glbarlow

After a family trip to Costa Rica with my adult sons, our wives and grand children it’s back to building.  I left off with a reluctance to add swivel guns to the bollards.

I’ve stayed pretty true to Chuck’s design, so ultimately I added them.  They are kinda necessary for balance, to two on the forecastle were lonely. 

On to the final chapter, the head works around the bow. More to follow, lots going on in a very small space. 

Looks great, just a few more to go😊

Looking great!

On 6/11/2024 at 3:31 PM, Trussben said:

She’s a Beaut!

On 6/11/2024 at 3:52 PM, woodartist said:

real piece of fine art

Thank you both for the comments, much appreciated!

Great photography 😊

13 hours ago, Freebird said:

Totally awesome

Thank you, much appreciated. 
 

12 hours ago, Nunnehi (Don) said:

just beautiful!

Thank you!

12 hours ago, Tossedman said:

Well done

Thank you!

I appreciate all your comments!

13 hours ago, Rustyj said:

The photos are awesome too

Thanks Rusty. One of my summer goals is to learn more about Photoshop’s new AI features. Maybe I’ll create an image of Winnie on the high seas😊

Chapter 11, the model save the headworks is complete. I thought I'd share some photos:

So many cool design features stand out. As simple as the bill board may appear it was a sharp addition. As I've mentioned, I dyed the deadeyes ebony. The dye, as opposed to black paint, allows the grain to show (though hard to see in photos) I'm pleased with how they complement the colors of the overall model.

The open deck allows a nice glimpse of the stove - such a fun thing to make I'm glad it's not completely hidden.

The decision is still pending on whether I place the swivel guns on the bollards. I'm not sure how I feel about the look, accurate or otherwise and I'm not completely confident drilling the holes for them to fit.  I'll revisit it as I start work on the headworks. 

The midship cannons were the last thing glued in. I was holding off while my friend and I fitted the base he's making to have a place to hold. Once the gang boards were mounted they became more the thing to avoid than cannon barrels.
 

I'm happy with my decision not to rig the guns this time around. Although I appreciate those that did, in this case I like how it provides for a nice clean look. Or maybe I just didn't want to rig 32 guns.

The transition to the quarterdeck, from the lower deck letter to the breast rail provides for a lot of detail and many, many hours of work over the past 2 ½ years. It's all worth it when it all comes together. Those posts took a lot of time. So glad I took that time. 

I made the elm tree pumps two years ago but didn't add them until the ladders, rails, gang boards, and everything around them was complete. That was a good call, I would have broke them multiple times otherwise.

The stern is when all the fun is. Between port lids, more cannon, swivel guns and predominant deck furniture there is lots to see and lots of mini-projects to get there.  

One very minor thing I'm happy with: I was able to wrap and match up paper friezes for six of the swivel guns. With the angle and only two sides showing that wasn't an option for the two on the quarter gallery roof. I'm no paint specialist but I kept playing with Winsor and Newton Cerulean Blue, Titanium White, and Grumacher Mars Black until I got a nice match with the paper frieze. I know it's a small thing, I considered going the Sherman Williams store for a computer based match but not sure what I'd do with the minimum order of a quart.

I've shown versions of this photo several times, I never tire of it. For me it's a piece of art all by itself and yet another signature tribute to Chuck's design and penchant for detail. 

So here she sits ready for the final chapter. I'm taking some time off for other summer activities, I'll see how long I can go before jumping in to start chapter 12.

Thanks for stopping by, your likes and comments are always appreciated.

23 hours ago, chris watton said:

don't think people will be too disappointed with kit number 18,

Is it a Surprise?😁

Nice to see you back at work. I remember those doors…

You'll need space on those pin rails for all the rigging you'll later belay.  Could just be the angle but they seem a bit narrow.

It all looks so tight and crisp - exceptional build. You clearly got the eyelet making drill down, those look great.

30 minutes ago, ccoyle said:

acrylic. Are these available from Syren?

Yes they are, not sure how model specific they are. They need to be lightly sanded and weathering powder applied but they are great. 

Only the swivel guns to go to finish Chapter 11. A quick update on what was the long process of adding the chain plates to fix the deadeyes to the channels. Basically a lot of holes to drill in a straight, level, and angled lines.

Another exercise in patience, planning. placing, and adjusting each of the three mast sections of channels and deadeyes

I am a big fan of the acrylic strops and chainplates - so much easier and such a much better look than fighting through their metal equivalents. I’m not going back.

I also had a new opportunity to make many eyelets along the hull following the plans. At this point the twist around the drill bit in the vice and the cut, snip, fit is mindless, easy work. Maybe someday I’ll count how many I’ve made for Winchelsea - or maybe not.

The model is transformed with these additions - looking completely like a ship at this point (don’t look at the stem, that’s Chapter 12). It’s really quite something. I'm going to take some better photos after I finish Chpt 11. I still haven't glued in the remaining guns, but that's coming up soon.

Thanks for stopping by - some swivel guns are up next.

A lot like drilling holes for multiple strips and eyelets on the hull you spent almost a year planking. Not much opportunity for recovery. 

It’s your first model, cut all that junk line off and re-rig it with better line and blocks from Syren or Ropes of scale. The practice and second run through will be good experience. There’s no hope for what’s on there now. 

If only we could outsource char removal. Hope you’re doing ok. 

Call or email Donna to see what she has left in inventory. 

I then proceeded to knock one off while doing fenders. Fortunately it was PVA glue that gave and not the wood, so it was an easy fix. 

12 hours ago, Rustyj said:

craftsmanship

Thanks Rusty, much appreciated from someone’s who’s work I’ve admired for a very long time. 

17 hours ago, Chuck said:

the home stretch

Thank you Chuck, for your support along the way and for this fine model.

21 hours ago, Erik W said:

I like the display base

Much appreciated Eric!

18 hours ago, Matt D said:

Beautiful work,

Thanks Matt, enjoying your Winchelsea as well. 

17 hours ago, Toolmaker said:

You have certainly done this kit justice.

I appreciate the kind words, thank you. 

Looking great Matt. Those railings are a great look and no small thing to get right. Well done!

Well done JJ, amazing design work! I can't imagine a hike to the Himalayas parking lot let along any further.  Be careful and enjoy the trip. Having just "located" the channels your design element marking them and making them easier to install is a excellent feature.

Channels and Gangways

An update as I near the end of chapter 11:

My friend is making a stand for me. He’s an artist, he selected this particular wood piece of Wenge because the model will appear it’s  ‘breaking the water.’  This is not something I’d ever thought of, but pretty cool. The color of the Wenge with its  elm inlay, especially once finish is applied, is a nice accent to the model. Good to have artist friends with big tools.

The channels are complete port and starboard. The stress of cutting away mounting and cutting into friezes to fit the curved ends of the channels is behind me. 

I’m happy with the ebony wood dye used on the deadeyes with its result of the boxwood texture showing through. They stand out in their own right and are a nice compliment to the rest of the model.

I have completed the gangways, as did Chuck I elected to position the knees after attaching the long gang board. I was concerned about midshipmen falling overboard but having just received the latest Sea Watch Rodgers collection of 5th rates (given my Not vast nautical knowledge). I saw ropes and posts were mounted along the rail. Not something I’d want seen on our Admiralty board model, but I feel better about the midshipmen now. 

The newel posts and their fancy rail are yet another signature element of the model. For a level fit to match up to the newel post my lower rail is mounted to the breast rail post rather than its rail, plus I like the look. As Chuck notes, getting the post level on multiple planes, especially given the platform follows the sheer and camber of the deck, took some patience and a jig or two.

A major milestone: With the addition of the ladders and installing the elm tree pumps I completed more than a year ago my Winchelsea is complete between the bulwarks (short of my gluing on the remainder of the guns).

Work continues. Thanks for stopping by.

Most likely my next build after Winchelsea, it’s just sitting in my cabinet waiting for me.