Coyote_6

A common addiction my friend.

Awesome Mark. Good choices sir (year round modeling, a personal copy of The Global Schooner) - you will not regret either!

Nicely done. Can't wait to see her in the davits!

Darn those plastic hooks!

I have just started rigging blocks and have both created beckets and faked them. My gun rigging as an example of faking. 1/8th" blocks with 0.012" rope. The blocks are a correct 7" in scale. The smallest hooks I could make were 7" long (grossly out of scale). If I had used beckets I would have needed another scale 10 or so inches for three beckets and seizings and my blocks would almost touch. So with the lower double block I just inserted what would have gone in the becket (brass hook), skipped the seizing, and closed the strop on the other side with an overhand knot and a dab of thin superglue to penetrate the knot. Side cutting cuticle cutters clean up the loose ends nicely. Otherwise I create beckets thus - form the becket with the stropping line and seize the desired loop. Affix with thin CA glue. When dry, insert desired block against seizing and between the two free ends, secure with overhand knot and thin CA glue. Trim. My tiller rigging has beckets actually seized in but the blocks are much bigger at probably 3/16" to 1/4". Unfortunately my seizings with fine fly tying thread are 10-14 wraps and still almost 1/8" in length. 6-7" of seizing between becket and block would look crazy I think. It is easy to look up how to do these things in the real world (think Lever's Sheet Anchor for example) but translating real world configurations into scale effects is what is hard to find. Here is another great approach. https://modelshipworld.com/topic/16179-my-humble-method-of-making-strops-for-blocks/ Just some thought on my recent experiences.

Very nice upgrade Phil. Is that kit thing pressed cardboard or something? Plastic? Anyway very very nice cutter.

Beautiful work on this. I will be following! I am especially intrigued by your build as my current build is in the "odd" 1:58 scale, yet here is your beautiful schooner in 1:57! Close enough. It would be fun to see them side by side. This build looks set, but regarding guns in post 18, for future reference the privateer "Grecian" takes an interesting approach to gun ports with lower bulkheads and the effect looks wonderful to my eye. (Borrowed from a Grecian build on MSW) Anyway - great work. I'll be following.

Phil! I was just having a little fun with your schooner knowledge over on the Mosquidobit build and it got me thinking - I love the Cape for sure, but in the recesses of your mind their must be an inkling of another schooner/clipper to build? Any comment sir?

Did I mention they call @Dr PR "The Godfather of Schooner Rigging"? Just sayin'. 🤣

@Chuck Seiler Looking forward to it sir!

Isn't that how it always is. Looking good Phil!

There is truth here, as in everything. At least a privateer affords some leeway. 😉 I like the idea of adding bases so the figures can be placed or removed depending upon the audience. These figures are pretty versatile - if one wanted to spend the time a dremel and Tamiya two part modeling clay would go a long way. Think US Navy 1812 officers cap or saber in scabbord. A good starting point.

The Captain has many changes in his sea chest.

@Dr PR I like the white of your style better Phil, especially with the taller boots. I may try a redo. Your Captain looks very good!

This will be interesting. I would think aft davits is ready to go and rudder installed? Do the rudders on ship's boats lock like they do on the ship herself? The detail is amazing for 87mm! Very nice boat Phil.

1st attempt. Definitely look better on board when they have been painted.

@SaltyScot I guess I know who to come to for figure painting advice! We'll give it a try.

Always sir! I love that figure example - I've been shipboard in that exact pose so I can relate! 🤣🤣🤣 I might try to add a small clear base to the figures so they could be placed or removed at will. It will be interesting to try to paint them and get a good outcome. I doubt I would glue them down - I've done two plastic aircraft carrier builds in recent times and have yet to glue an aircraft or support equipment to the deck! And yes, after having empty decks on the Prince all this time, 6 figures seems alot. It is difficult to fathom 50+ men and boys on deck for an engagement, maybe 5 per gun? Thanks for the thoughts!

@Gregory Good to hear from you! They are 35mm white metal figures by Amati. I sourced them from a MSW sponsor in the USA, Ages of Sail. https://www.agesofsail.com/ They are in Northern California. Price seemed fair, shipping cost was ok, and to Southern California was pretty quick via USPS. Good service and stock from my point of view. What are your thoughts on the figures? I am interested to get some opinions and thoughts from others. I think they also have 22mm and 25mm. https://www.agesofsail.com/ecommerce/figures/35mm-sailors.html

Captain Amati and his crew came aboard for a visit and inspection of the work done. Whether they sail with the Prince remains to be seen. The figures are "35 mm" but their actual heights are between 31 and 33 mm - let's call them 5' 10" to 6' 3" for the big swede on the tiller at 1:58 scale. A tall crew for the period I think. The Captain's fine hat is not up to U.S. Navy standards in 1812, but the Prince was a privateer outfitted in France, so who can say? Today we'll be training the breeching lines for the chase guns that are all over the place right now. Then I'll put together some single/single gun tackles for the chasers to finish off the armament for the Prince. I went with luff tackles for the heavier carronades as "Captain's choice" and liked the look, but I think the luff tackles might look too much on the little chasers. In work:

Nice share. Appreciate it!

Link to the part that disintegrated after a vinegar experiment. Terrifying!

Your ropework looks very nice!

On @Dr PR's recommendation, I am reading Darcy Lever's The Young Sea Officer's Sheet Anchor cover to cover on my lunch breaks at work. I bought a used like new 1960ish printing and the paper and ink are wonderful! The book is fascinating - today will be how to actually get a mast into the deck. This is a "do recommend", my friends!