Kusawa2000

Looking good Mike. Am looking forward to your next update. As far as the cold temperatures, you can keep them. 

Everyone: Its been a while since I lasted posted any progress pics. I figure getting the gunport framing completed wouldnt take too long. Boy.. was I wrong. Between getting the framing all properly aligned and then getting all the frames faired correctly took a lot longer than I planned. It didnt take to long to figure out there is no point rushing this part.. and I have a few pieces of discarded framing pieces to show for it. In any case I suspect I will need to do a few more touch ups but I can say this part is done.... now the rear stern pieces. I did think about getting some detailed shots but there are some good reference pictures already out there.. I figure I can let ya know that the -40c weather we have been having has been a great incentive to make some progress on the Winnie.
 
Mike Draper
 

Everyone: Its been a while since I lasted posted any progress pics. I figure getting the gunport framing completed wouldnt take too long. Boy.. was I wrong. Between getting the framing all properly aligned and then getting all the frames faired correctly took a lot longer than I planned. It didnt take to long to figure out there is no point rushing this part.. and I have a few pieces of discarded framing pieces to show for it. In any case I suspect I will need to do a few more touch ups but I can say this part is done.... now the rear stern pieces. I did think about getting some detailed shots but there are some good reference pictures already out there.. I figure I can let ya know that the -40c weather we have been having has been a great incentive to make some progress on the Winnie.
 
Mike Draper
 

So today I concluded chapter 7 and now onto chapter 8! But first I need to finish all the guns on the gun deck.
I decided to go with the cherry capstan kit rather than the AYC, tough decision but I thought it complemented the guns well and manages to stand out enough to not get lost. The deck beams and all the knees went well, when fitting them I left them all just a tad bit high, after they were all complete I came through with a small file board and faired everything out and made sure my run of deck planks will be smooth. What a mess this created but a nice vacuum and a small air compressor made quick work or the clean up. 
The lamps went fairly trouble free except I did break one and had to solder in another early on, I’m afraid these are a one time deal and will be impossible to replace if they fail, but Evan’s claims over 2000 hours of running time so I should be good. Even with the lights off the lamps look good I think. 
Mounting the pumps and the associated metal work was a nice challenge, I spent a lot of time taking them on and off trying to get them to accommodate for the deck camber. The Crank handles were     A little tricky but not that bad if you take your time.  I took a couple shots with the lamps on with very little light around, the photos show them much brighter and yellower then they actually are but still present well in photos. 
Thanks for looking in.
JJ
 

Everyone: Its been a while since I lasted posted any progress pics. I figure getting the gunport framing completed wouldnt take too long. Boy.. was I wrong. Between getting the framing all properly aligned and then getting all the frames faired correctly took a lot longer than I planned. It didnt take to long to figure out there is no point rushing this part.. and I have a few pieces of discarded framing pieces to show for it. In any case I suspect I will need to do a few more touch ups but I can say this part is done.... now the rear stern pieces. I did think about getting some detailed shots but there are some good reference pictures already out there.. I figure I can let ya know that the -40c weather we have been having has been a great incentive to make some progress on the Winnie.
 
Mike Draper
 

Everyone: Its been a while since I lasted posted any progress pics. I figure getting the gunport framing completed wouldnt take too long. Boy.. was I wrong. Between getting the framing all properly aligned and then getting all the frames faired correctly took a lot longer than I planned. It didnt take to long to figure out there is no point rushing this part.. and I have a few pieces of discarded framing pieces to show for it. In any case I suspect I will need to do a few more touch ups but I can say this part is done.... now the rear stern pieces. I did think about getting some detailed shots but there are some good reference pictures already out there.. I figure I can let ya know that the -40c weather we have been having has been a great incentive to make some progress on the Winnie.
 
Mike Draper
 

Everyone: Its been a while since I lasted posted any progress pics. I figure getting the gunport framing completed wouldnt take too long. Boy.. was I wrong. Between getting the framing all properly aligned and then getting all the frames faired correctly took a lot longer than I planned. It didnt take to long to figure out there is no point rushing this part.. and I have a few pieces of discarded framing pieces to show for it. In any case I suspect I will need to do a few more touch ups but I can say this part is done.... now the rear stern pieces. I did think about getting some detailed shots but there are some good reference pictures already out there.. I figure I can let ya know that the -40c weather we have been having has been a great incentive to make some progress on the Winnie.
 
Mike Draper
 

Everyone: Its been a while since I lasted posted any progress pics. I figure getting the gunport framing completed wouldnt take too long. Boy.. was I wrong. Between getting the framing all properly aligned and then getting all the frames faired correctly took a lot longer than I planned. It didnt take to long to figure out there is no point rushing this part.. and I have a few pieces of discarded framing pieces to show for it. In any case I suspect I will need to do a few more touch ups but I can say this part is done.... now the rear stern pieces. I did think about getting some detailed shots but there are some good reference pictures already out there.. I figure I can let ya know that the -40c weather we have been having has been a great incentive to make some progress on the Winnie.
 
Mike Draper
 

Everyone: Its been a while since I lasted posted any progress pics. I figure getting the gunport framing completed wouldnt take too long. Boy.. was I wrong. Between getting the framing all properly aligned and then getting all the frames faired correctly took a lot longer than I planned. It didnt take to long to figure out there is no point rushing this part.. and I have a few pieces of discarded framing pieces to show for it. In any case I suspect I will need to do a few more touch ups but I can say this part is done.... now the rear stern pieces. I did think about getting some detailed shots but there are some good reference pictures already out there.. I figure I can let ya know that the -40c weather we have been having has been a great incentive to make some progress on the Winnie.
 
Mike Draper
 

Everyone: Its been a while since I lasted posted any progress pics. I figure getting the gunport framing completed wouldnt take too long. Boy.. was I wrong. Between getting the framing all properly aligned and then getting all the frames faired correctly took a lot longer than I planned. It didnt take to long to figure out there is no point rushing this part.. and I have a few pieces of discarded framing pieces to show for it. In any case I suspect I will need to do a few more touch ups but I can say this part is done.... now the rear stern pieces. I did think about getting some detailed shots but there are some good reference pictures already out there.. I figure I can let ya know that the -40c weather we have been having has been a great incentive to make some progress on the Winnie.
 
Mike Draper
 

Everyone: Its been a while since I lasted posted any progress pics. I figure getting the gunport framing completed wouldnt take too long. Boy.. was I wrong. Between getting the framing all properly aligned and then getting all the frames faired correctly took a lot longer than I planned. It didnt take to long to figure out there is no point rushing this part.. and I have a few pieces of discarded framing pieces to show for it. In any case I suspect I will need to do a few more touch ups but I can say this part is done.... now the rear stern pieces. I did think about getting some detailed shots but there are some good reference pictures already out there.. I figure I can let ya know that the -40c weather we have been having has been a great incentive to make some progress on the Winnie.
 
Mike Draper
 

There are the very first cut parts for Grecian - what is there may not reflect the end kit, though...

I thought I would start a new thread, as the original was getting a little too big.
 
OK, for at least the next 5 years, I have my developments more or less already mapped out. The subjects cover a wide range of vessels from the 17th to early 19th Century.
 
For 2023, I have three confirmed. The first is Indy (of course). I may add as an optional extra cistern/chain pump housings. This has been my largest development to date, taking well over a year of full time work, and having Jim make the prototype and taking the manual photo pics and text. If I were to do this, then Indy would have been a 2 year development.
 
After Indy, I will have the American schooner Grecian (1812) almost ready, which I anticipate releasing in April/May. I have almost finished the mast and rig drawings, and profiles, so this may come together pretty quickly once Indy is released. 
From Wiki:
 
Thomas Kemp of Baltimore designed Grecian with several innovations. She was pierced for 20 guns, though she never carried that many, and her gunports were unique, designed perhaps to save weight. She had a long, curving stem, and a shallow, less convex bow. Grecian's first captain was James Phillips, and under him she had made one voyage to France. She received letter of marque No. 944 in December 1813, under Captain Knapp.
 
Not sure how much of that can be trusted, though, as she was not pierced for 20 guns, she has 18, with the fore-most being next to useless due to the distance between port and starboard (very sharp bow, so 7 per side being usable, in my opinion). It seems she had a mix of guns, being more standardised when in the British navy. What I have done is give enough guns for carronades, 6 and 4 pounders. I am sure the 4 pounders were used at the front, due to space issues, with the 6 pounders being nearer the middle and rear - so the modeller will have a choice of what to fit where.
 
After this, I will start on HMS Surprise, and this should be released this year, assuming all goes well.
 
And that's it for now....
 
ETA - My real love is frigates, as I have said before. If I had my way completely, the next five or six releases would be frigates from 32 guns upwards! But I cannot....

Hollowneck,
 
I did not use that medieval torture tool for the Bellona. I used a pouncing wheel, driven by a ruler to mark each tile (25 mm x 8 mm) one time on each side: 

That was not too bad, in retrospect.
 
Yves

I am now working on the top of the Poop deck. But before doing that, I have to flip the hull to access in a more comfortable position the ceiling of the rear balcony. That delicate operation is done with the help of a friend. The hull is now close to 20 pounds in weight and all the protruding guns are very fragile: 
 

 

 
The Copper tape has been doing great after a few months and is gaining that reddish golden color that makes it so attractive. Most likely, this is the last time I will have to do this kind of acrobatic stunts. Of course, having the Poop deck bulwarks, full and re-unforced, allows to flip the heavy hull without any damages.
 
After working and finishing the ceiling, the top of the Poop deck can now be completed: 
 

 
The kit does not provide chicken coops and other cages for animals and birds to be installed on the Poop deck.
 
Poop deck Railing...
 

 
Ladders.... These are too short from the kit. I had to modify them and add an extra step on the top.
 

 
 
 

 
The veranda to provide light into the main cabins.... and the bitts for the mizzen mast: 
 

 

 
Overall view of the Quarterdeck and Poop deck: 
 

 
I think it is time to move to the middle of the ship and mostly to the bow.....
 

 
Yves

With the stern counter timbers in place I installed  temporary bracing to help maintain the curvature  of the stern,and continued with the fill in frames all the way back to the stern,made sure everything was glued up and squared  up then let it set a day to cure completely,with the stern on and secured I removed the ship from the building board and finally got to view the complete shape of her,the lines of a spanish frigate from that Era are sleek and refined, no wonder they were so agile and maneuverable while under sail,now my next move will be to start fairing the frames which means sanding, sanding,double checking ,sanding some more.
 

Finally  finished bolting and installing all the frames,put a batten across the top of the frames to help keep everything aligned and to strengthen  the hull,put in the frame chocks(filling pieces)between the frames wasn't quite  sure about them I didn't see anything on the plans or if they were needed but for me it's common practice to install them to stiffen the space between the Wales and the keel.

As you should, we shouldn’t look to you to fulfill random, specialized, or limited interests.  Nor should your page be the place to challenge the business model you’ve set and have so clearly and frequently restated.  You’ve come a long way since your first release, I am confident you will continue to make the right choices.  I will order HMS Surprise the day you announce it.
 
 

Thank you for all your comments, they are appreciated.
 
I did state from the start that I finally wanted to develop stuff I always wanted to do, for the main developments at least, and the scale would be constant.
 
When working for others, there were so many developments that were started but never finished, or finished but never released. At least now I can state with 100% certainty that what I now start, it is finished to the bitter end and released.
 
I have enough subjects in my 'Future Projects' folder to last at least a decade. I have to be mindful of the very large models, as a 1st to 3rd rate is a 1.5-2 year development cycle, a lot of time and money, more so if they are designed with full deck/s detail, and not the standard fare of block models and dummy barrels (If the latter, I have little doubt I could develop 8-10 kits like that per year, and make more money - but no fun and not bringing kit fidelity/design quality forward)
 
After Indy, I have this US privateer schooner, and after that, I may do a small kit before Surprise, which should be complete next year. Anyway, that is my plan for the next 10-12 months....
 
ETA - I haven't forgot Bristol, it is another large kit, so I need to wait just a little longer - I shall probably have a figurehead and stern decoration made for her sister, Leopard, too, so you can have a choice.

My stock of ebony for making the square  bolts is limited way out here in rural Montana,so I decided to bolt the frames with brass rod,I  will use ebony up top where it will be more visible

Yves: I managed to get over to Kure in Japan and see the model. It is totally insane. Amazing level of detail and with the way its displayed you can check out every angle of the model. If you are thinking to build the Yamato it's the place to visit. The rest of the museum is interesting as well. They have the Zero airplane as well as flags and other memorabilia from the Yamato. They have also laid down a footprint of the actual size of the ship near the museum as well so you can appreciate the size of the battleship. 
 
Mike Draper

HMS Surprise? You have my vote
 
Mike Draper

HMS Surprise? You have my vote
 
Mike Draper

HMS Surprise? You have my vote
 
Mike Draper

HMS Surprise? You have my vote
 
Mike Draper