AJohnson

Big milestone today, second planking complete (well apart from a few sessions of sanding!) Overall happy with the way it came out but still glad this is going to be painted as my woodworking skills; especially at the Stem & stern still need improvement. Paying much more attention to lining off the hull and splitting the hull into bands to plank did help in the long run. Initially frustrating at times, having to bend and shape planks, then re-bend then trial fit again, this process seemed to fall into a rhythm I could follow by the end. A couple of planks went wrong, but (one split under the pins/clamps which I didn't notice and another I shaped too narrow, again not noticing until it was dry.) as I said, all okay as its all going under paint soon! - Phew... Additionally I paid no attention whatsoever to grading of the strips, so I ended up with nearly all the dark ones on one side, which would have looked bad if left unpainted. So next update will be the sanding, filling, primer & painting stages. Thanks again for the likes and following along.

Looking good from here and well done on wanting to get things right and redoing some parts Don’t worry about breakages and other “whoops” moments, I dropped my current build and needed to repair a few parts, many of us do that kind of thing all the time.

I shall be interested to see how the figures come out with your painting skills! 😲

Those are good looking cannons David, I will be pinching your idea of spare belaying pins for quoin handles! 😉 As a break from second planking I've also made a start on the Cannons, likewise I think 2mm blocks the smallest my eyes could cope with also! 🤓

Progress update, not as long has been spent on Trial as I would like but steady progress is still something. Started the second planking, by first adding the top plank and the garboard as per. Chris's instructions. Then the remaining area was divided into plank widths mid-ships then divided into three sections for planking and (hopefully) a symmetrical appearance. The bands were divided up using flexible masking tape I got from Chris, tacky enough to stay on the first planking, but easy enough to peel back for adjustments. The intervening spaces divided up using Chuck's planking fan as post #42. There has been some odd-shaped planks coming out of all this measuring and edge bending, but I guess that is the point, overall satisfied with the results, by still no way would I dare leave my planking unpainted! 😱 Another week at this rate and second planking might be about done. Again thanks for the likes and comments and looking in!

Nice upgrade Dave.

Hi Chris, now that is interesting, I have in my stash an old Caldercraft HMS Snake that I intend to kit-bash into HMS Scylla c.1830. I am mostly just doing research at this stage and had been thinking about the armament amongst other things, so yes, I would be interested in that and any other 18 gun Brig accessories that might become available when you develop your kit in the future. All of this could be completely derailed depending on when your HMS Surprise appears! 😆

I think Chris will definitely need bigger premises for the orders of that one! 🤣. But happy to wait a little longer (and means I should finish up one or two projects before Surprise make her debut). Really pleased to hear how things are going Chris, well deserved, really enjoying building your Trial at the moment.

A fascinating discussion, if I might ask a minor detail with regard smaller vessels like Cutters; I'm currently making the Trial by Vanguard models. Would these smaller vessels have fixed bulwark or waterway garlands? The RMG plans and a contemporary model do not show them. I understand absence does not mean they were not used, but was it more likely that temporary deck placed garlands were used? and placed beside the guns as discussed already on this thread. For info. Trial had 8# 3 pounder Carriage guns and 4# 12 pounder Carronades from 1793, if that has any bearing. Thanks for any opinions, I'm tempted to add more detail than the kit provides, but inclined to add triangular/square deck garlands if this was more likely than fixed ones.

She’s looking very impressive Rob, really nice to see all those sails!

Evening all, thanks you for the likes and comments. Progress update, the first planking is complete, but not without a "whoops" - I dropped the model whilst sanding it and managed to break off the stem and stern pattern which disintegrates into five pieces. After much colourful language the damage has been repaired - good job this is all painted below the wale! 😣 Next glued on the stern post assembly, keel and stem. I used scraps of wood to align the sliding keel slots and keep them free of glue. I'm now looking at the second planking and also, as a change whilst waiting on the repairs to glue I have made a start on the Cannon/Carronade assemblies.

Welcome to MSW!

Great job again Richard!

Looking forward to it Lyle, hope you had a good Europe trip.

Good work David, the additional effort with the rudder is a nice touch.

Another cracking build Andy, really clean looking and the stripes; for all the hassle look good to me!

Well the weekend was productive for the first planking and I now have eight planks on per side, hoping to get the first planking done this week and the hull sanded for starting to plan out the second planking over the weekend coming. The amount of bending to get the planks around the bow was quite a lot and even with this I was still getting a bit of plank twist so had to go back for more bending, slowly learning to let the 'feel' of the plank tension/bending guide me to how much more I need to do - I might get the hang of it by the last plank and then no doubt promptly forget it all when I come to my next project. 😆 Thanks all for following along, the likes and comments. 😁

Thanks for the tip on Mr. Putty, I used to be an ‘Eagle’ putty fan until they changed their formula a few years back, when it became, for me at least, a pain to get it to adhere to plastic and rock hard to sand and have not found one as good since.

Hi Robert, a warm welcome to MSW! Another suggestion for a first kit, have look at Vanguard Model; a few of their fishing vessels would also be good first kits.

Welcome to MSW Marco those are great looking models!

Very nice Aidan, I hope you do a build log for your other kits like the Supply.

Thanks all for your likes and comments, finally back in the saddle! The house all back to normal and the garage (my workshop) is cleared out, so after a restful holiday in North Norfolk last week (yes I did go for dinner at "The Lord Nelson" Inn at Burnham Thorpe, but it was too dark after that to go see his birthplace plaque) - we are back to the Trial! 😁 First planking commences and I am taking this opportunity to improve my planking skills by trying to line-out the bulkheads and work out plank widths in advance, as per the tutorials by Chuck and others on MSW/NRG. I marked out some plank widths and tested them along the middle bulkheads and then tried to set out three bands using thin flexible tape. This took ages, lots of squinting at the hull from various angles and repositioning the tape. The Admiral thought I was going mad! 🤓 Anyway a couple of evenings later and I settled on the bands and started setting out the planking. Pen marks for the band boundaries and pencil marks for the intermediate planks. First planks are on, I did start bending and thinning the planks a little from the start and I am going to try and do one plank per. side as I go to try and keep them even on each side. I know this is the first planking and all will be hidden, but if I practice on this layer, hopefully the second planking will be better and one day I might dare to do a single layer hull! 😱 With the rubbish weather forecast for the next few days, I hope to get some planking done and get some momentum going on this build at last!

Looking really neat David, like you I have been wondering about those forward most ports and left them in and glad I did, bending the foremost part of the bulwark pattern is quiet a bend, so taking it out earlier might make the pattern split?

Hi Brian, Missed this, I've been on a holiday in Norfolk this last week. No I don't have a broach set, but interested to see those, they might be a new purchase soon! As for rigging, yeah I use a combination of stiffening the tread with glue, or a needle, but I don't have hard and fast rules on that.

Well apparently you are going to Chris - good luck, may the force be with you!