jim_smits

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.....!
 





 
 
 
 

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.....!
 





 
 
 
 

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.....!
 





 
 
 
 

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.....!
 





 
 
 
 

So when are you taking on the french?

So when are you taking on the french?

The main and mizzen top masts are now in place, and have all their shrouds and ratlines added, phew, I am glad they are all finished and that I split it up this way, as it did make the ratlines a lot less tedious to tie,I will now most likely add as much of the standing rigging that I can before fitting the tagallants masts.
I have also included some photos of Diana with Pegasus and The lady Nelson.
 
Firstly a lower fold down table I used to bring the rigging to a better level to work at

 
Main and mizzen masts



Completed ratlines



 
 
Some photos of Diana with Pegasus And some with The Lady Nelson as well

From what I can see on the diagrams i've seen, they are essentially the equivalent of the vang pendants on the gaff. So presumably they can be used to control the position of the boom in addition to the sheet that is indicated on the plans already.
 
I did see a diagram somewhere on MSW today that was quite useful but didnt make a copy.

Hi Jason
                I have added some photos of my Diana`s stern from point you are up to now, then forward to where the stern is nearly completed, there are a lot more steps from where you are now to that point, but part you are most apprehensive over is covered up by the stern galleries and cabin.
I hope these photos help, I also found it difficult to get my head around this stern but I think it turned out OK.


First planking sanded and filled

second planking going on

all on and filled

completed and sanded

galleries and cabin going over planking



shows finished stern

Think we were typing at the same time Mate..
 
The Leeward 'Vang' would be removed so as to avoid contact with the Boom.. when I say removed I mean it would be unshipped from where it is made fast to the Rail or Deck and probably re attached loosely near the Leeward Shrouds so as to be out of the way.. same goes for the Fore Mast versions.. the fore mast ones are on 'hooks' if memory serves.. I think this is so as to make them easily removed, unless you hear/find out differently I would suggest doing the same to the Main Mast 'Vangs'.
 
Hope this is of some help Jim
 
Eamonn

I checked a few books and see that this 'vang' is also missing on the Alert (Cutter) but is in place (Called a Main Vang) in American Schooners ( When used on a modern Yacht a 'Vang' is an American Term, on this side of the pond it is called a 'Kicker' or 'Kicking Strap', but as I say this is on Modern Sailboats)
I rather suspect it is something that I would be inclined to have added myself (I'll be doing further research when I get closer to that stage, as I suspect the kit rigging plans are limited to say the least) I still find it odd that it wasn't shown in place on the Cutter Alert though, cos it would stop the Gaff from swinging wildly if nothing else (admittedly the Gaff would be lowered when it had no sail attached but what about when the sail was furled to the mast etc.?)  It is shown in rigging plans on a frigates I checked (here the sail is the Driver or Spanker) and is also called a Vang..
My guess 'Put it On !!'
 
Eamonn
 
Edit.. The Bold Text above Isn't intentional.. just a glitch twixt MSW and my Browser I think... I'm not trying to emphasise anything   

Cheers for the posts Eamonn.
 
Makes sense as to why the vangs are hooked to the deck in the plans for the foremast gaff.
 
Managed to find diagrams in Petersson pg 26-27 showing vang pendants and also guy pendants for the boom. Will look at the eyebolts in the deck and the available cleats and plan accordingly.

Thanks for the likes and comments guys.
 
Not too much done today as been helping to put up Chrimbo tree. I have however, added iron bands to the aft gaff and added cleats to the end of the gaff.
 
Also made up and tied in two coils for belayed lines. Still going to need a few more though....

A lot of testing before the final approach to the mizen mast shrouds.
Hypo gs cement glue is a more clear and clean adhesive util than cyano or pva, but a little touch up is needed to avoid some shinny spots from the cyano stabilizer of the hangman knots.

Good bit of progress today despite being slightly hungover from last nights work Christmas party.
 
Managed to complete and install the foremast gaff. Spent a while shaping walnut dowel to fit one of the gaff jaws and tapering to 2.5mm. Glued the gaff to the jaws piece and pinned in place to add strength. Cut three strips of black paper about 1mm wide and added to the gaff to simulate iron bands. Finally drilled a hole to take an eyepin once it has been stropped to a block.
 

 
Made up the rest of the rigging gradually over the afternoon and fitted to the gaff, including the parral beads at the back to fit to the foremast. Gradually iterated the rigging tension until the gaff was in the correct position and all lines were correctly tensioned. Belayed all four lines to belaying pins and painted with dilute PVA to fix in place.
 
Currently putting some coils together to finish.
 

 

 

 

Good bit of progress today despite being slightly hungover from last nights work Christmas party.
 
Managed to complete and install the foremast gaff. Spent a while shaping walnut dowel to fit one of the gaff jaws and tapering to 2.5mm. Glued the gaff to the jaws piece and pinned in place to add strength. Cut three strips of black paper about 1mm wide and added to the gaff to simulate iron bands. Finally drilled a hole to take an eyepin once it has been stropped to a block.
 

 
Made up the rest of the rigging gradually over the afternoon and fitted to the gaff, including the parral beads at the back to fit to the foremast. Gradually iterated the rigging tension until the gaff was in the correct position and all lines were correctly tensioned. Belayed all four lines to belaying pins and painted with dilute PVA to fix in place.
 
Currently putting some coils together to finish.
 

 

 

 

Good bit of progress today despite being slightly hungover from last nights work Christmas party.
 
Managed to complete and install the foremast gaff. Spent a while shaping walnut dowel to fit one of the gaff jaws and tapering to 2.5mm. Glued the gaff to the jaws piece and pinned in place to add strength. Cut three strips of black paper about 1mm wide and added to the gaff to simulate iron bands. Finally drilled a hole to take an eyepin once it has been stropped to a block.
 

 
Made up the rest of the rigging gradually over the afternoon and fitted to the gaff, including the parral beads at the back to fit to the foremast. Gradually iterated the rigging tension until the gaff was in the correct position and all lines were correctly tensioned. Belayed all four lines to belaying pins and painted with dilute PVA to fix in place.
 
Currently putting some coils together to finish.
 

 

 

 

Some good progress on deck planking last night.
 
I'm using 120mm deck planks, sanded to size and to give a smooth finish, then a coat of satin varnish is applied to the edges and allowed to dry before using a sharpie to colour the edges black to simulate caulking.
 
I've started with the centre line of the deck and gradually working my way out towards the margin planks. The margins are not yet glued in place as I want to be able to cut the nibbles and 'caulk' the margins outside of the ship before fixing in place.
 

 
Made a start on nibbling the foremost margin plank on the starboard side. Using test deck planks for the moment, but got the first three nibbles cut in place. Used a heavy duty x-acto blade and VERY carefully cut the nibble. I used the test planks to mark the two points at which the deck plank 'intercepts' the margin to mark out the size of cuts to make. The test planks were then shaped to fit for a final check on the shape. Minor adjustments made using a needle file.
 
Happy so far with the process but it is quite stressful the more nibbles are cut as there is more work to lose if an error is made. If in doubt, cut less and then file to shape.....!
 
Once all the nibbles are finalised for each margin plank, it will be varnished, 'caulked' and glued in place. The proper deck pieces can then be cut to fit and glued in.
 

Gil,
 
I follow you in silence and still impressed with what you are doing.
When I take a look at the whole log I have a suggestion for you...
When you are finished can you bring this log to a publisher ?????
For me it should be a book that I want to have as a guide for my builds .
 
Sjors

Hi Jim, any criticism is always welcome!!   Thank you for the heads up, I will check those and see if I put them in wrong or if there was a problem with the query!

Hopefully some constructive criticism but I think you need to check the kit difficulty for the Caldercraft series.
 
You have ballahoo down as an intermediate and yet Snake as a beginner. Havent really checked the other kits as I have no experience with them but probably worth having a look when you have a moment.
 
Cheers!