Pygothian

Well I was hoping to get a start today to chapter one, but feeling really under the weather, so waiting for my paracetamol and ibuprofen to kick in, moved so e spare monitors out of office 1 to office 2 and setup a tri screen computer, and ordered an ipad nano that apparently will be here Tuesday to take photos of the build and update / research my progress, That was a hard justify to the wife so she bought some 1500 thread Egyptian linen to spite me..

Anyway, hopefully I'll be in my office, kids free at grandma and sharp scalpel in hand popping some bulkheads

See you soon!

Rowan

Great story mate, I'll look forward to continuing your journey with you

Looking great

I was seriously tossing up with the mermaid cutter deluxe from model shipyard. I loved the idea of their books and DVD, but felt they were charging too much for their starter kit, with tools I didn't need, and to buy the ship and just the books and DVDs was going cost cost 3 times the Syren, which I heard has an excellent support group and manual.

I'll keep a close eye on yours, as I am interested to see if the books and DVDs are worth it, and if so, get the a Mermaid or Norfolk as my next baby

Cheers

Rowan

Think I will follow a Chucks steps as close as possible!

Excellent work

I'm overwhelmed, and feel pretty inferior right now!

Your work is amazing

Absolutely amazing log. You are a true artist

Thanks again, i have one more question. I am customising the main gangway door to be open, just wondering would it most likely oprn outwrads or inwards?

 

I am getting closer to getting the below deck work sorted and back to the plan.. More work to be done on barrels, including filing down bands thinner and painting them darker..

 

Many thanks and regards Ollie

I will definitely do this with my barrels

I know it's a little off topic but my wife just bought in some pumpkins she carved while I catch up on some sleep before my night of trauma

Pretty impressive for her first try, learnt from YouTube

Take care all

Rowan

Just had a knock at the door, and it's like everything is coming together.

Thanks to Aussie048 and Brian C for putting me onto this device.

http://www.hobbytools.com.au/plank-forming-jig/

It came in 4 business days, and in a nice padded Australia post tough bag

This little device looks like it will come in handy. I know I could of build one, but I'm not that handy

Cheers!

Rowan

Here are some pictures of the back of the wood showing the laser cutting

Hi Alsitair, that is the next thing to do on my check list. I'm going to stock take each item off the parts list, and measure each plank with two different electronic vernier calipers to make sure the sizes are correct. Thankfully they convert from inches to mm for me, and I'll print out a chart of common inch fraction so I get familiar with how many mm that is.

Cheers

Rowan

Next I took out each part of the kit, and placed them side by side.

The parts look very good quality, there is no warping that I can see, and laser cutting is pretty good I think although I'm not expert.

A box containing a multitude of tiny parts including flags, nails, cannons

I bag full of various lengths and thickness of wood planking. There are literally hundreds of them.

An overview of the precut pieces side by side. They all look immaculate and precise.

A close up of the bulkhead former

Close up of things I don't even know what they are!

Looks like a close up of some oars maybe for the miniature boats on the ship

Boats and bulkheads

More bulkheads

A bag with what appears to be brass rods, and some more precut stern

I next removed the hefty booklet, some rather massive plans that I haven't attempted to open as yet until I work out a way to iron them flat. The item list was there, and is dared quite recently, so I am hoping this is an updated model Chuck had mentioned in a post I read somewhere.

A high quality semi gloss ~80-90gm paper spiral bound colour manual which is 132 pages.

Some coloured templates I think in A4 and some open larger stapled. I haven't looked closely at them as yet.

I opened up the smallest plan and pinned it down with some objects to get a picture. There are many massive plans, that I'll need to work out a way of flattening and hanging them.

Now for the Grand Opening of "The Box"

I've been hanging out for this moment for over a month.

The box front

The side of the Box

Some close up details on the front of the box

With one quick snip of my scalpel, the sticky tape holding the box closed was opened to reveal a beautifully packaged ship.

My first impression was wow, it looks very high end, and the sweet smell of timber filled my office

Well I've cleared up a space in my spare office where I was building an RC car, and placed the tools I've collected thus far on the desk. I have quite a few more parts on order from model expo including mini pegs, more clamps, a rope walk , and a bending wood jig from another hobby shop.

Here you can see my collection of glues, scalpels, syringes, forceps, probes, electronic micrometers, spirit levels, saws, drill bits, wood filler, tooth picks, clamps, pins, some printed documents I've found etc.

Thought I was going crazy for a second.... Another Rowan. Not many of us around.

Cheers

Rowan

Thanks guys, it's not only a 3 year old but a 22 month old too. I'm considering putting a key code lock on my office to keep little fingers out. Make it my man cave.

Tonight I'll open the box, stock take, and then likely place some orders for some upgrades from Chuck!

No one in labour currently so I might get a quiet night without an epidural or Caesarean section

Well, after lurking here for just over a month, reading, studying and absorbing as much information, my first kit The US Brig Syren arrived from the US model expo after over a month delay.

I must admit customer service from outside the US at Model Expo has been poor, and shipping was extremely slow and extortionate. Packaging was substandard, and I just hope nothing had been damaged in the crushed, non-padded box.

1st step is to clear some clutter from my work spaces. They are not really usable for anything at the moment.

I've taken a few quick snaps of the box, the contents, and other items I've ordered.

I will wait until I clear a nice spot, and distract the 3 yr old before opening the box, and getting the obligatory shots and item stocktake.

This is where I do my office work, and occasional gaming. It needs a major sort

My spare office is currently set up building a carbon fibre RC 6 turn brushless 1:10 buggy. I will maybe pack this away and use this zone.

A very excited 3 yr old wanting to build a ship

Substandard packing, with crushed box, tape not sealing all over and some random fish and chip paper. No bubble rap to cover to precious contents

Out of focus picture showing the Syren box, a plank bender, some spare boxwood planks, a hull vice, micrometer, and draw plate.

And here she is. The Syren in her box.

I'll clear a work space, organise my tools, get some sandpaper, blocks, glue in the next few days.

Unfortunately I'm Oncall for Obstetric emergencies tomorrow, and trauma Thursday, so I may be stuck at work for the next 48 hrs, but fingers crossed I get to open the box!

I've just ordered the Syren MS paint kit.

I was wondering if these were the paints others have used in their Syren, or did they go with other brands?

I took the easy option and got all the colours in one pack, but am wondering if I've compromised on quality.

Cheers

Rowan

Beautiful work!

I love the Bounty and you have done a fantastic job of her

Very impressive, I am still considering buying this kit to start on before embarking on the other two I've just purchased.

Cheers

Rowan

Wow, what a gorgeous ship. The details are amazing. You have done an amazing job Vince.

Cheers

Rowan

I've just ordered this kit, and the Syren. I'm tossing up which one to start with.

Yours looks fantastic

Wow! It's looking fantastic, I love the colour, and your workmanship is making me envious.

Cheers

Rowan