mathewp

   G'day Sam, thanks for dropping in. The kit's OK, but there are a few issues to work through due to poor quality of some of the parts. I've noticed a difference in paint scheme compared to other kits as well, which is no big deal, because you can follow the plans like I have (almost) or change it to whatever you want to do. Theres no flag locker on these plans, so if I put one on I'll have to put one together on the fly. This one isn't one of the more expensive kits, so I guess I shouldn't expect it to be as good as some of the others I've seen here. I picked this as a second build, and I'd say to anyone who wants to do this Ship to buy a higher quality kit if you can. I've seen part of your refit, and it looks good, I'd reccomend you get the best quality parts you can. You'll end up with a very nice result I think Sam, she looks pretty solid. 

   This post is a fairly short one, mainly because of the repetitive nature of working on deadeyes and ratlines. Still I've managed to get them done . I've also added the anchors and once the ratlines were finished, I put thebackstays on, so that they didn't get in the way while doing the ratlines. That completed the standing rigging. The 10 half pounder Carronades?, I yhink thats what they are callled, they're on too. Next it will be the stern decoration and the side windows. The final stage of running rigging is not far away.

Hi Ferit. Looking very good indeed. Your deadeyes are all nicely aligned, I haven't figured how to do them like that yet. Ratlines are nice and tidy. She'll be a very nice ship. Lovely work.

Thanks for dropping in Ferit. There's still heaps to do yet. Hows things your way, there's some crazy stuff happening in the middle east??

I haven't posted for a while, I just didn't feel like it. Lots to post so I'll try and be brief. The masts and bowsprit are on. The supplied trestles needed some packing as the holes were way too big. I'm not sure what happened there, it seems like theyput the wrong sized ones in the kit.The mastcaps are on, no real problems there, apart from not having enough tanganika to plank them. I decided to rig as much of the bowsprits standing gear off the model, that made llife a little easier. Then came the mainstay, and the other preventer stays. The Shrouds went on easy, and the deadeyes.  I added some fids to the masttops. The chains that hold the deadeyes in the channels are of a very sof metalthat snaps easily, so I ended up replacing a few of them while I was threading the deadeyes. I've put on the futtocks, they should be called something they rhyme with, because that's where they were a pain. Upper shrouds are on and the deadeyes. A couple of repairs and I'll thread them and move on to the top shrouds and then the ratlines.

I suggest a jewellers supply shop, where they have piercing saw blades right down to very fine teeth so small you can barely see them. I bought mine by the gross (144) so it doesnt matter if a few break. 

I still have my gravers from when I did a bit of silver work. I find them very useful. They are very easy to mess up, and I wouldnt reccomend anyone buy, grind and add your own handles, it's quite difficult and easy to mess up. If anyone is thinking of getting some, pay the extra for a set ready for use. I ground and added my own handles, because I wanted mine to fit my hand comfortably, which was essential for carving metals. These tools are expensive. I paid $30 for mine, and they weren't ready to use. The good thing about these is you can use them on a variety of materials. On wood, a little extra care is needed so they dont dig in too deep. When I was using them on metal, they were used to remove very small bits of material at a time, and usually on a very shallow angle, until you got to the depth you wanted. Ceramic hones are as good as any to keep a fine edge. I use this hone to sharpen razor knife blades when needed.

I'm just using jewellers gravers, they come in a variety of shapes and are very good for fine work. They are however, quite expensive.The ones I bought were $30 each. The up- side is you can use them on metal as well, which is handy for those irritating bits on metal castings. Another benefit is that i'll probably never have to get any more, they last a lifetime.

Looks very nice Jason, a fast build too.

Nice tidy work Jeff, what's next??

Damn computers, it took nearly a week to fix, so theres lots to post.The ladder on the starboard side is on , and I finished the Cannons and installed them. Then the longboat was finished, with a pair of oars. I ended up very short of materials for the mast tops, so I ordered some extra tanganika, and walnut planks. I also got some extra 1x1 walnut so I can add traction boards to each Mast top. The kit doesn't supply lanterns, so I got me some of them as well.If you want to do the stanging rigging in black then you'll need to order some as all the cord is in fawn, and yep, I got me some of that too. I fitted the helm, and the anchor rope on the windlass. I painted the chains so they're ready to go on. I made the three lower masts, so they're ready for the mast cheeks, and wooldings. I've planked both sides of the Mast tops with Tanganika, Now it's on to the dry fitting of the top masts, and replacing the too small trestles supplied in the kit. That  will take a little while.  Will post again soon,

Matt

I have the Mantua plans, but I dont know if they'll be any good yo you. It depends on what you are missing. That looks like an old box, just how old is it??.

Thanks for all the suggestions.I don't think I"ll burn it. My first model was second planked in Mahogany, which seems very similar to Cedar to me. I was thinking of doing the Wyoming for a first scratch build, so a larger model about 3 foot long should be ok to plank with this wood then???. I'm a bit like you Tarbrush, because I visit my pile of wood regularly. I draw the line at talking to it though. Thanks for the offer Darren, but I'm north of Brisbane.

Looks good Andrew, I hope she likes it.

She's looking good Dan your painting looks spot on, it sounds like you struck gold with your wife, mine hasn't bought me one yet. 

G'day Dan, I'm currently on one these though it's a Mamoli kit. Have fun with your build.

Matt.

Is this one of the models you buy in instalments, or a total kit? It looks quite large in your photos, and an interesting build. Have fun with it. If i like the look of it later I might get some details of it rom you.

Matt.

That would mean I'm faster than 3 gigahertz. Should I change my avatar to superman or Speedy Gonzales, or take a few Valium??.

very nice work Ferit, those decorations look tricky, but you;ve made them look very good.

I'm not  sure when I'll be able to post, my computer has fried itself. At the moment I'm using my sons school laptop, which I can't use all the time. Hopefully I can work something out.

G'day Jeff. Very nice looking Constitution you've got there. On my first model I left some fittings natural brass, to let them get their own color over time for a natural look. They look quite good now.

Have most of the deck furniture sorted out. The rest of the pinrails and last fyfe rail. I fixed the Capstan, with the little tiny pieces I almost couldn't see in the box. I won't rig the helm just yet as I want to give everything a last sand and varnish. Next I guess is the longboat and the bits and pieces that go in it.Maybe I'll add a few extras to it. soon will be the decorations on the bow.They look a little tricky, and then the mounts for the half pounders and the four Cannons. Even though I feel like I got a fair bit done, there's still heaps to do. I also found a couple of small spots on the deck planking to fix.

I have to agree with the others, it's very nice indeed.Enjoy the rest of your build

Matt

I'm no legal eagle, but someone who buys a model, don't they also purchase the right to use the plans provided, or if he/she doesn't have any , a right to obtain them?. I don't think they'd mind, If they did then I wouldn't buy from them.

I like the tin can idea, it's ingenious.Keep asking, maybe message some people doing the Victory, otherwise you'll have to wait until they find you.Enjoy your build

Matt.