smith I will read these books, continue my research and post another update soon. daveor

Hi Grant, Thanks for your email. I agree with you. I've been thinking about this a lot today - cost is a factor for me but I also want to get something that I'm going to be excited about building. Since my last post I noted that there are several optional add-on sets of photo etched and cast parts for the HMS Fly model which I was thinking about getting which would make the Fly and the Pegasus models almost identically priced. I also need to bear in mind that I'm almost certainly going to need some new tools and possibly some books on basic techniques etc. I assume I'm also going to run into some unanticipated costs as the build progresses. This is a big leap forward for me so I want to take my time and try get the right thing. It's a lot bigger leap than I anticipated actually! daveor

Hi and thanks for the feedback. First of all thanks to robboxxx for the thoughts on the Euromodels kits. I've had a look at the various models suggested by Grant and to pick out one, the Victory Models HMS Pegasus looks amazing. However, I feel it might be a bit expensive for a second model. While I was looking at the HMS Pegasus I also took a look at the HMS Fly which is now my current hot favourite. Thanks for the input and I will continue looking. daveor

Hi all, I've been lurking on the forums for a while now, and I have particularly enjoyed watching the build logs in progress. When I was a lot younger I started but never finished the Constructo Union. I'm not sure if it's still the case, but when I was making this model it had a solid hulled. I've recently come back to the hobby and I have just finished building the Constructo Albatross: I'm pretty happy with how this turned out, particularly because this was a planked hull which was a step-change in difficulty from the solid hulled models. Interestingly, I suspect that the kit that I bought may have been sitting in the shop for quite some time because various sites on the Internet seem to suggest that the wood is water or laser cut in this model, but I am certain the pieces in the kit I just completed were die cut. Anyway, I'm now looking for some advice on what might be an appropriate next step to continue challenging myself and improving my ship building skills. I don't want to build another Constructo kit because looking at the build logs there seem to be lots of options for kits with a huge amout of greater detail and the prospect of a highly accurate model excites me. As a secondary requirement, not vital but might be nice, I was thinking that it would also be fun to build a famous ship. There were a couple of kits that I had thought might be good, so any particular feedback on these would be appreciated; 1) The Model Expo Syren - as far as I can see everyone raves about this one. From the pictures it's also a great looking model. The only thing that was giving me pause here was that the pictures that I have seen of the Syren don't have any sails. I love the look of a ship with all sails fully rigged and unfurled. Does this model come with sails? 2) The Euromodel Aiax - this just looks like a beautiful model. I couldn't find any build logs on this forum for it though. Does anyone have any experience with the Euromodel models? If anyone has any other suggestions I'd appreciate it. I'll keep looking in the meantime! Thanks to you all in advance! daveor