druxey

Thanks for the clarification on sanding sealer, Wefalck. I need to make some sails soon, and will try this technique. Your sails look terrific, particularly at such a small scale.

Question: is your wood-filler (CLOU Schnellschleifgrundierung) the same thing as sanding sealer?

Nice going. I see that your lathe bed was only just long enough to turn the mast! I only 'discovered' watchmakers' lathes a few years ago. One can do really fine work on them. I now use both a Boley and a Levin. Both were acquired used but in excellent condition. It's interesting how useful other watchmakers' tools are for model-making, such as hand vises.

Well, slow is good. It means that you are taking the time to be meticulous. And your photos bear out that theory! Looking good, Jim. As there have been no messages on this thread for a few days, I thought everyone had gone away for the summer. Glad to see it ain't so.

Thank for these: there are some very fine Italian model-makers out there!

Sharp looking prototype, sharp looking model. Nicely done!

Ah, yes. The intimidating blank white canvas! I personally prime with warm grey. Much less scary. I hope your canvas goes well, Michael.

Well, Michael, I think you've nailed it. Well done.

Neat. It's always nice to see something more unusual featured.

re: joinery/ stem and keel:

I'm sure that the original ship's stem and keel were in far fewer pieces than shown in the illustration. Large trees were plentiful back then. I suspect what you're seeing is how the replica's structure was put together. Typically, for instance, the stem was made of only two pieces - half the number shown here! - as was the stemson.

Minor suggestion: would the wire above the deadeye take a tighter curve if squeezed together and shaped using needle-nosed pliers?

Looks like you've labelled 1 to 4 correctly, Sherry. The area under 4 was used for accommodation, but it was not comfortable, definitely not a great Cabin. Either trumpeters or cabin boys would use this low area for sleeping in. Headroom was very limited! There would have been an access door, but perhaps this has been missed on this drawing.

The level below this with balcony would be for the Admiral's accommodation, if one were aboard (this is a three-decker), and the level below that was for the captain and the lieutenants.

No overpainting or pentimenti allowed, Michael?

One possible set of spar and sail dimensions can be found in Petrejus' book on the Irene, a ex Cruiser class vessel. The English language edition is sought after, therefore quite hard to find and expensive.

The illustration of the gun in high elevation has a slightly misleading caption. Not only was the quoin removed in this instance, but also the bed beneath the quoin. Removing only the quoin would elevate the gun perhaps about 10 degrees.

It's too bad some instructions make assumptions of the reader....

If there are other puzzling issues that come up, someone on this site will be able to enlighten you, I'm sure!

Thought: what about leaving shrink wrap/straw under the seizings?

Frankie makes a good point: plastic film is less messy than wax! Provided that it can be applied where you want it.

If it's a triple planking over a framework that you are doing, i assume that the first planks will be pre-bent and edge-glued to each other to hold them in place.

It may be that the instructions are not clear, rather than your mind! Any wax will inhibit adhesion of glue. Presumably this is so that nothing will stick to these 'frames'. If they need to be re-installed later, you will need to de-wax them or, once again, they will not stick. The easiest way to remove wax residue is with isopropanol (rubbing alcohol). 

You can use liquid wax or solid. Even a thin film will do the trick.

Definitely! Thanks for the heads-up on this book, Alessandro.

Hearty congratulations on arriving at the finish line, Ed. It's been a spectacular journey, to say the least! And the result is as spectacular as well. Your model is the epitome of well researched work, carried out to exacting standards. Take a deep bow!

"Curiouser and curiouser" said Alice. More interesting and more interesting, Michael!

Neat ratline work, Jim. Aren't you glad she's not ship rigged?

Thanks for those observations, Ed.

This weekend the bicentenary of the Battle of Fort George is being commemorated in Niagara on the Lake. This morning American re-enactors will take down Union Jacks and replace them with the U.S. flags of the day. This afternoon, a staging of the battle will take place. Tomorrow, the actual date of the conflict, there will be a service of commemoration for all those who died at the site where the U.S. troops landed, now a rifle range.

At the local museum, one of Peter Rindlisbacher's paintings is on display. Copies of his book are also available at the museum.

Are the riders shown on the 'design' profile or the 'as built' one? If the former, your theory must be correct. If the latter, perhaps the draftsman mis-measured? Either way, a beautiful job on the fixed blocks.