Stevinne

Onto fiddly bits.
 
Here's the picture in Björn Landström's book The Ship I originally worked from, showing the dragon figurehead and the decorative crown and flagpole on the bowsprit:
 

 
I'd already carved the dragon-head - now I've painted it:
 

 
Very happy with the crazed look on his face.
 

 
And here is the flagpole/crown assembly
 

 
I made a mistake - the fore topmast had snapped off just above the top and I was intending to just glue it back onto the remaining stub. Then I forgot what I was doing and removed the stub. So I had to reconfigure the topmast by adding an extra bit of wood to replace the stub . . .
 

 
 
and carve it to shape.
 
 

 
 
I wouldn't have needed to do any of this, if I'd remembered what I'd originally planned 
 
Steven
 
 
 

I went to Catholic school in the 1960s, where I guess it was better than in earlier decades. The nuns didn't stop me from writing with my left hand, as they did with my grandfather, but woe betide the lefty who blessed themselves with their south paw.
 

I went to Catholic school in the 1960s, where I guess it was better than in earlier decades. The nuns didn't stop me from writing with my left hand, as they did with my grandfather, but woe betide the lefty who blessed themselves with their south paw.
 

Greetings! Love this website. Amazing info. I read several members blogs for the Lowell Grand Banks Dory (Model Shipways) and the kit looked like the one for me, so I've purchased it and made it as far as opening the box!  I'm going to start a build log (although I'm not quite sure how to do that!)  Any advice?
Meanwhile, I'm going to go read some more logs... I'm kinda scared to get started (so I went out and bought some more tools recommended in the instructions, but now I've got to bite the bullet and start the project!)

I attended a really nice virtual talk this afternoon with Fred Hocker from the Vasa museum. I didn't ask this question, but it's one that I've been wondering about. Hocker gave his email address and said he'd answer questions sent to him, but before I bug the guy I wanted to see if folks here could help. Can anyone explain the purpose of the galleries and circular turrets on Vasa? To me, they appear merely decorative, since they seem to be mostly enclosed with only a few feet of open space running along the the lower section. I thought maybe they were there to provide light to the great cabins, but now I'm not sure that's the case, since I checked out a video about the admiral's cabin and it seems there aren't a heck of a lot of windows in the place. I also thought maybe they were heads, but they seem to small to serve that purpose. Any insight is appreciated.

I went to Catholic school in the 1960s, where I guess it was better than in earlier decades. The nuns didn't stop me from writing with my left hand, as they did with my grandfather, but woe betide the lefty who blessed themselves with their south paw.
 

I attended a really nice virtual talk this afternoon with Fred Hocker from the Vasa museum. I didn't ask this question, but it's one that I've been wondering about. Hocker gave his email address and said he'd answer questions sent to him, but before I bug the guy I wanted to see if folks here could help. Can anyone explain the purpose of the galleries and circular turrets on Vasa? To me, they appear merely decorative, since they seem to be mostly enclosed with only a few feet of open space running along the the lower section. I thought maybe they were there to provide light to the great cabins, but now I'm not sure that's the case, since I checked out a video about the admiral's cabin and it seems there aren't a heck of a lot of windows in the place. I also thought maybe they were heads, but they seem to small to serve that purpose. Any insight is appreciated.

Don't know about that but the kids won't use my hand saws, nor my hammer. They swear that they all have a slight left bias which is probably correct when you think about it!
 
Rick

I went to Catholic school in the 1960s, where I guess it was better than in earlier decades. The nuns didn't stop me from writing with my left hand, as they did with my grandfather, but woe betide the lefty who blessed themselves with their south paw.
 

I attended a really nice virtual talk this afternoon with Fred Hocker from the Vasa museum. I didn't ask this question, but it's one that I've been wondering about. Hocker gave his email address and said he'd answer questions sent to him, but before I bug the guy I wanted to see if folks here could help. Can anyone explain the purpose of the galleries and circular turrets on Vasa? To me, they appear merely decorative, since they seem to be mostly enclosed with only a few feet of open space running along the the lower section. I thought maybe they were there to provide light to the great cabins, but now I'm not sure that's the case, since I checked out a video about the admiral's cabin and it seems there aren't a heck of a lot of windows in the place. I also thought maybe they were heads, but they seem to small to serve that purpose. Any insight is appreciated.

Another disadvantaged lefty, also

I've been using a tablesaw for hobbies on and off for 50 years and I never felt comfortable using one. I was looking at the saw today and it dawned on me. If I lower The blade and slide the fence over to the other side the saw becomes left handed. What  a treat! Now every thing feels right. Something you righties might not think about is how lefties go through their lives making right handed stuff work. Because of that I never even gave a tablesaw a second thought. Now I just have to make sure I don't get too comfortable. After 73 years I've still got all ten fingers and I'd like to keep it that way.

Thank you Michael! 🍻
 
Hi All,

Another small update.

Ropes, Blocks & Rock'n'Roll   😆

I've started with bowsprit. It's just easier to do it when is not attached due to quite few blocks as you can see... rather than moving whole model and for sure damaging something 

I'm just missing few stoppers for stropped blocks, which were protection for sliding on the bowsprit and can stay at the same time whole time.
 

 
Lower part of main mast also received deadeye which is a part of mizzenmast shroud.
 

 
Double block on the flagstaff, which is part of mizzen sheet.
 

 
All gun tackles and breeching ropes done... so ship is ready for battle 
 

 

 
Cheers,
Matt
 

Hi All,
 
Recently not much going on with my model itself, however I've manage to build new shelter for it.
 
Materials, which I've used:
2mm polycarbonate glass sheets
20x20mm Oak profiles for the frame.
Oak veneer for the base.
 
Showcase has "roof" 12V LED lighting with dimmer.
 
Obviously model stand is still temporary solution 😁
 
Dimensions of the showcase: 840 x 730 x 380 mm
 
Showcase will be supported by 50cm wooden legs.
 

 

 

 
 
Cheers,
Matt

The Navy did not 'burn' a fireship, they 'expended' it: a much more refined method!

My considered opinion is that they must have done it because the Royal Navy literally had money to burn.

My considered opinion is that they must have done it because the Royal Navy literally had money to burn.

As requested . . .
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Note the remnants of a CA spill on the last one. I need to do more sanding to get rid of it, I think.
 
Steven
 
 

Matt, I really can't tell from looking at your photos - so you're probably the best judge of how it looks IRL. I believe the Virginia is double planked, which also hides a multitude of sins, and allows for liberal use of sandpaper and wood filler before you put down layer No. 2. I for one always worry about tearing things apart, since I always wind up taking more wood off pieces I don't want to damage than I intend.
One thing I always do when talking to folks who are working on their first build is recommend they track down a copy of "Ship Modeling Simplified" by Frank Mastini. I see you can pick it up used on Amazon for less than $3 plus shipping. It was the book that convinced me I could build a wooden model ship and proved invaluable when I was building Constructo's "Enterprise," which was a nice-looking build with really, really bad instructions. Mastini does a great job of guiding you through the building process, explaining things, illustrating things and generally giving you the information and confidence you need to build a nice model.
 https://www.amazon.com/Ship-Modeling-Simplified-Techniques-Construction/dp/0071558675/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3EIIXUN6HJA2H&keywords=ship+modeling+simplified&qid=1553395033&s=gateway&sprefix=Ship+modeling+s%2Caps%2C339&sr=8-1
One thing not to do is to get discouraged. Someone here has a signature that says something along the lines of "the ship modeler is slow, but the wood is patient," which I always took to mean that there is nothing that can't eventually be made to look good. I personally think your model is looking good.

I went to the neighborhood thrift store and picked up an old plug-in percolator-type coffee pot. I believe that's what Frank Mastini recommended in "Ship Modeling Simplified." The only thing I have to do is make sure it's unplugged when I'm done using it.
 

I went to the neighborhood thrift store and picked up an old plug-in percolator-type coffee pot. I believe that's what Frank Mastini recommended in "Ship Modeling Simplified." The only thing I have to do is make sure it's unplugged when I'm done using it.
 

I went to the neighborhood thrift store and picked up an old plug-in percolator-type coffee pot. I believe that's what Frank Mastini recommended in "Ship Modeling Simplified." The only thing I have to do is make sure it's unplugged when I'm done using it.
 

Matt, I really can't tell from looking at your photos - so you're probably the best judge of how it looks IRL. I believe the Virginia is double planked, which also hides a multitude of sins, and allows for liberal use of sandpaper and wood filler before you put down layer No. 2. I for one always worry about tearing things apart, since I always wind up taking more wood off pieces I don't want to damage than I intend.
One thing I always do when talking to folks who are working on their first build is recommend they track down a copy of "Ship Modeling Simplified" by Frank Mastini. I see you can pick it up used on Amazon for less than $3 plus shipping. It was the book that convinced me I could build a wooden model ship and proved invaluable when I was building Constructo's "Enterprise," which was a nice-looking build with really, really bad instructions. Mastini does a great job of guiding you through the building process, explaining things, illustrating things and generally giving you the information and confidence you need to build a nice model.
 https://www.amazon.com/Ship-Modeling-Simplified-Techniques-Construction/dp/0071558675/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3EIIXUN6HJA2H&keywords=ship+modeling+simplified&qid=1553395033&s=gateway&sprefix=Ship+modeling+s%2Caps%2C339&sr=8-1
One thing not to do is to get discouraged. Someone here has a signature that says something along the lines of "the ship modeler is slow, but the wood is patient," which I always took to mean that there is nothing that can't eventually be made to look good. I personally think your model is looking good.

Welcome aboard. It looks like you are making a good start!
 

Rdk: Thank you, Radek
 
I finally finished the rigging. I hope I didn´t forget any rope 
The finish is very near.
 
Jan