glbarlow

Thank you, Glenn.
 
It is strange, seems like only yesterday I decided on the name for the model range, yet also seems like forever ago!

Finally another update.
I finished the port lid with the hinges.
I just left them straight, it made my job easier but I also like it that way.
The canons for chapter six are actually done, so I can move on to chapter seven.
I tweaked and glued the bulkheads and doors. So far only the beams are glued on top.
Then I dry fitted the rest of the deck beams and glued the hanging knees in place.
Next, I glued the lodging knees to the beams so they could be removed.
Only when I have the pump handles ready, will I glue the canons and beams in place for good.

 

When I'm not building ships I'm off about the world doing this, near Chalten, Argentina.

You have come such a long way since Speedy and the decision to go at it full time. Well done!

Looking really nice, a unit set of new challenges to master, well done!

You have come such a long way since Speedy and the decision to go at it full time. Well done!

You have come such a long way since Speedy and the decision to go at it full time. Well done!

You have come such a long way since Speedy and the decision to go at it full time. Well done!

You have come such a long way since Speedy and the decision to go at it full time. Well done!

You have come such a long way since Speedy and the decision to go at it full time. Well done!

You have come such a long way since Speedy and the decision to go at it full time. Well done!

27 months after starting the Last Plank has been laid (More coats of WOP to come). 

The two center outer rows were a treat (that’s what I say when endeavoring to be positive). 

27 months after starting the Last Plank has been laid (More coats of WOP to come). 

The two center outer rows were a treat (that’s what I say when endeavoring to be positive). 

27 months after starting the Last Plank has been laid (More coats of WOP to come). 

The two center outer rows were a treat (that’s what I say when endeavoring to be positive). 

Looking really nice, a unit set of new challenges to master, well done!

27 months after starting the Last Plank has been laid (More coats of WOP to come). 

The two center outer rows were a treat (that’s what I say when endeavoring to be positive). 

Continued progress on chapter 10. 

The deck furniture is just roughly sitting there, still more work to do on wheel plus the final outer row of planking to add. Mini-me dropped by, I like that he provides scale to see just how big this ship was in reality. 

Chapter 9, Forecastle deck, is Complete
 
A big event for me, 9 of the 12 chapters are now complete with over two years gone by since I began. Chapter 9 is devoted to the forecastle deck and all the details that set it apart. My last post, a single photo, showed a lot of the deck complete, I’ll back up a bit to show how I got there. It’s a long post so hopefully it’s worth the read.


Like the outboard planks the center line follows the “every plank a project” with each plank unique widths and cuts. The center three planks are the interior width of the bitts divided by three (as the template shows). The planks meeting the bitt posts on either side are also a custom width. The forecastle bitts line up with the base installed below on the main deck making them seem one. This is a cool, but unfortunately barely visible detail. Someone suggested mini wireless camera under there, that might be fun.
 
I’d done complex cut-outs to fit around the main deck hatches, nonetheless these take time and patience to get a precise fit. Since the main deck I’ve acquired this very thin, small razor saw with micro-teeth that made the cross cut cleaner than with the #11 blade still used for length wise cuts.


While the mast ring provided is certainly fine I just can’t seem to remove enough char to make it work for me. So like I did for Cheerful I made my own.  They’re kinda fun to make, using a square of boxwood heavily glued to a wooden dowel and turned on the mill. The outside and inside diameter is measured and cut to form a ring, then I use some router cutters and totally wing it to create the design. I freed it from the post carefully with acetone, painted the inside Matte Black, added two coats of WOP and it’s done. Fun.

I’ve since made another for the mizzen. I had to force myself to keep this one simpler.

The catheads were made up and added. The challenge is to get the right angles, which hopefully I did. The bigger challenge is having installed one then installing the second the exact same - lots of test fitting on both separate and together before either was glued in. I’m glad I cut the rail before doing the planking. I like the extra detail of the cat beam running under the deck planking. (They are the same, the photo is slightly angled and tilted).


I posted earlier I’d gone a different direction with the belfry using a flat rope pull to the front shaped from a small bit of blackened brass and heavily weathering the roof to simulate lead. It and the forecastle rails were added, these are laser cut to fit either port or starboard, so being careful with that and a little sanding to match up to my version of the beam and they’re on. Glue and clamp in two stages, inside then outside, easier to maintain alignment. (again a little warp on the photo not the model, I need to learn to hold my iPhone straighter).
 

I noticed, and not sure how I’d missed, in the single photo I posted earlier the hatches weren’t done properly. I had two choices, leave them as they were or replace them. Who am I kidding, once I noticed it I had one choice. I was able to remove and replace them without damaging the coaming, a few coats of WOP later…
 
The spanshackle cleats are not glued in. I’m not sure I like what I made with flattened 22 gauge wire so I may come back to those later.

Up next the forecastle rails and timber heads. First I tested the fit of the rails to my bow. It’s quite remarkable (as in how did I happen to manage that…) how well they fit. As with the cap rail the key was pulling out the Chapter 9 templates long long ago when the bow was being constructed around chapter 2-3. The tape is there because the little timber heads kept flipping out of my fingers into an area it’s’ now difficult to access.

Then I got to spend lots of time with sanding sticks and a #11 blade shaping 24 little timber heads. Time consuming but well worth the time for the final look. Can’t wait for the Q-deck timber heads, lots more of them. A fun, and lengthy, process was slowly sanding and shaping the cat block to follow the curve and width of the rail plus adding the additional two cleats and support posts. A good time was had by all. They have detail that is lost in the photo due to the black paint.

First starboard then port to complete the fitting, painting, and installing the rails. These rails are extremely delicate. I broke both of them at one point or another. Fortunately they were clean breaks and I was able to repair them, after light sanding and painting the breaks aren’t visible. Once again where’s the fun if I don’t have to fix something I broke.
 
With that, some photos of the completed forecastle: 





I’m pretty happy with how it all turned out. The AYC planking, boxwood fittings, black painted railing, and RED bulwarks and breasthook really look distinctive and pretty cool I think. This is really the first element that is totally finished. A nice sense of accomplishment, and an early concern about what will I do when the whole model is finished, oh no.

The chapter 10 parts are laid out and the planking ripped and ready for work on the Q-deck. Thanks as always for stopping by with your comments and likes, hope you made it to the end of this long post.
 

27 months after starting the Last Plank has been laid (More coats of WOP to come). 

The two center outer rows were a treat (that’s what I say when endeavoring to be positive). 

27 months after starting the Last Plank has been laid (More coats of WOP to come). 

The two center outer rows were a treat (that’s what I say when endeavoring to be positive). 

27 months after starting the Last Plank has been laid (More coats of WOP to come). 

The two center outer rows were a treat (that’s what I say when endeavoring to be positive). 

27 months after starting the Last Plank has been laid (More coats of WOP to come). 

The two center outer rows were a treat (that’s what I say when endeavoring to be positive). 

27 months after starting the Last Plank has been laid (More coats of WOP to come). 

The two center outer rows were a treat (that’s what I say when endeavoring to be positive). 

27 months after starting the Last Plank has been laid (More coats of WOP to come). 

The two center outer rows were a treat (that’s what I say when endeavoring to be positive). 

T
 
That's a milestone worth celebrating. Like everything else it's well done!