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Strand

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About Strand

  • Birthday February 3

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    Vienna

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  1. The copper wasn't so bad after all. But that only applies to my expectations. Perhaps the result isn't as good as I think it is. In any case, I'm satisfied. I built a device where I could cut the foil and attach the rivets. And once again, I took the liberty of a model builder and only used the rivet rows very sporadically. In my opinion, and I'm really no expert here, the many rivets look too dominat on a scale of 1:76. In any case, I decided to take the next step and bought the HMS Flirt from Vanguard Models. I'm really looking forward to it; it's almost like Christmas for me. Hopefully, the steps I'm taking aren't too big, but I'll find out. That's called learning the hard way... Or as a political heavyweight once said: ‘Not because it's easy, but because it's hard.’ But I don't want to go to the moon; I want to be able to build the HMS Surprise when it goes on sale soon. That's my goal. But first, I'll finish the USS Constitution, as the next big challenge is coming up soon: the masting and rigging. Another completely new thing for me. With the guns and carronades, I was able to work with blocks and ropes for the first time and am constantly improving. I quite like the lad, but again, that's not an expert opinion, just my humble opinion.
  2. And all this just to put off my first big challenge, planking the hull. As I admitted at the beginning, I am a complete novice when it comes to wooden shipbuilding. I have been a model expert for decades, but not a shipbuilder. Here some of my works of the last years. And all this just to put off my first big challenge, planking the hull. As I admitted at the beginning, I am a complete novice when it comes to wooden shipbuilding. I have been a model expert for decades, but not a shipbuilder. Here are a few examples: After deciding to get into shipbuilding, I started with the cross section of the USS Constitution to get a feel for wood, gain some initial experience and attach the first, albeit super humble, planks to the hull. And as far as I can tell, it worked out quite well. My fear was unfounded. However, I have the most respect for copper plating, as I have no experience with it whatsoever and this copper foil seems very fragile. I hope it doesn't turn into a complete mess.
  3. The Spar deck is finished and I have started to equip it with the necessary equipment. Actually, I should have planked the hull first, but as everyone knows by now, I love my little 1:76 crew members and I couldn't resist installing two carronades and manning them. First of all, carronadas alone... Then with the corresponding staff: followed by the second carronade and its gunners...
  4. Put the lid on and all my carefully positioned employees have disappeared. It's a shame, really, but at least they still get a little daylight from the side. I first completed the installation of the hull of the spar deck and did not follow the instructions exactly. I find it easier to build this way. So first the sidewalls, the gun port bracings and gunport frames, the waterway and then the deck planking.
  5. I am now in the process of finishing the gun deck. All guns are in place, all lines attached to the guns. I am still a little unhappy with the strength of the ropes. The breechline is okay, but the gun tackle is a little too thick for my liking. It is 0.5 mm, but I think 0.35 mm would be better. I lack the historical knowledge to determine the correct size. I am currently in the process of building up a small library on the age of large sailing ships, and I am sure that the correct information is in there, but I first have to work my way through the books to find the information I need. I would be very grateful for any information about specialist literature that one should have.
  6. The journey continues... (sometimes you have to work at your real job). Before I move on to the next steps, here are a few more impressions of my personnel. I really like the figures, they are so perfect, and that in 1/76 scale. You can even see the muscles of the gun crew. And another figure I like: the Navy Marines drummer. He will become part of the deck line-up on my USS Constitution.
  7. Thanks for the list, the HMS Flirt is closest to what I want. I wrote that I want to build a smaller boat, but not because of the size, but because of the length of time it takes to build. I'm waiting for the HMS Surprise. At the moment, Vanguard Models kits are the only option for me because of their outstanding quality. In any case, I've already taken the plunge and ordered the Flirt. It's just a shame that the Shipwright version is no longer available. The only thing I'm not entirely happy with is the ropes and blocks, so I want to upgrade to ‘Dry Dock’ blocks and ropes from ‘Scale of Rope’. I now have to research the number and size on the internet. The same goes for the ropes. And I want to attach the planks myself, I love this work and I don't really like the laser-engraved decks. I assume that this will lead to problems with the construction height. Does anyone have any experience with this? Or I could ask #ChrisWatton, he would probably tell me...
  8. Thank you Chris for your quick and really helpful reply. I knew you read the forum and hoped to get a competent answer directly from the person who should knows best.
  9. My question: Do all Vanguard models (except the Indefatigable, of course) have simplified rigging, or are there other Vanguard boats that do not have simplified rigging? My problem is that I want to build a smaller boat (approx. 2 masts), but I don't want to compromise on the rigging. The Indefatigable is too big for me, as I would have problems with it during construction and later with the finished model. I understand why this simplification was made and I think it's perfectly fine, but I don't want it for the Vanguard boat I want to build next.
  10. Hi Frank, glad you like what I'm building. To answer your question about whether these figures are also available in a smaller scale: Yes, coincidentally in 1:98 (see attached image). Not sure if it's okay to refer to a product that is not a sponsor on this site. Hope I'm not breaking any forum rules.
  11. And now for a little surprise: Since I come from model building with a focus on dioramas, it was clear to me that I didn't just want to build all the historically documented fixtures, but also wanted to populate my cross section with the appropriate personnel. I found some great resin figures for the HMS Victory, which I am now converting to the US Navy. There are 61 figures in 1:75 scale (okay, my cross section is 1:76, but let's ignore this minor deviation). The first four figures have already been brought to life. I found some great colouring templates for the historical uniforms on the internet And this is what it looks like through the gun ports. Please don't forget that the scale is 1:76 and the figures are approx. 20 mm tall (or rather small). Painting can only be done with a good pairs of magnifying glasses and a steady hand.
  12. But now it's time for the gun deck. First, the support structure for the spar deck, consisting of standard knees and diagonal knees. Then it was time to install the pump units. Since they were made of soft Britannium, they were quite bent and poorly cast and needed careful reworking. Then I installed my first gun, which I had already built in advance because I was so interested in working with the ropes and tackle blocks. Incidentally, I really like the look and colour of my deck made of smoked oak. I recently read a page-long discussion in a model shipbuilding forum about the width and thickness of deck beams. It was about the contradiction between historical dimensions and their implementation in models, which sometimes deviates to give the model ship a more pleasing appearance. All I can say is that my deck planks have the historically researched dimensions. And I don't like the over-the-top representation of deck fixings on many model ships, with nails and dowels that are not to scale. I decided to be more restrained and only hinted at the caulking. I like it, and it's still up to the model builder to choose.
  13. I'm coming back to the wooden cabin on the bert deck. I took another look at my built-in construction and was dissatisfied with the quality of my work. It wasn't nicely done and was too small, as the water pump pipes also had to go through this cabin. I decided to rebuild the cabin. So no gun deck after all, but a small change to the berth deck instead.
  14. Today, the berth deck was finally completed. The only mystery to me is this cabin in wood colour on the berth deck. i built it because it appears in all photos, including those of the current USS Constitution in Boston harbour. Tomorrow, I will start with the gun deck. Many exciting things await me there. Especially the guns. I have already practiced and completed a sample gun.
  15. After I had built a nice cabin with a hammock for the sailing master, the boatswain, the carpenter and the purser also wanted their own cabins on the berth deck. So I had to build a few more cabins. And here from the other side with the cabin wall cut away:
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