Jump to content

egkb

Members
  • Posts

    1,631
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Reputation Activity

  1. Wow!
    egkb reacted to No Idea in Le Rochefort by No Idea - 1/24th Scale - First POF Build   
    Hi All I hope that you all had a really nice Xmas and are looking forward to new year tonight like we are here in the UK.  Also thanks very much for the nice comments 
     
    Some more done on Le Rochefort - I got on with the planking between the whale and rail.  As this blog is aimed at new builders like myself I thought I would share how I go about planking.  Funnily enough I see planking as a mathematical problem which just needs solving.  So first off at various places along the hull I measure the gap that the planks need to cover.  I then use this as my basis for the plank widths when shaping them up but also gives me my widest point which is what I cut the planks too on the table saw.  The picture shows that I need 3 planks 8.2mm wide that this point.

    Then I cut the planks and shape them to my measurements that I have already taken.  I use a plank vice to hold them whilst planing them as I find I get the best results this way.
     


    Then I just get planking  - you can never have too many clamps.  I also pierced the hawse holes and scupper holes at the bow too.  For some reason I always seem to plank one side better than the other!
     
     


     
    Then I marked and cut out the scupper holes and also marked out the nailing pattern.  At this moment in time I must be honest I don't think I'm going to go all of the way through with the scupper holes along the hull.  I don't think I'm brave enough.


    I've only nailed one side at the moment as for some reason I just can't get into it at the moment but so far the results are quite nice.



    In-between nailing the planking I decided to have a go at making the bowsprit.  It is 14.5mm in diameter so to get a piece this thick I started by gluing two 10mm pieces together.


     
    I don't have a lathe so I thought that I would give it a go on my rotary table on the milling machine.  Now this was fun as I don't have a support of any kind yet but I thought well let's give it a go anyway.


    I guess I could have made something but the chatter wasn't too bad and I left some on to sand down at the end by hand.

    I was going to cut the square location pin on the mill but in the end I simply did it by hand using a small saw and chisels.

    The end result looks ok and its a pretty good fit.  I was never going to have full size masts on this build as rigging at this stage just does not appeal to me.  Maybe it will later in my building career?





    So I just need to complete the nailing on the starboard side and then I can think of my next move on the ship.
     
    Cheers Mark
     
  2. Like
    egkb reacted to Kevin in HMS Bellerophon by flyer - FINISHED - Amati/Victory Models - scale 1:72   
    sad to see this come to and end , stunning work
     
  3. Wow!
    egkb reacted to flyer in HMS Bellerophon by flyer - FINISHED - Amati/Victory Models - scale 1:72   
    conclusion
     
    After more than 6 years, I'd say it was a rather longish journey but I really had a lot of fun along the way and it was definitely worth the effort. The outstanding quality of the kit and the possibility to build 3 different ships makes it easy to overlook a few shortcomings, such as questionable details in the rigging plan or the very questionable gun carriages. On the plus side are also things like the very detailed plans such as the sail plans, the boats or the many fine details to build bulkheads or stern and side galleries.
     
    A perfect kit where you may build just out of the box without research or rounding out with additions might be just a bit dull - I will probably find out more about that with my next project.
     
    In any case this kit enables you to build a wonderful model of a 74, the backbone of the wooden walls protecting Great Britain during the Napoleonic wars. Finding a good enough place to present the rather large end result is another story...
     
     
    a few final pictures.

     
  4. Wow!
    egkb reacted to flyer in HMS Bellerophon by flyer - FINISHED - Amati/Victory Models - scale 1:72   
    empty belaying pins and ringbolts, loose ends
     
    Despite having to overcome a shortage of usable belaying points on the forecastle there were still a few unused pin positions on the poop deck.
    Also unused ring or eye bolt positions around main and mizzen mast had to be filled. The kit instructions put eye bolts into those locations. However I think that ringbolts, allowed to lie flat when unused, would be more sensible when mounted on the deck. I didn't find much about that in the web but thought it would be easier to run about on deck if you wouldn't have to fear to catch your bare feet in a ring, take a tumble and break your ankle.
     
    To imitate a ringbolt with a small fixed ring which encloses the movable one tightly, I bent an eye bolt 90° and put a drop of glue onto it to simulate the fixed ring.
     
    After fixing all loose ends I could find, finally...finished!
     
    the way I fabricated the imitated ringbolts
     
     
    unused ringbolts around the mizzen mast foot
     
     
    fore mast foot with eyebolt(with tackle) to the left and one of the empty ringbolts lying flat on the deck
     
     
     
    moderately busy scene on the finished forecastle
     
     

    the skipper seems quite fond of his ship - and so am I...
  5. Like
    egkb reacted to flyer in HMS Bellerophon by flyer - FINISHED - Amati/Victory Models - scale 1:72   
    anchors
     
    A suitable stream anchor was added to the 5 anchors from the kit, all completed and stored. A conflict for space occurred between the sheet and bower anchors and the lower stun sail booms. The only way I could think of, was to place the anchors on top of the booms. Thus, to set booms you have to move them from under the anchors.
     
    Anchor buoys were formed with some 2-component putty and hung into the shrouds. As I understand anchors were buoyed and buoys should therefore be shown whenever a cable was bent to the anchor making it ready for use. For size I used information from John Harland who writes that '... the anchor buoy was in length one-quarter the length of the anchor shank, in diameter, one-eight...'.
     

    port side with sheet and bower anchors and the extra stream anchor lashed to sheet anchor
     

    stream anchor
     

    the cable is attached to the bower anchor and the cat block with tackle is hooked into the ring
     

    starboard with sheet and bower anchors and the kedge anchor lashed to the sheet anchor
     

    kedge anchor
     

    anchor buoy stowed in the fore shrouds
     
    the buoy rope lashed to the anchor
  6. Like
    egkb reacted to robdurant in Barque Stefano by robdurant - MarisStella - 1:63   
    A very quick update, and an opportunity to say a big Happy Christmas to everyone  Immanuel - God is with us.
     
    I've completed the task of fitting out the yards, and bending the sails to them. And now, I've begun to add the running rigging, starting at the mizzen mast, and moving forward. Now that I'm well into it, I'm beginning to understand the plans. It's necessary to reference various different plans to see all of the runs and belaying points. This means the task is best down with a big table spare... The kitchen table works for me, but it does mean that it's not very easy to proceed when family are around for Christmas - a nice problem to have ! Here are some pictures of progress so far...
     
  7. Wow!
    egkb reacted to JerryTodd in Constellation 1856 by JerryTodd - 1:36 scale - RADIO - First Class Sloop of War   
    So it's printed!  I was concerned the planking would be too thin, but it's fine, as long as the model isn't scaled down.  Since I plan to share the file, I'll thicken some things up so it'll scale down to 1:96.
    I broke off a couple of chips from the bow section trying to get it off the plate, but that's easily repairable at the same time I bond the two halves together.  The two halves are just sitting next to each other in these pictures.
    Once the halves are stuck together and the seam cleaned up, it's priming and painting time!  This boat will sit on top of the 1st cutter, on the main hatch, which means making some chocks for it to print along with the oars, rudder, and other little things that'll go inside it.
       
     

  8. Like
    egkb reacted to Erik W in HM Cutter Cheerful 1806 by Erik W - 1:48 scale   
    Over the last week I finished the larger grating, the small coaming for the galley stack, and built the skylight mini kit.  I got the idea to paint the inside of the skylight black, as well as the framing underneath the skylight below the false deck.  Once complete, I didn't like the completely blacked out interior though.  It made the skylight look like the glass panels were painted gloss black rather than being clear, since there was absolutely nothing visible inside.  So . . . I painted the interior of the skylight wood color and will put a small planked section low down in the framing underneath the skylight.  It's a subtle thing that no one will consciously notice when viewing the ship, but by having something visible inside the skylight area it hints at an interior, rather than a completely black void.  Live and learn.  Also, I test fit planking around the skylight and didn't like the look of the 90 degree red corners at deck level after rounding off the coaming corners, so I carefully scraped the red paint off.  It looks a little funny now, but will look sharp and clean when the decking is complete.
     
    Erik



  9. Wow!
    egkb reacted to Retired guy in Bluenose by Retired guy - Model Shipways - scale 1:64   
    Bought some 2.5mm & 3.5mm deadeyes from Forum sponsor Crafty Sailor which were close to the size of the iron straps I made, but did have to file the edges so that they were more round.
    Once that was done I stained them black with India ink.

    To connect to the chain plates I used .035" bolt head and .035" nuts, these I filed down the head of bolt and nut thickness to that the size looked better.

    The one on the right has been filed, then made a quick jig so that I could install nuts onto bolts, now the chain plates are all installed into the slots but still need to pin chain plates to hull, these chain plates will now only stick out .005" 

    Next up was to install the two pumps, put the three parts together with .016" brass rod and then mounted to the bases with small bolts, then mount both onto deck.
     

    Started to paint the Companionway, skylight, deck-house and steering box, it says to use burnt umber and white, so have used this paint True Earth for the burnt umber and it goes on brilliantly with a brush, masked off where white will go.
     

    Once dry I masked off the burnt umber then sprayed white. Also sprayed up the small parts which go along with these items.
     

    This is how it turned out.
     

    Had the Quarter bitts the wrong way round opps, now corrected, at the same time glue the grate down.
    Did glue the steering wheel to shaft, installed a bolt at front of wheel and painted brass on the ends of each wooden handle, I read somewhere they had brass inlays.

    Mounted the painted scroll to see how it will look but have not glued on yet, did get the scroll thickness down to .012" from .018" before painting.
     

    Couple of pic's in black and white.

     
    Until next time.
     
    Regards
    Richard
     
     
  10. Wow!
    egkb reacted to Retired guy in Bluenose by Retired guy - Model Shipways - scale 1:64   
    Continuation of parts already made, which had parts needing to be made and painted, starting with the boom buffer.
    Made the two U-shape shackles from a piece of .010" brass using my turbo carver ground to shape then filed to finish shape then made ring next was to drill holes for .016" rod to go through. 
     
     

    Painted boom buffer and installed onto model.
     

    Next up was to finish the catheads, needed to make small chain link then attach it to the chain as per drawing then put into slot in cathead.
     

    Last thing will add is the rope which goes on the end of chain as per drawing from The American Fishing Schooner, the information on this did not come on the drawings of the Bluenose, but I am sure they would have been the same.
     

     

     
    Finished the hawse scroll work then painted them yellow, will add to model later.
     
     
     
    Couple of pic's to show how they will look before painting.
     

     
    Thanks for all the comments and all the likes do apricate it.
     
    Until next time
    Regards
    Richard
     
     
  11. Wow!
    egkb reacted to No Idea in Le Rochefort by No Idea - 1/24th Scale - First POF Build   
    Another update
     
    I bottled it and decided not to put scarf joints into the moulded rail so I'm using simple butt joints instead.  I wanted the rail to look as best it could with all of the details lining up.  So I marked out the position both sides - I like to use automotive lining tape to see the run and I leave it on until the glue has dried.


    I then bent and glued the rails on which needed quite a lot of heat to get a tight fit around the bow.  I have got a very tiny crack in it on the starboard side but I think it will be ok.



    I really wanted to get a good joint into the rabit with this plank - I think it came out ok


    So next I am going to make and fit the planking in between the whale and moulded rail.
     
    Mark
  12. Wow!
    egkb reacted to Erik W in HM Cutter Cheerful 1806 by Erik W - 1:48 scale   
    I feel like I reached a bit of a milestone on my build today, so I have included a ton of photos in celebration! While being a perfectionist, things frequently don't turn out quite as well as I'd like, but I'm happy with the build so far.  And it's turning out pretty well considering it's my first major wooden ship build, after my Model Shipways longboat project many years ago.  Though there is still quite a ways to go on the project, with the exterior painting complete, there is a certain finished look now.  I really like the lines of the Cheerful.  I spent the week painting the cap rail, repainting the wales, and spending much time doing the final sanding of the hull and tweaking the finish (after viewing these photos, I cleaned up where the black paint meets the wood in the stern area).  Now on to Chapter 7 of Chuck's monograph, and adding the deck fittings, and planking the deck.
     
    I have a couple of questions for you folks.  I used Wipe-On Poly back on my longboat build.  Applying it to the hull, and then applying any paint to those areas that needed it afterwards.  On my Cheerful, I applied WOP above the wales way back when those were planked, but have since sanded it off as I cleaned up that planking in preparation to add the fancy molding.  I never applied WOP anywhere else on the model.  Now, as you can see, the hull has painted areas amongst the bare wood.  I'm thinking I might not apply WOP at all.  The hull has made it nearly 7 years with temperature and humidity fluctuations without any noticeable signs of aging.  My questions then are, is it really necessary to apply some kind of protective coating to the wood?  Has anyone here not applied WOP, or similar finish to their build?  And if you did apply WOP to a model with areas that you already painted, how did you go about applying the WOP (apply it carefully around the painted sections, apply it to the painted areas also, etc)?  Thanks!
     
    Erik













  13. Like
    egkb reacted to georgeband in HM Schooner Ballahoo by georgeband - Caldercraft - Haddock drawings   
    A few photos to show a milestone in the build. (The pumps are standing loose at the moment so I can move them out of the way when rigging.) As I said above, the next big job is the masts and everything that goes on them. 
     
    George
     



     
     
     
  14. Wow!
    egkb reacted to Retired guy in Bluenose by Retired guy - Model Shipways - scale 1:64   
    To continue on the update I spray painted the Jumbo boom crutch, Riding bitts, Engine box then hand painted the windlass chain/wood welps then proceeded to put it together with quadrants, quadrant links and Rocker, did make a rough little jig to hold parts while I installed shackles.
     



    Then using the 1/12 motorbike chain I had mention back when I machined the gears I file the chain down so it looked like the size it should be, after that I sprayed it black.
     

     

    Bought some 1/64 scale fishermen from Vanguard Models which are brilliant here's couple of pic's so that you can see how big these gears were.
     
     
    Next was to install the steering linkage to the rudder, the steering box still needs to be painted.
     

    last pic added the three circles between name on stern, still need to paint the cabin housing but did spray paint the Liverpool head and Dreadnaught head.
     


    Until next time.
     
    Regards
    Richard
  15. Like
    egkb reacted to Retired guy in Bluenose by Retired guy - Model Shipways - scale 1:64   
    Been working on the Victory and kept looking over at the Bluenose and felt it was well due for an update, 1y 2m since last one 🤔
     
    So thought I would start with getting the name and scroll work on a black board, used Clover House dry transfers, Railroad Roman Condensed Bold - yellow which I think was the closest to the drawing. Scroll work I hand painted, do think I should have left a bit more space between letters or letters could have been smaller. 
     



    Now the stern name plate was white, did try dry transfers but failed miserably, so started to make a decal, used word to make this but had quite a few rejects.
     


    Tried Inkjet printing first, printing was fine used Experts Choice white decal film for inkjet, then followed the instructions to cover the decal with Microscale Liquid Decal film then let it dry for a couple of days. 
     

    Then went to put decal on the model once I left in water for 45 seconds the ink just peel off the decal leaving more of a white space, so kept trying and could not get it to work (this was the first time making decals) so went on you-tube and one guy was saying you should use a Laser printer, so went and bought a laser printer then had to get white decal film for laser printer.

    So for me this worked yeah 
     


    The three white rings to be done later.
    To be continued.
     
    Regards
    Richard
     
  16. Wow!
    egkb reacted to Erik W in HM Cutter Cheerful 1806 by Erik W - 1:48 scale   
    Thanks for the kind words and likes folks!  This week's progress was getting the fancy molding on the edge of the cap rail.  I used the same method as I did creating the other fancy molding, but once the profile was scraped in I sanded the back side down to reduce the 1/32" thickness so it wouldn't add too much to the overall cap rail width. 
     
    My next task was making the stern gun port lids.  Back when I completed the planking on the stern, the gun port interior framing did not line up correctly with the stern planking.  A bit of an irritant, but I knew with the port lids modeled closed, it wouldn't be noticeable when all was said and done.  The top photo below show the misaligned interior port and planking.  The port lids pictured below are the 5th and 6th ones I made.  I wanted to get the exterior planking lined up correctly as well as the lid interior level and lined up correctly also since you can see the individual boards under the slightly opaque covering of red paint (hard to see in these photos).  The port lids are a bit Frankenstein-like, but look correct from both the interior and exterior.
     
    The port lid hinges were ordered from Chuck 7 or so years ago (it looks like he has updated those hinge kits since back then).  To simulate the actual hinge I used .030" styrene rod painted black along with the hinge straps.  The rings at the bottoms are made from the .016" wire that came with the port hinges secured with a small loop of .010" brass wire.
     
    Erik
     






  17. Like
    egkb reacted to Erik W in HM Cutter Cheerful 1806 by Erik W - 1:48 scale   
    I was out of town visiting family in Annapolis, Maryland, for a few days this week.  While there, I went to the US Naval Academy Museum.  Not my first visit there, but always a fun outing.  And grabbing lunch downtown afterwards is a must as well.  On the 2nd floor, the museum houses the Rogers Collection of wooden ship dockyard models, as well as newer built models from all eras of naval history on the 1st floor.  If you haven't been to this museum, I highly recommend it.
     
    I did manage to make some progress on my Cheerful.  I added the cap rail.  The cap rail is 7 pieces cut out of 1/16" sheet.  One piece for the stern, and 3 for each side.  I have quality digital calipers accurate to .0001" to measure with, so getting the rail to a uniform width was easy enough, it just took some time to sand down.  The cap rail measures in at a bit under 5/32" wide.  I also fashioned the hawse plates out of 1/32" thick sheet.  This was pretty straight forward with first cutting the plan out and then transferring the lines to the wood sheet.  Drilling the hawse holes in the hawse plates and bulwarks was pretty easy as well.  I had an issue with drilling and filing the bowsprit hole though.  While the hole was aligned properly, parallel to the keel and level with the keel, I got a bit carried away with enlarging the diameter up to the final bowsprit diameter.  When I inserted the a 5/16" drill bit shaft to double check the diameter, there was a little slop as it passed through the hawse plate.  I did that thing where I tried to convince myself I could live with it.  I couldn't.  So, I pried it off and fabricated a new one.  This time though I deliberately left the bowsprit hole a smaller diameter than what the bowsprit will be.  I figure it makes the most sense to tweak the hole diameter when I have the bowsprit made, so I can adjust it to the actual diameter.  Live and learn.
     
    Erik




  18. Wow!
    egkb reacted to No Idea in Le Rochefort by No Idea - 1/24th Scale - First POF Build   
    Another update from me - its all or nothing with me at the moment I can only apologise 😀
     
    The final 2 breast hooks for the hawse timbers.  The upper one is made of 3 pieces which then go on to be attached to the forward deck beam supports.
    The second is one piece  - so I dimensioned the wood and roughly cut them out as per usual.  It's worth noting that the upper breast hook is made from a piece that starts at 11mm thick.

    The lower breast hook is very straight forward and is just like all of the others that I have made.  The only difference is that you have to cut a channel for the bowsprit which is set at 17 degrees.

    Installation is also just as before - take your time and get a good fit onto the hawse timbers.  I see this bit as a challenge to get it as tight as possible.


    Now the very top breast hook is a very different thing to make.  It has a gentle curve to match the clamp and the forward deck as the deck timbers sit directly onto it.  It is also parallel in thickness throughout its curve; is recessed onto the clamp and has to align with the bowsprit too.  I hope your keeping up 😆
    So after a bit of thought this was my solution to making this piece which cost me quite a bit in wood as I didn't have anything else in the house other than Castello.  
    Firstly I shaped the perimeter of it as per the drawings - this is the easy bit.  Next to shape the inside curve I attached it to an angle plate to ensure a 90 degree cut.



    I then made a jig which matched the curve that I had just cut and once again attached it to an angle plate for a 90 degree cut.


    Next was to cut the recess for the clamp and again cut another recess for the bowsprit


    Then finally installation (btw this did take me 2 attempts to get right)


    The bowsprit view which just needs a little fettling to bring it all to the final diameter.  You will notice that there is a small gap between the clamp and the breast hook.  One of the spin off benefits of making this part as accurate as possible is that it has put the correct curvature on the model for the forward deck.

    Finally one of my most favourite pictures of my build so far - just a little tidying up needed.

    Now I was going to start planking the outside of the hull next but I have realised that the bowsprit partners are a little vulnerable.  So instead I've decided to finish the forward deck first.  So I need to make the small office and the ships stove and quite a few other parts too.  I want to get the forward deck beams in before attempting any planking.
     
    Can't thank you all enough for the likes, advice and encouragement  - cheers Mark
     
     
  19. Wow!
    egkb reacted to No Idea in Le Rochefort by No Idea - 1/24th Scale - First POF Build   
    Hi All
     
    Some more done on my build - I decided to move to the front of the ship and make the bowsprit partners and the manger.  The first job was to make the metal liners for the scuppers as once the partners were in place this would reduce the space in this area.
     
    Having read the article on using lead in model ships I opted for pewter or as some places call it brittania.  The sheet I used is 0.15mm in thickness and I needed to find a solution to the angle of the scuppers.  
     
    First I made a tube 4mm in diameter that would fit snuggly inside the scupper hole.

    I then made a simple jig to match the angle of the scuppers.  This allowed me to place the tube inside and carefully sand the tube on a face sander.

    I then needed to roll the mouth of the tube over slightly to create a lip to stop the part from falling straight through the hole in the hull.
     

    Then it was simply a trial fit and repeat for the other side.

    Next I made the two bowsprit partners.


    Now making them was a whole lot easier than fitting them.  They fit into slots that I had previously cut into the beams and they have to line up precisely.  The reason being is that not only do they need to be inline with the bowsprit, they also tie into the beams of the deck above.  It's not too difficult I just had to check the overall height of these pieces before gluing.

     
     


    Then it was onto the manger itself  - I have decided after all not to plank the main deck.  I did though need plank the area for the manger.


    I then made the back walls for the manger and pretty much got on with lining the whole thing with the pewter.  I think that the results are ok - but just ok.  I do like the way the scuppers just sit nicely in the corners as they should.  I used cyano to glue it in and I remembered why I don't use this glue.  I personally just cannot get on with the stuff.





    So my next job is to make the final 2 breast hooks for the bow.
     
    Cheers Mark
     

  20. Wow!
    egkb reacted to glbarlow in HMS Winchelsea - FINISHED - 1764 - by Chuck (1/4" scale)   
    Just curious as to why?

    The two fore riding bits are so much larger and more ‘beefy’ than the main mast bits  on Winchelsea. 

    Were they used differently or have a different purpose?  Just curious. 
  21. Like
    egkb reacted to Beckmann in HMS Winchelsea by Beckmann 1/48   
    Thank you all for the comments and likes.
     
    at the moment I am working on the dispay case.
    As I showed above, I want to make a case for three models. My Queen Anne-barge 1"/2' scale and my bone model of the azorean whaleboat wich I showed in my other build log on MSW, also 1"/2' scale. They will be together in the "ground floor" and above them the Winchelsea. Last year I cut a pear tree and so I have some nice pearwood for the case.
     

     

     
    by now it is dry enough and I started on the table of the case.
     
    I started with the legs for the table, dimension 40/40/400 mm
     

    Then the table was put together...

    some parts to stiffen the construction in the corners...

    Some strips to cover up the top...
     

    Here ist one of the models for the ground floor, the mirror-basement will come into the display case as well.



    Matthias
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
  22. Like
    egkb reacted to georgeband in HM Schooner Ballahoo by georgeband - Caldercraft - Haddock drawings   
    Oars and sails and stowing
     
    Oars
    A comprehensive account of oar construction is presented in The Art of Making Masts, Yard, Gaffs, Boom, Blocks, and Oars by David Steel, 1797, which can be found on https://www.thebigrow.com/?p=659#more-659 . I used this as the basis for my oars and combined the entries for single banked boats with those for sculled wherries and skiffs. No doubt there were local variations in the design and manufacture of oars and the results of this research should not be regarded as a universal truth. 
    (dimensions in mm)
    I made the oars from three layers of polystyrene strip. The centre strip is 2.0x0.5mm (80thou x 20thou) and is 50mm long. The outer strips are 1.0x0.25mm (40thou x 10thou) and 31mm long. The task is largely one of sanding, filing and carving and I like to think of it as 'micro whittling'. 

    I painted the oars to give a wood effect then cut away the ends of the blades, trimmed the blade tips and touched up the paint finish.
     
    Grapnel and boathooks
    These are etched brass items from Caldercraft. I added a coil of rope to the grapnel. 
     
    Sail
    I wanted to show the mast, yard and sail dismounted and stored in the boat. A drawing of a sprit sail in https://boatbuildercentral.com/support-tutorials/Tutorials/sprit-rig.pdf and some thinking suggested that the sail would be wrapped around the mast and the sprit yard inserted in the last few turns. The sheet from the lower corner (clew) of the sail could be wound around the sail to hold it, in the same way as the gaskets are used on a square sail. The size of the sail is also my guess.
    Sprit sail
    The mast is from 0.5mm diameter brass, 45mm long and painted to look like wood. The sprit yard is from 0.3mm diameter brass, 41mm long and also painted to look like wood. Only the ends will show.
    I made the sail from thin paper that was previously a tea bag. Different manufacturers use different papers and some have a distinct perforation pattern on them but I found one (PG Tips) that had no discernible texture. The slight brown staining from brewing the tea gave it an aged look.
    I drew the shape of the sail and the seams in pencil. It can then be cut out leaving a wide margin (about 1cm) on the luff (front edge). Fold the front edge over a ruler then put in the mast with about 2mm protruding beyond the top of the sail at the throat. Hold the sail and mast together and apply small drops of superglue to the sail where it folds over the mast. The glue grabs the mast through the paper and only a few drops are needed. The excess margin can now be cut off with a sharp knife.

    I folded over the peak (top corner) so that the head (top edge) is parallel to the mast. I glued a bolt rope to the leech (rear edge) from the clew up to where the sail folds over. A second bolt rope is glued to the last 10mm of the foot and left to hang as a sheet from the clew. I allowed about 10cm to hang free. Use PVA glue and let it dry before the next step.

    The sail is now rolled up around the mast. Keep the turns quite tight and continue until about 10mm to 15mm is left. Now drop in the sprit yard and resume turning until the whole sail is rolled. Continue by winding the sheet around the sail so that about three turns bring you to the top of the mast. Add two more turns as half hitches to secure the end of the sheet. I cut the sheet so that about 5mm was left free. The whole assembly is now ready to mount in the boat. 

    Fill the boat
    There is a lot to put into a small boat and everything has to be tied down so that a rogue wave cannot wash anything out. It’s fiddly work. I started with the oars and boathooks which I gathered into a bundle, some pointing forward and some aft, and placed it on the thwarts with the head of the bundle tight into the bow. I looped a thread around the bundle and the thwarts to tie them together, no glue here! I used simple reef knots and left the ends to dangle down towards the keel, though they needed a small drop of superglue to persuade them to hang in the right direction. I had made seven oars and mistakenly included all of them in the bundle. I have left it like this because I did not want to risk damaging the boat to take one out.
    The rudder and tiller fit on the thwarts to one side of the oars and port was my arbitrary choice. I tied them down and even put the rope through the mortice in the tiller. No one will notice but I know.
    The grapnel fits into the boat on the same side as the rudder and I did not tie it in, reasoning that a large piece of ironwork will stay put if a wave splashes over. The rope coil tucks into the space between the transom and the stern seats.
    The sail and its mast and yard fit neatly in the remaining space to starboard. It is tied to the thwarts in the same way as the other parts.

    The securing ropes for the boat can be tied now. I used the same Guterman thread as elsewhere on this model and tied a 15cm or 6” length to the starboard eye on the cradles with a bowline hitch. The line goes over the hull, through the port eye then back over the boat where a ‘truckers hitch’ is formed. (There are lots of descriptions on the internet.) The difficult step is to tie a small loop in the rope about midway between the two wash strakes. Once this is done the rope is threaded through the starboard eye, then through the loop and then back down towards the starboard eye. I gave it a couple of turns around the tensioned ropes below the wash strake then fixed it with two half hitches. The free end hangs down and I cut the length so that it ends just above the deck.

    The boat and cradle is now ready to fit to the deck. This has been an enjoyable project in its own right. 
     
    George
     
  23. Like
    egkb reacted to georgeband in HM Schooner Ballahoo by georgeband - Caldercraft - Haddock drawings   
    Rudder and tiller
    I made the rudder from 0.5mm thick polystyrene sheet and shaped it by eye, guided by several photos and drawings. The Admiralty drawings display a range of profiles so choose one that pleases you or design your own. The tiller is also from 0.5mm thick polystyrene and has a curve to it. 
    The tiller on the Victory boat at Portsmouth had a mortise at the end which is built up from extra layers of wood. It sits over the top end of the rudder and is locked into place by a peg that passes through a hole in the rudder. I replicated this on my tiller and also added a rim around the rudder to stop the tiller from slipping lower. I painted the rudder and tiller white. 

    The rudder hangs from the boat on two gudgeons and pintles. I made the pintles first from scrap offcuts of etched brass – I looked for a straight, narrow piece with a stub that projects to the side. The straight sections are bent to sit on the hull and the stub gets two bends so that it looks like a pintle projecting from the stern post. I painted them black then fixed them in place with superglue.
    I added two gudgeons to the rudder at heights which match the pintles on the stern post. I made the gudgeons from small, etched brass eyes painted black. Hold the eye with fine pliers then bend the tail so that it is closer to being a tangent to the round eye instead of perpendicular to it. Trim the tail to length and glue it to one side of the rudder. A separate length of brass goes on the other side of the rudder. 
    The rudder and tiller will be stored in the boat and lashed to the thwarts. 

    Cradle
    It was probably a job for the ship’s carpenter to build the cradle and I suspect that there were many designs. I chose vertical posts (relative to the waterline, not the keel) and glued short pieces of 1x4mm walnut between them. These should then be carved to fit the boat’s hull and I started with a cardboard template rather than attacking the wood straight away. I added a strengthening cross beam to each cradle and also planned for angled supports to stop them from tipping over.

    Eyes for lifting ropes
    I glued two etched brass eyes into the hull. The forward one sits in a hole drilled vertically into the stem post, between the wash boards. I placed the aft one inside the transom and also glued it into a drilled hole. 

    Oars
    The Caldercraft etched brass oars are not really suitable: there are only four of them in the set and the shafts are far too thin. I am currently exploring how to make a set and will probably try laminating styrene strips. 
     
    George
     
     
     
  24. Like
    egkb reacted to albert in HMS VICTORY 1765 by albert - 1/48   
    Thank you David, other photos.
  25. Like
    egkb reacted to albert in HMS VICTORY 1765 by albert - 1/48   
    Hi photo Victory.
×
×
  • Create New...