Nipper
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Everything posted by Nipper
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Grey - well done on the first planking! Hopefully the second planking will go easier because of the sanding, filling and shaping you will do. I'm intrigued by the mystery item in your shopping basket - would it be possible to alert us as to what it may be?! -
Grey - I'm enjoying your commentary! Your description of your feelings and emotions while building the model are so true. This is what modelling is all about. I'm new to the game: I've built Chris Watton's Alert (taking lots of guidance from Blue Ensign's and other build logs on here) and now I'm working on Chris' Sphinx. I've just reached the fairing and planking stage and my heart sank a little at the thought of these tasks. But your commentary has given me heart! You're right - take it slow and easy, enjoy the feel, and celebrate every successful plank. It doesn't matter how long it takes - it's all about the satisfaction in doing a job well.
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Mark I'm coming rather late to this thread, but as a fellow Sphinx builder I've been going through the same thought process. Recently, I've had a look at examples of18th century heraldic art, which you can often find in churches and museums. In almost all examples, like the one below, the artist has represented the gold effect by the use of shades of yellow ochre and, if you look closely at the lion in this example, what could be red ochre to look like gold in shade. It's convinced me, and I'm anticipating having a lot of fun in using these colours to make the Sphinx friezes, stern, and figurehead look contemporary and realistic.
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BE - you are so thorough! Yes, I should have seen that on Chris's plans, so thank you for doing my work for me. I'll definitely try that out, and meanwhile I'll continue to enjoy and learn from your log. Many thanks, Nipper
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BE - I've just looked back through your build log to find out how you made the black and white chequered sailcloth, but can't find or have missed your reference to this. It's very impressive, so I'm contemplating following your example, and I'd would love to know how to create something similar. Nipper
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The black and white pattern looks very effective - I agree that it will stand out more and and it also brings into better contrast the work you've done on the window seats and rudder head. As for something wrong in that last picture . . . I can't believe it's your workmanship - could it be your marine's uniform? I think perhaps that marines were still wearing tricorne hats in 1775, rather than the tall hat and plume.
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BE - once I'd looked at the website with the Sphinx logbook, I realised that it covers just a few months in 1779, rather than the period three years earlier that interests me particularly. Still fascinating to read though. I noticed that whoever wrote the title page spelled the ship's name as "Sphinx", even though Captain Kendall keeps to his own version. I'm very tempted to go with the captain's spelling of "Sphynx" on my model - it looks and feels more contemporary. I wonder if Chris could be persuaded to produce a letter "Y" to give us the option?!! Great photos above BE. It's getting more and more like the Joseph Marshall painting.
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BE - this is a brilliant find! I mean the log of the Sphi(y)nx. One of my reasons for building Sphinx is not only because it is a beautiful model, but because I have a slight family connection. In 1776, an ancestor of my family named Christopher Gadsden was in command of a South Carolina regiment charged with the defence of Charleston, when Sphinx was part of the besieging and blockading force outside the harbour. I like to think of my ancestor gazing out at Sphinx from the safety of the town's defences! Now I can use your link to read through the log to see what notes may be there about the action at Charleston. And when I fit out the great cabin of Sphinx, I shall make a suitable Georgian table on which will be a miniature copy of an 18th century chart of Charleston harbour. What a shame that there are so few scale figures from which to choose a crew. I have only my version of your Captain Grim to place beside the table. Many thanks for your inspiring guidance and helpful ideas.
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Interesting that you refer to hanging the rudder as one of the "rites of passage". I definitely felt like pouring a glass of bubbly after hanging the rudder on my Alert a few months ago! It felt like a significant moment. Alert is my first build and is just completed - I'm just sorting out a crew for the finishing touch.
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As a relative newbie to boat building and to MSW, this discussion prompted by Chuck's comment above is what helps to make this hobby so fascinating. I am in awe of the skills shown by those of you who contribute your build logs to MSW, and your explanations and photos have been a huge inspiration in helping me to improve my own skills in my first build - Chris Watton's Alert. I have noticed a variation in the "quality" of builds, but I have to say, does this matter? I found Chuck's comments helpful, in the same way that BE did, because it's a reminder about how to achieve the best outcome for me. But my "best outcome" as a definition of what the hobby means to me is going to be different to many others. I read a cautionary note somewhere in MSW about being careful not to criticise another's efforts in a destructive manner. I am certain that was not the intention of Chuck's comment.
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This is what it’s like to be a newbie
Nipper replied to Laggard's topic in Masting, rigging and sails
It is so inspiring to read all this advice from such experienced builders. I'm also new to ship modelling - I started my first build at the beginning of lockdown in 2020 - Vanguard's Alert - and I'm still only at the stage of fitting the spars. I've spent hours pouring over books, articles and ideas in MSW in order to try to make my Alert as authentic as the evidence allows. Like the posters above, I've spent hours thinking how to make the part I want from scratch in order to add to Chris's wonderful kit. And sometimes, I think I enjoy all this more than the actual boat building!
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