Jim Lad

Or try a hardware store.  You can search for escutcheon pins (for solid brass) or for panel pins (for steel). 

John

More lovely detail, mate.  That looks a lovely little drill/engraver you have there.

John

Andy,

I would have thought any reinforcement at the bow would be via internal stiffeners.  I still can't think of anything other than torpedo tubes.

John

Lovely work, Mobbsie!

John

The model will be constructed in the 'Admiralty' configuration (without full rigging)

 

Have you thought how impressive she'd look fully rigged?  

John

but I have so much work lined up that I don't know when could fit it in

 

There's always room for one more.  

John

A delightful little craft, Bob!  I like the way that you've displayed her heeling to a breeze!

John

Ah, blocks!  It seems no matter how many you have you always need just a few more!

John

We can only hope, Augie!

John

Mobbsie,

I've just woken up to your cathead question.  If you haven't finished them yet, another way is to drill holes at each end of where the slot should be and then use a very small round file to file in dummy sheaves.  It works quite well.

John

Thanks, folks!

The kids at the museum are great fun.  It's amazing how many of them just want to stand and watch what I'm doing - even when nothing much is happening.  Even the teenagers stop to look and make comments like, "That's so cool."  Maybe the memory of what they've seen at the museum will stick with some of them and bear future fruit for a new generation of model makers.

John

"Stand down the Colorado 'Syren' builders".

To be a bit Aussie for a moment, Augie - Bloody beauty, mate!

She looks fabulous in her new home.  Very well done for your persistence and your building skill.

John

Thanks for the support, folks!

Mark - it can sometimes be a bit intimidating working in front of an audience, especially when you're trying to figure out something you're not sure about - after all, we're supposed to be the experts!

My best exchange to date was with a small boy of about seven or eight.  It went something like:-

Small boy - I make models too you know.

Me - Oh, do you; that's good

Small boy - My models don't look like yours, though.

Me - Don't they?

Small boy - No; are you sure you're doing it right?

(Small boy's mum collapses laughing)

John

Thanks, Chris!

John

Mark,

I glue mine in with a two part epoxy glue - never had one pull out yet.

John

Thread all over the place

 

One of the joys of rigging, Bob!    You're almost home, mate!

John

Wow!  That image from Aberdeen is small!!  The  obvious answer is that it seems like a perfect excuse for a trip to Aberdeen!

Alternatively, you could write to the museum and ask them.

John

The ship only looks simple but it has a particular shape that proved quit difficult to plank using wide planks.

 

That ship was never going to be a 'cakewalk' with that unusual shape, Alexandru, but you're doing a great job of her.

John

Just found your log, Neal.

Now that's a very impressive first scratch build!

John

That stern looks very impressive with the new colour scheme, mate!

John

Thank you, gentlemen, one and all.  I really enjoy rigging, although these cutters are so over-rigged things get a little crowded around the mast at this scale.  Maybe I should go back to three master's in the future, although I'm already committed to a ketch for my next build.

John

That's coming along nicely!

John

Fraser,

It's hard to tell from a photo, but it's possibly Purpleheart.

John

Thanks for the update, Kester.  She's a real credit to you.

John

Very neatly done, mate!

John