Strand
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Everything posted by Strand
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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.
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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.
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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...
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Vanguard models without simplified rigging
Strand replied to Strand's topic in Masting, rigging and sails
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... -
Vanguard models without simplified rigging
Strand replied to Strand's topic in Masting, rigging and sails
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. -
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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A table, an armchair, and the hammock are still missing: There won't be room for a table, an armchair shouldn't be a problem, but the hammock is the biggest challenge. I have a photo of one of the berths with a slightly better version of the hammock that I want to replicate. And next to it you can see my version. Can we leave it like this? No, we can't. The poor sailing master is sitting in his gloomy cabin. We kindly donate him a candle. Good night...
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Today, the warrant officers and their berths were the focus of my work. A table, an armchair, and the hammock are still missing. The hammock will be my biggest problem. I built all the parts from scratch, which was quite a challenge at the junction with the knees and the hull. Three berths on the starboard side have been completed, and the backboard side will be done tomorrow. Since this part of the USS Constitution is no longer preserved, I got the template from HMS Victory. When you enlarge it like that, it doesn't look so good anymore. In the foreground, I would like to show a few hammocks (once I know how to make them) and place sailors in them. And this is what my warrant officers' berth looks like inside. And as previously stated: a table, an armchair, and the hammock are still missing.
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So, now we're up to date, and from now on, posting will be a little slower, I assume. I'll also show more intermediate steps. Finally, I would like to introduce you to one of my three most important employees, who is currently studying the plans for the Uss Constitution. There are two more employees like him, but they were busy with other things, such as confusing ropes, and are therefore not pictured in the group photo of employees.
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Now I finally wanted to do something with ropes and blocks and started building a long gun, even though that would have been the next step after installing the berth deck. I wanted to try out to serve a block and all the new challenges at least once, so I quickly decided to rig a long gun. I made a replica of part of the gun deck so that I could rig my cannon in peace and try everything out before finally attaching it to the deck of the Constitution. This is my first attempt at using ropes, and I ask the kind readers of my log to bear with me. I promise I'll get better. And above all, faster. That one cannon cost me a day's work. I don't even want to imagine what that would mean for a ship like the “Nuestra Señora de la Santíssima Trinidad” with its 140 cannons. Probably half a year's work like a master watchmaker.
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I started as one always does. With the deck and its planks. Now a little more experienced, it was easier for me. And I really enjoy the color and texture of the wood I'm using, smoked oak. I moved on to the next challenge: neatly finishing the support structure of the base deck with its standard knees, diagonal knees, and hanging knees. All these support elements are part of the berth deck. I adjusted and secured the various knees with the side walls outside the ship. This was easier, but transporting them back into the ship was all the more tricky. I came close to breaking one or more of the wall structures several times, but in the end it was installed and fit really well. And I also came up with a little something extra: the sailors' duffel bags, stowed away on the wall of the berth deck, where they were always kept (at least that's what I read). Where the white lines between the knees are visible on the deck, the walls of the non-commissioned officers' sleeping berths will be added.
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The next step will be the berth deck. I will once again go my own way and design the deck according to old plans. I will use a plan for the restoration of the ship from the USS Constitution Museum in Boston as a template. They have wonderful plans on the museum's website under “Modeler Resources.” A treasure trove for model builders. And here again as an image detail. I would also like to show some hammocks to document the humble life of the sailors. I assume that these will pose quite a challenge for me in 1:76 scale. Perhaps one of the readers of this building log has already done something like this or has an idea how it could be done...
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Thank you for your kind words. Yes, it is a courageous, if not reckless, step to venture into the lion's den as a complete beginner. But nothing ventured, nothing gained. At least in terms of insight, if not recognition.
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Once again, the barrels, because they are so beautiful... And then it was time to start on the Orlop deck. I looked at various fittings from different periods and finally decided on the 1849 version with the slope room, which was a space dedicated to storing and distributing clothing and personal items, often referred to as "slope" to the crew. These rooms were usually managed by the ship's purser and functioned as a kind of on-board store for the crew's necessities. Then we had the dispensary, a place where something was dispensed, especially medicines, so it was a kind of drugstore. And last but not least the captain's storage space. The room with the pump suction pipes and the mast was regarding to this plan surrounded by a structure, with another large storage, the cable tier. In this picture, the cables have just been treated with wood glue and have not yet been painted, which I have since done.
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As you may have noticed, I post faster than you can actually build a ship. The reason is simple: I thought long and hard about whether I should post at all, since there are already quite a few Constitution cross sections out there. But then I figured that everyone builds them a little differently, and that can be interesting. All that thinking took time, and by the time I made the decision to post here, I was already building the berth deck. That means there will now be a few posts in quick sequence about the construction progress I've already made, and from the berth deck onwards, we'll be live. Next came the ballast in the keel. I struggled for a long time over whether to use iron ballast, as I didn't really like the look of the stones. But after finding no evidence that the Constitution did not use stones as ballast, I had no choice but to use them. And then came the first exciting step for me as a greenhorn. Laying the deck planks between the hold and the lower deck. I had several types of wood sent to me and then decided on smoked oak. This came closest to my ideas of color and structure, as I wanted to leave the wood natural. I added a few more barrels (I also improved the quality a little here) and this part of the ship was finished.
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And then I just started building it. Probably unprofessionally, since I have no training in ship model building whatsoever. But my many other models have given me a certain skill. First, the standard procedure: the frame. I assume that this and the individual deck structures are all I will be using from the wood material. I will either build the rest myself or upgrade it. And here is the first ship part I designed myself. Shoot Locker. I looked at plans and existing ships such as HMS Victory to get an idea. And then I added some model-building freedom. Once installed, it looks like this: Now I notice in the photo how large the rivets on the diagonal bracing look. On the model itself, they don't look so dominant. This is a pic how it's really is looking:
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