Pete Jaquith

With the Brig Fair American hull painting complete, construction continued with installation of lower hull outfit:

• Rudder was painted and installed
• Rudder gudgeons were fabricated and installed (strips of painted Bristol board)
• Keel and horseshoe plates were installed (from Syren Ship Model Company)

 Next steps will continue installation of exterior hull outfit with completion of the head structure.

Regards from the shipyard,

Pete Jaquith

Ryland,

Thanks for the likes.  Construction is moving along slowly but my eyes limit the detail.

Regards from the shipyard,

Pete

Milestone Achieved.  With the Brig Fair American hull outfit well along, a major milestone was reached with completion of exterior hull painting.  The following notes apply:

• Head rails, figurehead, catheads, gangway steps, chain plates & channel caps, gunport hinges, quarter badges, and rudder were left loose to facilitate masking and painting
• Paint was Model Expo Marine Acrylics (Hull Tallow, Hull Yellow Occre & Hull Spar Black) and Floquil Polly Scale (AT&SF Red)
• Masking was done with Tamiya masking tape
• Gold trim was done with Deco Color Prime-Premio gold metallic paint pens

 With a search on eBay I was able to purchase some Floquil Polly Scale AT&SF Red to match the previously painted inner bulwarks.  While some paint touchup was required, I am pleased with the end result.

Next steps will continue installation of exterior hull outfit starting with the rudder, rudder gudgeons, keel trim, and completion of the head structure.

Regards from the shipyard,

Pete Jaquith

Tim, its good to hear from you.  I hope things are going well.

Regards from the shipyard,

Pete

Status update:  Painting nearing completion but I still have to add gold trim to transom moldings / carvings.  Many pre-fabricated bitts and pieces to be added to complete exterior hull outfit.

Regards from the shipyard,

Pete

Stephen,

I have had good success with a non-bleed fabric marker "FabricMate" from Jo Ann Fabrics.

Regards from the shipyard,

Pete

"Fair American" is in the paint shed.  Many coats/colors so it will be a few more days.  Then many bits and pieces to be added.  Pictures to follow.

Regards from the shipyard,

Pete

John,

Thank you for your likes.  Thinks are starting slowly as its been over 7 years since I put aside "Fair American" and "Newsboy" to support a series of full scale shipbuilding projects.

Regards from the shipyard,

Pete

Will see how it goes.  It is several years since I painted a model and this will require a lot of masking.

Regards from the shipyard,

Pete Jaquith

A few more details added before we head to the paint shed:

• Rudder chain pad eyes were added to the counter and rudder post.  Rudder chain final installation will follow completion of exterior hull outfit when the model can remain securely in its construction cradle (note that I may use larger chain next time).
• Quarter badge windows were framed with .03 sq. stock.  The window frames were assembled on double sided tape and secured in place with CA glue.

 If you are familiar with the “Fair American” design, you may have noticed that I have taken certain liberties with the design and that I am free to add new details based on period practice.  In other words, I look at ship modeling as an art and an opportunity for the builder to express his/her interpretation of how these historic period ships looked in their prime.  I hope that you enjoy watching my 14 Gun Brig “Fair American” as it develops.

Sorry for the picture quality.  Next step, move to the paint shed for exterior hull painting.

Regards from the shipyard,

Pete Jaquith

With the cheek knees complete; attention turned to fabrication and installation of head framing and the remaining exterior outfit planned for installation prior paint:

• Head rails were fabricated/dry fitted.  Head rails were fabricated from 3/32” laminated stock (3 layers of 1/32” sheet stock).
• Middle rails were fabricated/dry fitted from 1/16” sheet stock.  Wire pins were used to reinforce the middle rail hull attachment.
• With the head and middle rails temporally pinned in place, the head rail knees were fabricated/installed in two pieces (to simplify fitting) from 1/16” sheet stock.
• Fore tack boomkins were fabricated/dry fitted from 1/8” sheet stock.  Wire pins were used to reinforce the boomkin hull and head rail attachments.
• With the head framing defined, the hawse holes were located and drilled out.
• At his point, the transom trim was installed (photo etch from Lauck Street Shipyard).

The head framing is one of the more complex portions of the build.  Artistic license and patience were required for its construction.  After hull paint, gold paint pens will be used to highlight its many intricate features.

Final installation of the head rails, middle rails, and figurehead will follow hull painting.  Final installation of the fore tack boomkins will await the rigging phase.  Next step, exterior hull painting.

Regards from the shipyard,

Pete Jaquith

I am working my way through lofting the head framing.  This is a complex area with many curved pieces and dimensions that requires real study and evaluation.  I have completed fabrication of the major pieces but installation and fine tuning still awaits. I will post a description and pictures at successful completion.

Regards from the shipyard,

Pete

With bowsprit fabrication complete; attention turned to the cheek knees and head framing.  As this is a complex area, additional care was placed on its fabrication:

• Templates for the stem, head rails, and middle rails were prepared to assist in visualizing the arrangement.
• Figurehead was dry fitted to the stem (casting from the kit).
• Cheek knees were fabricated/installed from 1/16” and 1/8” sheet stock.  Cheek knees were fabricated in 3 pieces with final shaping done in position.

Next step, fabrication and initial installation of head framing and the remaining exterior outfit planned prior paint.

Regards from the shipyard,

Pete Jaquith

Tim,

Its very good to hear from you.  I miss all my good friends in the Newburyport and the Constitution Ship Model Guilds.  Since I am working back into ship modeling I will try to keep up through MSW.  I hope to finish "Fair American" 1st and then check out the status of "Newsboy" (crated since my move in 2013); we will see where is goes after these two builds.  Please say hello to my many friends in Newburyport and Boston. 

Regards,

Pete

Thank you for your interest and support.  Working through my Brig "Fair American" head framing.  I think I have an approach worked out.  More to follow when I complete this portion of the build.

Its good to be back in the shop and among friends hear at MSW.  Progress is slow but the work is rewarding.

Regards from the shipyard,

Pete

Period head framing - an interesting and challenging portion of this build.  More to follow as I work through this portion of the build.

Thank you for your interest.  This model was started in 2010 and was put in layup from 2012 thru 2018 while I pursued a series of full scale shipbuilding projects in the US and overseas.  "Fair American" makes a beautiful model, and with time being available I opened it up and despite two moves (Hancock NH to San Diego CA to Indio CA) I found it in good shape.

While working along, progress is limited by the following:

•    My eyes are not what they used to be, now awaiting new glasses
•    My shop temperature is good in the early morning (72-75 degrees F), but it raises to mid-80's in the afternoon (outside summer temperature 102 - 118 F).
•    My attention span wain is limited after 3-4 hours work

That said, I plan to keep working and I should be into hull paint and final exterior details in the coming weeks.

Continuing the upper hull outfit, attention turned to fabrication and dry fitting of the bowsprit, bowsprit bitts, fore bitts, and the jibboom:

• Bowsprit assembly was completed.  This is an interesting assembly with lots of fine period details.
• Jibboom fabrication was completed.
• Bowsprit bitts were fabricated from 3/32” sheet stock and 1/8” sq. stock.  Bowsprit bitts were doweled to the inboard end of the bowsprit.
• Fore bitts were fabricated from 1/16” x 1/8” and 3/32” x 1/8” strip wood.
• Bowsprit and fore bitt deck attachments were reinforced with 3/64” dowel pins.
• The bowsprit notch was cut in the forward bulwark and the bowsprit, bowsprit bitts, and fore bitts were dry fitted to the hull.  This step included a 3/32” extension to the stem to conform with the 3/32” added to the bulwark height to suit the cannon ports.
• After completing the above tasks, the knightheads and timberheads were installed on the forward bulwarks.

To facilitate hull painting and inner bulwark attachments the catheads will be installed after hull painting; and, the bowsprit, bowsprit bitts, and fore bitts will be installed after fitting inner bulwark attachments and the cannons.  The jibboom will be installed later during the rigging phase.  Next steps will continue with construction of the cheek knees and head framing.

With the Brig Fair American hull planking complete, construction continued with fabrication and dry fitting of the bowsprit and jibboom:

• Bowsprit was fabricated from 5/16” dowel stock.  The bowsprit was turned on my mini-lathe using fine standing sticks.  The eight sided square inner foot and the square outer end were shaped with a disk sander.
• Jibboom was fabricated from 1/8” dowel stock.  The jibboom was turned on my mini-lathe using fine standing sticks.  The outer tip was shaped with a sharp razor blade and fine sanding sticks.

Next steps will continue with detailing the bowsprit and jibboom, fabricating the bowsprit bitts, and dry fitting the completed assemblies to the hull.

With the Brig Fair American hull planking complete, construction continued with fabrication and installation of upper hull outfit.  This work continues outfit of the bow zone:

• Knightheads were fabricated/dry fitted from 3/32” x 3/16” strip wood.  Knighthead installations were reinforced with .025 brass pins.
• Timberheads were fabricated/dry fitted from 3/32” sq. stock.  Timberhead installations were reinforced with .020 brass pins.

Because of their delicate nature, knightheads and timberheads will be installed after cutting the bowsprit notch.  Catheads and their attached timberheads will be installed after hull paint. 

Many fiddly little pieces here but it is starting to look like a real ship.  Next steps will continue with fabrication and dry fitting of the bowsprit, bowsprit bitts, and the jibboom.

Working the knightheads and timberheads.  Many small fussy parts here for my eyes.  I will hold off final installation until after cutting the bowsprit notch.

With the Brig Fair American hull planking complete, construction continued with fabrication and installation of upper hull outfit. The next zone to be addressed was the bow zone.  Note that cheek knees, head rails, and head rail knees will be addressed later in the build:

• P/S hull attachments were laid out in the bow zone (due to plan inaccuracies, I chose to lay out and check all bow attachments at this point).
• Catheads were fabricated/dry fitted from 3/16” x ¼” strip wood.  The catheads are pinned in place with 3/64” dowels.  The catheads will be installed after hull paint.
• Fore tack fairlead holes were drilled thru the forward bulwarks.

A few small steps in completing upper hull outfit.  Next steps will continue with the knightheads and timberheads.

With the Brig Fair American hull planking complete, construction shifted to fabrication and installation of upper hull outfit.  The first zone handled was the P/S hull sides:

• P/S hull attachments were laid out.
• Channels were fabricated/installed from 3/32” sheet stock.  A spindle sander was used to shape the inner surfaces.  Deadeyes and chain plates will be installed after hull paint. 
• Channel caps were fabricated from 3/64” x 3/32” strip stock.  The channel caps will be installed after hull paint.  
• Chess trees were fabricated/installed from 3/32” x 3/32” strip stock.  Main tack fairlead holes were then drilled thru the P/S bulwarks.
• Gangway steps were fabricated/installed from 1/32” x 3/32” and 3/64” x 1/16” strip stock.  They were assembled with the aid of double sided scotch tape.  The remaining steps will be installed after hull paint
• Quarter badges were dry fitted to the hull.  Note that the windows still require framing out and the quarter badges will be installed after hull paint.

There will be many additional details added in this zone after paint: i.e. deadeyes & chain plates, channel caps, gangway steps, quarter badges & windows, and gunport hinges for the closed aft gunport.  Next steps will continue with upper hull outfit.

After a few months of full scale shipbuilding activities, I am returning the my "Fair American" build.  I am currently working on P/S hull attachments including channels, gangway steps, quarter badges, chess trees, and main/fore tack fairlead holes.  Description and pictures to follow.

My full scale activities included a recent SNAME/ASNE webinar on modern "Asian Warship Design, Production Engineering, and Construction Practice".  Over 500 attendees and many interesting questions, all in an attempt to influence USN design and acquisition practice.

Regards from the shipyard,

Pete