popeye the sailor

jeeze Louise!  thank you everyone for you kind comments!  I really appreciate it    now that my work week is over,  perhaps I can give a big push going on the build!  many thanks for looking in....more progress soon!

Time for an update... been much going on in real life and in the shipyard.  Janet's healing nicely and is ahead of therapy.  She hopes to be back in the pool in about 2 weeks.  Work is still a four-letter word.
 
The gundeck is finally and completely planked.       
At least for now the planking is version MkIV there may be a MkV.  Per the picture, the yard crew is sanding and holystoning the deck. The left side is in progress.  The right awaits them and their implements of smoothness.
 
Version MkI was an attempt at planking where the planks follow the run of the hull. The planks have a curve to them.  I started by full-width at mid-ships and planned to taper at bow and stern.  After about 50% planked, I found that I needed to do some drop planks so off I went.. However, at 1/8" (approx. 3mm) wide planks, I soon realized I was making mess and ripped out the planks.
 
Which lead to MkII.  Nibbed!!!  I put in a margin plank and started nibbing.  Again, the width of the planks became an issue along with, as I found out, the French at that point time didn't use nibbing.  Yep... ripped it out.
 
The, MkIII...hooked scarfs.   Yes.!!!..  Hmm... er.. no.  Needed wider planks. Nothing in stock. Rip out the few planks installed and back to the drawing board.
 
So we come to MkIV.  I've ordered sufficient stock of silver maple in boards of sufficient dimensions to permit hook scarfs.  But decided not to wait.  Figured since about 75% of the gundeck won't be seen ("uh-oh", the crowd mummers) I'd figure out a method.  Got out the dremel and put a groove into the lower part of the waterway where it meets the beams thinking I could slide the deck planks into the groove and give the appearance of the waterway on top of the planks.   That works.
 
When the wood gets here, I'll make another executive decision on ripping it out and doing it right, or letting it go and do the forecastle and the quarterdeck "properly".   The decision will be based upon how does it look with a ship's boat, guns, etc in place.  Once the sanding is done, and I've made some cardboard cutouts to see exactly what's visable and what isn't, I'll decide.   Before I get hit with "that's not the way the real ones were done"... I know.  I'm taking similar liberties at this point much like H. Hahn.  No knees for the deck beams, etc.  His pictures show planking much like what I have done, but admittedly.. I'm no H. Hahn.
 

Thursday and Friday was devoted to getting the main sheet up.   the first thing that needed to be done,  now that the reef lines are finished, was to set up the upper gaff with the blocks required to do the job.
 

 
then to lash it to the top of the sheet.
 

 
the sheet is ready to install...
 

 
the last of the lashing was tied through holes I drilled through the yoke.  I tried to get a close up of this,  I hope you can see.
 

 
the lift rigging was done first
 

 

 
here is the rigging that involves that triple block.
 

 
for the lower boom rigging though,  I kind of over thought myself.......I figured that it would require two double blocks......I was wrong.
 

 
I changed the horse block to a single.....it looks much better
 

 

 
now that the sheet is in place,  I can start to do the hoops
 

 

 
I have more pictures in my camera.......I will try to get them up......it's the rest of the hoop rigging
 
 
 

thanks Runner63 - I need to post the progress I made..up soon
 
thanks Carl.......I found your log.....hope you are well
 
thanks Borge...hope you are well.....as well

Popeye - yep, the tripple block rigging is the peak halyard, the other is the throat halyard.
 
John

Hi Popeye, if i see your work on the rigging and on sails, so i´m looking forward until  i´m going working on it too. This ship is great inspiration.  
 
Pavel

Looking good, Popeye.  That certainly is an unusual rig on the sheet!
 
John

Sjors,
You are right, except for sanding.... It's much better in the garden with a good trappist beer!
 
I hope the weather will remain fine for a couple of days..
Pierre

Hi Popeye,
I just discovered your log: you are doing a great job! I particularly admire what you made of the skylight and your rigging skills.
Following on...

I think it boils down to the fact that the ultimate expression of this hobby, as far as intricacy and accuracy go, is the scratch built plank on frame model... So within those parameters... It is inevitable... It is unavoidable...
 
Andy

Geez these guys are just as bad as Sjors, when it comes to tempting people to do things lol. Wayne, 42rocker and several others have been trying to lead me down that dark path too. Like you I know it is in  my future...but I wanna see that Confederacy FIRST!!!!

Popeye,your sailmaking skills is exellent my friend, The America is loking very sharp-
This willbe another jewel from your shipyard.
 
Børge

Thanks Grant for the heads up!
 
Mine fix is nothing comperes with yours.
So , I have to do it and I will started it before my vacation is over…...
I think today she coming from the shelf and rope cutting begins…….
I have take a look at the San Ildefonso  and there also are going the chains also in an angle…...
Garward has post a picture of his Montanez drawing and it is saying the same thing.
I'll keep you updated!
 

currently........I am finished with the reef lines......YEA!!!!!!  
 
to get where I am,  the jib sheet need to be finished off
 


 
the second row  on the main sheet was being done
 



 
the other anchor was cut out of the wood......now they need to be sanded and shaped.   then they can be finished off and assembled onto the build.
 

 
on to the third row....
 

 
when I got back to her,  they were treated and trimmed.
 


 
the kit only came with a couple of 5mm double blocks......I added a couple more
 

 
and then the boom was sewn onto the bottom of the main sheet
 

OUCH!    Ma...........get the bandaides!

thanks Sarah.......saw you build log on the Cux......nice start!  appreciate the good word    on another site,  I got the seamstress comment as well..........maybe I'm in the wrong business     I already got an order for sails on a bluenose.....LOL!   expecting the package soon.
 
 
gotcha Augie..........how many pleats?    hope you like ruffles and tails! 

JP,
I quite agree with the others.  That is one fantastic planking job.  Go with what the others have said for the tallowed look.  Oh...and lighten up on yourself.   It's a known condition around here that we are our own worst critics. 

That, sir, would make for a VERY long thread!

I am glad to have made it back!............glad to see the Stag did as well.   thankfully people talk....or I wouldn't have known when MSW was back online.   I couldn't use the bookmark I have,  so I had to do a search in order to reconnect with the site.......just got in tonight.
 
it's so sad to see the library so bare
gone is the content that used to be there
it was like taking a walk on the longest pier
to view all the ships that used to be here
 
through all the effort,  of all that are friend
will whittle away,  in an effort to mend
the void that was created, by the electronic foe
back to the greatest site,  that we used to know
 
it's not much,  but I threw this together for you folks at MSW...........we'll get her back ship shape Sir{s}

Good morning all,
 
Hello Kevin, Joe, Daniel, Grant and Pat - Thanks for looking in. Your support is great.
 
Yesterday, being the 1st of may and Workers Day, was a public holiday, so I put some of the free time to good use, and continued some work on the Admiral's bridge. Unfortunately, I only spent five hours, as to keep the boss happy, I promised her to go out for dinner in the evening.
 
Here goes.
 
A view of the side mounted hinge arms for the wind breaker fenders.

 
A view of the rear part .

 
Fitting in the top liner.

 
The platform for the searchlight post, located just on top of the Admiral's bridge.

 
The searchlight platform, placed on the Bridge, for correctness sake.

 
An elevational view, giving a clear indication of how the front searchlight was mounted.

 
 
Shall be posting more pics next Monday.
I wish you all a fine weekend. Take care.
 
 
 
 
 

Augie:  
 
Bill: Thank-you! Not quite in your league of carving accomplishments, but I'm happy with him - good practice for later carvings.
 
Guy: Thanks for dropping by!
 
Sjors: I'm still here. Thanks for asking!  Things have been very, very busy here...more health problems.
The good news is that my husband and I are going away for a few days to celebrate our anniversary - which is today - 31 happy years together! 
 
 
The build will be on hold for a little while longer, but I do have the main deck almost planked and will be starting hull planking when I get back home.

I've never tried to do anything like that either.........I just use hardwood dowel.   it's a lot easier to square off.......but it can be just as much work

After folding the brass over the steel it was ready for the curve at the end I used a loop of the same hard rod, this had to be heated red hot to bend.
 

 
the loop was hammered down to create thecompound curve in the rounded portion.
 

 
the ends were filed even before folding the thimble closed
 

 
a rope wrapped around the finished thimble with a shackle.
 

 
now to make a few more.
 
Michael

Just a wee bit of progress before covering the old ship for a while.  Applying the netting to the bow or fore deck before the roundhouses.  Some of you did this early, however, I was afraid I would destroy the netting or bumpkins while rigging the bow sprit.  First a view of the bow without the netting.
The real ship with netting viewed from inboard.
A simple drawing with measurements to act as a template for the netting.24 gauge annealed wire shaped from the template. A small hook at each end to fit an eyebolt at the roundhouse and at the bow.Wire glued to the netting, over wax paper (tulle) with C/A
Netting placed  starboard.Netting placed on port
Adding the foot ropes to the bowsprit, jib boom and flying jib boom.  A little dilute (10:1 water/white glue helps maintain the natural draping of the line.
A fun view comparing the bow sprit cap on the real ship and the model.
There will probably be a two to three month hiatus as we look to the open water. (after a lot of sanding varnishing and painting) Like Andy's view of sunset on the Great Lakes, all seems right with the world looking at the sunrise crossing the Gulf of Alaska.  Cheers, Gil

superb job there Augie...you've done a fine bit of work!  although I think your motto needs a bit of sprucing up........you may be slow as you say.......but your good 'n slow!