flutlo6180

Hi Mark. Welcome aboard. I look forward to following your build logs.

Welcome aboard!

Hi Maxx. Welcome aboard!

Hi Phil. Welcome aboard.

Hi Jon. Welcome aboard! Nice job on your first build. Thanks for sharing the photos.

Welcome aboard!

Hi Shaun. Welcome aboard!

Hi BMT. Welcome aboard!

Hi Zac. Welcome aboard!

More time in the shipyard yesterday and the first layer of decking is installed. The fit for the main deck was so tight that I was worried about snapping the piece when trying to get it into the slots. In addition to shaving some width from both sides of the frames to loosen the fit a little, I also sanded a slight taper for the top of the frames.  The taper helped ensure that I could get the piece slotted without breaking off any of the corners for the slots.

I've seen weights used in other build logs to put downward pressure on the deck while the glue dries.  Not having any small weights suitable for that purpose, I held the deck in place with a series of rubber bands as shown in these two photos.

Both decks are now firmly in place.

I'm now at the tedious process of fairing the hull for planking so it will be awhile before my next post (unless I run into problems and need a lifeline).

For the first planking layer I am considering using the spiling technique I learned in the NRG Half Hull build and ordered some 1/16" basswood sheets for that purpose. The basswood seems a bit softer than the limewood in the kit and I am wondering if it will be suitable for the bulwark planking. Perhaps I should mix the two and use the limewood for the bulwark planks and the basswood for spiling for the rest of the hull.

For the second layer I intend to use the pre-cut pearwood strips from the kit because it is so nice looking and I would hate not to use it on the build.

I got to the stern frames today and found the transom and frame 9 slots for frames 18 and 19 - both port and starboard - were not in alignment.  The outer slots in transom are angled which prevents installation without excess stress and likely snapping them in half.

You can see the angle in these two photos - the outboard slots for 19 are more misaligned than the 18 in the middle. The inboard slots for 17 were an issue.

To address the problem I sanding the inboard and outboard sides of the transom slots to straighten the run. You can see the change in the slots in this photo.

After this slight adjustment the frames ran true and don't appear to be under stress. 

Fortunately, the build logs from Blue Ensign and VTHokiEE gave advance warning of this issue so I went slow and I was able to address it without breaking and of the frames.

Before I begin with this build update I want to again I express my thanks to Chris Watton for so quickly responding to my query on missing parts and correcting my error.  With the high quality of the kit and such great responsiveness by Chris, It is little wonder why Vanguard Models has such a positive reputation amongst the modelers on MSW.

I did start the build today and began assembling the bulkheads and lower deck to the false keel.

Dry fit of the bulkheads show tight fits and great alignment. 

I laid out the bearding line and built a template to get to the correct 1.5mm width.

After tapering the stern area and tapering the top of frame 10 to match the sternpost angle, the glue is now drying on the framing and lower deck.

2 hours ago, chris watton said:

if you mean the wood for deck planking, the deck is now a laser engraved part

Thank you Chris for your quick reply and correcting my error. Sorry about the confusion - I should have recognized the laser engraved replacement when I did the inventory.

2 hours ago, VTHokiEE said:

good luck with the build - I hope you enjoy it; I really enjoyed mine

Thanks. I've been perusing your build log to get a better sense of what I'm about to take on.

I broke open the HM Alert kit today to get a sense of what I'm facing with this build. The large and detailed build instructions are going to be great to work with and I am impressed with the quality of the materials.

After reading through several build logs over the past few months, I decided it would be prudent to conduct a complete inventory. In addition to ensuring the kit is complete, the inventory provided me with a better understanding of the various components and build elements.  Unfortunately, my kit was missing the basswood strips (part #31) and sail cloth (part #32).  I've sent a note to Vanguard Models and am sure I will hear back from them promptly.

I am really looking forward to this build. I selected the Alert kit for several reasons. First, the reputation for quality of Vanguard Models is frequently note on MSW. The kit seems like a natural progression in my modeling as it provides different construction opportunities not present on my lateen-rigged first build (e.g. cannon, rat lines, deadeyes). I also want to focus on a single mast ship as it will be less complex and easier to try and learn the art of installing running and standing rigging than a two or three mast model.

Finished!!! Just need to to apply a coat of varnish, make a mounting board and get a label plate engraved.

This was a great learning project and I'm glad I decided to complete this build before embarking on my 2nd full ship kit. The lessons and techniques I learned will definitely help me going forward.

Thanks again to Eric, Toni and VTHokiEE for your advice, suggestions and encouragement!

Hi RH. Welcome aboard!

I like the figurines engaged in typical shipboard tasks. Great looking model and a fleet to be very proud of!

Thanks Toni and Eric.

I took VTHokiEE's suggestion and used strips of tape to hold the rail in place.

The approach worked out well and I'm pleased with the result.

I also installed the rubbing strake below the quarterdeck ...

the upper planking above the strake ...

and the planking on the counter.

11 hours ago, Cathead said:

If you were to remove it at this point, you'd have a lot more freedom to work

Good point Eric.  It is getting a bit awkward having to work with the full build board and I will need to detach it to mount the finished product.

I must admit that it feels pretty good to be so close to completing this build. Though I don't want to get to far ahead of myself, I think its safe to pull the Alert kit out of the closet and start looking at the build instructions.

Thanks VTHokiEE. Painters tape might just be the answer. I'll try a dry fit to see of the tape will work and post the results.

Hi Gill. Welcome aboard!!

Thanks Eric. 

I'm at the point of installing the cap rail and rubbing strake below the quarterdeck.

My initial attempts at fashioning the cap rail using the basswood proved to be way too fragile at the scarf joint. After 2 failures, I shifted to using some 1/16" maple left over from a chess table I made for my grandsons.

 While it took some time to cut the maple to shape with an exacto blade (actually 3 blades as I kept snapping off the tip) the end result is much sturdier and I am pleased with how it turned out.  I do plan to color the rails either a matte black or a dark brown for a nice contrast before installing them on the hull.

My quandary right now is the best way to install the rail. I've tried to steer clear of using CA and have used diluted wood glue thus far in the build but there isn't room in the interior of the hull to clamp the rail in place while the glue dries. There isn't any purchase for clamps on the outside of the hull and I can't envision a way to use rubber bands.  Am I stuck using CA or is their a way to clamp the rail in place that I'm just not seeing?

Hi Demostenes, Welcome Aboard! If you haven't done so, start a build log for your HMS Victory build, even if you are already well into the build. Doing so is the best way to get advice, tips and encouragement when needed.

It has been a week or so since my last update and I've continued to progress with planking completed below the wale and on the counter.

After rebuilding the aft frames and counter the wale flows nicely into the counter.

A small amount of cleanup left, but I'm pretty pleased with how the planking flows into the stern post and counter.

And with the counter planking completed.

Tearing down the planking and re-fairing the forward frames resulted in a much nice flow of planking into the stem. I did end up with 2 drop-planks to keep the width into the stem rabbit from being to narrow.

Overall, I am pleased with the results on the lower hull despite some of the small gaps with the planking flows into the sternpost. I still need to finish sanding the lower hull before layout out the quarter deck line, installing the top rail and completing the upper planking and second layer of the wale.

Hi Glenn. Welcome aboard!

Hi Victor. Great start on your build!

On 9/1/2022 at 3:34 PM, VictorBXM said:

Any advice with the nailer?

I used small needle nose plyers instead of the push nailer and didn't set them fully. Once the glue dried they were easy to remove which was much easier than filing off the heads per the instructions.