BRiddoch

Deck planking continues.
 
       Bob R.

Greetings all.  Thanks for stopping by.
 
Pete, when are you getting back here to San Diego?
 
Bob,  Community build?  It's a bit pricey, but sure, why not.  I'll get a head start on this one, eh?

Greetings all....I'm back!!!
 
Model Shipways Kit (modified)
Scale: 1:24  1/2”=1’
Circa:  August-October 1776
 
    Happy Moon Day!!!  I am starting my build log on the 45th Anniversary of the Moon Landing....just because.  I don't actually plan on building until the first or second week in August, so I can do some summer stuff.  I will be doing some pre-build planning and I may add my thoughts here.
 
    I wanted to get started early so that my small but dedicated band of followers can find a seat.
 
    Background.  This will be the SECOND time I built PHILDELPHIA.  The first time I did so as a scratch build based on the Model Shipways plans.  I will refrain from going into why I chose PHILADELPHIA and save some bandwidth by giving you the link to my scratch build (if I can figure out how to do it). Chux scratch Philly.
 
    It was a fun build, but I had some challenges.  I have found that there was an additional sheet that comes with the model that does NOT come when you buy the plans separately.  This includes all the templates for bulkheads and other pieces parts.  Thanks alot Model Expo for not including that!!!  At any rate, it was an interesting build.  I entered it into the County Fair Design in Wood Exhibit (Scale model class) and actually got an offer to buy it.  By then, I was too attached to it to sell.  I offered to make a model from the kit, with boxwood and holly replacing the planking and primary exterior wood, as in the scratch.  I figured with the kit as a guide and my experience from the previous build, I could build it much faster and I could correct some problems...both with my build and what I perceived to be with the plans.  It also gives me an opportunity to work in a larger scale.  Some of those corners got really tight at 1/4" scale.
 
    History.  Again, so save bandwidth, I direct you to Philly History.  PHILADELPHIA and the history behind it is fascinating.  It (and its associated fleet, not to mention many of its adversaries) was built in a few weeks.  It 'lived' only a few months.  IIRC only PHILADELPHIA and ROYAL SAVAGE were the only two ships sunk during the battle, but within a week or two of the battle the entire American fleet was sunk, scuttled or captured-but it was considered a strategic American victory. 
 

 
    A century and a half or so later, it was discovered, raised and preserved.  It exists today, on display in the Smithsonian Institution.
 

 
NOW your interest is piqued, eh.  I think you REALLY want to go to Philly History and read more about it.  Other suggested readings include:
 
The Gunboat Philadelphia and the Defense of Lake Champlain in 1776. by Lundeberg, Philip K.  
The Gondola Philadelphia and the Battle of Lake Champlain. by Bratten, John R.
Benedict Arnold's Navy, by Nelson, James L.

To all my faithful followers and lurkers....
 
    It has been awhile since I posted in earnest, so I figured I would give an update.  My intent was to get the model back from the Fair on 07 July, then get to work wrapping it up, culminating in one final photo shoot.  I still need to add the awning, sweep rack and sweeps.  I had been grinding away at either getting PHILLY ready for the Fair, workingon the project I was working on at the Fair or working AT the Fair almost every weekend since February.  I figured I would take some time off to do some summery stuff before I finex'd.
 
   As it turns out, one fellow seemed to like my model (among others) and indicated he was interested in purchasing it.  I think I will encourage him to be a judge next year.  It was kind of a waffley interest, but interest all the same.  When I spoke to him, I told him that unless he was REALLY set upon that model, I was reluctant to sell it, since I had gorwn more attached to it (and I had not really intended to sell it anyway, but $1100 is $1100).  In his offer he had mentioned a commission.  I suggested that in lieu of my scratch Philly, I build a heavily bashed kit, with all the planking, major timber and rigging replaced.  He is considering it.
 
    I have been thinking about this for a few weeks.  This option gives me the opportunity to build Philly again, fixing problems I had before, in a bigger (more managable) scale and with some templates I didn't have before.  My thought is that if the person does not want to buy it, I can enter it into the Fair next year and see if I can sell it.  The issue with keeping that model and selling the scratch one (aside from emotional attachment) is that a case for the larger one will  cost me a fortune. 
 
    The downside to all this is I will NOT be able to spend time on the project(s) I had hoped to complete (Continental Sloop Providence).  We shall see.  At any rate, I have the kit and I expect to start sometime in August.  Keep your one good eye peeled for my Build Log up in the kit section.
 
kirkout

Off to Japan for a couple of weeks.  Be back on the 26th of July.  Hope to bring a few more Woody Joe kits home.
 
      Bob R.

If they are anything like this one I can't wait to see them.

I don't remember if I told you, but I copied your head construction since Constructo doesn't even show any heads. Can't sail the seven seas with heads.

Deck planking continues.
 
       Bob R.

Deck planking continues.
 
       Bob R.

Deck planking continues.
 
       Bob R.

Deck planking continues.
 
       Bob R.

As I mentioned in the Intro, the Higaki Kaisen had no frames.  The model is built around a set of molds which will be removed later.  It is flat bottomed.  I broke a piece of the planking and Jeff quickly came through with a nice thin slab of boxwood which is about the same color but without the heavy grain of the Cyprus.
 
  Bob R.

Not to forsake my Constitution build but I had the opportunity to purchase this kit while in Japan during the month of April.  A Japanese friend of mine picked it up on Japanese Yahoo for a great price.  It was delivered to his house the next day and I hand carried it back to San Diego. 
 
    The Japanese Cyprus wood used in the kit is outstanding and the laser cut parts are of the highest quality.  I quickly noticed that when sanding the wood there is a very pleasant odor.  Smells like Nana's old cedar closet.  The only downfall of the kit is that the instructions are entirely in Japanese.  Fortunately, there are not a lot of written instructions.  The instruction format is 90% graphics.  The packaging of the model is superb as seen below in the obligatory box / contents photos.
 
My goal is to complete this kit in time to show at next years 40th Rope Exhibition in Tokyo.
 
    The Higaki Kaisen (hee-gah-kee-kah-ee-sen) is an Edo Period cargo boat used from 1600 to about 1868.  Higaki was a Trades Guild in Osaka, Japan and Kaisen translates roughly to Cargo Boat.  During the Edo Period, Osaka was the center of the national economy and Edo, which is Tokyo today, was a big consumer city.  The Higaki Guild held the chartered right of maritime transportation of consumer goods from Osaka to Edo.  The Higaki-Kaisen were the sailing freighters of the Higaki Guild.
 
   The Higaki Kaisen hull structure has no framing.  Instead, its' hull consisted of only planking firmly joined with nails and clamps.
 
    I want to give a special thanks to Clare Hess.  Clare has helped me get this started and has provided me with numerous photos and information on his build.  Thanks also to Don Dressel who just completed his build and has provided me access to his model.
 
      Bob R.

No problem Joe.
 
Nils, you are correct.  It is a very well manufactured kit and it is going together surpisingly well. 
 
              Bob R.

Continue to work on decking.  I wish I could tell you exactly the parts I am working on, but again, the instructions are all in Japanese.
 
            Bob R.

As I prepare for a final marathon day at the San Diego Fair, I spent the week working on the decking aft.  The grain of the wood almost gives it a tatami mat quality.
 
   Bob R.

Continue to work on decking.  I wish I could tell you exactly the parts I am working on, but again, the instructions are all in Japanese.
 
            Bob R.

As I prepare for a final marathon day at the San Diego Fair, I spent the week working on the decking aft.  The grain of the wood almost gives it a tatami mat quality.
 
   Bob R.

As I prepare for a final marathon day at the San Diego Fair, I spent the week working on the decking aft.  The grain of the wood almost gives it a tatami mat quality.
 
   Bob R.

Continue to work on decking.  I wish I could tell you exactly the parts I am working on, but again, the instructions are all in Japanese.
 
            Bob R.

Clare's website has a lot of great information not only on the Higaki Kaisen but many of his other projects.
 
http://shipmodeler.wordpress.com/home/
 
                  Bob R.

Thanks all. 
 
Clare, I actually used the empty spot in the billet where the original piece was.  I traced the pattern onto the boxwood and carefully cut it out.  From there I matched it to the other side.
 
In the next set of photos I have added a couple of coats of Minwax wipe-on Poly.
 
  Bob R.

Thanks Michael.
 
         The next part is where I had a problem and actually broke one of the pieces.  Clare Hess was a great help at this point providing me pictures of his build as a reference.  You can see the piece I had to make out of boxwood supplied by Jeff at Hobby Mill.
 
 Bob R.

As I mentioned in the Intro, the Higaki Kaisen had no frames.  The model is built around a set of molds which will be removed later.  It is flat bottomed.  I broke a piece of the planking and Jeff quickly came through with a nice thin slab of boxwood which is about the same color but without the heavy grain of the Cyprus.
 
  Bob R.

Continue to work on decking.  I wish I could tell you exactly the parts I am working on, but again, the instructions are all in Japanese.
 
            Bob R.