Oldsalt1950

Exceptionally nice work on the bow sprit. This coupled with your new and much improve rigging plan should make for an extraordinary ship model.

She is looking good Cisco. Just take your time. Remember this is a hobby and supposed to be fun. There are no time deadlines.

Nice work Phil. Much better than the kit supplied stock.

Looking real sharp, David.

She looks good. I'll try to answer some of your questions.

Deck - I'd put a clear coat finish on it not stain. Polyurethane is an option comes in satin and dead flat will not yellow.

Copper Plates - I'd leave them as is, the plating looks like that of a ship with some age. 

Ship's Boat - Do some research and see if you can find drawings of ships in this class that show the ship's boat stored. Over the capstan is do-able, but it will be sitting pretty high.

Stand - the cradle the ship sits in right now is not that bad. A little stain and it would look real sharp with a nameplate on it.

Cannons - here you can either go with the kit supplied or purchase after market it depends on your preference

If the Admiral is going to New York, and you have some parts you really want to finish the build, I'd have them sent to your son's address there and she can bring them back when she returns.

Jim

Dave, I'd use some wire and CA glue. Wrap the wire around the block then twist together then around the yard and glue. When cured snip of the excess and paint.

Every build is a learning experience. New tactics, new tools, new skills. 

Progress on the Rattlesnake has been painfully slow, nothing of note to show, but I did make some new jigs to build gunports. I have one to glue up the ports themselves and keep everything square and another so i will have a consistent reveal around the open ports. Now to build the ports and mount them so I can get on with planking and get the semblance of a ship on the building ways. I'm getting tired of seeing a skeleton every time I look at the workbench. 

My condolences Chief. 

Time to pull up a chair and watch the building evolution. Looks good.

A clove hitch would be in order to keep the line on the rod. 

I'm still fighting with the gunports. I'm going to try a different approach from what I have been doing hopefully it will work. I have plenty of time and want them to look right. Found out I still need to take some material off the blocks in the bow. A sanding we will go. Two steps forward, three steps back. 😅

She's looking real good John. You are way ahead of me now. I should be ready for planking by around November at the rate I'm working. I'm making more progress in reverse than forward. I need to remove the forecastle coverboard so I can fair the inside bulkheads. Good thing I only use a dot of glue to hold things together. I see you are going with red for the bulwarks, I'm bucking tradition and going with grey. Privateers were a thrifty lot so mixing black and white paint together rather than purchasing addition red paint just seems to make more sense.

There is definitely some tricky work to getting the fairing right. I think I have the external okay, will see when I proceed to planking. I settled on a 4-pane window myself, took the frame and design from the plan set for the rigging but without the heavy top bar across the frame. Measurements are 10x10mm at 82 degrees of rake, frame with of 1mm for frame and stiles. Will make it 1/16 thick so it is barely proud of the planking. Will do it sandwich style by using some 1/32 sheet material. The knightheads took some work, lots of filing to get them through that tiny hole.

While trying to work out the stern quarter windows, I looked at the gun ports again and didn't like what I saw. Tore out the ones already installed and started over. Now all the lower sills flow nicely along the deck line like they should. Once I have the gun ports completed will post pictures. Also finally managed to break one of the upper deck braces, knew it would happen eventually. Repair was a piece of cake as it broke off very clean. Have a Happy Easter everyone.

Jim

It looks like masts, spars and rigging are about all you have left Dave. Sanding is a messy business but just clean as you go. Saw dust gets everywhere, it can't be helped. 

Jim

Dusan, looks great. Planking is spot on. I am looking forward to watching the rest of your build. Happy Easter

Jim

Very nice Dave. Go with the walnut, it will mellow with age.

Jim

I see you have cleaned the old girl up a lot from her previous condition. You have a good foundation to start building on. Looking forward to seeing your progress. Remember to take your time.

Jim

They are bulldog clips that have been modified. You need 3 bulldog clips to make 2 of the modified clips. Take the wings off one clip and fit one into each of what will become the modified clips . You can also modify wooden clothes pins to do the same thing by filing a notch into the end of the clips. 

I'm right there with you Dave. Cannot see investing in a lathe. I did purchase the book " The Masting and Rigging of English Ships of War " by James Lee, from Discover Books. It gives very good detail on masts and rigging for ships from 1625 to 1860. There is also a good article on making masks from square stock here under the NRG articles. Combine the two and you should be good to go.

Jim

John, the only issue I have concerning the stern quarter window is the frame size. I'm thinking keeping it thin like the stern gallery. Also have to decide how many panes of glass. At this point I'm leaning towards 4. Will have to make up a sample window and see. Will also check the Cormorant drawings.

Welcome aboard Todd. You'll fit right in with the rest of us. 

Jim

To borrow a tried-and-true Navy term "BOHICA", and I have the T-shirt to prove it.

I had to laugh at myself for the going the wrong side of the bulkhead mark and doing the portside backwards episode. Like the Amish say "The hurrier I go, the behinder I get." Lesson learned, slow down and pay attention to detail.

Jim