AnobiumPunctatum

Hi,
Finally managed to get the all clear to get back to the workshop after five months of convalescence. My Triton build is now in the process of being resurrected - just breaking myself in with some more of the more straight forward frames from mid-ship while I try to get my head around the convolutions and challenges of the hawse and bollard components ..........
 

 
Graham.

Couple of pictures of my slow progress with painting, I’m not very good at it and have to use many thinned coats.
I will start with the spreaders and then the Thwarts next.
 
You will also see my Confederacy build in the background, she has been cleaned off and some repairs were made to her from our house move a couple of years ago, after the barge is completed I will be working on her alongside Pegasus.
 
ben

A little more work completed on the Barge, the flooring and platforms were marked for height and installed, also work on the rear seats has begun.
 
Thought i I would show a pic next to Pegasus just for fun even though the barge is double the scale.
 
ben

Here is the inboard side sanded down to 5/64 thick and ready for floorboards.
 
ben
 

Really wonderful, Rusty. Is just another masterpiece from you

Thanks Christian. I look forward to your building this too!
 
Next was to make the 20 thole pins or oar locks. These are tiny laser cut pieces and thankfully
Chuck supplies extra. A couple disappeared into the black hole of the shop floor.
 

 

 

 
As you can see they are small. They were glued in place per the plans and then painted.
 
Next up is the rudder.
 
 

Some close up images of rigging details from the  replica under sail......
 

Really wonderful and impressive pictures. I am already looking forward to the project

Really wonderful, Rusty. Is just another masterpiece from you

Really wonderful and impressive pictures. I am already looking forward to the project

Sorry, that was a calculation fault of mine. I thought on the Model Shipways kit as I wrote my last thread.
1/24 is also a really nice choice. It's the same scale as your pinnace models.

1/48 is perfect. The frames are so much more stable und can be build with the right scale.
The detailed build log will be a great help later.
 
EDIT: ANother reason for me is, that I build my other models also in the scale

I think I might have mentioned this somewhere but I will repeat here.
 
There will be a starter package containing keel parts, frame parts and build board along with the plans.  You scratch everything else.  Estimate $100
 
Then there will be a full kit version no rigging materials...just the hull.  Estimate $180ish but this could be way off because I m not close to knowing yet
 
Lastly...a separate rigging/sail package with everything to add masts/sails to your model. Containing mast material, rope, blocks, whatever else including sail material. Estimate $45ish
 
Thats it.  Otherwise it gets to crazy.  This should make it economically feasible for most folks who may only want the starter package and scratch everything else.  Otherwise they can buy one of the other options.  But I cant itemize it out into smaller packages because that would be insane to keep track of.
 
Starter packages will only be available for those taking part in the MSW group project and bought through this site.  Once I add it to my store....there will only be the full hull kit and rigging packages available.   
 
 

Really wonderful and impressive pictures. I am already looking forward to the project

Nicely done Sam.....try and keep it on the table top from now on though....
 
You might even want to sand those frames and caprail down even thinner if possible.   The thinner it is the more elegant it will look.

 

OK so I skipped a few steps here but this is where I'm at.
 
It's been pretty by the book (kinda')
 
As I stated initially I wanted a deeper color scheme so I've opted for a first coat of 50-50 thinner and minwax golden oak stain and then a full strength (lightly applied) of golden oak. I then hit everything with a wipe on poly. The paint is a windsor newton galleria black (the usual 97 (LOL)  thin coats).
 
I have ordered cherry sheets to make the lower molding out of cherry to match the finish. The top moldings are ripped from scrap from the kit.
 
The bow is painted full black as I saw some images of barges with a full field of color. I thought the paint between moldings looked a little "race stripey" for my tastes.
 
The carvings (or in my case all castings) will be a gilded gold with a dull finish.
 
BTW I have purchased the resin castings from Syren and they are beautifully done.
 
For those of you who are wondering why the keel is doubled the kit as designed CAN NOT withstand a fall from a table top to a concrete floor. After several attempts I was left with the option of re-enforcing the keel or starting over.
 
I am thinking if continuing the frieze pattern onto the bench arms. I've attached a mock-up of it - opinions?????
 
Also I have accepted Chuck's "challenge" and will be doing some additional carvings/details to the bow.............. to be continued
 
Sam
 
 


ARMS WITH INSERT030518.pdf

Well I've decided on a finish.
 
As I've stated I'm looking at a more "older look" (without weathering etc.) something along the lines that the Russian builders accomplish. Something with some depth of color.
 
I tried about ten different types of finishes from tung oil (various number of coats) to sepia washes, wipe on poly etc. The tung oil left it to "orangey" with the cherry wood. So I had to get something to take that edge off.
 
I've decided upon a 50/50 coat of MiniWax Golden Oak brushed on and allowed to dry naturaly. I'll buff it out in 24 hours to take up any surface oil. It may darken or natuarlly patine on it's own and that would be fine.
 
Thank's to Ben and Chris for their input
 
Sam

I returned to the QA BARGE this weekend and was able to get all the frames assembled. Just a few observations;
 
The directions are specific in stating that each frame set should be separated and installed individually and then assembled. This should be followed as it is easy to mix up the parts as there is in some cases only a slight difference in shape and mixing them up is easily possible.
 
Once all the frames were assembled I attempted to fit them into their respective slots on the boards. Once again as per the directions there was some mild sanding required to get the tabs inserted under a gentle press fit and not pressured in. 
 
Although not pictured I have dry fit the keel on the assembly. As with the bulkheads some of the slots on the keel were tight on the frames. I took a scrap piece of the cherry and used it as a test fit throughout. With a sanding stick I gently touched up the bottom of the bulkheads where needed.
 
That's it for construction this weekend. I will spend the rest of my "BARGE" time testing finishes on the scrap wood. I am leaning towards a tung oil finish (maybe with some type of sepia wash) or a satin poly wipe on.
 
Those results (and hopefully the assembled keel/bulkheads) here next weekend.
 
Sam

Well the clamps are off and the work on the BARGE is done until next weekend. I have another personal build I want to spend some time on and a kit design project just getting underway. Keep an eye on MSW for news on that coming soon...........
 
I taped together a couple of pieces of thin cardboard to make a small firm envelope to store the flags, inset and sweeps' artwork and the chip board laser cut piece. I'll leave them safely in the bottom of the box until they are needed.
 
Sam

Progress?.............
 
One of the things to take note of with this kit is glueing parts. Obviously the goal is to have a pristine surface ready for finish. Glue on the raw wood will affect the sealer, oil or whatever is to be used. With the small surface areas that contact in these first few steps it is imperative that enough glue is used to bond but not so much to squeeze out and cause finish issues down the road.
 
It is almost necessary to let the first (almost transparent) coat of glue to seal the char providing  suitable surface(s) to bind. The second coat is just as thin. Tooth pics were used as spreaders and good old fashioned clothespins were the right depth and more importantly the best tension/pressure to act as clamps.
 
I have been using Titebond (yellow) as my primary glue with just dots of a medium CA to hold pieces in place until the yellow sets up.

Boy am I having a hard time with this thread................
 
One more pic

Good morning all
 
Thanks to everyone so far who has checked and wished well so far.
 
Bob - nice job on HALIFAX 
Thanks to Nils, Jason, Dan, Mike, Steve
Grant - I'll PM you on my other project
 
Anyway, the build is underway. 
 
The thing that is to be stressed continuously with this build/kit is patience. Care must be taken i handling the pieces and the builder should always read the directions thoroughly before proceeding. Unlike a lot of kits this is definitely a  "manual" build. In that I mean the builder has to read the manual. Just a cursory  read is not sufficient. The plans are supplemental to the manual. Chuck has provided a very clear process that will produce a beautiful build.
 
I've released the first series of parts and removed the char as directed. The keel assembly needs to be beveled and then I can put it together. That will be later this weekend.

I've only submitted a couple of logs on MSW and they've been more progress than build logs in that It has been pics of where I'm at and not necessarily how I got there. I'm going to try to make this a little more comprehensive so here goes..........
 
The BARGE arrived to my house in Western New York from Syren's offices in New Jersey in about 4 days. Cant beat that. The box was much smaller than I anticipated only being about 15"x4"x6".
 
I opened it to find everything neatly and securely placed and and well packaged.  Included are two plan sheets 18"x24" at a scale of 1:1. The manual is a 3 part PDF download from Syren's website that I had printed out and spiral bound at Office Max. I opted to print it in B&W, after binding it was $12.99. The same production in color would have run close to $60 so B&W it is.
 
The parts are all extremely well cut and appear to be very easy to release. What is surprising is the delicate feel of the parts. A lot of the sheets are only 1/32" so patience and care must be shown in handling. One thing that caught my eye was how pretty the cherry wood is even unfinished. The color is consistent and the grain is very attractive. With a finish coat or oil on it it should be beautiful.
 
The flags provided are sharp and detailed as are the inlays for the BARGE and the markings for the oars. 
 
The details of the 7 castings included are crisp and need virtually no remedial work prior to finish.
 
As far as unboxings go this was pretty uneventful. The quality of all included are what has come to be expected from Syren Ship Model Company - perfect.