Stevinne

Finished!!! 

Amazing !!! And what a great and unusual presentation.
 
Yves

She got 1st place with some competition

I am opting out on this one and calling it finished fellas a dead line for the GB is end of the month.The flag was the last thing to add and I was going to do the individual glass but a PIA seems I read could be up/down ,,down it is.

The main top gallant halliard  is now completed with the excess crowfeet lines trimmed and the fall led to the inside sheave of the main bitts. The supplied masts and spars are holding their own thus far, stretching the lines for a few days and preparing the halliards and crowfeet off the model prior to rigging helps a lot to prevent distortion of the masts and spars.
 
Michael D.

While working on the main top sail yard, I've completed the fore top gallant port bowline, to simulate blocks on the bridles I used .030" styrene rod and introduced just enough slack so I wouldn't distort the stay, I think it looks presentable enough.
 
Michael D.
 

The exercise the last couple of days is finishing up the bowsprit area, while not quite there yet I did manage to complete about 90% of the needed work. Overall, I'm pretty satisfied with result.
Michael D.

An amazing restoration. Congratulations.

An amazing restoration. Congratulations.

An amazing restoration. Congratulations.

An amazing restoration. Congratulations.

An amazing restoration. Congratulations.

Adding the pennants. I had to revise the pennants - the "staffs" were made of bits of a weed growing across the road - circular section, beautifully thin - ready-made staffs! Unfortunately the glue wouldn't stick to them (I think they have a waxy surface), so right in the middle of things the pennant would come adrift from its staff. So I made replacements out of wood. Much more work, but the glue stuck to them. 
 
I glued a bit of cotton to each fighting top, then put a short loop of cotton from one end of the "flagstaff" to the other. Then soaked the loop with a weak mix of PVA (white) glue and water., and hung the loop from the aforementioned bit of cotton attached to the fighting top and added weights, so the loop became a triangular shape.

Then I scrunched up the pennant so it looked like the wind was blowing it, and added a dab of PVA glue wherever the pennant crossed the rigging, to keep it in place (otherwise gravity would take over and it would hang unnaturally). The one below had to be clamped as well - it kept sagging off the rigging.

By the way, no captain in his right mind would have these huge things flapping around while the ship was under way. They'd get in the way horribly, and could even knock sailors off the rigging.
 
Antepenultimate* pennant added:
 
 
And - FINISHED!
 

20230520_121919.mp4  
Steven
 
*Third last.
 
 

"Russian Nagant M1895 revolver with an attachment slot for an axe, developed in 1905 for the Russian Navy as a specialized revolver-axe combination for boarding enemy ships - the axe could be used as a shoulder stock for more accurate fire, or just as a regular axe."

 
I'm glad I was never in a boarding party.

The spritsail - the last sail to be added. The spritsail is supported by a (fake) parrel truck and held in place with a halyard/ties through blocks at the end of the bowsprit and on the yard.


The main sheets finally tied off and fixed in place.

 

And the tacks


And the foresail sheets

And tacks

Still working on getting those catenary curves in various ropes (not all that easy). I may have to just accept that some of them won't fall right. Ditto the sails at the clews - the tacks probably affect them differently in the real world, but that's all part of the learning curve, I'm afraid. 
 
And here's a new courtier being carved to go with the King (he needs friends around him, right?). Sorry about the definition - it's the best I could get with my phone.
  

And here he is in place, with two others re-positioned (the guy in the yellow who I accidentally knocked off the deck while I was doing the rigging, and the one in red, who had to be moved because the mizzen sheet was running across his nose).

And here's a (not terribly good) photo of the ship without most of those pegs hanging off it.
 

Steven
 

Ahoy from Snug Harbor Johnny !  This is my third unbuilt kit review (reference Endurance by OcCre and Khufu's Solar Barge by Woody Joe) and this will take a few posts to do this fine old kit justice.  Like the man asked, "How do you eat an elephant? ... One bite at a time !"  As mentioned in the 'What did you Receive Today' category, I was informed about the availability of the the LARGE scale Great Henry by Rick from the Modeller's Workshop in Montreal, Quebec.  BTW, he was a pleasure to deal with and the parcel was received much faster than I'd have guessed.
 
  We were discussing a completely different old kit he offered to the Forum, when he mentioned that there was a group of 4 kits that were dropped off at his store for consignment that included the HMS Victory and the USS Constitution.  There are many fine builds of these, as well as the Bounty, but the prospect of a BIG version of the Great Harry piqued my interest as I've only seen a couple of pictures of this version anywhere.  Rick noted that it is unlikely that Sergal produced more than 100 of these, with drawings dated January 1, 1975 - well before the Mary Rose was raised (much less conserved and studied enough that quality reference books became available).  He posted some pictures of kit components without 'digging' too much into what he described as entering Tut's tomb, and he suggested a price including shipping of $500 ... yet went so far as to say I was welcome to bid lower if I was interested (as this item was considered a 'slow mover') and he'd relay that offer to the consigner.  No way was I going to risk offending anyone, and I was willing to 'pay to play' and agreed to the initial price suggestion.
 
   I don't risk giving too much away by saying that I think it was  fair value given the unusual nature of the kit, and to do it justice will take a real commitment of time and effort.  As mentioned in the other thread, the box weight 15 pounds and I was surprised by the mass - as if there were bricks inside the carton.  'Turns out that the large box was fully packed with materials (wood, metal and paper) - enough to be considered a 'solid' mass.  The picture below is of the first opening.
 
 

  
 
  Sergal had to design this based solely on a few contemporary illustrations, and their experience with 17th through 19th century ship kits of various types.  Prior to receiving the parcel, I'd procured three great reference books on the Mary Rose (pictured below) because Sergal had 'gallionized' the Great Harry somewhat as exhibited by putting too much tumblehome in the widest places than we know is appropriate based on the recovered hull of the Mary Rose.  The Great Harry, after all, is a larger and better armed version of the MR - and was built to match (or exceed) the newly built Scottish warship the Great Michael.  These might be thought of as 'Carracks on steroids' - taking the recent carvel-below, lapstrake above construction developed in the late 1400s (reference the Danish ship Griffin - Griebshund - now located and featured on a PBS NOVA documentary) and expanding the size with 'less tubby' lines and more powerful weaponry, 4 masts and the new innovation of sealable gun ports in the sides so the heavier ordnance could be lower in the ship for reasons of better stability.
 
  Sergal had three full decks in the stern castle (although the top is narrower, what, so it looks a little more like a galleon? ... and its DEFINITELY not "Elizabethan", even thought Elizabeth I was a Tudor Queen).  They've played a bit with the forecastle as well, but then I'm not 'knocking' the manufacturer at all - considering the date of production and the paucity of accurate scholarship in the 70s concerning Henry VIII's fleet.  In fact, the re-build of the GH in 1536 (the MR was also rebuilt, but loaded with more and heavier guns that likely played a key role in her demise - but much to our present scholarship, so look on the bright side) the sterncastle of  the Harry was reduced to lessen the heeling it was previously noted for.  So the original version should have 3 full decks in the stern castle, and reportedly did not have top gallants in the pre 1536 version.
 
  My intent (when work will be done on the GH) will be to incorporate information in the book pictured below to build a pre-1536 version:
 

 
  OK, time to have a look at the first drawing that lay on top when the kit box was opened.  Yup, this model is BIG - and the length at the waterline is 28 1/2", and the hull from the beak of the fore castle to the stern (not including the bowsprit) is 35".  And talk about height ... if taken at face value, it will take a larger case indeed.  Baggins might consider this a 'mathom' - or perhaps some might think a 'white elephant'.  Bur wait - a 1:75 Vasa or Cutty Sark will be as large, and there are many who build models this size.  I've been struggling with 1:96 and smaller for a while, and having more 'elbow room' might be a good thing.  So in the picture below I placed a yardstick for scale - and also the largest hull frame that points to a rationale how this model may really be 'not as large as it seems'.
 

 

Ahoy, Rick !!   And thanks again for informing me of this consignment item ... which happens to be of interest, in part since the Admiral and I have long been historic re-enactors in time periods ranging from Italian Renaissance, Tudor and Elizabethan England, Colonial, 19th & early 20th century ... eclectic, no doubt.  'Guess I'm a learning, costume and dance junkie.  
 
  The inflation factor going back to the late 70s (USD) is easily 4 to 1 (400% cumulative inflation - Gee, guess the 2 long-term hazards for personal savings are inflation and market risk ... how do you balance them?  Our answer in semi-retirement is to continue to earn an income stream by part-time work and self-employment).  A new kit like this today (modified to reflect current information, and less reliance on large format drawings - made up for by better instructions/photos a-la OcCre) might retail around $900 since there are not extensive carvings and complicated fittings like on the Sovereign of the Seas or the Vasa.  'Scaling back to late 70s prices and you get $225.
 
  What the heck, I might as well add a few pictures of my historical interests.  I can't lay hands right now on my best photo in Henry VII finery (like in Henry's famous portrait), but I'm seated showing my order of the garter in one picture of our dance group friends in the Tudor period.

 
Bvr Bllrm 150dpi_layers copy

That's right, gang. She's done.
The rope coils and the jig I used:


Other photos:








I bought this kit on January 23, 2009 and got started that night. It wasn't long until I realized that I needed help so I did an internet search for Model Ship Rattlesnake and found this group. It's been quite a ride ever since. The log bounced back after the great crash of 2013 because I hadn't posted much and I had all my photos.
Hobbies are great and they wait for us to catch up. And, as always, the wood is patient.
 
For my next trick I'm going to bash a Hudson River sloop into a costal pirate. Should be fun.
 
Comments welcome - Kenneth

 
 

... SO many Springtime activities and other 'life gets in the way' stuff that I'm not getting much done in the shipyard right now.  I thought I'd write a letter to my teenage self - not that he'll ever get to see it, but what the heck.
 
  Dear Young Johnny,
 
   You can do anything you sets your sights on if you believe in yourself ... except Calculus or advanced Physics - well, other really hard stuff that takes a near genius mind that can recall lots of facts/data easily.  And forget excelling at things that require an athlete's body like gymnastics, high diving, ice skating or any professional sport - you'll hurt your body.  You can practice piano many hours a day, but you're going to 'hit a wall' where you just won't get any better - so play keyboard to amuse yourself when no one can hear. 
 
  Steer clear of trying to run your own business, running for public office or trying to 'change the world' - there is no Field Marshall's baton in your foot soldier's pack because you're an 'expendable', like all the other grunts.  Focus on achievable things like safe driving, tending house plants, cooking pasta in the right amount, caring for your family ... stuff like that.  Don't despair, for with time and some luck you will achieve competence in a limited number of ordinary, unremarkable things that you can do almost every day with repeatable results.
 
  You'll always be the 'star' of your own sitcom, but avoid speaking to the imaginary TV audience ... people will think you're strange.  You can write that novel, but do it for your own satisfaction since no one will line up to read it.  Save some money along the way - you're going to need it later.
 
Yours truly,
Old Johnny

The keel,
 
The keel consists of 3 parts. The front and back part are made of elm, the center part is made of oak like the rest of the planking.
So my center piece is made of cherry, the others are made of ramin (the last leftovers from my previous project).

At the front and rear there is a groove for "stealers" that are intended as a filler between the keel and the garboard.

preparation for the sternpieces

The first piece of the stern

Then the keel is glued

And the second piece of the stern is also glued.
This piece is now way too long. Shorten it later is always easier than lengthening 😉

The scarf between keel and stempost did not survive time.
So there is some space for a "free design"

scarfs in the keel

Bringing the keel and stempost into the right shape will be done later when the planking is sanded.
 
Next to do,  the stern assembly.
Thanks for following

Not much done -  a bit of sanding but then had the space taken over.
Daughter had created a character, costume and storyline for it for a book, and wanted a costume for Liverpool ComiCon. A Mushroom hat needed to be made, 2'6" diameter with gills and inkdrops.

This is how it all turned out.  She wanted some selfies with other people, but it turned out more wanted a picture with her!
Big brother took her, and they both ended up as one of the days star costumes Go to page 3

Thank you Baker for the kind words before the contest. Thanks for the Like.
 
This time in the competition, the points were enough for the silver medal. When I compare my boat with La Renomee by the Czech modeler Pavel Brablc, I have to agree.👌 Hats off to his extensive hand embellishment and detailing. Well 22 years of work..


I have to say that the visitors liked the ship..😃
 

Here is a link to photos from the contest. https://www.olesnica24.com/galeria/1405,mistrzostwa-polski-i-mistrzostwa-czech-wystawowych-modeli-redukcyjnych-statkow-i-okretow-klas-c-w-olesnicy

Lovely. A great build of an attractive ship.

Hi guys,
 
Long time no see. My professional time was to demanding, so I have been for a long time away. Still I found from time to time some spare hours to keep the shipyard of RC open.
 
So here are the results, could have been better, but still I am happy with my self, am not a 1st class ship modelist but I feel (after 7 model ships) I came a long way through (considering where I started  some years ago) and thats a nice feeling
 
all the best to all of you
Christos

The railings are on, and I'm not displeased with how they turned out. I also put together the stand, which gave me a chance to give her a place to rest while I cleaned up the workspace. I also painted some wood to make the black stripes that will adorn the beakhead. I feel like I'm making progress.