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egkb

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  1. Like
    egkb got a reaction from jonny.amy in Badger by Landlubber Mike - FINISHED - Caldercraft - 1:64 - Brig   
    Mike, I too love what you have done with your furled sails (impressed enough to want to give it a go myself!) just be careful comparing modern sail material on tall ships (Dacron etc) with the proper 'canvas' in the time of Badger, there would be a world of difference in thickness and flexibility.
    Loving this build BTW !
     
    Eamonn
  2. Like
    egkb reacted to Monarch in HM Mortar Vessel Convulsion by Monarch - Caldercraft - 1:64 - First Build   
    Have finally attached the bowsprit which I had to paint in walnut because I could not source birch dowel and the hardwood I used ended up being a bit too grainy just to dye. I am pleased with the latter blocks and deadeyes I attached as I used diluted PVA and not CA like the earlier ones which are really too rigid for my liking. Horrifies to find I somehow dripped CA onto the side of the mortar housing so might have to partially close the roof to hide it as there is no way I can remove the drip without causing too much damage.
     
    Sorry about the quality of the photographs - must get better lighting.
     
    On with the masts now.




  3. Like
    egkb reacted to Moonbug in Swift by Moonbug - FINISHED - Artesania Latina - recreated build log   
    Some shots of details including the cabins and below decks.
     




      The rest of the finished shots can be found in the Swift gallery.
  4. Like
    egkb reacted to Moonbug in Swift by Moonbug - FINISHED - Artesania Latina - recreated build log   
    Some other rigging details.
     
    In particular the way the main sail was rigged - this rigging method was the result of quite a bit of research and was as close to authentic as I could find.  The rigging directions in the kit were not specific and not particularly accurate.
     

     

  5. Like
    egkb reacted to Moonbug in Swift by Moonbug - FINISHED - Artesania Latina - recreated build log   
    I discovered that this ship is lacking in certain details of course - one of them is an proper anchor mount and wench. These details were taken from Mastini's book as well as Baltimore pilot boat plans. 
     

     
    These are some basic mast and rigging constructions.
     

  6. Like
    egkb reacted to Moonbug in Swift by Moonbug - FINISHED - Artesania Latina - recreated build log   
    This kit is where I came up with my "fake lathe" method of creating barrels. I put a dowel into my drill and mount it in an anvil vice. When I tighten the vice on this particular drill, it somehow squeezes it just enough to keep the speed consistent. I then use both sandpaper and pin files to create the barrel shapes. I then use a miniature mitre saw to cut off the barrel and do the finishing sanding.
     

     
    I then score the barrels with one of the many X-acto blades where I've accidentally broken the tip off. 
    I stain it, then I create the black barrel strips out of electrical tape that is super glued in place. The electrical tape actually works quite well as long as it is stretched the correct amount and held in place by hand until it dries completely.
     

     
    These are the barrels and packages that I created for below decks. The bags of wheat (or whatever they might be) are made from canvas pieces filled with balsa wood that is carved and sanded to the shape I want. 
     

     
    Finally a captain's desk.
     

     
    The desk is taken directly from Mastini's book "Ship Modeling Simplified" The ink pot and pen are created from a walnut carving along with a tiny piece of paper. The sextant is soldered from pieces of brass as well as a couple of sewing pins.
  7. Like
    egkb reacted to Moonbug in Swift by Moonbug - FINISHED - Artesania Latina - recreated build log   
    Mounting the bowsprit was a particular challenge. Because many of the pieces didn't quite line up, I needed to cut a new piece to fit the bow of the ship and re-create the front railing. 
     

  8. Like
    egkb reacted to Moonbug in Swift by Moonbug - FINISHED - Artesania Latina - recreated build log   
    I get board with some of the bits of the ship, so I start messing around with details. 
    I wanted to add some extra features to the lower decks, but I also wanted to be able to see those details. This kit has permanent deck houses.  So I devised a plan in which a viewer could remove and replace the deck houses.
     

     
    The doors are framed with thin cut strips of mahogany with mitre cuts. They're mounted with frames made from brass so that they can be opened and closed. 
     

     
    I mounted pins on the bottom of the deckhouses, then I drilled corresponding holes into the deck access pieces.
     


  9. Like
    egkb reacted to Moonbug in Swift by Moonbug - FINISHED - Artesania Latina - recreated build log   
    I'll go through this pretty quickly - the inside of the bulwarks are strips of walnut and the rails and wales are both walnut and mahogany strips. 
     

     
    The bow of the ship is a little flimsy also and took some "fixing" to line everything up.
     

     
     
  10. Like
    egkb reacted to Moonbug in Swift by Moonbug - FINISHED - Artesania Latina - recreated build log   
    Because of the delicate nature of the hull planking, I used several layers of tung oil and then lacquered with polyurethane before I started working on treenails for the hull.
     

     
    I used strips of painters tape to line up where I wanted the treenails. This also had the benefit of preventing splintering of the hull planking when I drilled. 
     

     
    My treenails are .5 mm pencil lead. I poked the pencil lead into the holes then snapped them off. I then sanded down very gently and got a decent end result. The process actually went relatively quickly. Not the exact look I was going for, but it came out ok and was an interesting experiment. 
  11. Like
    egkb reacted to Moonbug in Swift by Moonbug - FINISHED - Artesania Latina - recreated build log   
    Hello all. In the interest of current Swift and Virginia Pilot boat type builds being conducted currently, I've decided to recreate my build log of the AL Swift kit that was lost in the great crash of MSW 1.0. Hopefully it'll help some of the folks along with their own builds. 
     
    I'll do my best to provide the information I can based on memory, but in all fairness this may end up just being a bunch of photos.  ;p~
     
    To the moderators - hope this is ok since I already have some completed photos of the Swift in the gallery.  Obviously if I'm stepping on some of the rules please let me know and act accordingly.  :-)
     
    Here are the initial shots of the kit.
     
     
       
     
    Although this was a very enjoyable kit to build, I found that unlike my San Juan Nepomuceno this kit had quite a few warped and messed up parts. 
     
       
     
    I had to straighten out the keel quite a bit. First I soaked and weighted the keel and bulkheads. Then I inserted balsa wood blocks at the front and rear and lined up all the bulwarks by inserted dowels that were cut to match the exact distance between each bulkhead. I measured that distance dead center at the keel to ensure accuracy.
  12. Like
    egkb reacted to augie in USF Confederacy by Augie & Moonbug - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1:64   
    Time for a small update.
     
    The treenailing of the upper hull is completed.  I used the 'drill and fill' method using a #74 bit and wood filler that I dyed with acrylic paint to the color I liked.  It's not as aggressive a pattern as specified on the plans but it suits me.  Once that was done, another coat of diluted Minwax Golden Oak stain was applied and everything given 2 coats of WOP followed by an application of brush on Testor's Flat Acrylic.
     

     

     
    Now it's time to finish the painting on the upper hull.  Everything from approx. 2 strakes above the gun ports up to the rail will be black.  Wish I had a scale roller  .  Probably take about 8 coats.
     
    Be back soon.
     
     
  13. Like
    egkb reacted to Landlubber Mike in Badger by Landlubber Mike - FINISHED - Caldercraft - 1:64 - Brig   
    Thanks very much Eamonn, really appreciate the kind words.  Give them a try!
  14. Like
    egkb got a reaction from flyer in Badger by Landlubber Mike - FINISHED - Caldercraft - 1:64 - Brig   
    Mike, I too love what you have done with your furled sails (impressed enough to want to give it a go myself!) just be careful comparing modern sail material on tall ships (Dacron etc) with the proper 'canvas' in the time of Badger, there would be a world of difference in thickness and flexibility.
    Loving this build BTW !
     
    Eamonn
  15. Like
    egkb reacted to Shamrock in HMC Sherbourne 1763 by tkay11 - FINISHED – Caldercraft – Scale 1:64 - A Novice’s Build   
    Hi
    thank you for a very complete answer. I feel more relaxed now and will - as you suggest - "see every part as a single model", will certainly make one think before acting wich is what I need to do.
    I do not have any photos from the Shamrock build since I started and finished it about 7-8 years ago - long before I found this site. So it is only sails that I am finishing right now, but I will add some photos of the model when I have completed it.
    Once again - thanks a lot
     
    Shamrock (name stolen from the model)
  16. Like
    egkb reacted to jim_smits in HMS Ballahoo by jim_smits - FINISHED - Caldercraft   
    Run into a minor issue I think. Having started to shape and test the bulwarks against the frames, it looks like the third bulkhead isn't quite wide enough and will result in a dip in planking on the starboard side. I am hoping that I will be able to solve this with some spare lime planking and then a careful reshape, using a plank to test the line of the hull.
     
    Hopefully this shouldn't be to difficult to resolve and I can commence with attaching the bulwarks and planking.
  17. Like
    egkb reacted to Monarch in HM Mortar Vessel Convulsion by Monarch - Caldercraft - 1:64 - First Build   
    Eamonn
     
    I like your thinking and look forward to your build logs, 1 or 3? Be careful not to mix the bits up though, you could end up with the wrong mast on of of the boats.
     
    Good luck
     
    Glyn
  18. Like
    egkb reacted to Beef Wellington in HMS Snake by Beef Wellington - FINISHED - Caldercraft - Scale 1: 64 - First wooden ship build   
    Bug - nice to have you on board.  I think I'm below the $1 mark 
     
    Colin - thanks for kind words, I'm learning from your wonderful Pandora
     
    Mobbsie - it was Andy that put me onto that.  Anyway, I owe you at least a couple for the 'mouse' help...speaking of..
     
    First Mouse:
     
    I've been procrastinating over my first mouse on the mizzen stay.  Size was estimated from various drawings.  Followed Mobbsie's method and made the mouse out of wood dowel and glued onto the line which was then served.  PVA glue was brushed onto the wood to keep the serving line in place (this photo is the second attempt and you can see the fuzz from attempt 1)

     
    Finished moused end...Lever identifies a pretty small eye vs the instructions which call for a much larger one against the mouse.  The stay was served a little beyond the mouse which per Lever can be done "according to fancy".

     
    Mizzen stay in place...it looks OK to me but as always would welcome feedback if I'm off track before committing to this.

  19. Like
    egkb got a reaction from mtaylor in HM Mortar Vessel Convulsion by Monarch - Caldercraft - 1:64 - First Build   
    Hi Glyn,
     
    Yup, am strongly thinking about it.. same manufacturer, same scale, same small vessels and you don't have to relearn skills from one to the next (what works for one will no doubt work on the others, instead of waiting maybe a year between them when you forget the 'knack' of doing something, planking for example ) lets see if I am still so optimistic in a few months when I've aged about 20 years and am curled up in the corner of my build room sobbing to myself about rabbets and fake splices
     
    Eamonn
     
    Ye all might be in for a laugh if nothing else .....  
  20. Like
    egkb got a reaction from Craigie65 in HM Mortar Vessel Convulsion by Monarch - Caldercraft - 1:64 - First Build   
    Hi Glyn,
     
    Yup, am strongly thinking about it.. same manufacturer, same scale, same small vessels and you don't have to relearn skills from one to the next (what works for one will no doubt work on the others, instead of waiting maybe a year between them when you forget the 'knack' of doing something, planking for example ) lets see if I am still so optimistic in a few months when I've aged about 20 years and am curled up in the corner of my build room sobbing to myself about rabbets and fake splices
     
    Eamonn
     
    Ye all might be in for a laugh if nothing else .....  
  21. Like
    egkb reacted to tkay11 in HMC Sherbourne 1763 by tkay11 - FINISHED – Caldercraft – Scale 1:64 - A Novice’s Build   
    Shamrock, it's only as demanding as you make it. If you've already done the Amati Shamrock (did you choose the model because of your name or are you just using your model's name for yourself?), then clearly you're not worried about working with wood and I should imagine you found various 'difficulties' of your own to get over during that build.
     
    The Sherbourne is most definitely suitable for a beginner. After all, I'm a beginner, and have enjoyed every moment. The only new aspect that the Sherbourne or the Chatham might offer over the Shamrock is the planking on the hull (ok, maybe the rigging will be more complicated and there's a few guns to work on), but there are plenty of tutorials on this forum (which I myself had to follow) to help you along. When I first looked at the tutorials there were several aspects that had me totally mystified (especially the instructions on how to cut a garboard plank). But I soon found out that the best way of learning was just starting and trying it out. Of course mistakes are made, but then it's easy enough to undo them and start again. An advantage of double planking is that it really doesn't matter how badly you do the first planking since it's never going to be seen, and it gives you plenty of practice for the outer layer.
     
    I am a complete beginner at working with wood and it is about 45 years since I fiddled around with plastic models (which at that time meant sticking one pre-formed part to another and following the instructions -- the only slight skill I had at that time was painting them). I thought, however, that if others could do these wonderful things with wood, and if others had similarly had to start somewhere, then it would be quite reasonable for me to try my hand.
     
    At the time I started, there were a lot of Sherbourne builds and so it was easy to see the various stages of assembly and there was plenty of help and encouragement (a tradition that is strongly maintained on this forum) -- it still surprises me how the highly experienced modelers on the forum spend a lot of time with newcomers such as myself when they must have seen and been through the same stages many times over.
     
    The only real 'difficulty' that most people found with the Sherbourne was fitting the transom at the stern, and each individual chose their own way of doing it. Otherwise you can make the kit as easily as you please just using the parts supplied.
     
    So it all depends on what you'd like to do. My own personal preference is to see every single part as a new model in itself with its own set of skills which I know I have to learn if I want to accomplish something better in the future. I have enjoyed exploring the variety of ways in which people have approached the individual parts. So I thought "hmm, nibbed planking, don't understand that, so I'd better see if I can learn how to do it". Then the same thing happened with the pumps, the windlass, and the other deck fittings. Then I saw someone making a ship's boat, and I thought I'd try that out as well. In other words, I liked what others were doing, and simply tried my hand at it. Maybe I am not achieving the wonderful finish that others have achieved, but it's been tremendous fun learning that I can actually do something like that.
     
    In the last month or so I decided I was very unsatisfied both with the gratings and with the shot racks that I made, so I have torn off the shot racks and made them all over again, and I have remade the gratings after learning how to use my saw to do so. All that will be forthcoming in some future part of this log. I was also very pleased at finding a way to convert my Proxxon drill stand into a mill. You should be getting the idea that no matter what your starting point there's a lot that's very achievable even if you can't see right now quite how to do it. A lot of the fun is puzzling it out for the particular tools and materials that you have to hand.
     
    When I go over the ways in which I have approached each step, I am highly conscious that others may have looked at the step in the same way and wondered how to go about it. So I just spend time explaining what I have done in case it helps other novices think through how they might approach it for themselves. The more experienced quite often will have done it better, but everyone understands that just doing it helps you develop your own sense of what you want to get out of the hobby.
     
    Another word of caution: don't be carried away with the need to make a build as accurate historically as possible. There are only degrees of similarity. For one thing, the sizes are completely different. If you just stick to the kit parts you'll still have a very pleasing model. You just have to decide what is 'pleasing' for yourself.
     
    The Chatham is a lovely model, and will have exactly the same skills required as for the Sherbourne. My estimate is that you will find it very pleasing but I can't predict what aspects you will find challenging. So why not post some pictures of your model Shamrock (especially if you have any photos of the building process) and start your log of the Chatham once it arrives.
     
    I and many others will look forward to seeing your progress. The thing is not to think from the start that it is going to be difficult. It may be difficult in the sense that at first you may feel it hard to achieve a particular accuracy, but you'll find that bit by bit your skills develop.
     
    I hope that offers some encouragement. You'll probably also find that once started not only will you not have a nervous breakdown, but that building these models is a great way to relax and to avoid one.
     
    Keep us posted on how you get on!
     
    Tony
  22. Like
    egkb reacted to Monarch in HM Mortar Vessel Convulsion by Monarch - Caldercraft - 1:64 - First Build   
    Eamonn you're not going to build all three at the same time surely? If yes then you are one brave man.
     
    Regards
     
    Glyn
  23. Like
    egkb reacted to jim_smits in HMS Ballahoo by jim_smits - FINISHED - Caldercraft   
    Got my replacement parts from JoTiKa today. Great service from them as I only spoke to them on Thursday.
     

     
    Next step for the build is to gradually shape the bulwarks. Using a mug and large clips at the moment. Once they are roughly the correct shape I will bend to the bulkheads on the ship.
     

  24. Like
    egkb got a reaction from NMBROOK in HMS Naiad 1797 by albert - FINISHED - 1/48   
    This build is deffo an exercise in precision... I think you would need a 'bit-of-a-lie-down' if you saw my work station Albert (think 'explosion in a timber yard' and you'd not be too far off)
    Wonderful to watch the pinnacle of this hobby of ours!
     
    Eamonn
    aka 'let me just clear a space so you can actually see the Bounty.. ah there it is'
  25. Like
    egkb reacted to Monarch in HM Mortar Vessel Convulsion by Monarch - Caldercraft - 1:64 - First Build   
    Hi Eamonn
     
    Being my first build She is a very forgiving ship and the only issue I had with her was the false keel being warped so had to clamp it to a piece of straight oak to straighten it out. All the other issues I found we caused by me and my lack of knowledge and experience and perhaps not looking as closely at the drawings as I should have done. I put the wales too low which caused issues with the deadeyes and chain plates and too much reliance on CA.
     
    I would recommend you pin all the deck fittings but make sure that they are square to centre, a couple of mine are slightly off.
     
    If this is your first build, unless you are an experienced modeller or craftsman which I am not and have another kit in the locker get some spare dowels, gratings & belaying pins so that you can more easily recover from any mistakes rather than have to wait for spare bits to arrive. My biggest tip is to measure at least twice preferably three times before cutting once - hence my need for spare dowels which I borrowed from my Bounty which is waiting patiently for me.
     
    Doubtless like me you will be your biggest critic and all errors will be blown out of proportion but despite what I think, everyone who sees my Convulsion goes 'Wow, you did that'.
     
    I just enjoy building her and look to this site as your reference book because even though I think mine is the only Convulsion log, all other builds require the same work but with varying degrees of complexity and tasks -just imagine making 100 gun port lids and mounting them! the Convulsion is very kind in this regard but still attention to detail is still required.
     
    If I can ever be of any assistance please ask although you might be better talking to Normanh whose Convulsion shown in MSW1 was my inspiration.
     
    Regards
     
    Glyn
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