BANYAN

Good use of your local products Michael; wish I had access to wood as easily as that. The frames look like they curve and conform to the plug quite well. cheers Pat

Very nice work on both the oars and the faux burle Druxey. You say you got lucky but me thinks some experience coming through here Did you use a jig to replicate the blades etc? cheers Pat

Thanks for the encouragement Rob, still at a slow pace but hopefully can pick that up soon. cheers Pat

Now starting to show her true lines Rob. cheers Pat

A 'splendid' job (sorry couldn't help myself) Patrick, another wonderful miniature you are creating. cheers Pat

Looks good Mark; a much better job than I could achieve. cheers Pat

Stunningly detailed model Boris; looking great! cheers Pat

Thanks for the encouragement Keith; hopefully something to show on the rigging soon. Thanks for looking in and kind comments Jason, appreciated. cheers Pat

Great job on the sails Steven, as Druxey points out, remarkable definition considering the weave of the material. Good luck with the woldings on the foremast; perhaps using a curved needle (sacking/suture or the like) might assist? cheers Pat

Thanks Ed, your comments are much valued and appreciated. Slowly getting there, I am surprised how long it is taking me to finalise the rigging plan cheers Pat

Very neat work on those rabbets Michael, very crisp and clean. cheers Pat

Thanks for looking in and kind comments Mark, Keith and Druxey; much appreciated. I am about to tackle the flag locker and a few remaining very minor fittings (Lead's man stanchions and belt, Fish davit etc.); I will then do a photo stack image of the full upperdeck to ensure all is in focus. cheers Pat

There's only one phrase to repeat, and repeat, for your work - stunning work! cheers Pat

Lovely work as usual Karl; looks great. cheers Pat

A little more progress folks; some dusting, removal of glue (when properly dry) etc still to do but here is the result for the Gallows and Belfry. In hindsight, I wish I had not secured the Elliott riding bitts in place as they need to be a little more forward, but in reality there is still room to work the cable around them if needed. I couldn't move the gallows further aft as I have to preserve room/space for the capstan bars when fitted. I still have to add the simulated bolt heads on the legs of the belfry. The bit of brass at the top is a breather pipe. The tank is 3D printed resin airbrushed with Mr. Metal 'iron'; although not clear, the bit bottom central is a cock for drawing fresh water which I think should no be at the back - too late now though. Sorry the challenge was not taken up re fitting a bell rope - the thing was just to small. I could not drill a small enough hole in the clapper's end without the drill bit wandering around (only 0.3mm end below the round part). I may end up just gluing a bit of twisted cotton (3 colours) on there. cheers Pat

No problem Keith. cheers Pat

A thing of beauty indeed, very clean work. cheers Pat

Can only comment on the high quality of your build Mark as I am not familiar with the spars and rigging of these vessels. To eye, doesn't seem too thick. cheers Pat

Thanks for all the likes, and the kind comments and suggestions Steven, Eberhard, Bruce, Chuck, Mark, Kevin, John and Ed. Chuck: The trick I have found (at this scale) is resistance soldering. I find it much easier to control the heat and using different heat activated solders can usually get the smaller details in place without disturbing the rest. Now, if I can get my woodwork up to the same standard as yours I would be real happy. Bruce and Ed, always appreciate you looking in and you much appreciated comments. Eberhard, Kevin, John: My intention is to try and add a bell rope BUT at this scale it would only be 0.2mm diameter so definitely no plaiting/weaving or fancy knot work. IF I can drill a small hole in the clapper, I will simply add a small length of very fine scale rope with a knot in the end. Thanks for setting the challenge (I think 🤯) cheers Pat

I know exactly where you are at Keith, I have the same issue with Victoria's rigging. I have bitten the bullet and gone back to first principles (so to speak). As you have found, there is no ready reference so I am trying to develop my rigging and belaying plan from several authors that cover the mid-nineteenth century. I am at least lucky to have found a copy of her Rigging Warrant so what I have done is use the listed rigging and associated items (blocks, hooks, thimbles etc) and see which author best describes the rigging set-up using that combination of rigging gear. I also allow for the fact that each Captain had their preferences and in this case, correspondence from the ship's build superintendent confirms that he allowed the Captain to rearrange some of the rigging to 'merchant' rather than naval practices, as he came from a merchant background. He apparently changed some of the rigging associated with the yards. Overall, I have found that the Rigging Warrant, supplemented with the imagery I have of the ship (quite accurate), suggests most of the rigging practices/set-up employed were in accordance with the descriptions given in 'Seamanship' by Lieutenant G.S. Nares, 1862; and for the more modern adaptions 'The Masting and Rigging of The Clipper Ship and Ocean Carrier' by Harold Underhill proves useful. However there are some departures / differences not covered by these authors so I have also used (consulted and verified with) Robert Kipping, John Fincham, Young, James Lees, D'Arcy Lever, John Harland, Marquardt and William L Crothers. I am now about 70% through having sorted the head sails, fore mast, and most of the mizen and auxiliary sails (stunsails, trysails etc). The main mast I hope is mostly a copy of the foremast (minus the head sails) with just the belaying and some of the leads to be adapted. Not sure how different yours would be as mine followed the British practices of the day for a steam-screw vessel - and as I have previously advised while conforming to a Barque rig in general principles, there were considerable differences to accommodate the additional fore-and-aft sails and modification required to work with steam (heat from the funnel especially). Give me a bell if you think there would be some similarities. cheers Pat

Thanks Keith. Now that the decision is made to go with a metal frame, I have made a start. The belfry is almost done, and a good start made on the gallows. There is still some metal polishing to be done to remove the final scratches (noting this is a super closeup shot). The frame is one piece brass bar 1.5 mm x 0.8 mm shaped to the profile. I drilled the sides after it was shaped to accept 0.5 mm brass rod on which the bell is free mounted (can swing. The bell is aftermarket. I then soldered the end caps on (small brass tube) and silver soldered the base plate. Have yet to decide whether to leave it like this or cut away the central bit. Leaving it intact will allow a better gluing surface and some additional strength. I am also still deciding whether to drill the 'clapper' and add a small rope. I have made the bitts, end boards and rails for the gallows; the side rails (to hold the FW tank) are in but need some final sanding. I have just painted the FW tank but no photo as it is still drying. I have painted the tank a metallic iron colour; I had considered white, but simply to allow the detail to show I have used the iron colour. cheers Pat

Rob, your 'skeleton' is coming along well. With all the research going into this build, you should have a very well detailed and acceptably accurate hull. cheers Pat

Hi all, there may be a subtle differentiation that needs some further discussion here? I approach this as an amateur researcher looking for info about mid-19th century equipment and maritime matters. I fully agree that any NEW Information/data developed by a company or individual can (should) attract a fee (nobody expects to work for nothing). However, I am now experiencing examples where some companies/individuals are trying to charge for information and imagery that they have not developed themselves, nor improved, and in many cases the source data/information is out of copyright and often freely available - if you are patient and prepared to dig further. One example is the imagery company 'Alamy' whom seem to try and grab whatever image they can and charge for it? This comment may be a little different from brunnellrussell's intention, and again I reiterate that any information/data resulting from a company/individual that is their work, by all means charge. If value adding to existing information has been done, then again, a fee is understandable (as long as it is reasonable) and the user will soon determine whether the company/individual is charging for good or poor quality information. What I do not agree with is for companies and individuals grabbing info that was/ and should be free, then charging for it having done NO work to improve it. My whinge over, I'll get off my soap box. cheers Pat

Too true Mark cheers Pat

I don't know how I missed this build until now Michael (talk about right under your eyes) What a beautiful job you are doing, that machinery is a work of art. cheers Pat