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SteveA

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Everything posted by SteveA

  1. SteveA
    Dr PR, Thanks for the link. Very informative and useful reference during the rigging process. I think I’ve done just about everything I can think of prior to rigging so it looks like it’s time to start. I’m going for a natural look on this model with a wood finish only and brass, it will be finished with Tung oil only. The kit was short changed on some parts materials so I had to build some parts with wood I had on hand (cherry, basswood, mahogany), but I think it worked out alright in the end with the Tung oil finish.
  2. SteveA
    I thought I’d provide an update on some work done on this model after a long hiatus. The hull has been planked and some initial sanding and filling has been done. The bulkheads have also been installed. I decided to plank over the frame reveal. I was on the fence whether to include this or not and in the end decided against it. I thought having a complete hull would make the copper plating process go smoother as I would not have to work around a hole in the hull. This model will be my first attempt at installing individual copper plates.
  3. SteveA
    Hello all, I’m back to working on this old kit after a lengthy break so wanted to provide a brief update on progress. I was never really happy with the way the gun turned out so a remodel was in order. A nice turned brass 12 pounder was ordered from HiSModel along with the carriage. That cannon is now installed after a bit of destruction and rebuilding. The kit provided a few steel ball bearings for placement on the rack. I used some brass blackener on them and was happy with the result: I’m currently working on the fore and main mast. Trying to deal with missing pieces and insufficient material, but I’m still determined to finish this one…
  4. SteveA
    I appreciate the feedback on this topic. I’ve decided to get the larger 16/32 version as it comes with a stand and bigger motor and seems like a better deal. It also has optional extension tables available. I saw a few complaints about the 10/20 being underpowered in the reviews. I’ll look into getting the end spring tool as advised.
  5. SteveA
    I would like to get a drum sander for general woodworking purposes, but would also like to be able to use it for modeling. The Jet 1020 desktop drum sander looks like it would be a good fit. I was wondering if anyone has used this sander and what their experience is as far as milling thin wood sheets for ship modeling. According to the specs, it is able to sand down to 1/32” thickness, probably with a backer board.
  6. SteveA
    I have an Occre Xebec kit started that I am building more or less out of the box. Longer term build is a scratch 1:48 Syren brig using Chuck’s excellent instructions. I have a pile of cherry scraps and cut offs from furniture builds that I plan to use, we’ll see how it goes…
  7. SteveA
    Yes! I completed the model a few months back. It is proudly sitting on the dining room mantle along with a few other David Antscherl designed kits. Thanks for asking, here are a few pics: Here is my collection in order of construction from left to right…
  8. SteveA
    Just to clarify, when it says “Madera”, that just means wood in Spanish, it is a precut piece that you should be able to identify from the picture or drawing.
  9. SteveA
    I looked at the Corsair instructions on the Occre website and it only shows sapelli, lime/sycamore, and walnut being supplied with the kit, same as my Occre Xebec kit. Sapelli is the brown wood with porous grain, typically used as a top finish surface in planking. Lime/sycamore is the cream colored wood used for dowels, under layer planking and decking in my kit. The thicker hardwood pieces may be dyed walnut. My kit has walnut pieces, but they aren’t colored like that. Walnut is typically used for deck furnishings, etc…
  10. SteveA
    The 1836 brigantines Dolphin and Porpoise would make interesting model subjects. They were the last sub 100 foot two masters built for the U.S. navy and were considered excellent sailers, both having lengthy careers. Dolphin was burned at Norfolk in 1861. Porpoise took part in the 1853 Ringgold expedition, but was lost in the China Sea in 1854. At 1/4” scale, the hull would be around 22 inches between perps.
  11. SteveA
    Your drawing looks correct, the false deck should extend to the edge of the slot so the bulwark pieces sit flush in the slot. It took me a while to figure this out as well.
  12. SteveA
    I’m starting a new build of the Civil War era USS Kearsarge as she appeared in the battle of Cherbourg on June 19, 1864, at least that is what Bluejacket was shooting for with this kit. Here are her specs from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships: Displacement: 1,550 tons Length: 201’ 4” Beam: 33’ 10” Draft: 14’ 3” Speed: 11 knots Complement: 163 Armament: two 11” Dahlgren, four 32-pdr., one 30-pdr. Dahlgren So far I’ve put together the bulkheads and sub deck, and glued it to the building board. I just started faring the hull for planking. This is my first Bluejacket kit and it looks like it will be a challenging build. They rank it as an advanced kit with previous building experience recommended. There appears to be a nice focus on detail as there are a lot of very tiny parts. I went ahead and ordered the optional copper plates, so this will be my first coppering attempt. The kit gives you the option of including a frame reveal section showing the iron cross bracing and chain armor, I will include this feature in my build.
  13. SteveA
    Thanks! I appreciate the support and positive comments on this build. I’m in the home stretch now, with commencement of the rigging starting with the hanger and choker lines:
  14. SteveA
    I really appreciate this discussion, very informative! So following the recommendations, I need to look for an iron folding anchor with a shank length around 50 mm. The anchor will be lashed to ring bolts added to the deck. I just received a used copy of The History of American Sailing Ships by Chapelle today. It does look like the AL Dallas kit was based on the 80-ton Doughty design shown in Figure 32. Chapelle speculated that the Dallas and her sister ship Surprise were of the 80 ton variety.
  15. SteveA
    As it happens, I won’t be using the kit supplied anchors regardless of scale or period correctness. I just opened the bag they were in and they fell apart. I don’t know what they are made from, but it looks like the anchors would have eventually disintegrated even if installed when the kit was new. The carronade barrel was unusable as well. The kit box has a copyright date of 1978. Now I need to look for appropriate replacements for a revenue cutter circa 1815 around 1:50 scale.
  16. SteveA
    I thought it odd as well to secure such a heavy object to a stanchion. Perhaps the anchor was secured to the knighthead and bowsprit bitts in some fashion?
  17. SteveA
    I have an old Revenue Cutter kit that I work on occasionally, the AL Dallas kit now discontinued. Anyway, the instructions and plans make no mention about rigging the anchors. The only clue is from the picture on the box. It looks like the anchors are loosely secured around the Bowsprit Bitt and then through the grating. The anchor is also lashed to a railing stanchion and the fluke is secured to the Bowsprit Bitt. Does this seem like a reasonable way to rig the anchors?
  18. SteveA
    Keith, thanks for providing the picture of the Tennessee deck, clearly showing the parallel decking. I plan to use the glued-up decking from Bluejacket as I have seen no evidence that tapered decks were used for ships of the Kearsarge period. There was a series of articles by Arthur C. Roberts on his Kearsarge model build in NRJ volumes 44 and 45. The pictures of his model show straight decking as well.
  19. SteveA
    Nic at Bluejacket said the weather decks should have been cut from glued-up decking and will be sending new parts to me. So it looks like I will be saved from having to lay down deck planks.
  20. SteveA
    I received some replacement rigging from Syren. I ordered the closest in size I could get to the rigging provided in the model kit. I have to say I’m impressed with the quality of the Syren scale rope. I really like how sharp the details are and even the sheen on the rope. This will look a lot better than what came with the kit, especially the tan running rigging as can be seen in the comparison photo. The top rope is from the kit.
  21. SteveA
    I am just starting a Bluejacket kit on the Kearsarge and noticed that the provided weather decks are not scribed for deck planking as is shown in the instruction manual. I was thinking about planking the deck with wood strips for a more realistic look anyway. I was just wondering if the deck planks should be tapered or straight? I can’t really tell from this picture but at least I can approximate the width. Are there any resources showing deck plank layouts for warships of this era?
  22. SteveA
    Still making slow progress on this kit. I have just about all the hull and cabin fittings attached and the main mast and wishboom are ready to be installed. The anchor is attached to a chain with a shackle which need to be made. I found these to be rather challenging to fabricate. You have to flatten some 18 gauge wire in order to drill small holes in the ends to pass 24 gauge wire. This is my first success, the model requires 4 to be made in all.
  23. SteveA
    I got a replacement carronade from Bluejacket (bottom one in picture), this was the closest one in size I could find to the one included in the kit. I assume it’s the same one supplied in their 1:48 revenue cutter model. I cleaned up the flash, built a new support for it and painted it with Tamiya bronze. It is now rigged up on the bridge. After working with the kit supplied rigging, I can see where some better aftermarket rigging line would be a significant upgrade. I’ll order some replacement rigging line and start the masting process.
  24. SteveA
    Oh well, I guess it was wishful thinking on my part for something other than another Constitution or Victory iteration. 😴
  25. SteveA
    They gave it away with the 1765 clue, must be the Bonhomme Richard.

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