Mirabell61

Thank you for your kind words TLC,
its a much appreciated compliment....
I`m very pleased you are taking the time to view the log pages one by one and that the build is liked, and hope that the remaining work shall be just as interesting for you to follow. I`m often searching the web in order to find more information and pictures of the actual ship, they seem to be very scarce...
 
Nils

Thank you very much Rob,
 
it looks like the mingling of iron and wood was quite common on ships of that period and I am trying to resemble this a bit where applicable, glad you like it
 
Nils

Thank you John,
I saw this model (in a well built card version) in a model shop once and had the same impression relating to the" forest of vents"..., but also found that very interesting and presumed it a necessity in lack of other electric vent systems to get the air right down (waste air out)  into the heart of  the ship, cabins und under deck facilities. Those large "monster-vents" that lead down to the boiler furnaces are yet still to be placed....
 
Nils

Update
 
building the  companionways to the lower deck. Will have one of the two with shut door, the other with open door for view on the downward stair. (dry fit)
Have built twelve skylights to date....
 
Nils
 

 
Holding jig for mounting the parts
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Update
 
some of the actual ships upper structures are from planked wood and I would like to resemble this as well...., Thats why some aft deck housings and later on also the housings / structures around the forward comand bridge on upper levels are obviosly wooden planked.
In order to resemble the wooden planking, I made some little test pieces of 3 mm wood stripes with pencil caulked edges. Whereby the nutwood stripes come out too dark, the test piece with beech planking and a light cherry stain and varnish on it comes near to mahagony with a light silky appeal, and builds a good contrast to the brass window frames
 
Put on the aft hatch with two compagnionway hatch-type-entrees, and the large doublestory light before the aft deck winches......
 
Nils
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

many thanks Gary,
 
I`m pleased to know you following, and that you like it, thanks for the kind compliment
 
Nils

Thank you very much Mike, Bob and Grant,
for your appreciative comments....
 
Mike,
a bit of metal work always has to be on my models, I love to use brass where applicable..
 
Bob and Grant,
am pleased you like the overall pics, shall post some now and then..., in order to illustrate the progress better...
 
Nils

Hi Michael,
 
when determining the size of the base I considered the the tilt force on the overhangs that possibly could bring her out of balance, It is OK as is. When she goes into the glass case later on I`ll put some double side adhesive pads between casing base and stand base.
 
Nils

Update
 
it seems that this platform on the actual ship is deck-planked, but comprises no railing around it and not even an access ladder or stair to get on it. Presume it was for crew only, but still I think there should at least be a little ladder mounted, because the skylight windows as well as the small deck will have to be cleaned now and then. If I`m wrong, please let me know... So now I spent a litte improvised access-ladder which can be reached through the middle passage between the machineroom skylights (for crew only !)
 
The stairways to the lower deck are fitted and one can be seen through the open door of the starboard side companionway.
When grinding work is done in the workshop, the model is dust-protected by a light plastic foil that is held up by the two masts
 
Nils
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 

Continuation.
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
The beginning of the relation is available at this address:
 
 
http://5500.forumact...ndre-1-24#66516
 
 
 
Regards, Pawel

Continuation.
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
The beginning of the relation is available at this address:
 
 
http://5500.forumact...ndre-1-24#66516
 
 
 
Regards, Pawel

Very nice-looking masts, Mike!

Excellent work.  And the photos don't show how outstanding your workmanship really is.

I've been working on the mast assembly over the last few weeks including the trestletrees and crosstrees.
 
Making the lower mast was straight forward with the exception of its square section at the top. I thought it best to try and delineate and complete the square section first before doing any rounding of the lower section. I made the saw cuts being careful not to cut too deep. I used an off cut to establish the proper depth for each cut.
 

 
Once that was done, I filed between the two cuts to flatten the area just enough to allow the trees to fit nicely over the mast. The trees sit at a slight angle which was accounted for when filing this section. A tenon was later added for the mast cap.
 

 

 
The lower section of the upper mast was then rounded off using the same method as described for the bowsprit. The upper mast was then completed. Again care was taken to get a nice fit when the octagon shape at the lower section of this mast is inserted into the trees. There is also a 1/16" strip preventing the mast from falling through the trees.
 

 
A few more photos showing the boom rest, a few cleats and the upper mast.
 

 

Another photos
 

 

Very nice.

Boat 2, 26' pinnace
 
This boat has now been completed, only 3 to go, 2 x 25' cutters and the 18' jolly boat.
 
I think the pinnace and the launch have been the easiest to make as they are carvall construction. Planking of these 2 was started at the gunwale and proceeded down to the keel. With a small amount of filler the smooth hull was OK to build. The other 3 are clinker built. On the real things I assume that the planks would be laid from the keel up to achieve the overlaps. I'm not sure how to do this on the 1:75 versions, some thought required.
 
I used 2 different methods for the construction of the sacrificial balsa templates for the launch and the pinnace. The launch was a solid block shaped using cut out negative profiles to achieve the overall shape. The pinnace template was made from individual 5mm thick sections cut out using the profiles and then faired to get the right shape. I think the second method resulted in a better template and I will use this again for the other 3 boats.  
 
The launch and the pinnace are probably the most different of the 5 ship's boats. The launch is big and beamy and capable of heavy duty tasks such as anchor transportation for warping and carrying of stores. My understanding is that the the pinnace is basically for transporting officers between ships or to shore and other light duties so is more built for speed as evidenced by it's comparatively narrow design and the small compartment at the stern for the boatswain. Additional gunwale height at the stern also makes for dryer ride. It wouldn't do to get Captain Jack wet!
 
Building the ship's boats has been a nice change from the main construction. Unfortunately I have run out of the 4 x 0.5mm planking used for construction and will need to source more before the other 3 boats can be built. I might do some more work on the main hull.
 
Cheers,
 
David.
 

 

 

Deadeyes take 2.
 
I visited an interesting exhibition of model ships a couple of weekends ago. Some of the models are outstanding, they remind me that I am a relative newcomer to the hobby.
 
Looking at some of the models of ships from the same period as Surprise, and more carefully checking out the drawings and some images online, I realised that the deadeyes that I have used are too big. So some more work was needed on chains and deadeyes. The next size down that I could source from my friendly supplier was 4mm diameter instead of the 5mm used initially. All the chains were removed, the old deadeyes popped out and the top part of the chains reshaped to take the 4mm items. Fortunately the process didn't take too long and I am much happier with the result.
 
Live and learn!
 
Cheers,
 
David.
 
                               
 
                                
 
                              

Ship's Boats.
 
After a bit of a break I have got back into construction and have completed the first of the 5 ship's boats, the 28'launch.
 
I shaped a solid balsa block template rather than the previous method i had used for the Bounty boats when I made up the template from individual balsa strips spaced to the rib pattern.
 
Cheers,
 
David.
 
     
 
                                               
 
 

Hello Nils, doing a very good job, I really like I congratulate you.
A hug Liberto

Beautiful work Nils, She is really coming together Wow
 
Best Regards,
Pete 

Hi B.E.
 
many thanks for your kind compliment..., in the moment its taking quite some time to get these little things together,
but in the meantime.....
If you wish, and for those who are also interested in the present status, so to say what has been done since keellaying in June last year, here some illustrations I picked out....
 
Nils
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Thank you very much Denis and MIke,
for your nice comments, and compliments.....
 
Denis,
the deck plans and information I gathered do not always show details exatcly so here and there I have to improvise a bit....
 
Mike,
the wooden partial structures on riveted iron ships (we`re talking about the year 1897) may still have had their origional design from the periods sailing ships and other old steamers.
Trust the scale 1:144 is the minimal size I would be willing and capable to build in, would rather choose 1:100 or 1:96 but in this case the model would tturn out too large with 2 meters length
 
also thanks to all the "likes"....
 
Nils

Pawel,
 
that "Totem Pole looking ladder" is great, simple and effective...
 
Nils

A good approach Michael,
 
trust you will get all damaged portions neat and tidy again, it will take the time it requires, and I think you`re not being pushed by anyone.
You`re doing a great job  
I saw the vents on the ship are a bit more modern type compared to my KWdG vent scoops, what material are the Albertic`s vent scoops made of ?
 
Nils