Nipper
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Ron What thickness is the upholstery thread that you are using? I'm using some fly-tying thread for my model but it's too fine and difficult to handle. Presumably you have other colours for e.g. running rigging? Nipper- 542 replies
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Tom I've just returned to your build log after a few months when I read the interesting discussion at the very beginning about Geoff Hunt's imaginative depiction of Sophie's stern. You've done a brilliant job of modifying Speedy, and I appreciate how satisfying it must be to be so creative. And for sticking to your guns when some members hinted that perhaps this project was not doable. It was O'Brian's books that got me into ship modelling (way back in the 70s for me), only it's only since lockdown that I've been able to find the time to focus on the hobby. My ambition way back then was to build Surprise, as did so many lovers of the novels, and maybe one day I'll follow your example to do just that. Keep up the good work and the fascinating log! Nipper
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BE - you know are going to replace those hooded planks! So do we! Your attention to detail and your never being satisfied are an inspiration. It is always with a heavy heart that we remove parts of our careful work that we have spent ages preparing, but replacing them with some better is always the best option. Otherwise it will always come back to spoil our satisfaction at a job supposedly well done. This is something I have learned from reading your build logs, and as someone once wrote - "the journey is more important than the destination". Nipper
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Glenn That was some lunch! How close is the shipyard to the galley? Could it have been steam from the stir-fry that got to the mizzen top? Seriously, clamping in situ sounds like a sensible move, rather than taking it all apart first. Nipper
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Thinking a bit further about safety at the heads: when I reach this point with my Sphinx I might put in some kind of rail - maybe a couple of stanchions and some rope. But I'll do some more research first to see what I can find out . . .
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Looking at your lovely build, and especially the wonderful close-up of the heads, led me to follow a line of thought about the seats of ease (yes I know I can be accused of an unhealthy interest!). I wondered about how precarious it would be for a sailor to perch on one of those in a strong wind and with waves breaking over the bows. There must have been something to hold onto - perhaps a rail or at least some ropes somewhere. I looked up Lavery's "Arming and Fitting . . . ", where he has a section on heads and ablutions generally. He remarks on the exposed nature of the heads, especaily on a small ship, but the only suggestion of a device to improve safety is a design for a seat of ease shaped like a throne with arm rests. Could this be where the English slang term for a toilet - the "throne" - came from?! Nipper
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Hello Glomar I'm a relative newbie but I've done the fairing on two boats now. I understand your fear! My advice (based on what so many excellent people on MSW have said in the past) is just to take it slowly and be patient. Use your eye to judge what the line should be to enable the bulkheads to sit comfortably. and check regularly with a full length plank. Hold the plank along the bulkheads (using clamps helps with this) and look to see the extent to which each bulkhead is at the right angle for the plank. Do this all the way down from top to keel. Use a pencil to mark where bulkheads need more fairing. You won't ruin your boat if you take it carefully. Look on it as a challenge, and imagine how delighted you are going to be when you've achieved it, as you surely will! Nipper
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Great to hear from you and I look forward to seeing your sails in the offing when the trade winds bring you home! Keep safe Nipper
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Hello Grey You've been quiet for a while and of course you may be busy with all sorts of other things rather than Nisha, but I want to check in to ask how you are and how it's going. I've hit a sort of psychological barrier on my Sphinx at the moment - first planking! - and I know I'm inventing all sorts of diversionary tactics to delay the moment, like designing some period furniture to go in the great cabin (great fun of course, but there won't be a great cabin until I do the planking!). But today I'm going to get back to the planking - it'll be tricky but if this hobby didn't provide challenges, it wouldn't really be satisfying, Nipper
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Tom - many thanks for this. I will use your idea when I come to make the hammock netting for my Sphinx, if that's OK. Like you, I searched the internet for a suitable material when I wanted to make the sails on my Alert, and found some voile in a lovely off-white/buff colour. This is much more finely woven than tulle, but still a little too open when looked at really closely. But it responded well to furling and I'm pleased with the result. Lovely pictures above - welldone!
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Hello Tom - I've just come into your log and I have had a wonderful time reading through and looking at your ideas and methods. What a fascinating build and I'm really impressed at what you're doing at such a small scale. One question - I may have missed this elsewhere in your log, so apologies if I have: what did you use for the hammock netting? What you have there looks very good for 1/84. Nipper
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I found the same problem when 2nd planking my Alert. It was a struggle to stop the CA from getting where it wasn't wanted. I tried using the tip of a needle to place small drops or smears of CA exactly where I wanted it to go and this worked well. Certainly better than those long plastic nozzles that you can buy. The main problem was in not shaping the plank accurately enough. I think you've said above that you've read the many guidelines on this here on MSW - so it's careful cutting, lots of dry fitting until you're certain the shape and bend of the plank is right, and that made it a lot easier. It's a long process, but as you say, make the challenge part of the fun!
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That looks amazing B.E.! The combination of colours on the friezework looks so realistic - much more so than gold or simple yellow ochre. When I first looked at one of the full hull photos above I thought at first you had put in a photo of the Marshall painting! It may have been several days work, but so wothwhile.
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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?!
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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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