SkerryAmp

Well,  my goal was to start rigging this week, however the set back on waiting for a few loose end parts and my approaching vacation this weekend will push rigging off to a start time of next week when I return.  Taking the wife and brother down to Hershey Park in PA tomorrow night and I don't think they will be too keen on me packing my ship and materials and working on it in the hotel - although it is very tempting!!
 
So,  got my parts and finished up all the little loose ends. 
 
Finished the pin rails;  pretty straightforward really just basswood and golden oak to blend it all together.
Put the "hinges" on the gun lids;  just used some pactra black trim tape. Cut it to size and stuck them on!
Then sprayed the whole thing down with a couple coats of sealer to bring out some of the colors and deepen the stain a bit and that is where she will remain until Next week.
 
So, as I head off to finish up some other work and tasks I need to wrap up before tomorrow night i will leave some pics of where she sits today, the hull for the most part finished and now waiting for some masts and rope!  Then it will be to attach the anchors, the flower the rear pole and mount on the base and wallah!
 

 

 

 

 

 
Until later all!
 
Enjoy and happy modeling!!
 
 
 
 
 
 

Well,  my goal was to start rigging this week, however the set back on waiting for a few loose end parts and my approaching vacation this weekend will push rigging off to a start time of next week when I return.  Taking the wife and brother down to Hershey Park in PA tomorrow night and I don't think they will be too keen on me packing my ship and materials and working on it in the hotel - although it is very tempting!!
 
So,  got my parts and finished up all the little loose ends. 
 
Finished the pin rails;  pretty straightforward really just basswood and golden oak to blend it all together.
Put the "hinges" on the gun lids;  just used some pactra black trim tape. Cut it to size and stuck them on!
Then sprayed the whole thing down with a couple coats of sealer to bring out some of the colors and deepen the stain a bit and that is where she will remain until Next week.
 
So, as I head off to finish up some other work and tasks I need to wrap up before tomorrow night i will leave some pics of where she sits today, the hull for the most part finished and now waiting for some masts and rope!  Then it will be to attach the anchors, the flower the rear pole and mount on the base and wallah!
 

 

 

 

 

 
Until later all!
 
Enjoy and happy modeling!!
 
 
 
 
 
 

Well,  my goal was to start rigging this week, however the set back on waiting for a few loose end parts and my approaching vacation this weekend will push rigging off to a start time of next week when I return.  Taking the wife and brother down to Hershey Park in PA tomorrow night and I don't think they will be too keen on me packing my ship and materials and working on it in the hotel - although it is very tempting!!
 
So,  got my parts and finished up all the little loose ends. 
 
Finished the pin rails;  pretty straightforward really just basswood and golden oak to blend it all together.
Put the "hinges" on the gun lids;  just used some pactra black trim tape. Cut it to size and stuck them on!
Then sprayed the whole thing down with a couple coats of sealer to bring out some of the colors and deepen the stain a bit and that is where she will remain until Next week.
 
So, as I head off to finish up some other work and tasks I need to wrap up before tomorrow night i will leave some pics of where she sits today, the hull for the most part finished and now waiting for some masts and rope!  Then it will be to attach the anchors, the flower the rear pole and mount on the base and wallah!
 

 

 

 

 

 
Until later all!
 
Enjoy and happy modeling!!
 
 
 
 
 
 

Quick progress update - None
 
Well, not really....   I did finish up a bunch of the little stuff, however came up short on some materials to truly push it over the edge. So, ordered them up and waiting for them to show at which I point I will get back and wrap up,  seal it up and start rigging!!
 
Until then - I think I shall spend time on the Santa Maria!

Another good weekend at the bench!
 
My goal was to get in a spot to start the masts and rigging this coming week and I am just about there.   I did get into a bit of a groove again,  between football and building, time just moved along and I didn't get pics along the way as much as I wanted.
 
I do have to get better at that,  am trying to at least.
 
This weekends updates are all around rounding out the ship.
 
First the channels were painted, installed and knees added.  These, once in, really made the nearing of the end real to me - very exciting.  Odd how just a small thing can do that, but very cool!
 

 
 
Using some pear in order to continue the scheme of using peaer for accents and trim work I created the frame for the beakhead grating and some replacement grating I had to order from MS to finish up the kit.
 

 
And then very simply glued that in to place, added the walkway planks and pin rail with belaying pins and wallah!  The interior of the beakhead is complete!!
 

 
Then finished up the trim on the outside of the beakhead!  Again just went with the kit scheme to keep it simple.   ON the fence about the beakhead yellow decorations, may just leave them off - still undecided.
 

 
And here we have her, the mayflower - 99% ready to begin the masts and rigging.   I still have some minor bits and pieces to finish up before then, a couple of pin rails to add now that I have the extra belaying pins as well as replacing the railing on the poop deck (it snapped off ).   Once I get those all in place I am going to give it a once over with a nice semi gloss spray.   All I have is testors lacquer, which typically is not good to use over acrylics.  I think I need to go find some acrylic based tomorrow in anticipation!
 
Anyway, once it is sprayed with a couple of coats to even out the colors and sheen,  I will be on to the masts and rigging!!!  (even the ratlines ... )
 

 
 
So here she sits currently - ready for her touchups, dotting of the I's crossing of the T's and a nice shiny coat!
 

 

 
 
Until later... enjoy!

Well thank you very much Chuck,   I am not sure if I had read that and forgot I had read that, or if I just plain missed it - I did NOT realize they could just be lined up, stacked up, glued up and done.  That sure does make it a heck of a lot easier.  Is there anything you did not think of!
 
Now even MORE impressed!!!
 
 
I will do that from here on out.
 
(They really are nice!)

Okee Dokee my friends,  had to do it - just had to....   spent the night working out how to assemble the deadeyes to see how they were going to come out....
 
I dunno about you guys, but I am really really happy with these things - THANK you Chuck, spectacular job!   I am sure you guys will as well.
 
 
So,  first the problem.
 
These things are small - as to be expected right? 
 
So, how to assemble them.   They are laser cut, very nicely and easy to cut from the wood spars.  However gluing them together and
 
1) Keeping the holes aligned
2) Keeping glue out of the holes
3) Keeping them sandwhiched properly so as not to slip.
 
I put on the thinking cap....and here is what I came up with.
 
I decided to start with the largest ones,  6mm,  as test subjects to my "process"
 
FIrst we need 3 pins and a block of wood. (The pins should fit through the deadeye holes )
 

 
We then cut the tops off the pins so we just have the metal shafts
 

 
We then cut the deadeye parts from the wooden spar and place one of the outer parts on the block (face down as it will be the outside) and insert the pins in the holes
 

 
We now have our "jig".   we take an inner part, add a VERY Small amount of glue and slide it over the pins, then take the second outer part of the deadeye, face up. Add a small dot of glue and slide it down.  There we have it, an assembled deadeye .
 

 
The pins act as an alignment guide, not only are they spaced correctly but due to the pattern on the eyes if you attempt to put a part on out of alignment it will be very obvious as the pins bend out of wack.   So we now have an alignment jig for our assembly of the deadeyes.
 
This process then can be repated.
* Outer section face down
* dot of glue on middle section slid into place
* dot of glue on outer section face up slid into place
 
I did this unti I had a small tower of deadeyes, all perfectly aligned and held in place to dry.
 

 
Once they are dried you can pull the assembly off of the block.  Most likely it will come off like a shishkebob of deadeyes, that is okay.  Just pull the pins out one at a time and walla, a pile of dead-eyes.   Repeat untl all are complete.
 
I was now just one step away from the finish 
 

 
The first thing I had done before any of this was assemble the Model Shipways BlockBuster,  in anticipation.
 
So  grabbed the handful of 6mm assembled and unbusted dead eyes, through them into the blockbuster and went to town.
 
I would say I had it running about 5 or 6 minutes and sadly the drill started to peter out.. so had to stop.  However,  the result is pretty darn nice!
 

 
I am goig to run it through again tomorrow after the batter has a chance to charge up a bit and even out teh edge color some and get rid of the little tabs where I had cut it from the sprue.   Some of them already have been sanded off by the buster so I know it will finish them off nicely.   Once those are cleaned up these will be some nice little dead eyes and at least in my opinion an upgrade from the kit supplied ones.
 
 
So,  that was tonights adventure.   My first adventure into assembling Syren Ship Model Company's dead eyes.  I am hoping the same process will work for the smaller ones I just need to find pins or some sturdy cheap wire small enough to fit.
 
Until next time all!
 
Enjoy!
 

 
 
 
 

look on the bright side........you have another build to fill your time while waiting for material     what's not to like!

Quick progress update - None
 
Well, not really....   I did finish up a bunch of the little stuff, however came up short on some materials to truly push it over the edge. So, ordered them up and waiting for them to show at which I point I will get back and wrap up,  seal it up and start rigging!!
 
Until then - I think I shall spend time on the Santa Maria!

That is a great idea with the stand.  I would never have thought about planking the cradle - and it looks great!
 
(I may steal that idea someday )

Great idea on the cradle, my friend.  And you didn't need any drop planks or stealers !!!!!

I agree and nor did you need ratlines!!!!!    :D  

Wonderful job!! The walnut looks really good

Be safe and have a blast!!!

I agree, that is one incredibly smooth hull and the paint looks airbrushed.  Awesome!!!!
 
Whats next, whats next huh huh huh? 

My shipyard will be closed for a week while I visit friends in California. Might visit the Maritime Museum near Oxnard to see their collection of model ships.
,

I promise you an update today and here it come.......
Not the update that you are expecting but it is one !
Caldercraft give me a cradle with nothing..
I know that some is painting them or giving it a layer of stain.
I didn't do that.
Because I love planking, I have planked the whole thing !
When that was done I give it two layers of mat varnish.
I think it looks good.
But, see for your self.
I also place the nameplate that I've got from Mobbsie.
But, I don't want you to think that I'm doing nothing, the last picture is an update from the starboard side.
So you see that I'm still at the copperplates !
 
Sjors

Ok....
 
No bus but it is still me !
It's just like clothes......I'm chancing it everyday....
Same with the bus, every day another bus......
Even building....now and then another build.....
Only not Anja...I will keep her !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
@ Kevin,
 
Sometimes you have to change.
 
@ Grant,
 
Yep, a year ago.
Time flies....when you have fun !
 
@ Augie,
 
The passengers has taken the bus and leaving me behind.......
 
@ Mark,
 
Witch log you are looking at, it's always the right log !
 
@ Bindy,
 
Thanks for the good word about the coppering 
Wait and see when I'm done with the other side........
Maybe later today an update !
 
Sjors

Sorry that I'm not answering you Tom.
 
I don't know how the manual was years ago....
I have these day's no problems at all.
The drawings are clear to me.
But don't forget, Mobbsie is helping me.
He is a walking manual ......
When you start a build log, let me know and I will follow you and help you where I can.
 
Sjors

I always seem to hit the point of "time to sleep" and then convince my self to do "just a little more".
 
Sometimes it works out well for me, others well -
 
But your build is fantastic!

thanks Mobbsie      I tried to get back here last night to post the pictures........darn thing went into sleep mode and wouldn't wake up.   yea still a few things I need to do towards getting my computer to fit my lifestyle     anyway.......here are some pictures of the hull after it got the primer coat.   they aren't real good quality......but they show the progress well enough. 
    I still have more to do.......
 

 

 

 

 
I let it dry quite a bit before I brought her back into the house.   while it was out there,  I started to work on the fore deck platform.
 

 
here's an odd thing I noticed.   when I sprayed the transom......I was pointing right at it when I sprayed.    yet none of it got in the chute.  I did not mask the chute at all.
 

 
I did cement the bulkhead in place.......and the bottom support for it {behind it}
 

 

 
now,  the deck support beams need to be done at the bow.   the fore deck platform can be cut out,  and hopefully,  I can get to the point of cementing it in place,  in the next session.  thanks for looking in 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

thanks to you all for the good word and the likes.   I've been hit by a few  'waves'.......but not bad enough that it would stop me,  by any stretch of imagination     I'm really not that far in finishing the mods to the hull.......pretty soon,  I can start treating it as a normal build  {if there is such a thing) 
 
the mod goes on with refining the chute........can't do too much right now,  because there is still the filler work to the transom.  here,  the edges are somewhat rounded off.
 

 

 
with the deck in place......this will be the size of the chute.
 

 
the stern bulwark is put back in place at this time.
 

 

 
for that minor short coming along the transom with the deck,  I decided to cut both deck halves even to one another,  and add in a strip of square stock,  to fill it in.
 

 
the starboard side platform is cemented in place at this time
 

 
when it was dry,  the port side was installed
 

 
while I was waiting.......I did the filler work on the transom.   most of this will be sanded off
 

 
any gaps in the deck platform got some filler,  especially the seam down the middle.  again,  most of this will be sanded off
 

 
I need to run a few errands with the admiral..........when I get back,  it out to the garage.  I don't want to sand this in the house.  perhaps I can do some of the hull work while I'm out there      pictures later........if I survive!

And thank you John .
 
All the Wooldings and Bands are done. There is only one on the Mizzen Mast :
 

 

 
  Danny

Thanks Grant and Pat.
 
filing the square in the spanshackles must have been 'fun'
 
Not too bad, but I'm rather glad I decided to only do the ONE .
 
Wooldings
 
My 0.3mm black rigging line has turned up from Chuck, so I can continue with the Wooldings. The pics below show the sequence of fitting them so they can't come untied :
 

 

 

 
The upper bands were then fitted :
 

 

 
  Danny

Thank you Geoff and E&T.
 
Ironwork in the Head
 
A few more eyebolts needed to be fitted in the Head for the Jib rigging. One of these (or rather two) are the Bookmin Lashing Ringbolts, which are triangular in shape :
 

 
Spanshackle Ring
 
Another interesting piece of ironwork is the Spanshackle Ring, of which I am only fitting the port side one. This "ring" is a square section piece of iron which supports the Fish Davit when it is in use. I drilled and filed the centre out from flat sheet - the lower section has a dogleg around the eyebolt which needed rounding off :
 

 

 
Fish Davit Cleats
 
And finally I made the two Fish Davit Cleats which support the davits at the railing :
 

 

 
  Danny