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Der Alte Rentner

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Everything posted by Der Alte Rentner

  1. Der Alte Rentner
    No pix today, just a status update. I've been staring at the hull for days now, and still can't bring myself to prime and paint it black. Marcus was one of the contributors to the discussion chiming in on the side for the switch to black. I confused him with Pfälzer in the commentary below and have edited the post to correct my error. Pfälzer's build of the San Martin is part of the reason I'm still on the fence. Even though he used oak for his planking, he stained it and, to my eyes at least, the result is not so different from my Conny. And I like the look.. I just went back to have another look at San Martin' Pfälzer build, and realize that my hull is a shade or two darker than I would have liked. Having said all that, I started adding the molding beneath the port side gallery and stained the transom. Yes, I still wish I'd used better wood, and I keep telling myself I can switch at any time, yet I keep inching forward with the stained basswood.
  2. Der Alte Rentner
    Hard to believe I flunked my first semester of Woodshop in high school, eh? 😁 No, not a profession. I took up woodworking as a hobby in my 50s because I wanted to have something concrete to show for my labors - after watching the computer I spent 15 years programming being pushed into the back of a van to be recycled after the company upgraded computers and retired my programming in favor of an ERP software system. I saw the plans for this laptop table in an issue of Fine Woodworking and made it my first project. The pictures are not the best, but I'm quite proud of the finished project. It's been a very satisfying hobby, but I got tired of big projects and decided to try modelling for a change of pace. Thank you for the kind words. Best Peter
  3. Der Alte Rentner
    Vielen Dank Marcus.
  4. Der Alte Rentner
    Oh my, It's too late for me to even think about poking a million holes in the spar deck. and as I mentioned earlier, I'm certainly not going to attempt to simulate the rivets on the bulwarks. Now I really feel like a slacker. 😁 Maybe next time..
  5. Der Alte Rentner
    As a long time woodworker favoring natural finishes, I just hate the thought of giving up, but I think I must reluctantly agree with you on this Mustafa. I'm going to spend a few hours at the shipyard just staring at Conny to see if I can't convince myself to make the switch. One thing I won't like to do, if I change directions, is to prime and paint the galleries. I assembled them the way I did so that I had nice clean demarcations between contrasting colors. In a worst case scenario, I'd have to remake the pilasters and windows. Ugh.. Stay tuned..
  6. Der Alte Rentner
    So, now I have to ask myself, would I rather switch to black so that I can use styrene for the molding and scroll work later? Stain applied, but need to wait 24 hours to clear coat.. Boy, do I wish I'd used better wood for the planking. It would have been nice to not have to stain at all. Oh well, this is a learning experience.
  7. Der Alte Rentner
    I was wondering if you were going to bother with those rivets. Frankly I think you've stumbled on a more elegant and nicer looking solution. More detail than I'm prepared to go through, but as usual, you've added the Masters touch. Kudos.
  8. Der Alte Rentner
    Okay, here goes. Staining begins (in baby steps).. Speaking of baby steps, I'm using Q-tips, the pointy kind, as well as the standard ones, to apply and remove the stain. I tried brushes, they are problematic at least around the gun deck ports. I might resort to a brush for the bottom of the hull.
  9. Der Alte Rentner
    Ausgezeichnet!
  10. Der Alte Rentner
    Thanks for the offer, but with that long a turn around time, I'll just soldier on with old school techniques, or invest in the learning curve to print my own stuff.
  11. Der Alte Rentner
    If you're that handy with a printer, could you build the windows for the galleries with a printer? Also, where do you get the detailed information to input to the printer to get these results?
  12. Der Alte Rentner
    Pretty much done. Some fine tuning still required, but the hard work, at least on these galleries, is done. Note, everything is still unglued. I'll hold off just a bit while I figure out the best way to go about staining the hull. Also, looking ahead, I see that fashioning the two bottom moldings beneath the gallery windows and crossing the transom is going to take some thought as well. I see now that a black hull with white trim lends itself to working with styrene in this area. I've got some work ahead of me here my friends.. And before anyone asks, yes, I did try various stains and paints on the styrene. None of the results looked better than keeping it white, at least for me. A tad more construction detail. The port side gallery.
  13. Der Alte Rentner
    I'm refining the process for making the windows. The next time I do this, things will go a little faster. 😁 1. Make a paper template to fit the space. 2. Transfer the shape to another piece of paper. 3. Add guide lines for the central rail and styles. (I took the previous photo after I had added the guide lines.) 4. Add double sided tape. 5. Cut styrene for outside edges. Test the fit with the paper template. 6. Use double sided tape to transfer the pattern to plexiglass for the window. 7. Cut the window. (Note: pattern still attached to plexiglass.) 8. Test fit the window. 9. Take the wife to city hall to vote. 10. Return to the shop another day to form the rest of the window.
  14. Der Alte Rentner
    Getting closer..
  15. Der Alte Rentner
    I wish I could recall exactly where I saw it, but in the last week or two, I read somewhere that these canopy frames could be omitted. I thought I saw a note in the copy of the plans I have at the Shipyard, but since I have a second set at home, I thought I'd make sure my memory was not faulty. Sadly, the old grey cells, they ain't what they used to be. The plans themselves don't seem have this note in them. The instructions for the kit say to omit them if they are too difficult to fabricate, but that's not the note I SWEAR I saw. 😕 I must admit they do look nice when done right. So, go for it Jon. The only thing I can think to contribute to the conversation at this point is to see if you can't find a really sharp pointed tool, like an awl, and poke a divot into the brass rod - use the awl like a center punch. But given the materials you're dealing with here, this may be equally as challenging. Slow and steady is indeed the way to go with drilling, if the center punch technique works. Good luck!
  16. Der Alte Rentner
    Your workmanship here rivals XKen. Kudos.
  17. Der Alte Rentner
    Port side. Rinse, repeat.. I forgot how much effort went into making and shaping the filler and roof blocks. Hoo boy.
  18. Der Alte Rentner
    Because I'm still working on the galleries, I paid particular attention to yours and am awestruck by how nicely they turned out. Excellent workmanship!
  19. Der Alte Rentner
    That is an interesting approach. Don't you risk cutting into the sills with this technique?
  20. Der Alte Rentner
    Es kann sein, dass die Kanonen nicht zu hoch sind, nur dass einige von ihnen leicht nach oben geneigt sind. Vielleicht könnten Sie kleine Keile unter das innere Ende der Kanonen stecken? (translated using Translate Google)
  21. Der Alte Rentner
    I went with wood. And the parts are still separate, so I can use them as templates for the port side.
  22. Der Alte Rentner
    I found my drum sander indispensable. I hadn't thought of employing an inclined table. That trick will be added to my tool box for future reference. Excellent suggestion.
  23. Der Alte Rentner
    I'm not sure I understand. Will you be giving the ship the book? or using the picture in your presentation case? Beautiful workmanship. Sehr Schön!
  24. Der Alte Rentner
    gerade? oder Schief?
  25. Der Alte Rentner
    A man after my own heart! Welcome aboard. I think you will find the Constitution (USS or Frigate) an interesting challenge, especially since you're opting for the 1797 edition and departing from the norm, given the overall preference here for the black and white hull painting scheme. By all means, showcase your woodworking skills! From what I see of the Pegasus above, I think you'll do splendidly. Looking forward to following your progress.

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