Mirabell61

Young America - extreme clipper 1853
Part 55 – More hold work
 
The plan has been to finish all of the work in the lower part of the hold so finish can be applied to this area before moving upward to work on the lower deck.  The first picture shows the main mast step and the water tank base.
 

 
The members to support the off-center beam pillars are being positioned in this picture using a straightedge.  In the next picture they have been glued down.
 

 
This picture also shows the addition of one last 6” wide strake of planking to bring the width of the limber channel down to the required 10”.  In this picture a few limber boards have just been glued over that final channel – hence the wet spot.  The pins on the opposite side are holding the last plank on that side.
 
The next picture shows some more limber boards in place plus a pile to one side.  The ceiling planking and other structures have just received one coat of beeswax-turpentine finish.
 

 
When dry, the shade of this finish will be about halfway between the two shades in this picture.  Surfaces that will receive glue later have not been coated.
 
The next picture shows some work on the Mizzen step.
 

 
The chunk of pear being marked will be cut to the shape of the knee and then slit into two to fashion the forward knees.  The aft knees are roughly fit at this stage.  In the next picture the mizzen step is almost finished.
 

 
Bolts have been installed down through the frames with epoxy.  These will have to be filed off and the assembly finish sanded.  The bolts will then be blackened to represent iron.
 
The last picture shows the current status.
 

 
With the ceiling planking darkened the contrast with the bilge strakes above is clearer.  This shows the convergence of the heavy bilge strakes forward to butt into the bottom of the lower deck clamp.  In this configuration the heavy band acts like a girder to reduce hogging strains.
 
It will soon be time to start work on the lower deck framing.
 
Ed
 
 

Beautiful work Nils , as always ........
Mauro

Today a surprise..
 
with only 5 days for postage US to Germany ! I received sample blocks from Chucks shop today. They really look fantastic, are of super precision and Quality, so I started straight away to do a typical sample Gun Tackling by using the 4mm blocks
1 x 2 sheave and 1 x 1 sheave
I Chose the natural hemp Color rope 0,5mm diam from 100% Polyester and had to increase the sheave hole borings in the blocks to 0,8 mm. I am happy with the result regarding to the realistic look.
When the rigging starts, I find it is a must to us These fine looking blocks
 
Nils
 

 

Status update....
 
drilled the 6 bulwark holes for the oars using a copied template from my plan on starboard side, am filing These square now
 

 

 
 
 
Nils

Build log part 23
 
 
 
I would so much like to carry on with the bow area, but realize that there is a lot to still be done underneath the forecastle deck first. Think I will have do the stove and other Details in near future
 
 

the portside guns will be rigged Standing on the Support rails under the carriage wheels
 

all te svivel gunposts are only in "raw" condition, may want to get them 8-sided in upper portions
 

Status overview
 

just Setting the new guns in place for Dimension checking
 
 

I tryed to get the rudder coppering only, shiny again, used Lemon concentrate Juice, it works very easy
but I don`t know if I should have done that. I love the greenish Patina look like some others have tryed already
 
 
 
Nils

Build log part 24
 
 
 

chainpump Station with housing, drain plugs, the discharge sides ore closed whith slide shutters
 

crank handles for chainpumps and Forward bearing supports, and Support for the spare masts and spars as well as Posts and belaying rack. The three mid Pins will be replaced with smaller ones
 

the grating cover of the main load hatch is and stays removeable
 

 
 

 

it is amazing how fast the dust settles in the open portside interior, Need to carefully brush it out now and then
 

all the aft cabin bulkheads are waiting to be set
 

it was always my wish and Intention to have a figurehead in cast brass instead of resin, it was impossible to get it anywhere, acc. to Chris Watton Amati would`nt do it because they favour resin, but I would not give up..., so now after Research and activity I have my own prototype one in scale 1/64 and it fits very well and gives the model a Special note
 

 

 
 
 
Nils

Build log part 24
 
 
 

chainpump Station with housing, drain plugs, the discharge sides ore closed whith slide shutters
 

crank handles for chainpumps and Forward bearing supports, and Support for the spare masts and spars as well as Posts and belaying rack. The three mid Pins will be replaced with smaller ones
 

the grating cover of the main load hatch is and stays removeable
 

 
 

 

it is amazing how fast the dust settles in the open portside interior, Need to carefully brush it out now and then
 

all the aft cabin bulkheads are waiting to be set
 

it was always my wish and Intention to have a figurehead in cast brass instead of resin, it was impossible to get it anywhere, acc. to Chris Watton Amati would`nt do it because they favour resin, but I would not give up..., so now after Research and activity I have my own prototype one in scale 1/64 and it fits very well and gives the model a Special note
 

 

 
 
 
Nils

Build log part 24
 
 
 

chainpump Station with housing, drain plugs, the discharge sides ore closed whith slide shutters
 

crank handles for chainpumps and Forward bearing supports, and Support for the spare masts and spars as well as Posts and belaying rack. The three mid Pins will be replaced with smaller ones
 

the grating cover of the main load hatch is and stays removeable
 

 
 

 

it is amazing how fast the dust settles in the open portside interior, Need to carefully brush it out now and then
 

all the aft cabin bulkheads are waiting to be set
 

it was always my wish and Intention to have a figurehead in cast brass instead of resin, it was impossible to get it anywhere, acc. to Chris Watton Amati would`nt do it because they favour resin, but I would not give up..., so now after Research and activity I have my own prototype one in scale 1/64 and it fits very well and gives the model a Special note
 

 

 
 
 
Nils

Today a surprise..
 
with only 5 days for postage US to Germany ! I received sample blocks from Chucks shop today. They really look fantastic, are of super precision and Quality, so I started straight away to do a typical sample Gun Tackling by using the 4mm blocks
1 x 2 sheave and 1 x 1 sheave
I Chose the natural hemp Color rope 0,5mm diam from 100% Polyester and had to increase the sheave hole borings in the blocks to 0,8 mm. I am happy with the result regarding to the realistic look.
When the rigging starts, I find it is a must to us These fine looking blocks
 
Nils
 

 

Thanks Popeye,
 
all 14 done, can now Close that chapter..
 
Nils
 
 

Status update....
 
drilled the 6 bulwark holes for the oars using a copied template from my plan on starboard side, am filing These square now
 

 

 
 
 
Nils

Build log part 23
 
 
 
I would so much like to carry on with the bow area, but realize that there is a lot to still be done underneath the forecastle deck first. Think I will have do the stove and other Details in near future
 
 

the portside guns will be rigged Standing on the Support rails under the carriage wheels
 

all te svivel gunposts are only in "raw" condition, may want to get them 8-sided in upper portions
 

Status overview
 

just Setting the new guns in place for Dimension checking
 
 

I tryed to get the rudder coppering only, shiny again, used Lemon concentrate Juice, it works very easy
but I don`t know if I should have done that. I love the greenish Patina look like some others have tryed already
 
 
 
Nils

Doing the guns in repeatable mode saves some time, once the method is on track...
My work desk is quite a mess, since I have my own room and do`nt have to clean up during the day, and I still have 4 more to do.
 
Am thinking of adding small wooden splints to the axis close to the wheels, but shall do that as last Action
 
Nils
 
 

Trial #1, small wire Pins secure wheels on axis
 

Trial #2, small wooden splints hold back the wheels (I prefer this Version)
 

Gun builders desk
 

have 10 done so far, 4 more to go..

I`ve been busy this afternoon Popeye,
 
those guns are so small and there are first 3 finished out of 14 in total to be built..., but I trust the production is well repeatable by now
 
Nils
 
 
 

fits easy on 1/2 a thumb
 

Build log part 22
 
 
beginning with the guns....
 
 

this was thie first mock up model for checking dimensions, breech rope to be exchanged against natural hemp Color, dolphins on Barrel to be left away
 

staining the carriages
 

breechrope eyelet, other block tackle eyelets, caps on barrel Pivot pin, wheels still in the pipe...
 

 
 

 
 

here my jig for making the caps
 

use ordinary plumbers plyers for pressing the caps in shape
 
 
 
Nils

Today I could make a Little Progress, and started to put some profiled brass on to the bow eking rails, because I had no luck in Scratching or carving decors into it. I think I`ll do this with the main rails as well and then taper the front wooden portions a bit.
 

 
One Thing I never recocnized up to now was the tricky tackle of the guns, it requires quite some space to get all the blocks in Arrangement lengthwise. A Little model was made to do some Trials. This is only for checking dimensions
 

 

 

 
 
I still had some oak Planks 1 x 5 mm and used These for the inner bulwark. After Fixing These permanently the gunports had to be cut away.... I wish I had`nt taken oak, ist too brittle and started breaking in many places.
 

 

 
 
 
Nils

part 21 of build log
 
The rudder
 
 
Nils
 









 

Peter,
you may be right, but there are still so many fine Details to be done. Next to the rigging sometime this year I would also intend to make a full suit of sails of which I have no plans yet.
But in the meantime there Needs to be a lot more work on the hull. Regarding to the coppering, which I completed today I shall go for the rudder now (a double nail capline on the copperline is not attached yet) to provide a neat horizontal finish to the coppering. It went so well, doing the "plates" from tape, actually 4-5 in row at a time, I could hardly believe the Speed myself. Also I have a prototype of a brass Investment casting of the figurehead under way, am expecting it curiously next week, if it works out well.
 
Nils
 

 

 

 

 
 
 

Pegasus, build log Picture lot 19
 
Beginning with the rudder System....
 
 

started with a Trial sample on the rudderblade hinges, the rudder was made from 4 bars 4,5 x 4,5mm, fitted after coppering the rudder
 

These hinge parts will be cut off, they go to the hull, after coppering
 

the ruddershaft goes through all the decks
 

self explaining
 
 
 

Trials for coppering now completed,
 
started with coppering yesterday (pic. lot 18), simultaniously started with the ruddersystem (pic. lot 19), because that shall be fitted when the coppering is finished
 
Nils
 
 
Lot 18
 

shall probably follow the flattend verion
 

after 6 Trials made up my mind....
 

beginning with starboard side
 

not so accurate, as industrial made plates, but therefore selfmade
 

the copperline was drawn with a soft pencil
 

it turned out best results when following the planking pattern...
 

i am pleased in not using CA glue, that allways messes up the fingertips
 

Startpreparation bottom Stern on port side
 

the sternpost is 4,5 mm wide, the rudder will be 4mm (would be 256 mm on actual ship)
 

view from aft
 

coppering Trials...
 
here for comparing....
 
the upper Portion of this Trial sample Shows unflattend "nailheads" but I think that appearence would be too much dominating the nails
 
Nils
 

Here comes part 17 of my buildlog,
 
 
 
after this I shall have to sort out the further logisticwise Approach in my actual build sequence, it may be the rudder System, Fitting out the rear cabins on the gundeck, or Gunport covers, or, or....
 
 
 

for decks I use cardboard templates for tranfering the shapes onto the 0,8mm ply, they allow easy necessary adjustments during prefitting
 

this is the stand in view from below with the pedestal bolts coming through
 

dealing with the first Trials on the swivel guns, using RB Model 15mm gunbarrels. I shall scrap this first Trial for the mounting device again.
B.E. Shows us an excellent solution for the mounting brackets. I hope that Amati may take this up and provide an etchpart solution ammendment to the brass Sheets, because of the limited amout of brass hooks
 

unfortunately my camera provides no macro Feature.... for the Close ups
 

just an alternative solution, B.E. also here has a great alternative to Show, well done !
 

 

This Little jig supports during driiling pivotpin hole and handle hole into the unbored RB models 15mm length gunbarrels
 


two more Pictures of the stand, this is an easy priceworthy way of getting a not too fancy stand
 
 
 
 
At this buildstage ( I asked Forum members before in my buildlog) any Input on the question : coppering the hull or not ? would be appreciated. Pros and cons would be very welcome. I did a lot of "steelplating" on model hulls before, but that was representing iron/steel plated hulls in riveted Detail (like Titanic, etc.) on early steamships.
 

this is what I meant, it`s showing the 1400 mm Long raw hull of the german/ australian line Steamer Elbing launched in year 1898
 
The 18th century coppering plates are more or less nailed (model : glued) on to the planking, but also hiding the wooden planking structure
 
Nils

Good day B.E.
here just a quick Illustration how I meant it with the space, the stairs and clearance to 1st and 2nd gun. The gangwayplanks you provided are still going roun in my head, because I really like them. What do you think about my stair Version in combination with your G-Plank Version ? The swivel gun attendants would not interfere with the heavy gunner Crew one deck lower in battle....
 
Nils
 
 

 

 

Many thanks B.E. this is an highly appreciated extra Bonus Information and shall certainly be of great help
 
Nils

Lot 16 of my Pegasus buildlog
 
 
 

there are still so many to do, I could carry on everywhere, but have to organise the futher build carefully....
 

I prolonged the black wale-stripe into the bow area, took off the Little brass bird figure before and Need to replace it again
 

here is the Little duckie again...
 

self explaining
 

prefit of the namegiving figurehead, Chris Watton prefers resin as material, for shrinkage reasons, but still i`m mind pregnant with a brass Investment casting or so ( the sponge is still not soaked...)
 

how to do by simplest means
 

 

 
self explaining
 

doing a litte bit further here
 

I really am not pleased with the forecastle Access Little "pigion-ladders" squeased in between guns and forecastle aft bulhead as planed in the drawings, in lack of space, so here is my solution (B.E. Blue Ensign might be having a smile on his face allready)