SkerryAmp

Well, not much progress to report, but have brought the Harriet Lane back to the table and gotten some detail rigging underway.  Thus far, have finished most of the braces and the main sheet.  Next up some clean up, then the catheads are calling for attention.
 

 

Not much of an update, but have not been totally slacking!
 
The deck beams have all been installed, as well as the covering board.  With additional helpers here, we have done some preliminary work on the building slip (the 2 young ones, 8 & 10, think it is fun to be able to spread glue and sprinkle cleaned beach sand for the base).
 

 
Next step is to start planking the hull (and adding details to the building slip).
 
 

So, then - a detailed update for you.
 
I am still working on the interior - this takes a good bit of careful measurement, cutting, sanding, throw it away and do it again.  But, I am learning as I go, and more importantly, having fun!
 
So - since last we chatted, I have nearly completed the ceiling along the port side.  Have one small piece to fit in that I pulled after applying primer (just didn't look right).
 
Photo the first - a view of the interior work in-progress.  As you can see, I have started fitting the wet well as it serves as a guide (sort of) for the ceiling.
 

 
I temporarily fit the deck beams that the corner posts will terminate on as a clamping (and measuring) point for the corner posts.
 

 
Over the next few evenings I began to add planking for the wet well.  I am foing to plank the port and forward sides to the top (deck beams) and leave the starboard and aft sides at least partly unplanked to allow a view inside the wet well.  The frames at the bottom remain exposed - will be painted with simulated waterproofing.  The hull planking will serve as the actual bottom for the wet well with 130 some odd small holes drilled to through to allow water to circulate (at least on the real vessel.  I will probably only do a couple of dozen).
 

 

 
This gives a nice view from the starboard side of the bedlogs and frames.  I need to do a bit of cleanup on the painting here.

 
Another view of the ceiling on the port side showing the missing piece I need to replace

 

 
And a final view of the ceiling on both sides forward.

 
Well, no gratuitious pictures at the bay today - been a wet, rainy day.  Maybe next time!
 
For now, though, the ECB moves back to the storage shaelf and the Essex comes back down for a bit of work.  Look forward to any recommendations on how I can make the ECB look better - and thanks for stopping by!
 

So - not quite ready for pictures yet, but have gotten quite a bit done on the old girl this month.  About 2/3 of the way through installing the ceiling, have started framing the wet well, and have the cabing bunks and sole all installed. 
 
Once I get the mid-ship sole installed and finish installing the ceiling I will post some photo's.  Right now, I am struggling with how to clamp the ceiling planks at the curve of the bilge.  No room from below, clamps are too short to come from above. 
 
The area that is giving me fits is right along the sole shown in this picture.
 

 
Given my mechanical skills are minimal (I can change a light bulb, but no metal working talent or experience) and my tools are limited to simple hand tools, any ideas on a good clamping technique that I can devise without having to hire a machinist?
 
Will post a full update with pictures later this week.  Thanks, all!

I place the fenders and outside steps and paint them........
Also make the pin rails with the belaying pins .
Not paint the pins , alone the rack.
 
Very small update but ok, every update is one .
 
Sjors

A very little update.....
 
I make the fenders and outside steps.
Not painted them because I want to do the other side first.
Then it will be painted and you will see the result then.
 
Sjors
 
 

Thank you for the nice comment  
 
@ Mark,
 
I believe you !!!!!!!
And the fish is in the tank  or searching the hook from the rod of Augie 
 
Ulises,
 
Wow.......Thank you !!!!!!!!           
 
After those nice words I have another update.....
She has all her teeth !
Also the decorative strips are on and painted.
So no whales, wales, trouts or gold fish.......
 
Sjors
 
 
 
 

One final update before we close the shipyard for our vacation.
 
The twin binnacles have been completed and mounted.  With this, the 'command and control center' area is completed.
 

 
I'll be around and checking in on all of you for a few days.  Then it's off to Alaska in search of a King Salmon with my name on it.  Been over 25 years since we visited the North country so it will be interesting to see the changes.  Be 'off the grid' for about 3 weeks.
 
Stay the course and keep a lamp burning in the stern gallery so we can find our way back.
 
 
 
 

Happy Memorial Day to all.  And a moment to remember all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice and  cannot be with us to share it.
 
Time for a small update.  Have continued working on the quarter deck with the addition of numerous pinrails, cleats, belaying pins (blackened), eyebolts/rings for the cannon rigging and the ship's wheel:
 
 

 

 

 
It's really good to get the steering cables, which pass down through the quarterdeck and gun deck, off of the deck where they have been in the way for months!  The speaking tube also disappears below into the bowels of the ship.  In more modern times I could just picture John Wayne bellowing 'Engine room -----more steam!!'  The two wheels were really horrible castings but I did what I could to clean them up including fabricating 3 or 4 handles which were missing.  At this scale I wasn't about to attempt scratching 2 wheels (make that any scale).
 
There are still some stanchions and railings to be installed but I'll hold off on these until the 'heavy lifting' in the waist and bow are complete.  Likewise the guns for the QD.
 
So next up will be the twin binnacles.  Here's a preview of the parts layout for one of them:
 

 
Hope all is well with everyone!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Just one comment for those who mentioned they might consider a Swiss Pear deck.  Personally, I love it.  It's fairly easy to work with, holds a good edge.  But even with just a natural stain finish, it has a distinctive, slightly dark color.  It's like picking a paint for a room --- it might look good on a color sample but it turns out to look 'different' when the whole room is done.  
 
Take a look at Rustyj's scratch built Confed to see what I mean.  I believe his is all boxwood --- and beautifully done:
 
http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/533-usf-confederacy-by-rustyj-completed/page-4
 
Choose carefully, my friends.

Time for an update and the celebration of a milestone.  We've reached 1,000 hours into the build !
 
The planking of the quarter deck has been completed and some of the details (speaking tube, mizzen rail) added.  The deck is planked only to the midline to allow some of the gun deck and great cabin work to be seen:
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
The planking is, of course, Swiss Pear and the treesnails done with the 'drill and fill' method  The finish is Natural stain under WOP.  I'll provide some more detailed photos as the final details are added.
 
 
 
 

Augie, Augie, Augie - HOLY COW!!
 
I agree with Edmay,  but let's see if I can help here.
 
Your masterful build shows your methodical and apt attention to detail which comes through in your skillful work!
 
In otherwords..
 
DAMN sir, that is ONE fine looking ship!!!!!

John your ship continues to shape up and look fantastic!!
 
Enjoy your trip!!

Continues to be an inspriation man, nice idea lining those up, they came out fantastic!!!

Continues to be an inspriation man, nice idea lining those up, they came out fantastic!!!

Continuing work on the quarterdeck, the waterways and margin planks were prepared from Swiss Pear and installed P/S:
 

 
Although the deck will only be partially planked (to leave visible some aspects of the gun deck and Great Cabin), I wanted the margins all around for the sake of appearance.
 
Next was to prepare the lower stanchions for the quarterdeck rail.  The simulated sheaves are 'functional':
 

 
Aligning these lower stanchions behind a deck beam requires that they match the curvature of that beam.  To assist in this, a photocopy of the rail was made and attached to the beam:
 

 
The stanchions were then glued behind the deck beam:
 

 
The planking of the starboard side of the quarterdeck (up to the centerline) may now proceed.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Augie, Augie, Augie - HOLY COW!!
 
I agree with Edmay,  but let's see if I can help here.
 
Your masterful build shows your methodical and apt attention to detail which comes through in your skillful work!
 
In otherwords..
 
DAMN sir, that is ONE fine looking ship!!!!!

Sjors that is an amazingly good looking vessel.  Such an awesome job you have done on it!

Well,  my idea was to bleach the decks and then golden oak them back to a reasonable color, however - chalk one up to Miniwax stain,  bleach didn't touch it!!
 
So,  then thought about sanding it away - but really wasn't sure how I would go about that with them installed without damaging the inner bulwarks.
 
So, final decision!   Replank them.  The planks are are 1/64 thick so it really doesn't jump the deck height up noticeably and was easy enough to do.
 
However... PROBLEM!  (as always right).   I was hoping there was enough plank to do the deck and the final decking (fore and poop decks).  I was sadly mistaken.  I used up what I had and am now out of decking material.   Guess what, finding that size is NOT easy.  So,  what I will be doing is seeing what the Nina can do for me.  I am thinking about decking up the parts necessary with the Nina and then using the excess wood to finish up the Santa maria.
 
Until I decide that,  here is where the Santa Maria sits currently.
 
 
I started to plank the hull according to the instructions.  I am still not happy at all with my planking abilities,  my 10 year wedding anniversery is coming up so the wife and I are exchanging gifts and from what I understand she is doing I had better figure this planking thing out - and fast!!  (Ugh).
 
So, plank plank plank....
 

 

 

 
Really kind of embarassing - that hull is going to need a LOT of work regarding sanding and shaping!
 
I did however (as I said up above) get sidetracked with the planking and that is when I applied my magnificantly short sighted idea for decking up the Santa Maria.   Here is where that sits at the moment....
 

 
I did decide to vary the lengths and do simulated treenails with a mechanical pencil this time.  The solid planks and dark wood just were not doing it for me.  Once I fill in the rest of the space I will give it a VERY light stain of natural and Golden Oak (probobly like a 10:1 ratio) just to give it a little color and blend it all together, darken the nails and caulk etc.   The idea is to keep it very light.
 
 
So - enjoying this one,  but the deck debacle and really painful planking job so far is a slight spirit killer.. but I will get it all cleaned up and happy - I am pretty good at filler and shaping hulls (you should see what is under the mayflower second planking and filler hehe.
 
However, with all that said. my parts have come for the mayflower, so tonight will be finishing up all those fiddly bits, sealing it and getting ready to move forward with that one....
 
Until later - ENJOY!!
 
 
 
 

So, vacation was a blast - Hershey park is a lot of fun if you have not been and like amusement parks I think it was well worth the time and money spent!  Although - 84 through Connecticut is a bit of an anxiety trip .
 
So, got home last night and just kicked back and decompressed a bit. However, as a tradition started many moons ago I always take one extra day from work upon returning so spent today back at the bench!!
 
Next up was the bowsprit.   Between the plans and the great instructions it was pretty much straighforward and easy peasy.  Although tying the gammoning was a new experience and I spent a good amount of time learning to use two tweezers (didn't have to do that on the phantom).
 
So,  started with an acceptably sized dowel....
 

 
It was then time to taper it.  Since I do not have a wood lathe (Although after this I am thinking I may look into one,  Harbor Freight had a cheap one,  may see if that one is any good) I went with the drill method.  Used a small piece of cloth to protect the dowel end and chucked that puppy up and got ready to go!
 

 
Using 80 grit sandpaper I fired up the drill and started to slowly sand it away.   I varied the pressure from the base to the tip and after a little while (and a battery swap)  I got it to size per the plans.   One big tip doing it this way,  wear gloves! That sandpaper gets VERY hot and it gets very uncomfortable and the potential for a burn is pretty good.
 
I had debated on whether to drill the hole and let the gammoning do it's thing,  but ended up opting for cutting the correct angle and gluing it to the bow.  So created a small tenon for that effort.
 

 
Next up, add the chocks and cleats.   Those were pretty easy, not totally sure I got the alignment dead on but I think I got it acceptably close.  The chocks were just small rectangles cut rough and then filed to shape in place.
 

 
A quick coat of stain and the bowsprit was mounted and the gammoning tied and this step of the masting/rigging is done!
 

 

 
One small issue that did show up is that apparently when I sealed it I messed up.  I discovered how bad an idea that was after taking the pics and wondering what all those little white dust spots were all over the ship.   They aren't there in person.   However, after closer inspection the specks are the shine from the sealer.   I thought I had grabbed satin, but no no no.  I grabbed GLOSS, and HIGH GLOSS at that.   So,  I have to get some satin sealer and redo that, so please ignore the speckle effect,  it isn't there to the eye, but the camera gets it due to the finish -
It kind of made me
 
Tomorrow night it would appear that next up is to work on the main masts, so looking forward to that!!!
 
So, until later - enjoy and happy modeling!!

Evening all.  Well, a weekend away was a nice break but was itching to build!!
 
So - onward I went!!
 
Great ideas and will see what I can do with it - I like the wash, although my decks in most places are real tight, but will see what can be done =)
 
I did get the rest of the decking laid and threw on a first layer of stain (natural with just a hair bit of oak for tint).  The boards are Boxwood from the lumberyard and the color really popped.  Although, even though I preconditioned it and have in the past had great luck with it - this time it still came out a bit blotchy.   Not sure what happened.  It doesn't look horrible just odd that it did that.  I am hoping after the wash and poly to deepen it a bit the blotchiness will fade/blend in.  I know a couple coats sometimes can even up blotchiness - here is crossing fingers and hoping!!!
 
Thanks all for popping in!!
 

 
 
Enjoy!!!
 
-Adam

Went back through and looked over the evolution of your build and you really did an outstanding job - can't wait to see where you go next =)

Sjors that is an amazingly good looking vessel.  Such an awesome job you have done on it!

Augie, Augie, Augie - HOLY COW!!
 
I agree with Edmay,  but let's see if I can help here.
 
Your masterful build shows your methodical and apt attention to detail which comes through in your skillful work!
 
In otherwords..
 
DAMN sir, that is ONE fine looking ship!!!!!

Version 2.0 is certainly coming along incredibly well, nicly done!