jim_smits

Take a look here Jim from Dafi's Victory build...shows it nice and clearly and I'm sure is spot on.
 
http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/76-hms-victory-by-dafi-to-victory-and-beyond/page-52#entry233564

Hi all,
 
Happy new year first off.
 
Just a quick update as I've technically not made a huge amount of progress. I've ordered a (hopefully) nice base and acrylic cover for the ballahoo, which should hopefully arrive in a week or so. Also ordered and received material for my 'twist' on the mounting, which I am now making a start on attempting to produce. Still keeping it schtum until I can make it a success or not.
 
As for the nun buoys, I haven't made a start on the second as of yet. I was also wondering, as I can't seem to find any info, what the rope lengths and stowage would be for the nun buoys when not actually in use. I think that the buoy would be hung from the foremost shroud roughly above the anchor stowage, but I've no idea about the two sets of rope that would be attached. Anyone got any ideas?
 
On the rest of the build I think I will add guy pendants to the boom and a lanyard to the gaff.

Minor update - the second anchor is now on and cables etc rigged in place. Managed to produce the first nun buoy but don't have any pictures at the moment. I will update when I return after Chrimbo as I will be up in Costa del Coventry for a couple of days or so.
 
So until then Merry Chrimbo all!

Pictures as promised.
 
Lashed the anchor to the side of the ship and then tied an anchor clinch with the anchor cable. It took a fair while to seize the sections of the clinch together as each turn required a needle to thread each half knot round the cable.
 
Now to repeat on the other anchor.
 

No new updates folks.. Just want to wish ye all a Very Happy Christmas and New Year (or Happy Holidays & New Year as the case may be, my sentiment is the exact same    )
I'm still working away slowly so see ye all after the Holidays and we can get cracking once again with more 'Pegs Pins & Clamps'..   
 
Bye For Now
 
Eamonn

Well heres a final post of the planking in process, will not bother to post anymore until first planking is complete as theres not likely much else to really share.  I'm deviating from the plans a little in the suggestion on planking, they indicate to start at the very top of the frames (I think), I've decided to lay a plank aligning with the main deck and then work up.  This is hopefully to ensure a consistent height of the gun ports to the deck, as the top of the bulkheads does not seem to rise slightly toward the stern.  The top edge of this plank was marked with a pen so hopefully will show up once all sanded, although it shouldn't be too hard to figure it out.
 
Anyway, here's wishing everyone the best of the season.  Merry Christmas everyone!
 

 
Continuing planking upwards, starting to take shape...
 

 
Cut out some sections in the balsa where the hawse holes will be, hopefully this will allow the holes to be open on the rear face rather going into balsa.  Not sure exactly how this will work but it can't really introduce any fresh problems.
 

 
Also wanted to call out a tool that I've quite taken to, although I think it did appear on the 'list of most useless tools' on MSW 1.0. I bought this when I started my 'Snake' and never really used it.  However, I've found that this can really help give a better curve on the planks, otherwise with simple soaking and even with bulkheads appropriately fared, the planks tend to flatten in between the bulkheads as they are so far apart on this kit.  Using this tool, which simply crimps the plank its possible to get a much better curve with a dry plank.  This is proving especially helpful to get a nicer curve at the bow (In some places I think I had been a bit zealous with shaping the balsa a removed a little too much and had some flatter surfaces than I would have liked.  
 

 
 
 

Clearly a slob.... That planking just looks a total mess..... Horrendous.....
 
Not sure what you would class as good as that looks pretty good to me! Keep up the work and be sure to keep a log of all the issues you have so I can steal it later....!

Hi Jason,
To answer your questions:
I got the anchor cable from Chuck Passaro. It's great stuff and will be replacing the current cable on the Snake.
As for the anchor stock, I did see the sides tapered in literature and I think I've seen straight and to be brutally honest it was less effort to leave them straight....

Pictures as promised.
 
Lashed the anchor to the side of the ship and then tied an anchor clinch with the anchor cable. It took a fair while to seize the sections of the clinch together as each turn required a needle to thread each half knot round the cable.
 
Now to repeat on the other anchor.
 

Pictures as promised.
 
Lashed the anchor to the side of the ship and then tied an anchor clinch with the anchor cable. It took a fair while to seize the sections of the clinch together as each turn required a needle to thread each half knot round the cable.
 
Now to repeat on the other anchor.
 

Made an attempt at my first nun buoy last night. Got the wooden buoy itself shaped out of a piece of scrap wood fine, but had a bit of a fail when trying to get the first set of rigging done. Fiddly to say the lease so will re-examine my technique. Gil Middleton has kindly given a couple of pointers so heopfully will try again this weekend.
 
I've also started putting out feelers to work on the display case. Ordered a nice bit of mahogany with a milled edge to accept a case over the top. Just investigating acrylic display cases on internet. The cost of the case and base will be around the same outlay as the model itself but should look really good.
 
I've also ordered some materials for an extra little project for the display that may or may not work. I show work away in secret for a while and reveal all if it works. If not, then in the bin and it will be my dirty little secret....!

So... time for another update. Not a lot to update, really, but just about enough to make an update worthwhile.
 
Yards complete, and driver boom ready for painting. 
 
I've put pins in the schooner (fore) mast to take the yards and keep them in position during rigging.
 
I managed to make the 3mm rod shatter on the lathe, and there's only just enough in the kit to do the whole job, so I've ordered some more ready to do the remaining parts... 
 

 

 
 
Happy building
 
Rob

Clearly a slob.... That planking just looks a total mess..... Horrendous.....
 
Not sure what you would class as good as that looks pretty good to me! Keep up the work and be sure to keep a log of all the issues you have so I can steal it later....!

Looks fantastic Sjors!

Pictures as promised.
 
Lashed the anchor to the side of the ship and then tied an anchor clinch with the anchor cable. It took a fair while to seize the sections of the clinch together as each turn required a needle to thread each half knot round the cable.
 
Now to repeat on the other anchor.
 

Pictures as promised.
 
Lashed the anchor to the side of the ship and then tied an anchor clinch with the anchor cable. It took a fair while to seize the sections of the clinch together as each turn required a needle to thread each half knot round the cable.
 
Now to repeat on the other anchor.
 

Pictures as promised.
 
Lashed the anchor to the side of the ship and then tied an anchor clinch with the anchor cable. It took a fair while to seize the sections of the clinch together as each turn required a needle to thread each half knot round the cable.
 
Now to repeat on the other anchor.
 

Pretty much completed the first anchor last night. The paper fix round the casting has helped seat it in the stocks, so that is a win. Added some iron straps with black paper and then varnished the walnut section and finished of the flukes etc in black.
 
The ring was made by bending a length of 1mm brass wire round a 6mm dowel and then cutting with pliers to create the ring. A little filiing to get the ends to mate snugly and it could be inserted into the anchor and bent into a complete ring.
 
Then spent what felt like hours tying thread around the ring. The first attempt was simply to wind thread around the metal, in the same way as serving. This didnt really work as I couldnt keep tension and then whole kept unraveling. I could have glued every turn or so but decided on another technique which was the same as my seizing method. Alternative half knots all the way round the ring. Took a while but was dead solid and not hard to do just repetitive.
 
The first of the cables has been threaded through the hawse holes and through the deck. Just need to do an anchor clinch adn then add the slings to the anchor and knightheads.
 
Also, been inspired by Gils victory log and may attempt some anchor buoys. Did see some listed in Global Schooner but is there any reason that they would not have been present on a Fish class schooner?
 
Will follow up with images tonight.

Nigel - cheers buddy, nothing compared to yours but I'm happy.
 
Planking has proceeded at a snails pace, but after much deliberation I figured out the round stern, no-where near as neat as Ray's and keep reminding myself that this will all turn out fine with a little sandpaper and filler.  My focus was primarily on ensuring that the planking terminated properly at the transom and sternpost.  Rabbets were cut into the boxwood for first and placeholder for the 2nd planking.  Man oh man!! -  what an absolute pleasure working with boxwood is, so easy to cut and get nice clean edges.
 
The plank next to the stern post was positioned first to lie correctly, then work downwards to the previously planked section which results in a few odd shaped planks and stealers.  I can see how spiling would be a much more logical, though time consuming, approach.  You can see an error not yet corrected where I thought I needed a stealer when in fact a full plank would have worked best, it was already glued so will be easier just to add a sliver.  Also changed my plan for how the planks terminate so it looks a little odd right now, should be just fine once sanded to shape and hopefully will be a nice solid base for the second planking in this tricky area.  Clearly I'm a bit of a slob when it comes to planking
 

Well, other than finishing Snake off?
 
I will be following you with a Diana kit. Having been eyeing it up for a while. I like the mix of the quarter galleries, an additional deck and cannons. Should be a great project. Not that I'll be stealing masses from yourself and Ray....!

My copy of Global Scooner arrived today. Will be reading through it this evening. After having stalked a copy on the Internet for months, with costs of at least £100, I had almost given up. Then spotted a hardback for £15 and was straight in there....!

Well, other than finishing Snake off?
 
I will be following you with a Diana kit. Having been eyeing it up for a while. I like the mix of the quarter galleries, an additional deck and cannons. Should be a great project. Not that I'll be stealing masses from yourself and Ray....!

Made a start on the anchors last night.
 
Put together one of the sets of stocks and sanded smooth. The gap in the stocks is actually too large to fit the cast anchor, so I have cut a section of black paper and wrapped it around the top of the anchor to increase the size where it should be held by the stocks. Seems to have worked ok but proof will be after gluing.
 
Need to paint the cast piece black first off.

Yeah, only having to do four Carronades was an improvement on the eighteen for Snake.....!
 
Keep up the good work mate and see you on the finish line....!

Made some major progress in the last few days.
 
Finished making up the boom adding rigging cleats to the end, iron straps using black paper and a saddle to hold the boom sheet rigging. Managed to get hold of two blocks of boxwood for £2. This enables carving small accessories far more easy as the walnut I've used previously tends to splinter and fall apart. Finally gave it a couple of coats of black to finish.
 
Next step was adding the rigging. Stropped a block under the saddle for the boom sheet and tied the end of the topping lift to the end of the boom. Not sure if it was strictly necessary but added a small boom saddle to the aft mast to help hold the boom in place. Fitted the boom to the mast and rigged the topping lift to hold the boom up. Then added the parral beads and line to hold to the mast. Finally, rigged up the sheet.
 
Next, added the gaff and all its associated rigging and added, in addition to the plans, a pair of vang pendants. Once the vangs were added I was able to gradually iterate the tension of the rigging to get the final position of the gaff.
 
All the lines have been belayed to cleats on the mast or transom. Quick question at this point..... I have coils of rope added to lines belayed to belaying pins, would there also be a coil hung from cleats and is the technique for hanging the coil the same? When I say technique, I mean in real seafaring.
 
Anyway.... That completes the vast majority of the rigging. I am still undecided about adding guy pendants, I need to added the appropriate finishing touches to the belayed lines and or course the anchors will need to be added. Also, trying to think of any other random deck furniture or gubbins that could be added. For instance, my Ballahoo is lacking any ammunition currently so may add some cannon balls. What is the most appropriate storage method for a schooner? In garlands or stacked or....?
 
Onto the anchors.....!