BANYAN

Hi all, after a short (ish) sojourn I am back at the modelling desk; a long list of 'honey please do' jobs and continued research (on the rigging) interrupted by the festive season is my excuse
 
The following shows the additional work that has been done.  The progress photo (before fitting the circular skylights) shows the broadside gun carriages loosely sited in their future position.   I cannot progress these until we finish printing the 3D barrels but unfortunately my mate helping me with that, has a few health issues and that must take priority.  I have the trunnion caps, tackles and breeching ropes ready to go once we are in a position to print the guns.  the pivot gun slide has also been made and all the pieces for the carriage which sits on top have been cut but not yet assembled.
 
    
 
The circular skylights were made from turned acrylic rod (8mm) and PE which I drew up and I had etched here in Melbourne.  The photos show the 'prototype skylight which has since been cleaned up a little more.  Al (alpayed on this forum - building the Danmark) turned these for me as I was doing something wrong and the rod kept melting on me.  These formed the base with the spigot being used as the locating pins and a small hole was drilled in the top while still in the lathe to accept a brass pin.  This pin is intended to represent a small rod and cover in the actual item that could be raised to allow ventilation through the skylight.  The sides were photo etched with the brass vertical bars etched deeper so that when the top and bottom were painted to represent the wooden parts, it looked like the bars were recessed.  The side were rolled and formed on a dowel then silver soldered for strength before painting. 
 
The conical part represents the bars over the top but at this scale it proved simply too difficult to include the wooden framing.  Overall I think they came out ok, but I am tempted to redo the tops as I could not get the 'exact' diameter of the formed cone to sit on top of the side pieces.  to the eye it looks fine, but a close inspection, especially through the camera shows they are not sitting uniformly on top of the side pieces.
 
cheers, and a very happy, healthy and safe 2020
 
Pat
 
    
 

Looks like you are well and truly on top of this Keith (pun intended ).  I very much like the idea of the slot with sliding cams to help retain the rail in place and at the correct displacement against the bulwark.  In hindsight I also wish I had thought of painting and masking the hull before adding the cap rail, as painting that proved a source of  some exasperation  
 
cheers
 
Pat

Allan, I am currently building at 1:72 but am finding it more and more difficult to add the level of detail I would like (although EdT   seems to be able to accomplish it  ) All future builds will be at 1:40 for the reasons already given, PLUS there is a much larger 'after market' for some bits and bobs you may wish to purchase rather than scratch build.
 
cheers
 
Pat

Looks like you are well and truly on top of this Keith (pun intended ).  I very much like the idea of the slot with sliding cams to help retain the rail in place and at the correct displacement against the bulwark.  In hindsight I also wish I had thought of painting and masking the hull before adding the cap rail, as painting that proved a source of  some exasperation  
 
cheers
 
Pat

Looks like you are well and truly on top of this Keith (pun intended ).  I very much like the idea of the slot with sliding cams to help retain the rail in place and at the correct displacement against the bulwark.  In hindsight I also wish I had thought of painting and masking the hull before adding the cap rail, as painting that proved a source of  some exasperation  
 
cheers
 
Pat

Hi all, after a short (ish) sojourn I am back at the modelling desk; a long list of 'honey please do' jobs and continued research (on the rigging) interrupted by the festive season is my excuse
 
The following shows the additional work that has been done.  The progress photo (before fitting the circular skylights) shows the broadside gun carriages loosely sited in their future position.   I cannot progress these until we finish printing the 3D barrels but unfortunately my mate helping me with that, has a few health issues and that must take priority.  I have the trunnion caps, tackles and breeching ropes ready to go once we are in a position to print the guns.  the pivot gun slide has also been made and all the pieces for the carriage which sits on top have been cut but not yet assembled.
 
    
 
The circular skylights were made from turned acrylic rod (8mm) and PE which I drew up and I had etched here in Melbourne.  The photos show the 'prototype skylight which has since been cleaned up a little more.  Al (alpayed on this forum - building the Danmark) turned these for me as I was doing something wrong and the rod kept melting on me.  These formed the base with the spigot being used as the locating pins and a small hole was drilled in the top while still in the lathe to accept a brass pin.  This pin is intended to represent a small rod and cover in the actual item that could be raised to allow ventilation through the skylight.  The sides were photo etched with the brass vertical bars etched deeper so that when the top and bottom were painted to represent the wooden parts, it looked like the bars were recessed.  The side were rolled and formed on a dowel then silver soldered for strength before painting. 
 
The conical part represents the bars over the top but at this scale it proved simply too difficult to include the wooden framing.  Overall I think they came out ok, but I am tempted to redo the tops as I could not get the 'exact' diameter of the formed cone to sit on top of the side pieces.  to the eye it looks fine, but a close inspection, especially through the camera shows they are not sitting uniformly on top of the side pieces.
 
cheers, and a very happy, healthy and safe 2020
 
Pat
 
    
 

Looks like you are well and truly on top of this Keith (pun intended ).  I very much like the idea of the slot with sliding cams to help retain the rail in place and at the correct displacement against the bulwark.  In hindsight I also wish I had thought of painting and masking the hull before adding the cap rail, as painting that proved a source of  some exasperation  
 
cheers
 
Pat

Beautiful work as always Doris, your craftsmanship and the quality of the work continue to inspire.
 
cheers
 
Pat

Funny..as I survey the situation....it appears all that is needed is the stays and the shrouds/ratlines...not to mention  lots of final finishing details and some running rigging for the gaff and boom.
I'm shocked I'm gonna be finished with this model in a month or so(assuming a lot).
I'll have to take some good photos of it, outside the model shop, that is.
 
Happy new year everyone.
 
Rob
 

And not just maritime subjects - almost any academic subject attracts people who seem to be more interested in proving their fellows wrong than in achieving anything useful. On the other hand I think the author was genuinely trying to arrive at a workable truth - I just find it hard to accept most of his conclusions.
Well, not completely. It's always good to get another viewpoint, even if you don't agree with it. The "demountable castle" concept is attractive, given the huge scarcity (only one known example) of castles in contemporary pictures of dromons. But where would they be stored on-board? And would they be solid enough to fight from? It's an interesting idea and I haven't totally dismissed it, but as I've already built the things (though not fitted them), I expect I'll go ahead with them even though the ship will be displayed with masts and sails.
 
And his reconstruction of the oarbenches is almost identical to what I came up with independently (though I decided not to use a fore-and-aft beam joining the benches, having decided it  would interfere with free movement for the oarsmen in times of combat). 
 
Also his deck beams (lightweight crossbeams - to allow for limited headroom - supported by two intermediate fore-and-aft beams sitting on columns either side of the lower walkway) is exactly how I'd envisioned them, though I didn't put the support beams and the columns in the model because they weren't structurally necessary at that scale. 
 
Not a complete waste of time, but I feel rather a wasted opportunity in many ways - it could have been much better. 
 
Steven 

Carl first happy new year to you.  From a strictly sailing point of view by removing some wedges the mast would be able to be leaned aft which would change the shape of the sail and centre of effort which could affect speed depending on the type of vessel. In Modern racing yachts the mast is bent to change the shape of the sail which affects its airfoil shape making it more full or flat depending on how much bend is put into it.
 
Michael

Well, deep-buttoned green leather has something to it ... sitting on some, while writing this
 

Excellent work as usual Michael.

Thanks John, this is what they should have looked like  .

 
Happy New Year to you both and wishing you a safe and fulfilling 2020
 
cheers
 
Pat

The melting issue when turning acrylic could be one of two things. Use the slowest speed possible and a sharp pointed tool bit. A wide cutting bit and/or too fast a turning speed creates enough heat to melt acrylic. Anyway, she is looking very good, Pat!

Interesting approach to the skylights Pat. Like others I think you are being a little hard on yourself, they look pretty good to me.

Pat,
those skylights look marvelous, you should take scale into account, and not mix up realism, with reality. Somehow modellers seem to think they can recreate at a small scale up to some tiny detail which would hardly be visible on an enlarged image of the real thing. You can be proud of your creation. Your deck is filling up nicely!

Don't be too hard on yourself Pat, those skylight look great. The rest of the ship is coming along nicely as well.
 
Michael

Very neat looking skylights in spite of your protestations, Pat!
 
John

That looks so very realistic Michael; very nice work
 
cheers
 
Pat

Thanks John, this is what they should have looked like  .

 
Happy New Year to you both and wishing you a safe and fulfilling 2020
 
cheers
 
Pat

Hi all, after a short (ish) sojourn I am back at the modelling desk; a long list of 'honey please do' jobs and continued research (on the rigging) interrupted by the festive season is my excuse
 
The following shows the additional work that has been done.  The progress photo (before fitting the circular skylights) shows the broadside gun carriages loosely sited in their future position.   I cannot progress these until we finish printing the 3D barrels but unfortunately my mate helping me with that, has a few health issues and that must take priority.  I have the trunnion caps, tackles and breeching ropes ready to go once we are in a position to print the guns.  the pivot gun slide has also been made and all the pieces for the carriage which sits on top have been cut but not yet assembled.
 
    
 
The circular skylights were made from turned acrylic rod (8mm) and PE which I drew up and I had etched here in Melbourne.  The photos show the 'prototype skylight which has since been cleaned up a little more.  Al (alpayed on this forum - building the Danmark) turned these for me as I was doing something wrong and the rod kept melting on me.  These formed the base with the spigot being used as the locating pins and a small hole was drilled in the top while still in the lathe to accept a brass pin.  This pin is intended to represent a small rod and cover in the actual item that could be raised to allow ventilation through the skylight.  The sides were photo etched with the brass vertical bars etched deeper so that when the top and bottom were painted to represent the wooden parts, it looked like the bars were recessed.  The side were rolled and formed on a dowel then silver soldered for strength before painting. 
 
The conical part represents the bars over the top but at this scale it proved simply too difficult to include the wooden framing.  Overall I think they came out ok, but I am tempted to redo the tops as I could not get the 'exact' diameter of the formed cone to sit on top of the side pieces.  to the eye it looks fine, but a close inspection, especially through the camera shows they are not sitting uniformly on top of the side pieces.
 
cheers, and a very happy, healthy and safe 2020
 
Pat
 
    
 

Hi all, after a short (ish) sojourn I am back at the modelling desk; a long list of 'honey please do' jobs and continued research (on the rigging) interrupted by the festive season is my excuse
 
The following shows the additional work that has been done.  The progress photo (before fitting the circular skylights) shows the broadside gun carriages loosely sited in their future position.   I cannot progress these until we finish printing the 3D barrels but unfortunately my mate helping me with that, has a few health issues and that must take priority.  I have the trunnion caps, tackles and breeching ropes ready to go once we are in a position to print the guns.  the pivot gun slide has also been made and all the pieces for the carriage which sits on top have been cut but not yet assembled.
 
    
 
The circular skylights were made from turned acrylic rod (8mm) and PE which I drew up and I had etched here in Melbourne.  The photos show the 'prototype skylight which has since been cleaned up a little more.  Al (alpayed on this forum - building the Danmark) turned these for me as I was doing something wrong and the rod kept melting on me.  These formed the base with the spigot being used as the locating pins and a small hole was drilled in the top while still in the lathe to accept a brass pin.  This pin is intended to represent a small rod and cover in the actual item that could be raised to allow ventilation through the skylight.  The sides were photo etched with the brass vertical bars etched deeper so that when the top and bottom were painted to represent the wooden parts, it looked like the bars were recessed.  The side were rolled and formed on a dowel then silver soldered for strength before painting. 
 
The conical part represents the bars over the top but at this scale it proved simply too difficult to include the wooden framing.  Overall I think they came out ok, but I am tempted to redo the tops as I could not get the 'exact' diameter of the formed cone to sit on top of the side pieces.  to the eye it looks fine, but a close inspection, especially through the camera shows they are not sitting uniformly on top of the side pieces.
 
cheers, and a very happy, healthy and safe 2020
 
Pat
 
    
 

Hi folks, another quick update.  I have been side tracked with research of late but have managed to make a start on the broadside guns.  These were 32 pounder 25 cwt guns to the Dundas pattern, mounted on rear-chock carriages.  As usual close ups show more dust, lumps etc than to the naked eye, so I am going to have to clean them up a little more yet
 
As you can see these are small at 1:72, only 22 x 12mm at the widest, and the prototype  is a rough 3D print barrel.  The ones I will fit will be printed to a much higher fidelity and include the sights and gunlock - won't be as 'rough'.  The prototype was used to ensure it fitted the ports etc correctly, and work out a way to run the production line.  The rear worm drive elevating mechanism still has to have the handle added and the striker plate on the chooch will be a little more refined.
 
The production version wheels are only dry fitted as I am still trying to determine whether to blacken the outer hub.  the photo I am using as a reference (of the actual ship's gun) and contemporary information suggest these, and the wheel rims /rollers were made from gunmetal and not iron.  They just seem a little too bright but my attempts to dull them have produced inconsistent results - I may just live with them
 



 
cheers
 
Pat
 
 

Hi all, after a short (ish) sojourn I am back at the modelling desk; a long list of 'honey please do' jobs and continued research (on the rigging) interrupted by the festive season is my excuse
 
The following shows the additional work that has been done.  The progress photo (before fitting the circular skylights) shows the broadside gun carriages loosely sited in their future position.   I cannot progress these until we finish printing the 3D barrels but unfortunately my mate helping me with that, has a few health issues and that must take priority.  I have the trunnion caps, tackles and breeching ropes ready to go once we are in a position to print the guns.  the pivot gun slide has also been made and all the pieces for the carriage which sits on top have been cut but not yet assembled.
 
    
 
The circular skylights were made from turned acrylic rod (8mm) and PE which I drew up and I had etched here in Melbourne.  The photos show the 'prototype skylight which has since been cleaned up a little more.  Al (alpayed on this forum - building the Danmark) turned these for me as I was doing something wrong and the rod kept melting on me.  These formed the base with the spigot being used as the locating pins and a small hole was drilled in the top while still in the lathe to accept a brass pin.  This pin is intended to represent a small rod and cover in the actual item that could be raised to allow ventilation through the skylight.  The sides were photo etched with the brass vertical bars etched deeper so that when the top and bottom were painted to represent the wooden parts, it looked like the bars were recessed.  The side were rolled and formed on a dowel then silver soldered for strength before painting. 
 
The conical part represents the bars over the top but at this scale it proved simply too difficult to include the wooden framing.  Overall I think they came out ok, but I am tempted to redo the tops as I could not get the 'exact' diameter of the formed cone to sit on top of the side pieces.  to the eye it looks fine, but a close inspection, especially through the camera shows they are not sitting uniformly on top of the side pieces.
 
cheers, and a very happy, healthy and safe 2020
 
Pat