Admiral Beez
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About Admiral Beez
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GrandpaPhil reacted to a post in a topic:
Heller Shroud Loom
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Fabricating the futtock shrouds using 0.4 mm chord and 1mm carbon rod. I tied them at the bottom near the deadeyes, and then pushed them up to just above the first ring on the mast, matching the blueprints. I then CA glued the knots to the shrouds, and trimmed off the excess chord.
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Ian_Grant reacted to a post in a topic:
Heller Shroud Loom
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robdurant reacted to a post in a topic:
HMS Spartiate by Admiral Beez - Heller - 1/150 - PLASTIC - kit-bashing the Heller Le Superbe
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ccoyle reacted to a post in a topic:
HMS Spartiate by Admiral Beez - Heller - 1/150 - PLASTIC - kit-bashing the Heller Le Superbe
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Proper stays now installed. I was looking at the shrouds and thinking how to keep them spread for the ratlines. I then realized this kit does not include the lower futtock shrouds and catharpins needed to spread the shrouds and to secure the top platform deadlines from below the top. I suppose Heller didn't see these as necessary since their shroud tool does the job. So I can fabricate these myself.
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shipman reacted to a post in a topic:
HMS Spartiate by Admiral Beez - Heller - 1/150 - PLASTIC - kit-bashing the Heller Le Superbe
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shipman reacted to a post in a topic:
HMS Spartiate by Admiral Beez - Heller - 1/150 - PLASTIC - kit-bashing the Heller Le Superbe
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shipman reacted to a post in a topic:
HMS Spartiate by Admiral Beez - Heller - 1/150 - PLASTIC - kit-bashing the Heller Le Superbe
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shipman reacted to a post in a topic:
HMS Spartiate by Admiral Beez - Heller - 1/150 - PLASTIC - kit-bashing the Heller Le Superbe
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shipman reacted to a post in a topic:
HMS Spartiate by Admiral Beez - Heller - 1/150 - PLASTIC - kit-bashing the Heller Le Superbe
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shipman reacted to a post in a topic:
HMS Spartiate by Admiral Beez - Heller - 1/150 - PLASTIC - kit-bashing the Heller Le Superbe
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I’ve decided to not use the Heller shroud tool and instead thread them myself. Here’s today’s update. Disregard the forestays, those are just temporary to prevent the shrouds from pulling the masts backwards during installation.
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Good point. I’ve redone them with more thread left at the top so I can CA them to the mast head.
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Deadeyes now in place. I clear coated them and added a black wash to bring out the rope look.
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Before I try the shroud tool again I've decided to install the deadeyes to the chain whales, so that they'll serve as a guide for shroud alignment. The deadeyes are all painted and clear coated. The outward face has simulated rope, the backside is flat. My plan is to glue the shrouds behind the deadeyes (as per the Heller instructions) and then paint the portion between the deadlines with the tan colour used for running rigging (see HMS Victory below). At this scale I think I'll be happy with that.
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I shall give that a go. Before I string in the horizontal threads I will first check alignment with the holes in the chain whales.
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Admiral Beez reacted to a post in a topic:
HMS Spartiate by Admiral Beez - Heller - 1/150 - PLASTIC - kit-bashing the Heller Le Superbe
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I was thinking that too. I have to cut the top in order to separate the two sides, but I can tie it together at the mast head.
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Shucks, I cut the top off the shrouds at the wrong spot, so there’s not enough material once I put the lowest rat line above the ship’s rail. Also I don’t like the alignment of the shrouds to the chains. Before I glue it again I’ll confirm the alignment. So, we start again. That’s okay, I call this the Learning Ship.
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Best I can tell there is no wrapping, instead the top of the shrouds are glued in place beneath the top platform. I might add a little rope to appear that it's wrapped over the mast head. The spacing from ratline to ratline is about 2.75 - 3 mm, which at 150 scale would put them at about 41 - 45 cm apart at full scale. My one concern is getting the bottom of each shroud to line up with the matching line in the chain-whales, as they don't seem to line up with the holes, though the dead-eyes may hide any issues.
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We've given it a go, and I think I'm satisfied, especially at this small 1/150 scale. I still need to trim the outer edges. On my first attempt I used water-dilluted Gorilla glue, but it turned into a pasty mess. So, I tried again using my standard CA glue and once generously applied with a throwaway paint brush the entire structure became solid, like plastic overnight. I like how it should remain taut without me having to tension the dead-eyes, etc.
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Rigging underway. 0.4 mm for the vertical lines, 0.25 mm for the horizontal lines. This shroud tool seems useful. I’ll paint the lines a taupe colour where they’re glued to the backside of the plastic deadeyes. Shrouds just placed for show. I still need to trim the sides and adjust the bottom so to align with the plastic deadeye pieces.
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We’re moving along nicely now. I brushed white craft glue onto the tips of the threads and micro drilled by hand the holes to facilitate inserting the stays. Below you can see the micro drills and threads awaiting glue drying. I also CA glued each knot and then trimmed away the extra thread past the knots. CA glue the knots first! Only then trim the knots!
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I was having difficultly understanding the shroud tool so I sent an inquiry to Heller in France. They replied with a new set of assembly instructions, see https://www.heller.fr/downloads/1000808950_MA_Building_Instructions.pdf These are MUCH better!
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I received a helpful email reply from Heller France today, directing me to the much improved instructions https://www.heller.fr/downloads/1000808950_MA_Building_Instructions.pdf. I'm going to try to use the tool.
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