kscadman

Hi Robbyn, saw build log under the update list and thought I'd drop by. You've got a great start, especially the extra filler blocks. In hindsight I wish I would of done that. 

I too send my well wishes to your mom.

Richard

Augie, your work is amazing. Cant wait to see if finished.

Actually the enjoyment is in watching the build.

Richard

Hi Thomas, your work is simple perfection. I bow to the master each time I check in on your build.

Richard

Augie & Bala, thank you for the comments.

The stern is progressing. I've managed to get the stern guns made and installed. I decided to add the train tackle to the guns. I'm not sure if its appropriate based on how close it is to the tiller rigging but I like the end result. Guess I'll find out soon enough when I finish the tiller.

Richard 

Lets see if I can explain this right. Whenever I cut the long end of an eyelet off I would save it. So I took a couple of them and sanded them down on fine grit sandpaper (I think 400 grit)  to about 1/64" then I cut about a 3/32" length. Then I bent them at a 90 degree angle and then dipped them in blacken it

Hi, Richard, what I meant by soak is I let it dry for at least an hour after wiping off the excess after 15 minutes. Guess I need to work on my communication skills..lol. Sorry.

Richard

Hi Richard, I found your log and its coming along great. I agree with Augie, prestain works miracles on the basswood. I was afraid to use a 50/50 mix if I needed to rework anything. So I made sure to sand with a 320 grit then let the prestain soak for at least an hour. On my deck I used the same process except I used the natural stain.

I hope this helps.

Richard

More progress pictures

Well lets see?..... Single digit temperatures, 10 inches of snow and sleet - good weekend for doing some modeling!

Scott and Ronald thank you for the comments! Ronald, The jig I have is the model shipways fair a frame. I bought it cheap on ebay and it does a good job of holding the ship in place.

Richard, I'm honored to hear you have a picture of my ship on your workbench! Thank you! I hope you get your deck to work to your expectations.. 

I've made some progress this week. The quarter galleries are coming along slowly but surely. And I completed the tiller and the binnacle as well as getting a good start on my 12 pounders. Does anyone know where I can get a smaller ships bell, the one included in the kit looks way too big when set on top of the binnacle.

Richard 

Todd and Marsares, I hope to help out if I can. I have the basic idea as to how I'm going to complete it, but as with all things they're subject to change. Should have a new post with pics soon.

Thomas, as always, thank you for the compliments! And I will take into account the slant to the quarter galleries.The drawings show that the galleries follow closely with the shear of the planking so I'm going to follow that line.

Well I've decided to back track a bit and work on my quarter galleries. Since I wasn't too thrilled with the detail on the castings, and I couldn't mix any combination of paints to match the color of the hull, I decided to make my own. But I am using the castings as a pattern to get my measurements from.

This probably isn't the best way of doing it but I'm giving it a try. (comments, critics, and most of all ADVISE are highly welcome at this point)

I'm going to do it in 3 sections, Top, middle & bottom. So far I've completed the middle section. I started by spot gluing 2 pieces of basswood together and getting the basic shape then I filed out the 3 slots for the windows which I wanted them to be 6/32 x 6/32 (scale 1'-4" x 1'-4") but I forgot to follow the measure twice rule and ended up with 1' x 1'-4" windows. Then I used HO scale 2" x 2"s and 1" x 2"s to make the frames.

I sanded down 2 pieces of scrap basswood to make the trim for the top and bottom of the windows. Once I get them sanded down a bit more I'll glue them to the windows.

Here's some pics of my progress.  

Augie - aye aye Admiral awaiting further orders. And congrats on making Admiral.

akle, Sometimes you just have to "do it" 

Hi guys and gals, its good to be able to finally make a post. 

Haven't been able to do much on the ole' girl. But I have managed to get thru the cannon rigging and adding the coils. Also I've finished the companionway and ladder.

Currently working on the capstan. Just need to add the "fiddly bits" (chocks) and then it'll be on to the binnacle.

Richard 

Gahm, looks like I have lots of downloading in my near future. Thanks for the "heads up"

Polygothian, The base is made from 1" x 1/4" basswood plywood that I cut to a rough length of 7". I sanded down some basswood strips to 1/16" thickness. Then I glued the strips of basswood to the base making sure that they were parallel and 1/8" from each other, this way I was able to get consistent size planks. The middle and bottom slot is for 1/8" x 1/16" planks and the one on top at the edge (when viewed in the pictures) is for 1/8" x 3/16" planks. I squared off 2 pieces of scrap basswood and glued them on the ends of the slots (the square and rectangular pieces in the middle) these were used as "stops". Its hard to see but if you look at where the stops are there are 2 holes drilled into a piece of clear plastic that I have nailed on top. These are used a guides to drill the treenail holes.

In picture 2 you can see how I inserted a plank into the middle slot. If a plank wouldn't fit in the slot then I knew it was too wide and if it had some "play" then I knew it was too thin and if it didn't butt flush with the stops then I knew it wasn't square on the end. Once it fit right then I used the holes in the clear plastic to drill the treenail holes, then I would turn the plank around and drill holes in the other end.

I hope this helps.

Richard 

Beautiful work Thomas, I can't wait to see your headrails. Are you going to make those out of pear as well?

Richard

Personally I'd go with the Heller Pinta or the Revell Santa Maria. Heller also make the Nina & Santa Maria.

Richard

Charley & Joe, Thanks, glad I could help. I've been getting help from alot of members so its good to give back.

Jim, this is my first POB kit, actually its my first wooden ship kit. I've built the plastic ones but there's no comparison to wood. And yes I do work off my dining table. I live in a small apartment so space is limited.

Pygothian, thank you, and yes they are real tree nails. I used my scrape basswood left over from planking. I cut the 1/8 x 1/16 in half lengthwise and pulled them thru my draw plate. I was only able to do about 10 to 15mm lengths at a time but I managed to get them down to 1-1/2 scale inches (roughly.05mm). then I made a jig that used to drill the holes in the planks. The pictures show the jig. Each slot has 2 pre-drilled holes in the clear plastic on top that I used as guides. Then I glued them in using with diluted "stainable" carpenters glue. I would cut each plank to length then install the tree nails then sand them down. Hope this helps.

Floyd, welcome aboard and thanks for the compliments. Your Harvey is coming along great. Can't wait to see your Syren build log when you start it.

I hoping to have pictures from before the crash uploaded just as soon as I figure out how to load them all in one post.

Richard 

Ive noticed that a few members have posted their build log pictures from before the crash and I'd like to resubmitt all my pictures from before as well. So my question is how can I post the dozens of pictures when there is only a 10 picture limit?

Richard

Kimberley, it looks like your getting alot of help. I agree that if you were to get the Golden Hinde, that would be a good ship to work on. Its made by ertl / imai. You'll need to look for it on ebay. That company also makes a Spainish Galleon and a Chebec. I've built all three and are fairly easy to assemble. The instructions are good unlike lindberg models. But if you want to stick with a Revell model then I would suggest the Cutty Sark (no cannons). Its a 1/96 scale model which doesn't have too many small parts.

Attached is pictures of the ertl/imai Spainish Galleon.

Richard

Thank you Augie Thomas, Charley, & Joe. Slow and steady seems to be the order of the day. But I think I might want to take more pictures as I go. I get to see the mistakes. I tried to make sure the "hold down rings?" were directly behind each carronade, but to me they seem a little off center, both on the carronade and its partner across the deck. I'll just have to be more attentive as I go.

Augie, glad to see your smiling, but are you sure its just from my work? its been rumored by another member "realworkingsailor" that your training some paper cannonballs from your Conferderacy on others in the fleet.

Charley, Ive attached some pictures to help explain how I made my coils.It probably isn't the best way, or the easiest but its what I came up with.

First thing was to cut a piece of 1/4" dowel. then I made 2 discs out of clear plastic. I used some "Midwest clear plastic that I had at hand. (I took 2 pieces and tried to glue them together with my carpenters glue and it didnt stick after letting it cure for an hour so it was good to use)

I glued 1 disc to the dowel and drilled about a 1/8" deep hole in it that is the same diameter as the post I used (scrap length of the supplied eyebolts) I layed the other disc on top, center punched it then drilled a hole in it.

To make the coils I just soaked a length of thread (2-5/8") in diluted glue leaving about an 1/8", 3/16" out of the glue then I put the dry end into the hole in the dowel. I inserted the post into it holding the thread by friction. Then I put the second disc on top and put it in the pin vice. Then I put the pin vice in my "third hand" and twisted the dowel section to wind it, keeping a steady pressure on it. I let it dry then removed the pin vice and top disc carefully (if not then you get a really nice spiral) I remove the coil from the center with a pair of tweezers and cut the excess from the underside and end and then voila! a coil is made. 

Sorry the explanation is so long but I hope this helps.

Richard

I noticed no one mentioned the Britanic, What was she - the redheaded step child?

Hi Kimberley, as you can see there are so many helpful members, and with each comes a different style or technique. That's what I enjoy about MSW.

Personally I use the soft brushes, round and flat tipped, I find that it gives me more control. I tend to lightly sand areas where the paint "bleeds" or use a new #11 blade to carefully scrape the area if its small. Hope all these tips help.

Richard

All I have to say is 2 down 14 to go.   Who would of thought making coils would take up so much time ( and be soo frustrating). But I am happy with the result. 

Richard

Hi Kimberley. I would suggest using Testors spray paint for the larger pieces and parts like the cannons. Then for the smaller parts you can use the Testors paint in the bottle. That kit should give you a list of suggested colors. There was probably a stand where you bought your model. I've used Humbrol paints on plastic models, but I've had to order them on line. Just make sure you get the "matte" or "flat" paints.

As far as getting a straight line, I use the scotch blue painters tape and cut it to size. It doesn't pull the paint when I remove it.

Richard

Brilliant work as always Augie! But I'm still imaging the size of that 12 pound cannon ball.

Richard