Elia

Hello again:
 
I'm in the process of working on the standing rigging and doing a lot of little things that needed fixing or completion.  Parrel balls were added to the gaffs and booms, which I think look all right.  I've also completed running backstays on the mainmast.
 
In trying to create a boat underway with the sails drawing wind, it's important to have the mainsheets stiffened, which I do with cc (although I'm extremely allergic to it and can only use it very rarely and with strict safety precautions).  While the cc works well to stiffen the sheets, it leaves them shiny.  I tried eliminating the shine with flat clear acrylic but as can be seen in the picture, it didn't work very well.  If anyone knows a better way of doing this, I'd love to hear it.
 
I've started doing ratlines for the first time, a tedious and humbling experience.   This first set is really both an experiment and learning experience.  I hate the way they look at this point but till reserve judgment until this set is finished;  I'll probably end up doing it over again, avoiding the first-time mistakes. 
 
I've attached some pictures of the above. Comments and suggestion as always welcome.
 
Rick

Hi everyone! Thanks to everyone for their Likes and compliments! Here are the latest progress photos on Ingomar's internal accommodation. The following photos show the large sideboard with 4 cupboards and multiple shelves in the main saloon. Next, you'll see the galley stove with three round holes to represent the hot plates. I've still to add the chimney stack to the galley stove.
 
After that, I've included photos of the main staircase, complete with handrails and posts. It looks a bit rough at the moment, but once sanded (very lightly) and cleaned up, then it'll look much better.
 
Anyhow, all the best everyone and enjoy the rest of your weeks.

Hi everyone! Well, the deck saga continues! I decided that my second attempt at building the deck, was ok, but, after putting so much effort into Ingomar's accommodation, I felt that it had too many planks and obstructed the view too much. So, I set about building a third deck. As you'll see from the photos of the three decks, the one in the foreground is the third attempt. It has fewer planks, thus leaving more of the deck exposed. I think It looks far better than the one before.
 
I've also made a start on the most rearward accommodation, which was at the very stern of the ship where the rudder housing is. This was where six unfortunate crew members would have slept; in basic pipe cots! They could access this accommodation via a tiny deck hatch aft of the rudder post. What they must have given for the more luxirious berths I can only guess. Nonetheless, as you'll see from the photos, they don't look like much (literally like six tiny white rectangles to simulate the pipe berths), but I'll add pillows and some coloured blankets later on.
 
There's also a couple of photos of the main table in the grand saloon, amidships. If I can, I'll try to put some books on it, just to make the saloon look more lived in.
 
Lastly, you'll see that I've also started to paint the hull. I've sanded it with wet and dry sandpaper, and applied one thin coat. I'll continue to sand and paint until all the blemishes are filled.
 
Anyhow, have a nice week, everyone!
 
All the best.

Hi everyone! Thanks Elia for your recent Like! Tonight, I started on the Ladies Cabin, which is situated at the stern, just before the rudder post. You can see the photos below; suffice to say, it still requires some more details to be added. I don't think it's looking too bad at this early stage.
 
I also started mucking around with a tiny mirror (the type dentists use to see how dirty your teeth are(!)) to focus on various parts of the accommodation. Gotta have some fun on a Tuesday night!!!
 
Anyhow, I hope you enjoy the photos and have a great week!
 
All the best.

Young America - extreme clipper 1853
Part 73 – Lower Deck continued
 
Work continues on the lower deck.  In the first picture a forward section of binding strake is being glued in place held by pins. 
 

 
These structural strakes were often let down on the beam by an inch or so, but because this depth is so small at this scale I did not score the beams and merely reduced the depth of the strake by an inch.  As with many details, Young America’s exact configuration is unknown.  The binding strakes are bolted into each beam and horizontally into the waterways. Inside these strakes were margin planking – wider planks that allow the ends of forward planking to be cut into them.  I will not be installing these on the deck – to leave the ends of the lodging knees visible from above.
 
In the next picture the next section of binfding strake is being installed.  Planking on the centerline is in progress.
 
 

 
This planking is 3 ½” thick.  I made these 7” wide.  These are required as bases for the middle deck pillars.  I have not yet decided if any planking beyond the two central strakes will be installed on this deck.  The next picture shows further work near the bow.
 

 
The fore hatchway is complete including its bolts.  Although not very visible due to sanding dust, the treenails and bolts for all this work have been installed.  Next is a picture of the port side forward.  There will be no ladder ways into the hold.  These would probably have been movable and taken up after the cargo was loaded – and before the hatches were sealed for the voyage.
 

 
This gives a pretty good idea of the forward view port.  The unplanked frames will be removed below the middle deck clamp down to the lower futtock heads – when I summon the courage to cut them out.
 
The next picture shows the port side aft.
 

 
The aft view port will only extend from the top of the lower deck clamp to the underside of the middle deck clamp.  Next are two pictures showing most of the hull at its current state – i.e. today.
 

 
 
 
Once the remaining bolts and treenails and the few remaining bits of binding strake and central planking are installed, I can move on the middle deck.
 
 
 Ed

Young America - extreme clipper 1853
Part 74 – Middle Deck Parts
 
Posts to the log have not been as frequent because much of the work has been repetitive.  In the next phase – the middle deck – the work will be a virtual carbon copy of the lower deck.
 
Very little work remains to finish the lower deck – mainly treenailing and some deck planking.  While that is being completed, parts for the middle deck are being made.  In the first picture some sample turned pillars have been made to help me decide on the choice of woods for these.  Six dozen are required for the next two decks.
 

 
Turned pillars above the lower and middle decks were probably black locust – a favorite wood for that application – and for treenails.  The four options pictured are, left to right, Castelo, Cherry, Mahogany and Black Walnut.  I loved the color of the Honduras Mahogany but the pores are a bit distracting –same with the Walnut.  They could be filled but not on these small pieces – maybe for the upper deck rails.  So I decided on the cherry.  It is slightly darker than the pear I am using for oak members.
 
For the final versions of these a new lathe bit for the beads was required.  After quite a lot of fiddling with the shape and the depth of the cut the tool in the following picture was used.
 

 
The next picture shows the beads on a pillar being turned.
 

 
The piece is held in a self-centering four jaw Sherline chuck, running on my ancient Unimat SL.  The homemade brass adapter for the chuck can be seen in the lower left corner.  The cherry square is kept on center inside a close fitting brass sleeve in the tailstock chuck.  Cutting depth is set by the brass half sleeve stop slipped over the cross-feed rods – visible just below the cutting tool.   The beads are cut first and the piece removed so others can use the same setup.  That set up is then changed and the area between the beads turned in about the same way.
 
The next picture shows the first two dozen pillars in progress.
 

 
Deck beams were also made.  The picture below shows the middle deck set before cutting to length.
 

 
 The clamp template in the picture is used on a router table to impart the top of the beam curve – a recycled tool from Naiad – but with a different round up.  Once the curve is put on the top of a blank, the beam is parted off and run upside down through the thickness sander.  I have described this process on a few earlier posts and it is described in detail in Naiad Vol II.
 
Knees, knees, knees – about ten dozen are needed for the middle deck.  Below the pattern sheet for the starter set of hanging knees has been pasted to a pear blank about an inch thick.
 

 
After cutting out on the scroll saw the 12” thick knees will be sliced off.  The next picture shows the pieces after cutting to shape with some ripped to size.
 

 
 
The shape of these knees will need to be refined to fit each location – from about eight basic shapes. 
 
Finally, the out-of-date drawing on the shipway board was replaced with a new one with latest revisions - and is it clean!.  The picture below was taken before setting up the end supports – to give a good view of the stern hull lines.
 

 
 Ed

Several years ago when the NRG had their conference in San Fransisco we were able to board the Balcutha.  And from what I saw they really packed it in.
David B

Thanks, again, for the comments.  On the cargoes, Guy has it quite right - anything that the market demanded - in Gold Rush California that meant just about any saleable commodity.  The hold, lower and upper decks were basically jammed with cargo, the hatches sealed and caulked and usually no one went below the main deck until it was time to unload.  She did make one run from Hong Kong to Manila with 800 coolies aboard and in her last years under Austrian ownership she carried a lot of Pennsylvania crude oil to Trieste.  Attached is a cargo list from her October 1854 voyage from NYC to SF that will give you an idea of typical cargo - if you can decipher it.  Right click and open link to magnify.
 
Ed

Young America - extreme clipper 1853
Part 75 – Lower Deck Finishing/ Middle Deck Beams
 
The finishing touches on the lower deck are finally complete.  The first four pictures show the last stages of the work.  The first picture shows the last section of binding strake being installed.
 

 
As usual the dark area are wet  from washing off excess glue.  The two central planks aft of the after hatch are also being glued.  The opening for the mizzenmast will be cut later.  The next picture shows final planking around the main masts. 
 

 
The planks astride the openings are need for the pillars.  There is not much planking on this deck – to maximize visibility of the hold.  After this final planking, all of the remaining treenails were installed and all of the copper bolts blackened in preparation for finish.
 
In the next picture the starboard side framing has received the first application of wax solution.  The side planking is left unfinished so the hanging knees can be glued.
 

 
The next picture shows a closer view above the forward hatch after the first coat of finish was applied.
 

 
The planks have been cut for the fore mast opening and left unfinished for later gluing of the pillars.
 
The next picture shows fitting of the middle deck beams in progress.
 

 
These have been cut to size, shaped at the ends to match the frames and pinned in place temporarily.  In the next picture all of the full width beams have been pinned in place.
 

 
Ed
 

Young America - extreme clipper 1853
Part 76 –Middle Deck Framing
 
Since the last post eight middle deck beams and one pair of half beams have been installed – along with their hanging knees and pillars.  Lodging knees will follow.  The first picture shows the first four beams and two pillars installed.
 

 
The beams are glued bolted to the clamps with copper wire - epoxied in.  There will also be copper wire bolts through the beams into the tops of each hanging knee for extra strength.  The pillars are reinforced with wire into the beams top and bottom.
 
The next picture shows the first of the carlings installed.
 

 
These are going in after the pillars to leave space for fitting those.  In the next picture, the next beam has been glued in and is awaiting its hanging knees. 
 

 
Once the beams are in place to support the clamp over the view openings, they can be cut out – as in the above picture.  The next picture shows the first two of three openings cut into the forward view area.
 

 
The next picture shows those openings from the inside.  This area is now ready for the headers around the fore mast and the half beams to those headers.
 

 
The areas below the middle deck are having wax finish applied progressively as the work above is finished. In the next picture the two headers and half beams have been installed astride the fore mast opening,
 

 
The beam, knee and pillar bolts mentioned above were also in when this picture was taken. The last picture shows the current extent of the work completed.
 

 
This work is going faster than the lower deck framing, mainly because there are no knees on the pillars.  Patterns for the middle deck knees were also lofted more carefully using a different process - meaning the initial fits are better.  Also, deferring the lodging knees is probably more efficient.
 
 
 Ed

Young America - extreme clipper 1853
Part 77 –Middle Deck Framing continued
 
It has been almost two weeks since the last post due mainly to the similarity of the lower and middle decks – not a lot of new stuff.  However, the middle deck framing is proceeding quickly – perhaps it’s the learning curve.  The first picture shows beam installation progressing from the bow aft.
 

 
The beams, hanging knees, pillars and carlings are all being installed progressively – leaving the lodging knees and ledges until later.  This has helped with the pace.  The next picture shows a carling being fitted.
 

 
The carling seats were cut out at the bench based on marks made on the model with the beams pinned – so the carling fitting goes very fast.  The next picture is a close up of the carlings for the above beam.
 

 
The wet spots are from washing off excess glue.  The pillars are set at the bottom on a piece of wire fit into a drilled hole – after adjusting the length to fit.  They are then glued top and bottom.  Wire “bolts” into the top will be added later.  The pillars were offset to permit long through bolts that were used to hold the beams tightly when side hull stresses would tend to separate them.  In the next picture wire “bolts” have been epoxied through the beams at the ends and into each pillar.
 

 
The bolts at the very end pin the beams in place.  The bolts just inside of those are inserted at an angle, down into the hanging knees to give their connection additional reinforcement.  
 
The last two pictures show the current status of the work on the middle deck.
 

 

 
The work will now continue from the stern forward.  It is easier to do the small end beams starting from the stern deck hook.
 
 
 Ed

Part three:
 
Crosstree area.

 
Metal work.  Gaff halyard blocks are mounted with open hooks.

 
Throat Halyard.  Shackled at the top with a heart iron and at the bottom hooks into the spectacle iron.

 
Bottom of boom showing the eye for the sail throat, also a good view of the spectacle iron.

 
At present the parrals are just tiny beads.

 
The end of the gaff fitting for peak of main sail, side block for the top sail clew halyard and an eye for the gaff vang.

 
That’s it for now.  If anyone wants more, just ask.
 
Bob
 

Keith, this one’s for you.  First, thanks for your appreciative words and wanting to know more.   For the size of the blocks, the sheet blocks are 18”, the throat halyard blocks are 15” and all others are 10”.  Now on to the pictures.
 
The admiral wanted lots of gold color on the boat, so the hoops are slices of tubing.

 
Since the boom does not travel up and down so it is captured with a simple bail. 

 
There should be a plate on top of the shelf for the boom to ride on.  Pins are just splinters for now.

 

 

 
More to follow.
 
Bob
 

Part two:
 
Front block of the boom guy.  When going down wind this would be fastened forward on the rail to prevent jibing.

 
Aft boom guy block and upper sheet block.

 
End of boom showing band for sail clew and topping lift rigging.

 

 
I'm trying to break this up so it makes sense.
 
More to follow.
 
Bob

Hi everyone! Hope you're all enjoying your weekends.
 
Here are the latest photos of Ingomar's internal accommodation. As you'll see, I've been able to do some more work on the crew cabins, and other types of cabins in the bow of the ship. I've included some more open doors to cupboards in order to create the illusion of realism and being "lived in". It was certainly more work to do this, not to mention fiddly, but I think the results are worth the effort. Hope you'll agree.
 
At the amidships and aft, I've started building more of the bulkheads for the guest cabins, etc, as well as the companionway staircase. There's still more work to go, as can be witnessed by the fact that you can see the blobs of blue-tack to temporaily hold the bulkheads in place.
 
Anyhow, hope you enjoy the photos!!
 
All the best.

Thanks guys, and Floyd, yeah I've been moving right along with this one. I could say because it's more than half the size of yours, but its probably because Ive been into the build.
 
I added another hatch that has the instrument gauge on it. This time put a dime in the background to show the scale of this and how small, which is a struggle with detail. OF course I had to use a paper decal, which I then coated with some flat lacquer to see if it would blend in and look real. You can always spot something like that. But I'll leave it.
 

Log #8,  July 21, 2014
 
The hull is finally complete save the Buffalo & Monkey rails!
In my last post I showed a photo of some of the deck furniture laid out in a tentative configuration between the two rails on a table.  The pieces I had made were constructed, as suggested in Bob Hunt’s practicum, with painted single sheet hatch covers and roofs.  Actually, they looked quite nice, but I wanted a little more authenticity and contrast, so I remade the structures with stained planked roofs & hatch covers.  
 

Hi everyone
 
Well, Ingomar's internal accommodation marches slowly forward. I've added some more of the internal bulkheads and panelling in the front half of the ship. Principally the galley has been started. In Ingomar's case, the galley stretches the full width of the ship, with a galley stove located along the centreline. I haven't built the galley stove yet, but when I do, I'm sure it'll be a lot of fun to do!
 
One thing I have noticed is that doing close up photography of the ship, particularly as she is a miniature (1/192), means that all the flaws look incredibly magnified. For instance, some of the tops of the bulkheads may only be a fraction of a millimetre different in height, but close up photography makes it look like it's a full centimetre out of alignment. But, I know that anyone looking at the model from a foot away wouldn't necessarily be able to spot the imperfections, so perhaps I shouldn't stress too much...
 
Anyhow, I hope you enjoy the photos. Still lots of work to go...

Hi everyone. Hope you're all doing well. Progress has been slow this past week or so, as I've been off sick with dreaded flu. Tonight is the first chance I've had to work on the Owner's Cabin, which is a relief because I'd missed working on the boat due to the flu.
 
Anyhow, the following photos show my versions of a writing bureau (with the lid to the bureau folded down, exposing the interior) as well as a full height double cupboard, complete with shelves on one side and a full height hanging compartment on the other side. I've pictured them alongside an Aussie 20 cent coin to show you how tiny it is.
 
Please don't be put off by the "furriness" of the finish of the wood. They have yet to be sanded and cleaned up. Once done, they'll look a lot cleaner and nicer.
 
Anyhow, hope you enjoy the rest of your weekends!
 
All the best.

Hi mMichael Mott, Archjofo,mQwerty2008 and everyone else. Thanks for your Likes.
 
Here are the latest photos. I've made progress with the owner's cabin and the semi-circular settee (blue cushions with simulated padding on the cushions- which didn't quite turn out the way I was hoping). In the main saloon. The owner's cabin now has a hanging closet next to the double berth as well as it's own bathroom and WC. The bathtub and WC will be done next, as well as the other bathrooms and the ladies cabin (aft). Next week, I'll also tackle the galley, crews quartes, etc.
 
Best regards.

Hi MTaylor. Thanks for your Like. Today, I was cleaning the display cabinet and thought this was a good opportunity for a miniature fleet shot! In the accompanying photos, you'll see my model of the HMS Pandora (hull only, no masts or rigging yet), the Dorade, the Binker (single masted yacht) and, of course, Ingomar. Other photos will featureas the Lennox, a 17th Century Restoration Warship, built to plans by Richard Endsor. All models are fully scratch built, individually planked, with fully detailed interiors.
 
Incidentally, I've posted more photos of Binker, Pandora and Lennox in the Gallery section.
 
Dave - Do you have any more photos of the Connie in the watch case? Is it the same that's featured on one of his webshot photos? If so, gotta admit, it's pretty darn nice!
 
Happy modelling, everyone!

Started with the deck furniture now, here's the main deck house. A used an HO scale (1:80) figure to be cute. I did have the sitting area white cloth, but it got dirty so fast I painted is brown leather.
 

Earlier than my steering wheel endeavor I had fabricated the cat heads and installed the chainplates. All of the deck furniture remains only temporarily placed for context.
 


 


 
Funny thing about the deadeyes - they don't want to stand upright, as in the photos. They lay over, free on their pivot pins...
 
And last, but not least, thank you to all those who've 'liked' my updates!
 
Cheers,
 
Elia

Hi everyone. Well, I've been off sick today, so had a little bit of time to work on the boat (in between rests). As you can see, I've done some more of the internal bulkheads. I've also done a cardboard template to simulate the staircase in the main companionway. That's the funny triangle thingy in white cardboard.
 
Hope you enjoy the photos and have a great weekend!
 
Cheers

Well, here's the finished product of paint. I probably do some more polishing once the clear coat finishes curing. The upper trim line looks more wavy in the picture than in person, maybe the pixels of the picture. But I like the contrast of the gloss body and the matt finish deck. Time to start reading ahead and moving on with this fun build.