mobbsie

Hello all,
 
A few months ago I got the urge to try something I have been thinking about of doing for a long time.  I have always been very intrigued with dioramas.  It adds to the realism of our models but making a diorama with large models is not an option for me, space wise.  
So, what size should my diorama be and how to protect the diorama from dust and possible mishaps while on display.  What subject should I choose?  
In my frequent visits to the Dutch website "Maritiem Digitaal" I found a few paintings of ships in a shipyard.  Being also an artist I love to accumulate copies of art, just to look at.  So, the idea is basically making a diorama of a small shipyard like they used to have in the cities around the former Zuider Zee, now Ijsel Meer.  In one of my many books about the Netherlands I came across a photo of just one of those real small shipyards.  Ah, Pieter thought, that would look great.
 
Well, as time went by and I felt a strong urge to start with this project the subject was changed from a Dutch fishing boat to an American build topsail schooner.  Oh, the Dutch fishing boat is still in the back of my mind but I'll reserve that for later and hope to actually make a diorama in a bottle.
 
After I saw JesseLee's ship in a Christmas ornament globe I thought that would really be a challenge making something that small as a diorama.  But alas, that idea was promptly rejected because of the difficulties involved, i.e. improbabilities.
 
Then I read about small dioramas under a wine glass.  So, did a Google search and they looked very nice with real probabilities.  Problem was that Gwen would not part with one pf her crystal glassware, her wedding gift.  A good thing though because in retrospect the stem would be too distracting.
A further search for ideas got me to those "snow globes."  Eureka! Pieter shouted.  That would work and also look nice.
 
These snow globes are rather small and can be held in the palm of your hand, just what I had in mind.  Okay, what do I use for a globe?  Christmas tree ornaments are too delicate for this purpose.  So my dear wive Gwen why not use a lamp?  I rejected that idea already at the beginning because I did not see any way doing all this through that small opening after you remove the filament.  But then the light went on - - - I'll just cut the lamp to fit on my diorama.
 
I now had the subject, the diorama globe and the material to use (wood).  Next was to determine how big that schooner should be to fit nicely inside a 75 Watt lamp that's cut down to have a 5 inch opening.  The schooner is supposed to be 90 to 95 feet long or 27,432 mm or 28, 956 mm.  My diorama can only have a model of about 14 to 15 mm length on deck.  Well, that works out to a scale of 1:2000.
 
This is the reason for me wanting to try it first to see if I can actually make a 90 foot two masted ship at 14 or 15 mm.  The masts and spars should close to scale rather than clunky.  The rest would follow easier, me thought   
 
Okay then, here are a few pics of everything that preceded the actual build process. 
 

Old ship's warf of Dirk Pauw at Durgerfam
 

Original idea for shipyard diorama
 

Bird's eye view of original idea
 

Cordial glass that came closest to the size I wanted, 5 inches
 

 

 

A 75 watt lamp that will eventually be cut to the 5 inch diameter point.
 
Cheers,
 
 
 

Greg,
 
You got it mate.  It's actually a railing attached to a solid roof and not a free-standing railing.  Although, I admit I'm guessing as the reference materials are a bit vague on this and even contradictory.  

Hi Gents,
Here we are again with a long overdue update, I know work on the boat has slowed for reasons I will give later but this is bordering stupid. I can only say I'm being bone idol.
 
Right, thanks to all for your comments and for hitting the like button, I do appreciate you looking in.
 
I apologize for the jumpy nature of the photos but this is mainly due to a lot of the jobs on the boat being small and don't appear to be note worthy, before you know it a lot has been achieved and not a lot recorded.
 
The deck is made from Swiss Pine and really is just a framework for the Gratings and Boards. The deck boards are of 8m x 2m Red Heart, I made a guide frame so that I could sand the outer edges of the boards down to 1mm, these then sat  flush inside the frame.
The Gratings are from the kit and not the best, they came up short and so a mish mash was fitted together, not great but acceptable.

 
The lower deck with completed boards and gratings, the anti slip bars are 2m x 2m Holly

 
The forward Bulkhead has now been planked but is still work in progress, the planks are 5m x 1m Walnut.

 
The second deck has been given the same treatment as the main deck and is dry fitted in position, the top deck has been planked using 5m x 1m Walnut planks.

 
The stern weather boards have been fitted and are made from 8m x 2m planks, these have been fixed to the 7m x 1m Walnut of the first planking. I have also started to fit the aft ribs which are 2m x 2m Lime strips, soaked then shaped.

 
All the decks have now been fixed, bulkheads planked and all ribs are in place. The Transom hatch has been made from a  Lime frame and Walnut boards. the aft stringers are seen ready to be fitted.

 
Here the aft stringers are being glued in.

 
The Port side stringers are completed and have been pinned using cut down flat head pins.

 
I do have more progress to report and show but that will be for another post, I promise it wont be as long this next time.
 
Hope you enjoy them guys.
 
Be Good
 
mobbsie
 
 
 
 

Super stuff Bob, your doing her proud
 
Be Good
 
mobbsie

Thanks so much Albert, Mobbsie, Joe and Jason for the nice comments and thanks also to the "likes".
 
Bob

Carvings are coming along lovely Mark.
 
3D, what the hell next mate, cant wait to see what's coming up.
 
My very best regards to Janet and her up and coming surgeries, I wish her a speedy recovery and you the strength to look after her.
 
God Bless
 
mobbsie

Carvings are coming along lovely Mark.
 
3D, what the hell next mate, cant wait to see what's coming up.
 
My very best regards to Janet and her up and coming surgeries, I wish her a speedy recovery and you the strength to look after her.
 
God Bless
 
mobbsie

Carvings are coming along lovely Mark.
 
3D, what the hell next mate, cant wait to see what's coming up.
 
My very best regards to Janet and her up and coming surgeries, I wish her a speedy recovery and you the strength to look after her.
 
God Bless
 
mobbsie

Super stuff Bob, your doing her proud
 
Be Good
 
mobbsie

Carvings are coming along lovely Mark.
 
3D, what the hell next mate, cant wait to see what's coming up.
 
My very best regards to Janet and her up and coming surgeries, I wish her a speedy recovery and you the strength to look after her.
 
God Bless
 
mobbsie

Hi Sam,
 
Those masts are coming on a treat mate, they'll look really good when you finish them.
 
There isn't a modeller alive who hasn't run out of materials of some sort and had to change tack halfway through a job, I can also relate to the laziness thing, it's a major fault of mine.
 
Ahh well, life's for living and we don't want to be a slave to out builds do we, i vowed to catch afew rays this year and I'm not doing to bad so far.
 
Take your time mate, life's too short to be rushing about.
 
Be Good
 
mobbsie

Carvings are coming along lovely Mark.
 
3D, what the hell next mate, cant wait to see what's coming up.
 
My very best regards to Janet and her up and coming surgeries, I wish her a speedy recovery and you the strength to look after her.
 
God Bless
 
mobbsie

Carvings are coming along lovely Mark.
 
3D, what the hell next mate, cant wait to see what's coming up.
 
My very best regards to Janet and her up and coming surgeries, I wish her a speedy recovery and you the strength to look after her.
 
God Bless
 
mobbsie

Super stuff Bob, your doing her proud
 
Be Good
 
mobbsie

Carvings are coming along lovely Mark.
 
3D, what the hell next mate, cant wait to see what's coming up.
 
My very best regards to Janet and her up and coming surgeries, I wish her a speedy recovery and you the strength to look after her.
 
God Bless
 
mobbsie

After some time up north with family, it was back to work on Granado. I've done a few things: I added the stern post, cut from holly sheet; I planked the counter; and lastly, I planked the second layer of the wales. The counter and wales were done with boxwood strip. In doing the counter, I omitted using the kit base piece, as it seemed more trouble than useful, and used thicker planking material.
 
After the planking was done, I painted both the wales and counter black. While I carefully taped the top of the wales prior to painting (using Tamiya tape) I left the bottom untaped, since any paint will be covered by the lower holly planking to come. This accounts for the sloppy appearance and excess width of the wales in the attached photos.
 
I'm still deciding today whether to next do the lower planking or do some interior work.
 
Bob

Thanks all who took the time to read and hit the like button it is appreciated.
 
Mark, Thank you. Murphy and I have become real "pals" on this build, other than the do and redo from not really knowing what I was doing it was very enjoyable.
You cant beat a good camping trip, even when the wind comes up and tears your brand new easy up out of the ground, lashings and all then wraps a car like it was a mummy!!
 
Mobsie, thanks for the good words. I think as we get older I think we are entitled to a bit of laziness. I am starting to look forward to the big "R" and being lazy as much as I want. Knowing my better half though, I wont be allowed much laziness, that woman could find a way to do errands on the way to her funeral! :P

Hey All!!
Well tomorrow is the weekend and to avoid another "Assault with a Comfy Pillow" I think I better post an update!! :D
 
A couple of weeks ago was Memorial Day here in the States so instead of building I went camping with some old friends, many are former military. A great time was had by all but the drawback is no building. Several of the older generation who started the desert camping tradition long before I was first invited have passed on, a small memorial has been put up on the hill overlooking our camp area. One of them, Doc, was a prankster. Several years ago when he passed on we scattered his ashes up there. As his son was opening the bag up, the wind changed direction, gusted and we all got a mouthful of Doc! Only he could have pulled that one off!

 

 
 
As I mentioned a few days (weeks?) ago I decided to make built up masts. As is my norm I climbed to the highest board, took a running start and leaped right into the deepest water, only to realize halfway down I left my floaties behind.....
 
Carving the main portion of the mast was relatively easy and straight forward, taper to a four square, use a 7-10-7 template and carve to an 8 square. I spent a considerable amount of time making the transition from round to square at the top, only to realize it was all getting shaved off for the Hounds!! I cant seem to find any reference as to how thick the cheek should be in relation to the masts so after poking around several builds I did what any team of  engineer/rocket scientist would do and made a guess. After several attempts they came out OK although the Hounds could have been a bit thicker. I may have to add a light 32nd inch to them.
 
As I was planing the tapers I was marveling at how th shavings were coming off in such nice consistent curlicues and suddenly realized that might be a way to do the wooden bands on the woldings. I planed some Boxwood down to 1.5 scale inches thick and then set a low angle plane to give me a shaving about .020" wet the strip and planed away. Nice curly strips.
 
After marking out the spacing, numerous times - I just couldnt seem to get 6 evenly spaced bands on the Main and 5 on the Fore - I glued on the lower bands. Even after wetting the strips to plane them there is some blowout on the strips, a bit of shelac hardened everything up and they sanded out ok, they wander a bit and dont pass the macro test but I think they look ok from a normal viewing distance.
 
Last night I started wrapping the rope portion of the banding with the goal of finishing all of that as well as the upper wood bands in time for an update tomorrow afternoon.  I got two done and the spool I was working with ran out. Go to my Box-O-Goodies to get more and, well, remember the floaties? Wherever they are are where the rest of my .012" brown rope from Chuck is. I could swear I ordered some from him sometime back, my reciepts are in a file cabinet locked in the garage and I am too lazy to go look. Just for the record I am NOT implying Chuck shorted me, most likely I meant to order some and never did. So now, I have tomorrow until 5 or 6pm when the better half gets home and no rope to work with! :angry:GRRRRR!! Looks like I will be making trestle trees tomorrow. Not the end of the world but I was really looking forward to having the woldings done. I have p[laced an order for more rope, Chuck is very responsive with orders but I cant imagine an order placed on Friday at 6pm West Coast time, 9pm Chucks time I think, will get here before Tuesday at the very earliest. Oh well, Murphy is cementing his relationship with me.
Pictures below.
ONWARD!!!!

 

 

 

 
 
 
Sam

It's taken longer than I thought to get to this point.  I had a minor issue with wood that had defects unseen from the surface, but that goes with the territory and then also quite a bit going on in "life".   There will be another pause coming up for Janet's surgeries, but for the most part, that will just entail my keeping an eye on things during the recovery process.
 
The first drop is essentially finished except for some minor touch up (and the carvings...).  I've finessed it to fit the hull and the molding and it just needs a bit of touch up on the sweeping curve from top to bottom before gluing into place.  The other side is finessed into place and just needs the final shaping to get the curve and then any touch up work.
 
Once these are done, I'll post both sides and a stern shot. I'll need stern shot anyway for my records and to check for uniformity.
 
I won't be applying any finish for now until the wood has a chance to age and regain some of it's patina.  
 
Here's the photos...
 

 

This part that I'm working on now is probably one of the most relaxing parts I've done.  I think I've chilled out on things.  
 
The drops... they not only have their shape when viewed from the side, but also have to sit flush to the hull and also have to be rounded to match the gallery.  Then there's the outside shape from top to bottom which I can only describe as a rounded bevel.  Thick at the top, thin at the bottom.
 
Here's some pics of the work in progress.  I'm making both at the same time to shoot for uniformity  I started with blanks cut to the shape when viewed from the side. I then set up the scroll saw with sanding blades instead of cutting blades and did the fit to the hull.   I'm currently doing the shape from side to side to match the gallery.
 
Here's pictures of the process (not complete as I forgot to fire up the camera in between tossing some in the scrap box and starting over.  
 
First.. rear view to show the fit to the hull.

 
Side view to show the shape and fit to the gallery.

 
Lastly, the rounding to match the gallery.   Being cheap frugal, I have some 120 grit Olsen Sanding Blades that I've turned around and stuck a strip of 100 grit stickyback to.  Works like a charm.

 
More when I get the final shape done and after finessing the final fit.

Hi Sam,
 
Those masts are coming on a treat mate, they'll look really good when you finish them.
 
There isn't a modeller alive who hasn't run out of materials of some sort and had to change tack halfway through a job, I can also relate to the laziness thing, it's a major fault of mine.
 
Ahh well, life's for living and we don't want to be a slave to out builds do we, i vowed to catch afew rays this year and I'm not doing to bad so far.
 
Take your time mate, life's too short to be rushing about.
 
Be Good
 
mobbsie

Hi Gents,
 
Thanks guys for the very nice comments and the likes.
 
I hope your sittin down coz I have another up-date. Wonders will never cease I hear you say.
 
A good bit of progress since my last post.
 
The rudder is made out of lasered plywood and no amount of staining was going to change it's look, so, I decided to cover it with veneer, this then meant that the keel would also need doing as well. 
 
I found some veneer the right colour and completed that job without too hassle, surprising what a difference it makes, much better to the eye.
 
The Rubbing strips made from 2x3mm Lime were fitted and also the Slipways, these are made from 3.5x5mm Lime. The Slipways were also pinned using cut down flat head pins blackened with Antiquing Fluid.
 
The Transom was sanded down and shaped, still to need to sand the top to fit the Cap Rail.
 
The first coat of Poly was taken back and a second coat applied, the Poly is supposed to be a satin finish but when this coat had dried it looks more like a gloss, but hay ho, it's staying.
 
The entire inside hull has been sanded done to acceptable smoothness apart from the bulkheads, these will be done later prior to planking.
 
The middle and top deck should be covered with Lime planking but I changed this for Walnut, the top deck was a simple case of straight planks and presented no problem, the second deck is framed with Walnut, this deck has two sets of boards inside and so a bit extra work is required. A template was made from card and the frame marked up, the outer edges of the deck was laid with Walnut leaving a 2mm lip around the inner edges, this deck will have Redheart Boards. Both these decks needed a good bit of sanding.
 
The Main Deck is the same as the second deck, it's just a bit larger. I used Pear to line the outer edges and the internal division's with a square of Holly in the centre where the mast housing will be fitted. The internal divisions are still work in progress as are the boards and gratings.
 
So I now have some pics, hope you enjoy them.
 
The start of the veneering
 

 

 

 

 
There's a rudder in there somewhere, hopefully someone will be able to tell me what wood this is. I've forgotten. The grain is very much reduced once sanded and polyied
 

 
The almost completed outer hull
 

 

 

 

 

 
The Top and 2nd deck to be fixed and sanded in Walnut
 

 
The Main deck, still work in progress using Pear.
 

 

 
That's it Guys, not quite so long between posts and hopefully I'll post some more sooner.
 
All comments and remarks are welcomed.
 
Be Good
 
mobbsie
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Hi Gents,
 
Lawrence, glad you pulled up a chair mate, good to have you along.
 
Been a while since my last post and I feel really bad about it, apart from a bit of life getting in the way my only excuse is lethargy, or being just bone idol.
 
The main task of planking has taken most of the time with a slight diversion to make a few of the interior objects, Oars, Buckets, Gun Swabs - Reamers - Rammers and so-on.
 
The 3rd planking is now complete although this is still work in progress, I have to do a little filling between the planks but I'm quite pleased with the job so far.
 
I started by marking the hull off and then fitting the waterline, I used Holly for the waterline, its some left over from the Granado. I cut two 3 x 1.6mm lengths for the main line and two 1.6 x 1.0mm for the second line with a 3 x 1.0mm Pear strip between, this meant that the waterline stood proud by 0.6mm, this would come off during sanding so no worries.
 
I then started planking from the top down to the waterline, this was not a problem and none of the planks needed any special treatment. First mistake, when I put the waterline in I put all my markings for the planks out of kilter and so all the tick marks had to be redone, that's the reason for all the correction fluid. When I finally reached the waterline it was time to take a break from planking.
 

 

 

 

 

 
I started making some of the interior equipment shown here.
 

 

 
Planking continued after and this was soooo different, each and every plank required Spilling, I couldn't believe that bent planks would fit a straight line but they do. I found the planks I'd got were no good and so all the planks had to be cut from sheet material
 
Not all went well as you would expect and a few planks were ripped off and replaced and the hull was slowly taking shape amid a tirade of ungentle-manly language.
My next big challenge was Drop Planks, I needed to put in a couple of drop planks on each side and so a whole lot of reading took place with not a lot of answers.
Best way was to just get on with it, so with planks bent, cut and tapered on they went, not what I would call text book but certainly my version and the result wasn't too bad.
 

 

 

 
Towards the end of planking a little jiggery pokery was required and in many respects it was a case of taking the bull by the horns and going for it anyway its done with just the clean up left, and the Transom.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Next job for me is complete the Transom, fill between the hull planking, fit the stern boards which are Redheart and final sanding and coating with poly.
 
So that's me gents and your right up to date now, again sorry for the long gap between posts, I'll try and keep the long gap a bit shorter next time.
 
Be Good
 
mobbsie
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Hi Denis,
 
We've got plenty of the stuff here and all colours imaginable but it's just not the correct pattern, you tell the assistant what it is you're after and they just look at you as if your stupid.
 
Then of course they wonder why it is nobody shops in the town.
 
It's like the time I wanted some Balsa Wood, went into town and ended up doing a 35 mile round trip, it's a complete farce, and they wonder why the towns dying.
 
That's my rant over.
 
Be Good
 
mobbsie

Hi Sam,
 
Those masts are coming on a treat mate, they'll look really good when you finish them.
 
There isn't a modeller alive who hasn't run out of materials of some sort and had to change tack halfway through a job, I can also relate to the laziness thing, it's a major fault of mine.
 
Ahh well, life's for living and we don't want to be a slave to out builds do we, i vowed to catch afew rays this year and I'm not doing to bad so far.
 
Take your time mate, life's too short to be rushing about.
 
Be Good
 
mobbsie