Sven

LOL!!!!

This is getting really interesting!!

 

Matt

Deck is now laid and the first coat of primer on the hull. The bulwarks should hide the small gap at the edge if the deck. The hull will be black above the waterline and red below. The difficult bit will be getting the line right

 

A little more progress on the hull and starting to experiment with the deck planking

 

Matt

 

Hi guys

 

I thought I would have a short diversion and build a ship for an interesting bottle I found. Actually it is a vase with a narrow neck. Quite thick glass but optically clear

 

I love the lines of Britannia and getting the sails right will be key to the build!

 

Amazing !!

Michael. That ceiling is starting to look kinda low!

Hi mark. Just looked in and read about your incident! glad to hear all is healing well

 

Best wishes

Thanks for all the messages it really means a lot and I am now officially hooked on the hobby!

 

I think I shall stick at small scale work and fancy doing a C18th frigate perhaps at 1:400 scale.

Fantastic work!

Thanks Salty and everyone else that has been following this log, I have enjoyed it immensely and with all your encouragement I have done a lot more than I thought I could! There also seems to be a bit of a motorbike subculture among us modellers as well!

 

Finally it is finished, mounted on small brass pillars and installed in the glass cloche acquired by the admiral.

 

It took about 200 hours.... I am looking forward to doing another!

 

 

Matt

 

 

 

This is just fantastic. A work of art!

 

Matt

Full size Santa Maria!

 

We are on vacation in La Palma, Canary Islands

 

This is the Santa Cruz naval museum housed in a this concrete replica built in the 1940's

 

Lovely little museum with C16th charts old instruments and paraphernalia. And only 3 euros entry fee!

 

Matt

 

Matt,

Just found your thread,and it's an awesome build!!  In truth you have inspired me to give mini's a try.Now all thats left is to pick

a ship,and try my best to keep from irritating my wife while building it.

                       Doug Jones

Thanks Doug, go for it!

 

Actually I am finding the small build quite admiral friendly! Small enough to fit into home decor when complete!!

 

Matt

Matt,

 

Your photography is marvellous. I know you told us before about the ColorLake app, but what are you using for the backdrops?

Ahh. That will be our new 50 inch tv. I find a nice photo on the laptop and play it thru Apple TV onto the big screen. Hold up the model in front and take the photo! All very low tech!

 

Might not work so will if the model was at 1:48 scale!

 

Matt

Great work. That is some impressive lathe you have there!

 

 

Matt

Once again thanks for looking in on my build!

 

We are going away for some sun to escape the long continuing London winter so I shall complete the build when we return

 

Time to review the things I think could be improved

 

I definitely need to improve planning the rigging in advance with more fixings on yards hull and tops

 

I also think that it is possible to get a good approximation of ratlines and deadeyes which I shall try next time

 

I am happy with the materials used but would like to improve the precision of deck fittings

 

The tension in the rigging needs to be managed better and I would like to try getting more realistic sag on the lines

 

There should be less reliance on glue which has built up too much in some places and catches the light.

 

Matt

20 minutes to cut that?......how the ......?

 

Wow

 

Matt

Thank you my friends for the great encouragement.

 

Kevin I see from your build that it is shaping up to be an exemplary Vic!

Daniel I will certainly send a couple of pics in for consideration, fingers crossed and thanks for the suggestion. I have not used thread blocks at they do not need to move it is simply a knot with a blob of glue. I am not sure that a thread block would work with this line as it is a little stiff and does not bend well.

 

I think the build is drawing to a close. It has a pleasing density to it now just a few more strings flags and the anchors. Must not forget the rudder!

 

I also need to think about how best to mount the ship inside the glass dome

 

Thanks Michael.

Scale check!

 

Matt

Congratulations on your retirement! The best is yet to come!!

 

Matt

A beautiful sunny morning on the Thames so I decided to row out and fit the main and cross jack braces

 

Matt

 

Thanks Grant

 

There is an iPhone app called color lake which gives reflections. Give it a try!

 

Matt

Thanks for the kind words! I guess it's the nature of this hobby that you always find a better way to do something just as you finish the task!

 

The rigging is now back to where it was before the big dismantle!

 

Time for a short break

 

Matt

Thanks fellas!!

 

I am much happier now that I am redoing the rigging!

 

Daniel. Yes the silk is fly tying thread

 

I have made a day back on the running rigging and working on the ships boats while waiting for glue to dry

 

The picture is I the launch with its mast and cover made in cigarette paper soaked in CA. This is also used for the man ship sails

 

Matt