Jim Lad

More good progress, Andy - and thanks for the lesson on self-unloaders - I've never worked with one!

John

Bob,

Because it's fun!

John

Pete,

I've only just found your log.  This looks a really interesting build!

John

Francis Pritt has taken another couple of small steps forward.  The basic beam for the stern framing has now been attached with its doublers across the rudder trunking and the first two after frames are ready for shaping.  Now she feels like she's about to become a ship!

I won't be in the museum again until New Years Day, but in the meantime I need to construct a building frame and get some more wood cut for the frames.

John

Delightful, Michael.  If you keep having these re-thinks we might have to start calling you 'Rework Mott'! 

John

Beautifully done, Augie - she's a credit to you!

John

Nicely done, Ollie - your square drill obviously worked a treat!

John

I caught the top of the mast and snapped about 1/4 inch off

 

Ouch!    Glad to see that you took it in your stride, Michael!

John

Just catching up, Toni!  Thanks for your update of more delightful joinery work.

John

Clever idea, Danny!

John

Thanks for that, Andy!

John

Not what one would usually expect for gun ports, Popeye!  Logically, with the ports open there must be a small coil of rope - as you say, on deck if it doesn't show in that photo.  With the ports closed, there may well have been just enough rope to make to make fast on the cleat (no point in wasting expensive rope).

John

Good progress, Andy.

Are stern anchors ever actually used in the lakes?  I was on one ship that had a stern anchor, but it only left its hawse pipe to run the cable out for survey in dry dock.

John

A good idea with that little guide for very fine sanding, Michael.

I would think the best source for very fine wire would be an electrical supplier - they use extremely fine wire for some windings.

John

That Blackbean looks a nice timber, Ollie.

John

Errr, gunport ropes on the railing?  I thought your guns were on a lower deck, Popeye.  Did I miss something?

John

Michael,

Most miniaturists use fine copper wire or human hair for their rigging.  The copper wire has the advantage of being able to be tied by simply twisting. 

John

Just catching up with what you're doing, Grant - she's looking very nice indeed!

John

She's really looking classy, Tim!

John

Ollie,

Go to the National Maritime Museum website (the Pommy NMM); go to 'collections' and search on 'windlass'.  You'll find several photos of windlass models including a few early ones - all the ones you want are on the first couple of pages.

As for the square holes, use a square drill, of course!   I drill a small hole and then square the hole out with the tip of a very small square escapement file I have.  In case of a lack of square files small enough, try filing down a small length of steel to a square point; drill the hole; then ease the hole out to square by pushing the squared steel spike into it.  Try on a piece of scrap of the same type of wood first just to check that it works OK.

John

Ollie,

I think your windlass would be more likely to look like this one from a contemporary model of the 'Harriet' in the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich, with the holes for handspikes to operate it, although from King's sketch of the 'Mermaid', it would appear that her windlass had the crossbar as well.

Also note that in that photo you posted the port anchor cable is incorrect - the cable should lead over the windlass drum and not under it as shown so that heaving on the handspikes from behind the windlass will heave the cable in.

John

I use my proportional dividers all the time when planking.  With the scale set to the correct proportion, it's a very quick way of transferring the correct plank width at each frame from model to plank.

John

Hmmm.  I thought the Craig was more of a rust red when she was towed to Sydney, but mid green would look nice!

That planking's coming on really well, mate!

John

That's great news, Michael.. It's always good to find access to the original!

John

That certainly looks the goods, Tom!

John