GGibson

Nice work, John! Hard to get into those small spaces! Lots of pics with tweezers in the camera shot! Excellent! I'm getting my lower shrouds in now. Wish I was as far as you, but then I keep telling myself I am in no particular hurry... take it slow! 👍🏆👍🏆

Was not familiar with Cookster's build log, although I have been bookmarking other logs for when I get to my own Constitution build. Will add his to all of yours, as well! Lots of research and reading to do once I get to that point!

Nice looking pedestal! Is the center brace a part of the practicum or was that an add-on? Looks great and provides additional support, I am sure.

Well, after last week's start with the pre-rigging on stuff coming off the main mast, I continued around the ship and tried to catch every bit of rigging that I could do now, off the ship, for each of the five (5) booms and gaffs. I've doubled my seven pre-riggings to fourteen (14) and have labeled them (hopefully accurately enough to know where they go!). The ones on the top row are what I completed since last week. Unless I am forgetting another important step in the pre-rigging process, it appears my next task is to get the masts placed so that I can begin on the lower shrouds. But... before that, I think it is also time to get the Bluenose on its display base/pedestals, and also get the dories and kids firmly placed, as I've been holding off on their placement for fear of snagging them. Might also get the silkspan out that I recently ordered for the sails to see how easily it will be to work with. Appreciate all the advice, likes and comments.

Spoiler alert!!! 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️😄🤣 Just happened to peek at this thread again as I saw it on the home page as a recent post, and I love to peek at "all things Chuck"! 👍 This Speedwell looks awesome, sir!

Yep! I do what sounds like a "mix" of what James, Micha and Terry all do, and we are all arriving at the same finished entry. But I have never used the drag-and-drop, either. I will "prep" my pictures ahead of time using my PC's Photos app, doing all of the cropping, resizing, etc. there. Then, when I am creating a post, I will add all the photos I intend to use in that post at once, so the picture thumbnails appear in the UPLOADED IMAGES section below the text window. Then, as I am typing text, if I want to place a picture at a specific location after a paragraph, I hit enter so that the cursor is on a new line and then click the picture I want to insert. Boom! If I know I want to center the picture, I will hit the center alignment icon either before or after placing the picture. If you do that, though, and after inserting the picture, be sure to click back on the left-align icon, or all your continuing text will be centered, as well. One caveat to this procedure, though... if you don't place all of the pictures you have "pre-chosen" and are in the UPLOADED IMAGES section somewhere into your reply, they will auto-load at the end of your entry once you hit SUBMIT REPLY. If that happens, you can edit your reply entry and either delete it if no longer wanting to post it or re-insert it wherever you like by placing the cursor where you want it and click the picture, then deleting where it got stuck at the end. Sorry if this got too wordy in my explanation version! EDIT: I re-reading PvG's initial query, it sounds like he is doing fine with the upload, but then just not "telling" his text reply where he wanted the picture specifically placed, so they are all dumping at the end, as I noted in my last paragraph. So... ignore my first two paragraphs of yapping! 🤣🤣

Thanks, Ed! Yes, your build log has been an excellent reference for me. Appreciate the work you put in. And, yes, I know critics will say (rightfully so) that all the metalwork should be blackened, but I really do like the way the shiny brass stands out, so... I go against the purists on that one. <shrug> Wish I was able to duplicate the shackles, though. I just haven't had much success in creating those at a small scale and I see where I would need to do many more in some upcoming rigging. For now, I've just been going from spar to spar on the plans to see what rigging I can prepare in advance so that, once I get the masts up and start tying down the shrouds, hopefully most of the rigging will just need to be placed in its spot, connected to eyebolts, pins, etc. Nervous about it all, but I just keep telling myself to slow down and be patient with it all. Thanks again for peeking in. Appreciate any advice as I trudge forward!

Great explanation and, as always, great work, Mustafa. Thanks for taking the time to document and explain. 👍

I think I commented earlier, Mustafa, how impressed I am with how you make your ladders so consistently. As I recall, you said you had a little jig made for the ladder construction. Just curious, though... could you have made these at the same time you were making the ones that go up to the gun deck, or is there a slight variation in the pitch or angle that you needed to check on and couldn't until you got to this point? Any efficiency in doing it either way? As I said, though, they look awesome! Totally impressed, sir!

He trained in the T-45, flew F/A-18 in 2 deployments and has been flying the F-5N as a part of the fleet adversary program for about 12 years now. Appreciate your service, as well! 👍🏆

Ahhh, very awesome, Pete! Thank her for her service! My son is a Navy pilot, so I am especially supportive of the military aviation community. 👍🏆

Was in Ames '73-'76. 👍

Ahhh.... Very nice! Have relatives that live in the Quad Cities area. I was at Carver-Hawkeye for an Iowa Women's BB game with #22 this past year.

Welcome, Pete! Nice helo model! 🏆 What part of Iowa? I'm a "born & raised in Iowa" guy!

Thanks, John! Ropes of Scale - Polyester Rope – Ropes of Scale

Well, I have done a little bit more, so thought I would toss in an update. Been struggling a little with how to approach all of the rigging work. But, starting to do some rigging on a few of the spars that, no matter which way I decide to go with the sails, etc., I will need to rig anyways, so... here we go. Not much of a play-by-play on these spars coming off of the main mast. But definitely props to several of the Bluenose modelers who have come before me and shown a lot of their processes and techniques well enough for me to follow much of their guidance. Props especially to @genericDave, @Ed Ku20 and @John Ruy, whom I have either relied heavily on researching their completed build logs, or John's responses to queries on his ongoing (and almost completed) Bluenose build. With that all said, a few pictures (with little comment) I took during some of the pre-rigging for the main mast spars... Trying to remember to do some of the stropping with brass wire vs. thread. And yes, need to use the Syren internally-stropped blocks on some of the 1/4" singles and doubles. So may re-do some of these after-the-fact. As I am completing different portions of the pre-rigging, I am wrapping them as best I can and setting aside. This rigging will be for the main boom's crutch tackle. A closeup of the end of the main boom and topping lift rigging. The completed rigging on the main boom (with all of the rigging banded and secured until it's placed on ship). Top part of the lower main mast, with the blocks for the main peak halliard and the pendant rope for the topping lift. Rigging the main gaff bridle assembly. All of the rigging lines associated with the main mast. Well, as far as I can tell (so far), this may be it for the main mast pre-rigging process. Now it's pretty much a "rinse-and-repeat" routine for the fore mast rigging with a couple of exceptions. Then, it appears the shrouds are after that, which means getting those masts firmly secured on deck. Let's see how this progresses!

Y'all are making me hungry, dang it! 😄🤷‍♀️😋

Impressively meticulous work, Mustafa! 👍🏆

Looks really nice, Peter! Congrats on getting the planking done! From everything I have read from others' build logs, sounds like a "cannon diversion" may be the best option! 🤷‍♀️But, for now, enjoy your evening out! 🍸Cheers!

I do have the "helping hands" unit to help in seizing blocks and tying knots, etc., but I have also found a pair of hemostat forceps to work really well. I clamp the block in the forceps and then clamp the forceps in a desktop vise, and everything stays solid and secure. Amazon.com: Set of 2 Pcs 5.5" Straight & Curved Kelly Hemostat Forceps Locking Clamps Premium Quality Stainless Steel Set-with Half Serrated Jaws (Silver) : Industrial & Scientific

Ditto here, as well, in not seeing this log previously! Exquisite work, Richard! And love your excellent work in posting the pictures with the text attached. Can I ask what program you are using? Seems quite technical, but very impressive! And the work on the ship itself is awesome! Will continue to follow, if you don't mind... 👍

If you find that it may be easier to order some additional wood of very good quality, I highly recommend Joe at Modeler's Sawmill. I have ordered from him a few times for additional strips that I cannot create or alter myself. Milled wood lumber strips for the model ship builder - Modelers Sawmill I have The Chopper I from NorthWest Shore Line and I use it quite often! I must have the "original" 1st generation Chopper (hence it being called Chopper I, I presume!), as mine does not have the reference lines, which would be handy, but it does have holders on either side of the blade cutter so you can set and make consistent repeatable cuts. 👍

Grate job, Mustafa!! 👍😁

Any ideas on what this one might be? 🤷‍♀️

Awesome pictures, Jon! Maybe 1:48 based on this website, Peter? Mark Antczak (1949 – ) – American Marine Models (shipmodel.com)