Pat Lynch

I'm still going.....

After blundering my way through the bowsprit, the masts needed looking at - not particularly tricky - just the usual nautical gobbledy-gook to learn and a look through the relevant pages of my Charles Davis books and others, helping to understand the various parts of the mast sections and the complications of joining the spars together.....so I started with the mizzen. No real problems as it is quite a bit simpler than the others - and being smaller (and maybe less obvious) I could make mistakes and get away with it. A.S. have reasonably good plans and diagrams of the mast assemblies and there were few problems. The area where the upper and lower sections join is perhaps not-quite-scale with the spars being left round in section but I may do better on the fore and main.

Assembling parts over a plan on grease-proof paper is how I built large model aircraft for many years and brought back a few memories...........enough waffle and back to the building.......

Pat

After a week or so of stop-start building/cursing/rebuilding etc, etc.....I finally have my first spars fitted - the bowsprit. Lots of learning here- how to taper spars, fixing tiny blocks to spars, etc. Good place to start here on the 'sprit. A lot of details not provided in the plans but reference to the many builds here usually gives one a choice about how it should look! Again, my Endeavour will certainly be MY Endeavour 😉 A real learning experience. But I've proved my aging fingers can fix tiny blocks and research how to do stuff - Youtube is a great resource! Some of the rigging will be at odds with other builds so - I'm sorry if I get it wrong. It's a process of learning the skills, nautical language, resources and the materials to suit my temperament. So, I have a fitted bowsprit. Now I can ponder the mainmast!

Not sure if the yards should be fitted after the standing rigging.......I guess they can still be installed later.

Pat

Hi Jim - a reciprocal greeting! Good to see a fellow rc aircraft builder her on this forum. I dont feel so bad at having almost vanished from rcgroups 😉.

Poor kits seem quite common in the ship arena but it can give one scope to improvise and make it your own. My A.S. Endeavour can be made into a fine model as many on this forum have done but it is not a great kit - lacking in the instruction area mostly. But, research and some imagination can work wonders.........I'll keep watching.

Pat

Having made the decision to go (more-or-less) with the A.S. rigging, I fitted out the decks with all the fittings indicated on the plans. For once, the A.S. rigging and spars seem well documented with many detailed drawings in a step by step manner. Still that annoying thing of having to refer back  and forth to get the dimensions but at least I know what is needed. I am aware the model is quite wrong in many ares but as I am mainly concerned with learning the terminology and techniques, I'll stick to the plans and make small changes when/if they are needed.

So rigging - here I come - at last 😊

The cleats provided seem a bit on the large size (12mm X 60 = 720mm long!) but I may be mistaken.....

A handy extension for a 1.5mm drill - the bit is CAed into some tube - got some holes done in difficult places.

...for better or worse...Pat

A bit of a lull while I got on with some sundry stuff- I had raise the forward gallows a few mm, add some sundry spars and spare planks and finally build another couple of boats. The basis of these two top imaginary boats were as before, a Billings kit of two plastic 20th century lifeboats but some not-so-subtle modification and lots of added woodwork they look just a little bit like various examples I've seen on this and other forums. Apologies for the lack of fidelity but my imagination is happy 😉

I'm slowly gaining confidence at 'how to do it' and one day may even get it to be accurate! But not yet.....this is still very much the A.S. ship - warts and all. Just with my 'improvements'.

Still having fun.

Pat

I searched on the 'net for some pictures on ships boats of this era being lashed to the deck - but my skills (or patience) didn't find what I wanted so I used some models on this forum for guidance and then did 'my own thing'. Some ability to tighten the fixings seemed desirable and I'd seen both dead-eyes and pulley blocks used - I liked the blocks and opted for the smallest ones supplied with the kit - about 4mm. They seem a bit out of scale but I'm happy with the look and have now got a supply of 3mm ones - for other bits later. My arrangement looks like it is accommodating boats of a different intended size (or were stowed in a hurry!) - most will be hidden under the spare spars and timbers. It all adds to the wonderful clutter on the decks of these early ships 

Now on to those spare spars on the gallows.....

Pat

A bit of a break while other matters needed attending to! The four cannon are almost finished and fixed in place and two of the four ship's boats have been made. The kit-supplied boat was 'tarted up' a bit with 'duck boards'? and some rudimentary internal frames - just to see if it was worth it. Came out OK (I think). A second boat (dinghy?) was created from a cheap Billings plastic item - only a few dollars a pair. A transom and some internal modifications made it remotely dinghy-ish and will be OK when fitted out with stowed rudder and oars and buried under all the spare spars and a couple of bigger boats. What those boats will be is debatable! I have a pair of Billings 'life boats' that are a bit like whalers and can be bashed into something respectable. Reading the AOTS book of the Beagle, it seemed that ship's boats needed frequent replacement while on long journeys - replacements being sourced from friendly ports en-route. Mine will be only remotely like the real ship - whatever it carried 

It's all good fun and this Endeavour will certainly be 'mine' . Now back to fitting and securing the lower boats in place and making a few more oars!

Pat

Johnathon and Dashi - thanks for your interest and input- it all helps

Pat

Hi Mike - thanks for being daring enough to scratch-build the Beagle  I had bought the AOTS and am slowly coming to terms with the nautical detail!

A small thing I don't quite understand is the function of the hammock storage along the sides of the main deck. Were the crew's hammocks stored there for airing? (surely they would have got wet). Did the crew sleep on the upper deck? I am a bit unsure!

Again, thanks for your build so far - it has given me some insight about an ambitious scratch build wa.......y down the track.

Cheers, Pat

Thanks Cabbie - this whole project is bordering on 'too fiddly' for my ageing fingers and eyesight 

I had a go at the cannons and am seeing a way to achieve what I need. The kit barrels and basic carriage work out OK but I'll replace the wheels with ones cut from 4mm walnut dowel. I'm still experimenting and think I'll just fit the heavy ropes that restrain the gun. It looks very small but is only a 4 lb gun and the replica shows them as quite tiny too. Watch this space ........ (not sure why !)

Pat

Back again - just a few small but time-consuming details done - the anchors were fitted and lashed to various posts up front. I studied all sorts of pictures but opted for something vaguely logical to secure the anchors. The A.L. instructions are of course, not helpful. But it looks OK (imho)

I also made the various skylights and companion way covers - lots of variations and options so I did a mix and match. I found the .3 and .6mm birch ply very nice in this job - very fine grain and easy to work with.

Next task are the four cannons. They must have been a very lightweight piece of gear - only a few pounds per shot? They seem small. Brass wheels were supplied but I'm using painted wood dowel - the real thing was wood so..........

After the cannons, there are many boats - up to four it seems. At least it's not as cluttered as the HMS Beagle that I'm studying the AOTS for. I might get enthused one day - smaller ship, bigger scale possible........who knows where it may lead 😊

Pat

It's been quite a while since I posted - spent a few weeks lazing in the Fiji sun on a large cruising catamaran, swimming, snorkeling and generally being lazy - wonderful!

Back to the Endeavour. While away, I have been reading a new book - the AOTS of the Beagle - a ship, along with Shackleton's Endurance, that appeal to me as models. It made me realise that the Endeavour I'm building is quite a long way from 'reality'- whatever that is. So, I have decided not to try and make the A.L. kit too difficult but continue to gather the experience and skills needed to do better next time! Make the odd change where it seems appropriate but follow the construction notes (difficult at best) for anything I don't understand. The arc of eye-bolts in the bow is a case in point - maybe it was how the collier was setup but is certainly not a feature of many other models I've seen. So be it!

The anchor davits and anchors were almost next on my list and were only slightly modified. The brass wheels provided for the cannon were given the task of being pulleys in the davit ends. The blocks and tackle for raising the anchor to be secured will be added next. 

The anchor cable's permanent position will be decided later - it probably depends on what stage of a voyage a static ship is representing - cable laid out on the fore-deck if ready to drop anchor or all stowed away when at sea. So much to learn, so little time 😊

Pat

Thanks for the 'likes' folks  The four pumps amidships puzzled me for a short while - I could find some parts in the bits boxes but bore no resemblance to the instructions - obviously the cast metal versions have replaced a rather clumsy wooden one that would need a lot of work. I could find no references to these type of main pumps online or in my model books so I just made them in a way I assumed were expected. But, I tried a few new techniques to make things easier down the track. Firstly getting the cast metal to accept paint readily. After a thorough filing to remove mould lines, a wire brushing and a scrub with isopropyl alcohol, they were given several VERY light coats of Rustoleum etch-primer. Then the final colour coat adhered well. The handle, because I wasn't sure if it was wood or iron, I gave it a quick dunk in Brass Black metal finish. Perfect

A 1mm copper rivet secured the handle and a blackened eye-bolt made a rudimentary plunger to the stuff lower down. I don't have the Endeavour AOTS so it will have to do. Interestingly, the replica ship doesn't seem to have even dummy pumps. That space is taken by what looks like air vents (to the engines?)

Which pump parts are wood or iron! If anyone can advise, thanks

The pumps are not glued in place yet as I read that they could make the rigging harder later on........we'll see!

I am procrastinating as to how the various companion-ways and skylight will be made - certainly different than the kit.

Thanks goodness for all the kind folk who logged their own builds of this ship.

Pat

A rudimentary pump from the kit

Thanks for the comments folks - yes I love the seemingly rapid day-to-day progress. I guess that will slow down when the rigging starts

I decided to rig the rudder tiller and prepped a few of the smallest blocks - a light sanding, a coat of grain filler and a coat of walnut stain - they could be better but wasn't sure how much time to spend on them. I'm getting myself psyched up for rigging one of these days so hopefully things will be sorted by then!

While rummaging around in a box of 'stuff', I found a treasure trove of wire! esp. the black-coated 24 swg steel. Perfect for strops on the little blocks. Apart from using them back-to-front (I think) they will work OK. The black beading thread is only to checkout the run of the rope. The horrible L.A. supplied 'rope' is probably OK when waxed - I'll try it tomorrow.

The blocks all seem a bit over-scale but with my 75 year old eyesight, I'm glad they're not smaller

btw, the design of the goose-neck is based on the replica.

Pat

Every day or two - some more bits  This basic fitting out is my favourite part of the deal. The frames that hold the spare spars, ship's boats etc were built up to look vaguely like the replica with curved and capped ends. Plus the capstan and the wheel were tidied up and fitted. The wheel was a bit chunky compared with the replica but it cleaned up OK. A bit of re-touching can be done later. I'll tackle the rudder linkage as my first use of rigging materials on this model which raises a question - does anyone use the rigging thread that comes with these kits? It seems a bit hairy and of rather poor quality. I have some beading thread that looks superb but not in the larger sizes. Banyan, ny good suppliers in Oz? Otherwise I guess a USA supplier can be found......

I cleaned up the wheel in the lathe - I was going to paint some brass décor but the replica seems to be all varnished wood so I left it at that

Pat

A few odds and ends done - as usual it is a mix between the kit, a few drawings (ex AOTS?) that I have found on the net, plus other's builds and of course, the replica! Add to that my own interpretation and it will be different from everybody else's

The rectangular plates at the base of each mast don't show on the kit but are present on many models - are they flat iron? I made mine from 1/64" birch ply. Gratings are only being used in a couple of places - mainly the main hatch. I'll make up wooden structures and covers for the rest.

This is the part of a build I really enjoy - doing small sections at a time. Heaps f fun on cold winter nights!

Pat

I'm reasonably happy with the windlass (lots of errors to remember for next time ) and so I charged on to the ships bell and its mounting.

I wasn't keen on the supplied lintel so made a slightly more 'wooden' looking item from kit scraps using the replica as a guide. Some simplification was made but it gives a rough idea of 'a' real thing. Due to lack of observations skills and how my model was built, I made the belaying pin racks straight - not curved! Smack on the wrist for me........but at least they are there, unlike the kit plans. I was amazed that at this late stage I realised the Endeavour seems to use only a few belaying pins for the running rigging. Most 'ropes' are apparently tied off around the heavy railings - and I'd bought a bunch of tiny A.L. pins as I didn't see any in the kit! Another slap on the wrist.

I haven't made the windlass pawls yet but will model them on the replica - just short bits of 1mm square stuff with dummy hinges. Well, that's the current thinking.

The metal cleats provided seemed far too large at this scale so I filed about 5mm off the length and thinned them down somewhat. Still a bit big but more acceptable - only a couple of dozen more to do!

Pat

ps. I just realised the cleats should be brown, not black........

Thanks Pat. At last - some structure on the deck. Not quite finished yet but the windlass needed a bit of work and will be OK when I've tidied it up a bit. The original kit parts were used except for the forward braces which should have been the same thickness as the windlass bearing bits. The drum was drilled through in the lathe and then reassembled after shaping and painting. I'll rough up the winding drum a bit to show some wear as shown on the replica. I'm going to use a mixture of the replica style pawls but only two of them! Just to be different! The square holes were easy with a 1/16" drill and a tiny square file. Time for a break!

Pat

PS - I seem to have got the pictures back to front. Apologies!

Thanks Pat - I just spent an hour or so perusing your Victoria thread - lots of hints and tips to keep me on my toes!

It's great to reach a goal or benchmark - but now the channels, lower deadeyes and their associated hardware are done. Not without many, many errors and mistakes but that is part of the learning curve. Biggest lesson is that I should have drawn or found a reliable drawing of the hull to get the placements of parts where they should have been  So the main channels are a little too far forward (or the mast rearward), the chains and their anchoring plates are too far south - etc etc....... Like others, I had chains anchoring in the middle of hatches etc. I have since found a scale drawing on the 'net that can guide me in the future. It is probably an illicit copy (looks Polish) so wont show it here. Next time I'll get stuff right.

The dead-eyes and associated bits are not accurate but look a lot better than the A.L. kit parts. After painting with dark grey Tamiya acrylic, the new bits were given a very light dusting with graphite dust with a soft brush - just enough to give a little bit of definition to the painted parts.

And now, something completely different - staring on the deck fittings.

Pat

Hi Pat - I read through your scratch build and, as expected, have seen enough new ideas and techniques to make my head spin!

A great and unusual subject.

Cheers, Pat

Making mistakes is the best way to learn - I've made heaps and am still very much a beginner  Do you have a photo of what the completed model will look like? The deck planking looks interesting!

Pat

Very small offering today - just to prove I'm still working  - the remaining 20 lower dead-eyes and the related bit of hardware 'in the rough'. Now they all need cleaning up, a bit of re-shaping and assembling into the port side channels. Nice to get all the bits ready to fit instead of doing them bit-by-bit as I did the other side.

Still having fun on a rainy, wintery day (it's still Autumn really...Pat

About a weeks work (much of it experimental) I have the starboard channels and the lower deadeyes fitted. Certainly not a perfect job but I'm happy enough. My motto is "..I'll get it right next time.." but that supposes there is a next time, or more likely will I remember the mistakes I made this time 

Without the expert reference materials I now know are available, the shortcomings of the A.L. kit plus my lack of model ship building knowledge, this model is bound to be a bit of a mix of right, wrong and 'does it matter'! But it will have been a fair effort I hope.......enough rambling and face the port side with enthusiasm and a little more knowledge

Pat

After suffering a minor computer 'malfunction' (read - finger trouble) I can post a little progress!

Fitting the channels was the next logical task (and next in the instructions) so they were prepped, painted and fitted to the starboard side of the model. Some of them needed a slight curve to follow the hull lines and so were steamed and clamped over night.

With channels fitted, I looked at ALs version of the shroud deadeyes and their fixing and decided to do a little better - esp. after seeing some of the excellent build on this forum. So I found a roll of 22 swg tinned copper wire and proceeded to make the various parts needed. I also made the plate that fixes the 'chain' to the hull with some thin brass about 2mm wide. It's all very laborious but 1/2 the deadeyes have been prepared and I did the mizzen channel for practice. They can only get better . So I have a long task ahead getting around the ship. More details when it gets more interesting! The surgical tweezers were great to clamp the wire while the eye was being formed around some 1.5mm rod.

Pat

Dan - you're welcome.

The transom rail was made from a lamination of 1/32 and 1/64 ply. I looked at replica photos, plus a plan published on the net and got a rough facsimile of the real thing. I may have a bit too much curve in the rail but it is similar to the replica but at odds with the kit and other models. Ah well - it is MY interpretation  It seems to be mostly a structure to tie various ropes to - but that will be much, much later

Another coat of paint and some retouching of the painted areas tomorrow........Pat