Sjors

I think I have about 206 posts to go before that happens.........the like button makes it harder for me.   I'm glad your saving a seat for me though.........I'll get there soon enough     Sjors is ready to put me in a rocking chair.......I don't think so.........buddy,  I'm about to double the amount of empty bottles lying about.......I'll drink you under the table! 
 
thanks Sherry.........I enjoyed the banter..........yea, I'm to the point where I need readers too {only 1.25}      but.......I do have a pair of 2.0 glasses that I wear sometimes when working on my builds.   thanks for looking in and the good word 

I'm smiling but I'd swear there are tears on my keyboard.  You folks are the greatest.

Thanks Sherry for reminding me....        Caught by my own advice...    

Augie,
 
Thank you very much !!!!!!!!
It's a beauty.
Be proud of your work and look at it with a lot of pleasure !
Thanks for the learning things that you are showing us.
Don't trow the spiders away, you need them also on the Confed.
I shall not put in any smileys, I save that for the next build log…...
The Confed is also a beautiful vessel and I know that you will do her justice !
The first front seat is mine please!
Enjoy your fishing trip and the trip overseas.
Thanks again for this wonderful build log !!
 

Because Grant don't like my singing and I'm tired of waiting for Augie because sunday is almost over, I placed myself a few pictures…..
 
I've done the safety railing and something else.
What that something else is, you name it         
 

Because Grant don't like my singing and I'm tired of waiting for Augie because sunday is almost over, I placed myself a few pictures…..
 
I've done the safety railing and something else.
What that something else is, you name it         
 

Because Grant don't like my singing and I'm tired of waiting for Augie because sunday is almost over, I placed myself a few pictures…..
 
I've done the safety railing and something else.
What that something else is, you name it         
 

Because Grant don't like my singing and I'm tired of waiting for Augie because sunday is almost over, I placed myself a few pictures…..
 
I've done the safety railing and something else.
What that something else is, you name it         
 

Well, after 1443 hours over 608 consecutive days,  she's done !!!!!!!!  Here are the photos, some of which will appear in the Completed Ship Gallery later today:
 
Please note -  as the original photos were lost in the disc corruption issue in March, 2014, I've posted these replacements (the only ones I still have available:
 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
Now, as we used to say at back work, the job's not done until the paperwork is complete.  So here are a few comments I'd like to make regarding this voyage.
 
I'd like to thank Chuck Passaro once again for designing this kit and following through to have it kitted by Model Expo (who did a fine job as well).  Chuck's plans and instructions truly set the standard for future kits.  They made it possible for a relative novice like myself to actually complete his first POB fully-rigged ship.
 
But beyond even that, I wish to thank all here on MSW (1.0 and 2.0) for their interest, participation, critique, patience and advice during the journey.  There is no way to mention everyone here.  But trust me, there were several times I was caught in a fog bank listening to waves crashing against unseen rocks...and you folks got me through it.  And for that I shall be ever grateful.
 
Yes, I let the log go astray at times with the inclusion of cotton fields, frogs, spiders, fish, airplane and even moose.  But I think we had some fun along the way.  MSW became an almost daily ritual and, as much as I enjoy watching everyone's projects, successes and failures, what I really enjoyed was the friendship, camaraderie and downright concern for one another.
 
My skills improved along the way --- and I've learned an awful lot I was completely unaware of.  I am proud of what you've helped me achieve and now at least know what I can do better.  Many of you know I'm primarily an R/C aircraft builder and pilot.  What you don't know is that this was to be my and last ship model.  But things have changed.
 
I'll be building Syren's case over the next few weeks, have a week long annual fishing trip just around the corner and will be spending most of September overseas.  So the shop will be quiet for a bit, the sense of accomplishment almost overshadowed by the sadness that the build is over.  But I still have my friends here.  And I'll be watching.  Always cheering you toward victory ---- and sometimes giving you the business    .
 
And the shipyard shall once again find itself beneath a cloud of sawdust when the next project begins in the fall.  And that project will be -----
 
CONFEDERACY !
 
Until then, everyone be well and..........    STAY THE COURSE !!
 
 

Who starts the firework !!!!!!!!!
I don't see any pictures yet !!!!!!!!
Is that above Colorado close to cave 16  ?????
 

It is sunday !!!!!!!
Where is that photo shoot……I'm waiting…….
 
I think I'm gonna be singing till it is time that I see all those wonderful pictures of a wonderful build.
Come on !
 

Who starts the firework !!!!!!!!!
I don't see any pictures yet !!!!!!!!
Is that above Colorado close to cave 16  ?????
 

Satellite Dish!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can't see a Satellite Dish anywhere   
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.
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.
.
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Oh Yessss!!
And oars                 
 
Keep it up   
Mick

Who starts the firework !!!!!!!!!
I don't see any pictures yet !!!!!!!!
Is that above Colorado close to cave 16  ?????
 

Anja calling Augie .............. Where are you?
 
 

Oh, you'd get a call if she would listen to me... but...
I can see it now... 'dear, Sjors sad I am free of doing the dishes until next summer'
 
once she stopped laughing she would then inform me I picked up floor scrubbing duty as well :D after of course... doing the dishes

Sorry Sjors I was just firing a couple test shots.  

Because Grant don't like my singing and I'm tired of waiting for Augie because sunday is almost over, I placed myself a few pictures…..
 
I've done the safety railing and something else.
What that something else is, you name it         
 

yup Sjors I know that and appreciate it

Hi all,
 
Well, I said I was going to get on with the Running Rigging but a couple of things happened along the way.  Firstly, I decided I'd like to use some of Chuck's excellent rigging line, so I've ordered a bunch of that and it's on the way.  Secondly, rather than buying Chuck's superb looking blocks, I decided I'd really like to have a go at making my own "Chucky Blocks" by following the method described in Chuck's outstanding post on this subject.  The following describes my journey to date in "learning how to fish" (and I'm not talking trout or moose here!).
 
First of all, I must say what an excellent description Chuck gives in his post.  I think that anyone with a Mill should have no problem at all in following suit.  I did however make a couple of minor mods along the way.
 
Chuck describes (and shows) making some feather boards for the Brynes Saw to assist in cutting both the Sheave groove and the Stropping groove.  These are really easy to make and work like a charm. The best part is, by using these it's virtually impossible to get your fingers anywhere near the saw blade!    You need two feather boards for each size block you're making, one each for the Sheave and Stropping groove.  Here's a pair for the 5/32" (4mm) blocks:
 

 
In making the "box" jig for the mill, I made a couple of minor mods.  First up, I decided to attach the base to the mill by using the standard Sherline hex cap head bolts, which meant making a counter sunk hole in the box base plate.  The advantage of this approach is that the base then becomes flush, with no bolts to get in the way of the drawer (or anything else). Here's a pic showing the box unit attached to the mill using the countersunk hex cap head bolts:
 

 
The next mod I decided to try was the top of the box jig.  Chuck advises that you need a separate jig for each size block you are making.  I thought that if I made the top removable, I could make a set of interchangeable tops and save myself a bit of extra time and effort making up more boxes.  The lids are held in place by locating pins (cut off nails). Here's the box with the lid separate:
 

 
Because I'd be placing and removing the lids fairly frequently, I thought I'd protect the locating holes from wear by inserting a small brass bush in each locating hole.  This was simply made by cutting off a piece of brass tube and inserting it in the hole with some epoxy glue.  The result is a snug fit that doesn't get looser over time. Here's a close-up of the arrangement:
 

 
The next mod was fairly simple.  I just replaced the nuts on the adjustable fence with wing nuts to make them easier to operate.  In this picture, you can see a set of strips with grooves cut placed in the jig ready for the milling process.
 

 
And here is the result of two passes of the mill, using the special round-over cutting bit (as recommended by Chuck):
 

 
I tested the set-up by making some small batches of both 1/4" (6.35mm) and 5/32" (4mm) blocks.  I am waiting on some boxwood stock from Jeff at Hobbymill, but for test purposes I used what I had at hand in the appropriate thickness - some crappy walnut for the 1/4" and some basswood for the 5/32".  I did the larger blocks first and discovered I had made both sheave and stropping grooves too deep.  I adjusted a little with the smaller blocks, but there is still room for improvement.  I don't have a small drill press like Chuck's (yet   ) but had no real difficulty drilling the holes with the Dremel in its drill stand.  I finished off the blocks by giving them a quick tumble in my previously built tumbler.  They could do with some more finishing, but as these were for "proof of concept" only, they will do.  Here's a selection from my test run:
 

 
Observations:
 
1. It works!     
 
2. The feather boards are a must - they are just brilliant.
 
3. All of my mods seem to work just fine.
 
4. The key to successful blocks (in my opinion) is getting the groove depths right.  Unfortunately, there is no magic way to get this right.    Trial and error and calibrating your eyeball is about the only way.
 
Thanks again to Chuck for "teaching me to fish". 
 

Well Done! Oh by the way today is the tomorrow you mentioned yesterday!
 
Pictures pictures pictures!

Aye, mate....message received.  I've ordered the (flag)ship's cook to lay in a double ration of spinach for the occasion  

Sjors   
You can't run away when you do the shrouds and the ratlines and any other piece of knitting or crochet the build needs   
I will need someone solid behind me when I do mine   
Be Rock Steady Ready   
 
Keep it up   
Mick

Running away is not permitted until a) the ratlines are done, and we see pictures!!!!!  The rigging spiders need guidance and if you run away, no one  can predict what they'll do.

Little boat is finished.
It's not the quality that Grant is showing, but I'm happy with it !
I have to make some oars but that's for later because I have to buy a few dowels.
And of course pictures!