jim_smits

Bit more progress.
 
Added the first four pairs of shrouds to the main mast. Just need to make up the two single shrouds and add them. Also added the stays between the foremast and the bowspirit. Getting the loop and the 'lump' (I don't know the term!) in the right place was quite tricky and ended up being a process of trial and error......

Jason - I think the book Rigging Period Model Ships is probably best used as guidance where the Snake instructions are not clear. I would think that generally rigging is fairly similar and therefore anything that doesnt make sense could be clarified by the book.
 
That said the instructions are a pain in the butt when you discover you needed to add an eyelet to the hull and this is only when you infer it to be there due to the way the rigging seems to be displayed. I know of a few eyelets that I now have to add. It is odd because the basic plans shows some eyelet positions, but not all of them.
 
Trying to make sure I go in very careful order at the moment. So put in place lower mast sections. Add shrouds and then stays. Check forward for any other rigging that must be put in place before the next mast sections are added.
 
Once i've finished my shrouds etc, I may try and sit down and map out the rigging myself......

Jim, you've made some amazing progress in such a short space of time, really starting to look like a ship now!  Shes looking great.

Remaining work so far this weekend has been to start adding the foremast stays.
 
Cut a length of 1mm black thread and added a loop halfway along by lashing with 0.5mm thread. Fitted the loop over the main mast and threaded the ends down through the platform.
 
Lashed deadeyes onto each end of the thread. The length to lash to was determined by using a 15mm spacer between the deadeye to be fitted to the stay and the deadeye fitted to the channels. I found lashing the deadeye to the stay really tricky. Best method I have found is to form a loop around the deadeye and the tie a single lash using thinner thread to secure the loop tight to the deadeye. A second lash secures the end of the stay against itself. I have purchased some GS Hypo cement, and used this to glue the threads permanently in place. Once dry the ends were trimmed back.
 
Added the first two pairs of stays to the Foremast and added deadeyes as above. Then added the first lanyards. Followed the threading directions as per plans and a copy of 'Rigging Period Ship Models'. The final lashing around the stay was glued in place and trimmed back once dry.

Remaining work so far this weekend has been to start adding the foremast stays.
 
Cut a length of 1mm black thread and added a loop halfway along by lashing with 0.5mm thread. Fitted the loop over the main mast and threaded the ends down through the platform.
 
Lashed deadeyes onto each end of the thread. The length to lash to was determined by using a 15mm spacer between the deadeye to be fitted to the stay and the deadeye fitted to the channels. I found lashing the deadeye to the stay really tricky. Best method I have found is to form a loop around the deadeye and the tie a single lash using thinner thread to secure the loop tight to the deadeye. A second lash secures the end of the stay against itself. I have purchased some GS Hypo cement, and used this to glue the threads permanently in place. Once dry the ends were trimmed back.
 
Added the first two pairs of stays to the Foremast and added deadeyes as above. Then added the first lanyards. Followed the threading directions as per plans and a copy of 'Rigging Period Ship Models'. The final lashing around the stay was glued in place and trimmed back once dry.

Busy on the build again.
 
I put the bowspirit together a little while ago as a distraction whilst doing the Carronades.
 
Reasonably easy to put together, I cut the main dowel to length and cut and sanded the end to an angle to fit the deck and slot into the forward bitt. Slightly tricky and tedious part was fitting the bowspirit cap. Having to file the two holes to allow the correct angle to fit the bowspirit and the jibboom took a while. Once complete this was glued in place and filler used to smooth the joint.
 
Added the jibbom saddle and the slotted the jibboom through the bowspirit cap and glued into place. Then added the gammoning to the bowspirit and jibboom and secured in place with some watered PVA.
 
Next was the dolphin striker and the stay bee. Pretty straight forward, although have to be very careful with the striker as I imagine would be very easy to break. Also, added a pin on the bottom to attach the spar later on.
 
Finally, fitted the blocks and deadeyes. This took a fair while to work out how I was going to attach all the blocks. In the end I decided to tie the heart block onto a length of thread and then attach the deadeyes using separate threads tied around each. Worked ok I think.

Remaining work so far this weekend has been to start adding the foremast stays.
 
Cut a length of 1mm black thread and added a loop halfway along by lashing with 0.5mm thread. Fitted the loop over the main mast and threaded the ends down through the platform.
 
Lashed deadeyes onto each end of the thread. The length to lash to was determined by using a 15mm spacer between the deadeye to be fitted to the stay and the deadeye fitted to the channels. I found lashing the deadeye to the stay really tricky. Best method I have found is to form a loop around the deadeye and the tie a single lash using thinner thread to secure the loop tight to the deadeye. A second lash secures the end of the stay against itself. I have purchased some GS Hypo cement, and used this to glue the threads permanently in place. Once dry the ends were trimmed back.
 
Added the first two pairs of stays to the Foremast and added deadeyes as above. Then added the first lanyards. Followed the threading directions as per plans and a copy of 'Rigging Period Ship Models'. The final lashing around the stay was glued in place and trimmed back once dry.

Remaining work so far this weekend has been to start adding the foremast stays.
 
Cut a length of 1mm black thread and added a loop halfway along by lashing with 0.5mm thread. Fitted the loop over the main mast and threaded the ends down through the platform.
 
Lashed deadeyes onto each end of the thread. The length to lash to was determined by using a 15mm spacer between the deadeye to be fitted to the stay and the deadeye fitted to the channels. I found lashing the deadeye to the stay really tricky. Best method I have found is to form a loop around the deadeye and the tie a single lash using thinner thread to secure the loop tight to the deadeye. A second lash secures the end of the stay against itself. I have purchased some GS Hypo cement, and used this to glue the threads permanently in place. Once dry the ends were trimmed back.
 
Added the first two pairs of stays to the Foremast and added deadeyes as above. Then added the first lanyards. Followed the threading directions as per plans and a copy of 'Rigging Period Ship Models'. The final lashing around the stay was glued in place and trimmed back once dry.

Glued the bowspirit into place and gammoned to the bow rails. This took a good long time to thread the gammoning in and around the bow rail structure but got there in the end. Threaded the end in place and then glued down with watered down PVA.
 
Added some rigging to the bowspirit, to form the martingale rig, and added the four lines from the bow onto the deadeyes on the bowspirit. Also added the first set of rigging lines to the boomkins.
 
Massive learning curve dealing with rigging lines. If anyone has any recommendations for websites or books that have a good description of modelling techniques and tricks I would be grateful.

Yes, thanks for the detail on the rope coiling. Tried rope coiling myself using a different method and just couldn't get it to work, so this is really useful!
 
Build looking fantastic and certainly picking up ideas and techniques for next build.
 
Diana possibly.....!

Hi Jason,
 
In answer to your question - very slowly!
 
I had already planed down two surfaces on opposite sides for the cheeks and bibbs. after that I used a sharp modelling knife and shaved down the remaining two sides, constantly checking the orientation. Any divergance was corrected as I went until the correct angles were attained and I then sanded down to correct size.
 
The really hard work was on my work on the Gallant for the fore mast. That has two square sections on either end. Had to be very careful to make sure that the two squares line up and weren't 'twisted'. Did all of that by eye but took a fair while. Sure if I had any proper machining tools this would have been a lot simpler but it is all by eye, knife and sandpaper...!

Looks fantastic there. Great detailing in the carronades.
 
Putting me to shame.....!!

Deep breath and onto the next daunting steps - the masts and rigging.
 
First step, I added in the Boomkins. Cut from dowel, and then I simply used sandpaper to sand down a taper into the Boomkins. Then added 1mm brass wire into the end and pinned into the bulwarks.
 

 
 
Next step was to make a start on the Fore Mast. This took a lot of time and patience. As per the plans, I cut 8mm dowel to length and then proceeded to plane the mast down to accept the cheeks and bibs. Also then shaped the top of the mast to fit the tressletrees and the mast cap.
 

 

 
Put the tressletree together and used it to test the shape of the mast tops. Gradually iterating until the tressletree was able to rest on top of the bibs.
 

 
I then put together the Mast top and gunwale and careful marked up and glued on the battens as per the plans. Once complete this was then glued to the tressletrees. Then added further detail with the rail at the rear of the platform, and single 3mm tackle blocks underneath for the bow spirit rigging.
 

 

 
All parts were painted as appropriate. I have gone for yellow ochre for the masts with black for the detailing and platforms. Did a quick check of the mast orientation. There was a distinct lean to the right from the front view. Quickly sanded down the bottom and added a shim to straighten it out. All good!
 

 
Added the metal bands to the mast using black paper cut to 2mm width and glued down with slightly watered down PVA.
 

 
Just need to repeat for the main mast now.

Deep breath and onto the next daunting steps - the masts and rigging.
 
First step, I added in the Boomkins. Cut from dowel, and then I simply used sandpaper to sand down a taper into the Boomkins. Then added 1mm brass wire into the end and pinned into the bulwarks.
 

 
 
Next step was to make a start on the Fore Mast. This took a lot of time and patience. As per the plans, I cut 8mm dowel to length and then proceeded to plane the mast down to accept the cheeks and bibs. Also then shaped the top of the mast to fit the tressletrees and the mast cap.
 

 

 
Put the tressletree together and used it to test the shape of the mast tops. Gradually iterating until the tressletree was able to rest on top of the bibs.
 

 
I then put together the Mast top and gunwale and careful marked up and glued on the battens as per the plans. Once complete this was then glued to the tressletrees. Then added further detail with the rail at the rear of the platform, and single 3mm tackle blocks underneath for the bow spirit rigging.
 

 

 
All parts were painted as appropriate. I have gone for yellow ochre for the masts with black for the detailing and platforms. Did a quick check of the mast orientation. There was a distinct lean to the right from the front view. Quickly sanded down the bottom and added a shim to straighten it out. All good!
 

 
Added the metal bands to the mast using black paper cut to 2mm width and glued down with slightly watered down PVA.
 

 
Just need to repeat for the main mast now.

Deep breath and onto the next daunting steps - the masts and rigging.
 
First step, I added in the Boomkins. Cut from dowel, and then I simply used sandpaper to sand down a taper into the Boomkins. Then added 1mm brass wire into the end and pinned into the bulwarks.
 

 
 
Next step was to make a start on the Fore Mast. This took a lot of time and patience. As per the plans, I cut 8mm dowel to length and then proceeded to plane the mast down to accept the cheeks and bibs. Also then shaped the top of the mast to fit the tressletrees and the mast cap.
 

 

 
Put the tressletree together and used it to test the shape of the mast tops. Gradually iterating until the tressletree was able to rest on top of the bibs.
 

 
I then put together the Mast top and gunwale and careful marked up and glued on the battens as per the plans. Once complete this was then glued to the tressletrees. Then added further detail with the rail at the rear of the platform, and single 3mm tackle blocks underneath for the bow spirit rigging.
 

 

 
All parts were painted as appropriate. I have gone for yellow ochre for the masts with black for the detailing and platforms. Did a quick check of the mast orientation. There was a distinct lean to the right from the front view. Quickly sanded down the bottom and added a shim to straighten it out. All good!
 

 
Added the metal bands to the mast using black paper cut to 2mm width and glued down with slightly watered down PVA.
 

 
Just need to repeat for the main mast now.

Really like the look of this log!
 
I shall be keeping regular tabs. Keep it up!

Progress so far.
 
Tackle assembled and added to one sides worth of carronades. Need to touch up the metalwork, and some of the rope coils still need to be added.
 
 

Still working away producing tackle and now also creating rope coils for the deck.
 
Created a little rig to produce four coils at a go using board pins, rigging thread and a bit of pva watered down.
 
Just got to keep grinding away until it's all done.

Still working away producing tackle and now also creating rope coils for the deck.
 
Created a little rig to produce four coils at a go using board pins, rigging thread and a bit of pva watered down.
 
Just got to keep grinding away until it's all done.

Link the pair of blocks to create the pulley system:
 
I now have a double block and eyepin, and a single block and hook.
 

 
Thread the length of rigging thread through one of the holes in the double block.
 

 
Thread back through the hole in the single block.
 

 
Thread through the remaining hole in the double block.
 

 
Tighten the thread to the correct length required.
 

 
The eyepin and hook can then be painted black. Finally, the eyepin is glued into a hole in the bulwark and the hook is hooked over a eyepin glued to the carronade base.
 
Repeat another 35 times......!

Hi Guys,
 
I would like to overlap my copper plates but I am hesitant to because I do not want to run short.
 
Mort

Carronades all installed! Deck really starting to look the part now.
 
I just need to touch up little areas. The mounting pins will need to be fixed properly to the sills and painted. The breaching ropes are going to be fixed to the deck and weighted down with a bit of watered down PVA glue.
 
After that I need to take on the tackle for the carronades. I had already rigged up the first two Carronades and had been asked about the process so I will follow up with some images of the stages I am following. Watch this space!

Carronades all installed! Deck really starting to look the part now.
 
I just need to touch up little areas. The mounting pins will need to be fixed properly to the sills and painted. The breaching ropes are going to be fixed to the deck and weighted down with a bit of watered down PVA glue.
 
After that I need to take on the tackle for the carronades. I had already rigged up the first two Carronades and had been asked about the process so I will follow up with some images of the stages I am following. Watch this space!

Doesn't life just seem to get in the way!
 
Been a while but found a little time to get back to the build. Hopefully be able to post a bit more regularly again.
 
Still working on the carronades but decided I wanted to improve the figurehead I had installed. I didn't like the way I had it before so instead removed it, and reworked the fitting. Comments welcomed!
 
First image is a before, and second two afters.....

Hello,
 
Quick update to add some images so far. The hull is pretty much finished! I have spent some time touching up paintwork and trying to make sure that all the required eyelets, cleats, holes etc have all been added.
 
I will now varnish the while lot. Still trying to decide whether to use my brush on Polyurethane varnish or use a couple of coats of a spray on varnish. Primarily I want to make sure that everything is as protected as it can be before adding all the masts and rigging.
 
Next step is to build and rig up the remaining carronades.
 
I have also shaped the first part of the bowspirit and also stained in walnut as described in the instructions. The colour is extremely dark and my first gut instinct was that it seemed a little too dark, but I may be just fussing over nothing.