travis

Working on the carriage guns and since I'm trying to actually replicate the rigging on the guns (kit has no rigging for this), I'm needing to order more blocks. Tried making by hand but they just don't come out very well compared to the ones we can get from Syren (love his blocks and rope by the way!). Don't want to get hit multiple times with shipping so I'm going to try for a single order which means I need to get all my rigging figured out!! I used an excel spreadsheet with my last build and I'm updating to a newer version for this one. I also used the rigging/block calculator spreadsheet from HiSModel and I'm liking the result. I may not use as many rigging sizes but it's a good starting point. I'm providing a link here to both files on goole drive if anyone wants to take a look (should be re-usable for other builds, just clear the values and fill it out!). I'm really interested in feedback from anyone who has already built the Apostol Felipe or in progress (call out to @Slowhand who's running at a similar pace to me!) Rigging Plan: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qdIoDKW4J_ew731MBVsXbNcc1gGYI1vB/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=105861869683818061516&rtpof=true&sd=true HiSModel Sizing Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lAamZoHs4X4V92qfZpVcueICTyBd3p9-/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=105861869683818061516&rtpof=true&sd=true Also, if anyone has questions updating this to their own build, I'm happy to walk it through. It's my own "method to my madness" but I hope others might find it usefull. In the rigging plan, the first tab is seting up "picklists" Second tab it the primary work. Remaining tabs are just collections of screenshots I gathered to help figure out the specific rigging setups I will probably use.

Migt not. I can't find evidence this particular ship actually existed as part of the spanish silver fleet so hard to say. It still a good looking ship, even if it wasn't real so I'm just using this on more for artistic and fun than accuracy!

@LoydB Don't have the computer the circuit was designed on readily accessible but as soon as I do, I'll put it all in github and let you know. Should be pretty universally for any build and pretty easy to expand the number of unique circuits by just daisy chaining more bit registers. I bet the nano processor could do a good job with four of them which would create 32 unique lighting patterns. Add a Bluetooth receiver and might even be somewhat controllable! (That might be on my next build , the occre bounty)

Working on the carriage guns. Again, pretty small and kit was just glued on place without rigging. Had a few 3/32" blocks and fabricating more to at least have some of the cannon rigging in place.

Lots to add since last post. Finished the aft galleries (decided to change some the the door styles and all the doors are scratch made). Gun ports in place (haven't decided how i want to hold them open yet. Scale is small rigging but not crazy about just gluing them). Some deck items added (scratch made pumps, ladders, capstans).

Placing some of the doors and more deck details. Good time for a light check!

Feeling better about the doors. They just take a while to kick out with the thin wood bended frames. Also set the first aft breezeway in place.

Bow bulwark with gilded adornments. Also working on the doors. Really don't like the metal doors. Painting them just looks like an afterthought. But fabricating at this scale is a challenge! Worked through lots of samples. Here are my latest alongside a painted door. Far right one is window screen on thin plexiglass, adhered with clear parts/window maker cement. Probably going to ditch the double door jamb style from metal. Just too small/thin and hard to bend. The upper aft breezways on the model also have the extra adornments that the imagery gets glued to. Don't really like the images so I'm going to play with option to fabricate them a little differently and maybe add some windows instead.

Deck gratting in. Rudder almost ready.

Railing is finally shapped and glued. Broke a lot of wood in the process. Used a wood burner with heat turned down. Made multiple curve templates. Thanks you occre providing a lot of extra wood for this size!! Worked on later parts when I would get frustrated.

I got close to switching wood. Broke a lot of wood but I think occre knows that's a tough step. Turns out they provided a lot of extra! Took a lot of fighting with it but I'm finally done with the rails (just about to post on my own log). I used a kettle to get hot water. Soaked for maybe 15 minutes (found if it was longer it worked against me!!). Used a wood burning tool with the heat turned down a bit. Cut shapes to work with. Still took a lot of effort and breakage!

Im curious how you are thinking to manage the curves in the railings? I've been trying to bend them with heat (soldering iron turned down to not burn the wood) and water but wood keeps breaking. Im using the kit supplied sapele which does seem to not handle the bends well. Curious what you are trying as I struggle with my own!

Continuing railings and wales.

Thanks Ian. Slow and steady!!

Couple updates. First wales bent, stained, and glued. Running parallel with doing other wales (extra time for bending), limber boards, waterways, and stations. Cut an scrap plywood for a bending template. Using a soldering iron (reduced accordingly!) And then clamp and time to get the bends.

Took a long time but the hull is finally planted! Got a little left to do at the upper stern but I'm holding that until I get further along and ready to wire in the aft lantern. My first layer was treated like a single layer and came out pretty good for first time trying to have that layer at finish quality. Second layer came out even better. So glad I cut all the planks to actual scale plank size rather than. Trying to bend full length straps. Allowed for a lot of adjustment as I went, especially with the more intense curves at the bow. Time to figure out bending the strokes. Haven't decided if I will cur them into smaller sections or not. Going to make a bending jig similar to the one amati sells and see how that works.

First attempt at a drop plank. This bow has a lot to curve so hoping this takes some of the stress off!

Decided to set the keel before the final planking so I can get a clean finish (even kinda did a kerf in the bow to help hold the planks flush ). Planked part of the stern, set the garboard and first full plank at the Wales. A big change using contact cement but I see how it is beneficial for the final plank if you take your time. Nice to have the planks stay exactly where I put them. Now to plan, measure and cut all the tapers!

Looks like you are just a little ahead of my on the apostol. I just finished first layer and am now working on second. I like bseing that you are running your second plank as individual planks rather than single planks the whole length. Are you doing the same below the wales too? I'm on my third build and for the first to, I used wood glue for second planks. Got real lucky and no glue bleed but what you are facing has been my fear with such thin planks. I'm trying contact cement this time but that comes with it's own challenges! I like the quality and detail you are putting in so I'll follow along.

Hull is planked. Sanding and filling now. I tried planking like this was single layer. Came out pretty good for me but still need another round or two before I'm actually ready to do a single plank. But should be a nice underlayer for the second plank.

Been a long while. Still working through planking the hull but work and other priorities have made this very slow. I'm also treating the first layer as a final layer as practice for one day doing a single layer scratch build. Isn't perfect but first layer is a lot cleaner and tight than prior builds. I'm also painting a thick layer of black acrylic on the back side after glue set on each plank (with a bent qtip). Testing as I go it's actually doing very well to eliminate bleed from the leds. Getting a lot of bend at the bow and trying to avoid steelers/drop planks as I go on this so we will see how it ends up. 20250318_072541.mp4

Made 2 final updates for the lighting. Added 2 leds for the front potholes and added a pin header under the micro usb port to easily power from a battery pack. Going to finish the hull before adding a video so... Time to plank!!!

No worries!! Criticism always appreciated if it makes the build better! I was thinking of trying a mixture or primer and elastomeric paint. the primary should improve adhesion and the elastomeric creates a thicker and more plasticised surface. If the second layer glue will stick well the the elastomeric that might be a good seal!

Plenty of putty on 1st layer should block for the hull. If needed I can add paint to remaining bleed there before second plank. The cargo holds will bleed too. I can reduce the light level at each bulkhead to make it lest prominent. Migh also add some tinted plastic around those areas before planking if needed. We'll see how it goes!

Pin headers arrived. Finished my lighting control board and set in place. Cut the wiring and using hot glue to keep wires from moving. As mentioned earlier, this board can control 16 independent leds so now i have to decide if I want any more! It's getting bright but the benefit of cutting in a micro usb is that I can update the code later to soften any or all of the leds once the hull is complete!