marktiedens

Hi everyone,a little update. I thought I would tackle the mast tops next.First I built some new platforms out of some 2 by 6mm strips. Then I cot out the lowest wide rail out of a sheet of basswood. Then the hard part - I made the brackets using an x-acto knife & some files,80 of them to be exact  . The upper rails were then made from the same brass bar that I used for the hand rail. After some fine tuning I got one assembled. The top on the left side of the second picture is the kit version. I`m pretty happy how mine turned out. Now I just need to make five more for the other masts.

/Mark

John,

I echo what mtaylor said - I wish you nothing but the best.

/Mark

Hi,the box I have is 870mm long by 365mm wide by 85mm tall.

/Mark

Frank,

My thought process is not always correct,but I didn`t want to try installing them  after the rigging. My thought is since they are made of metal they would better survive a bump or two even though the posts are wood & only 1.5 by 1.5mm. If they were wood I may have waited until at least some of the rigging was done. I think I would be more likely to snag some of the rigging trying to get my hands around the shrouds & other lines. Thanks for your nice comment also.

/Mark

Alittle progress - made the odd looking pulleys that mount to the front of the mizzen chain whale.

Also installed the catheads - I`m not going to try and make the little guy in the cage that sits under the catheads. Also made & installed the upper hand rail - I made them from some .8 by 1.5mm brass bar bought from my local hobby shop. Now I will have to be careful not to break them off . Also got the rest of the figures installed.

/Mark

Thanks Frank. Although some people don`t like the look of walnut I think it looks pretty good on this particular ship. Also my low tech camera doesn`t really show the true colors - the browns always seem to be a little on the red side. Maybe it`s my light source .

/Mark

Thanks Edwin. I see that I also have a few more figures to paint & install - almost forgot about the little sea monsters that go on at the breaks of the railings.

/Mark

Looks like a good start - you are braver than me to build this with no plans.

/Mark

Another little update - all the guns & lids mounted. After re-sizing the upper gun ports the lion heads on the lids were a bit too large,but they will have to do.

/Mark

Thanks Michael. The chainplates are fastened close to where they should be but the chain whales should actually be mounted on top of the whales instead of above them, but it would make them too close to the chainplate fastening point so I mounted them above.

/Mark

Thank you very much Edwin. Yes,we all benefit from other people`s tricks & tips.

/Mark

A little more progress - chainplates mounted. The kit deadeye strops were made from wire bot the strops on the real ship are flat bars so I modified them. I filled the gap with epoxy & then filed it smooth to look like a flat bar. I must thank Michael (md1400cs) for this idea. I think they came out pretty good.

Thanks for all the looks & likes / Mark

Hi Josh - I used a small hand plane to turn the square into an octagon & then files & sandpaper to make them round. A little time consuming but it works pretty well. You can also turn them down on a lathe if you have access to one. It may not work to well in a lathe if they are warped very much.

/Mark

Hi Frank. Another pictorial reference I have used is Clayton`s scratch built Vasa web sight. It may not be 100% correct in light of the latest findings but it is pretty close.

https://sites.google.com/site/clayton707/swedishwarshipwasa

/Mark

I have also built this kit & made plenty of mistakes - chainplates at the wrong angles for one. I didn`t even rig the guns . Yours looks very nice to me. I have a few pictures in the gallery if you`re curious.

/Mark

Thanks Frank.I tend to be over critical of my work.

/Mark

Nice work Frank. I have always done the shrouds before fastening the yards but your way may be a little easier.I am now trying to decide whether to add belaying pins to the crossbars between the bitts next to the main & fore masts. Someone on the Vasa forum said these crossbars did not have belaying pins. I don`t know how they would belay the lines without them .

/Mark

Thank you very much Mike.

/Mark

Thanks very much Nigel. Although I am not totally satisfied with parts of the build I will continue on. I am looking forward to you resuming your fabulous work.

/Mark

Update - finally got all the weather deck guns rigged. Also got most of the deck fittings in place including the slightly modified capstan.

Thanks for looking.

/Mark

Thank you very much Edwin.

/Mark

A small update - started rigging the guns.I am using Chuck`s nice little 2mm blocks. The blocks are really nice but also really small - I don`t know how he makes them so small and yet so nicely shaped. They are a bit difficult to handle but I am slowly getting them done.

/Mark

Great looking sails,frank. If I do sails at all they will be furled - I don`t have a sewing machine to make all those simulated seams.

/Mark

A little progress.........Most of the bow figures done. I may start on the guns & port lids next - tired of painting.Need to make some sawdust!

/Mark

Looks similar to the Half Moon - maybe you could modify that kit.

/Mark