BLACK VIKING

Wow thanks for the brilliant comments Anthony and EJ  
Butting up the strakes just wouldn't cut it oops sorry about the pun   but seriously I am really pleased with how it's gone, once there finished a light sand and a coat of varnish and that's it 

Thanks you all for the comments and the support guys.
 
A bit more work done on the SR .
 
 I have planked the beak and the keel as I didn't like the dark brown stain . Next job fitting the rudder. The pintails and hinges were gold plated but I didn't like the colour so have painted them a iron colour with a wash of brown then on to fitting the strakes down the side. I am really pleased on how this is turning out and have decided not too paint further down the hull as I think it looks ok 
 
Thanks for following 
Martyn
 
 

Cheers EJ for the support I am going on holiday tomorrow with my family for a week so will have plenty of time to think about it 
I might carry on with the rest of the whales and see if it looks OK in blue or wood 
 
rgd Martyn

Thanks guys 
I am really having a bad time deciding how far to go down with the paint as I love the wood finish and if I paint it there will be no going back if I didn't like it time to ponder I think but thanks for the info EJ 
 
From the very confused Martyn 

Hanging my head in shame as we speak Anthony lol thank you very much for the great comments. I did look at it and think l love the colour of the wood but have bit the bullet and painted on the blue as the carvings are really great and the blue will make them pop 
cheers for looking in my friend 
 
Martyn

May I say thank you for all the brilliant comments Guys and the likes 
 
I have been scratching my head on how far down to paint the blue as there seems to be a lot of debate on where it stops? 
So I have gone down to the top of the middle gun deck just to see what it looked like and I must admit I like it so have fitted the first whale. The instructions say just to butt up the joints but I have done them with scarfs as it looks a lot better.
 
Thanks for following 
Martyn

All you readers might have noticed this build is not really updated every week (or so). This is because I am very busy on creating the third model in my range of Dutch 17th century ships. This time I am building quite a big one:  De Zeven Provinciën from 1665 - the flagship of Michiel Adriaansz. de Ruyter.
 
I hope to start a build log on this one within short time, but as the plan is to launch her as a model kit end of this year (short before Christmas) this might take some more time. I am very occupied in finishing the model and preparing the box and her contents.
 
A few pictures to give some more information:

More info on http://kolderstok.com/zevenprovincien.en.html

Thanks Martyn!
@Messis...yes I do, it's the trieres ram found in the Mediterranean Sea near Israel.
 
The ladder..
A Greek bireme without a ladder is like a Swiss cow without a cow bell.

1x2mm basswood and thinned down cocktail sticks.

Ladder was used when the ship was beached. 

Attached to the railing when sailing.
 
Steering oars are next.
 
Robin 
 

Superb job Robin loving this build 
 
Martyn

Beautiful work on the masts Ken as I have to do mine with a drill and would love to get a lathe. Stunning job my friend 
Martyn

Hello Again,
 
Yes Dillbert I know what you mean. I used to hate doing the tapering of the masts and spars, this was my first build using my small lathe and I found that it's actually fun now and it's done in no time.
 
The building of the masts went smoothly without any of the difficulties that I had imagined. I made all the separate pieces as shown on the plan and then assembled them. The only thing that I needed to get right was the alignment of the mast sections.
 
I mounted them loosely in the ship and they appear ok to me.
 
Next I'll paint and varnish them before fitting them out with the necessary blocks. I'll need to put some blocks and eyelets on the deck prior to fitting them permanently.
 
 
Ken
 

Thanks for the likes and for following .
 I have now finished fitting the cannons and rigging the in-hauls , yippee 
The crew have been recruited and have turned up. The captain and first officer with two of the sailors have been painted but a few more to go so will post pics when completed.
Next job fitting the rails to the upper side 
 
See you later 
Martyn

Oops sorry forgot to put the pictures on 

Thanks you all for the comments and the support guys.
 
A bit more work done on the SR .
 
 I have planked the beak and the keel as I didn't like the dark brown stain . Next job fitting the rudder. The pintails and hinges were gold plated but I didn't like the colour so have painted them a iron colour with a wash of brown then on to fitting the strakes down the side. I am really pleased on how this is turning out and have decided not too paint further down the hull as I think it looks ok 
 
Thanks for following 
Martyn
 
 

May I say thank you for all the brilliant comments Guys and the likes 
 
I have been scratching my head on how far down to paint the blue as there seems to be a lot of debate on where it stops? 
So I have gone down to the top of the middle gun deck just to see what it looked like and I must admit I like it so have fitted the first whale. The instructions say just to butt up the joints but I have done them with scarfs as it looks a lot better.
 
Thanks for following 
Martyn

Henry – Thanks so much for your suggestion! – indeed that technique was working, and would have been the perfect solution. Had it not been for  another miss-step on my part.
 
When I pulled the rams head block tight, to attach the second loop for the yard, it butted and interfered with the mizzenmast stay large block. The fixed slack that I had pre-determined was in error.
 
SO did need to try to remove the knightshead.
 
The flat back of tweezers allowed for a slight “snap” of sound tugging against the deck frame opening and the knights head itself. Then wiggling those pliers released that wood bit.
 
Its base and vertical “pin” along with that brass ring did not budge, but stayed in place attached to the upper gun deck. Reached in and cut the attached rope.
 
Now - looking at that knighsthead and how “poor” it is. I will just re-do that part entirely, also fashion better working “sheaves”. Proxxon will help.
 
=========================
 
Main lower yard is in place, working on that “functioning” parrels bit. Then after fixing “the problem” adjusting the ropes wont be an issue. The length the lower yard rope is “fixed” correctly so that ramshead will secure below the mizzen stay block.
 
Glad that it was not worse (:-) slight delay for the two mizzen yards. Its sail that will also be completely furled.
 
Patrick; Yes – noted - Google “AI” will hopefully never be used at the United Nations ha ha.
 
Again Mates thanks so much for your always kind help, likes, and visits.
 
Cheers,

Hello Folks, 
 
The shipyard has now re opened and is fully operative again.
 
I've done all my maintenance, decorating and the usual prep for the coming winter. I've taken my wife on a holiday that she wanted so I now have her approval to spend lots of my time building RW.
 
I don't know if this happens to you but I initially found it difficult to fire up my motivation, for a couple of days I just browsed through the plans looking for inspiration as to how I should proceed, I've now found my mojo so it's full speed ahead.
 
I've started on the masting. I think that the plans for these could be arranged better, all the info and measurements are there but they are in no particular sequence, a bit like a mad woman's diary. Whilst all the individual pieces are there to be made there isn't any guidance as to how they should be assembled into complete masts, the views of the completed  masts are shown in the rigging plans and much of the necessary details are masked by the rigging, I think that it is assumed that at this level you should already know. I am confident though that I'll manage ok as once again although I'll try and get things as correct as I can I shan't worry about perfect accuracy, as long as they look about right and are neat that's all I'm setting out to achieve, I'll leave the super fine detailing to others that strive to achieve perfection.
 
I've made up the platforms, starting with my usual method of copying the plans to ply before cutting them out and planking them. I fitted them out as close to the plan as I could, they came out ok. Moving on I made up the bowsprit as per plan with all the pieces needed, my Proxxon lathe made the shaping easy and fun to do. I stained the pieces light oak. I've shown pictures of these made up, I think that their build will be self explanatory.
 
 
Ken
 

Mates,
 
Thanks so much for the likes----
 
Patrick This is the root of the problem.
 
When I installed this triple block to its upper gun deck knighsthead and base along with spooling the ropes; I then secured and knotted the end of the rope to a cleat on the side (now below deck - in a super tight space).
So now that I need to attach the mainmast yard rope, I have no way of adjusting the "slack" that will be left over after looping the rope through the block, 
through the mast sheave, then attach this rope to the other side of the yard. Lack of rigging foresight - though I at least new to pre-spool the rope through the block (;-)
 
I will try to remove (with pliers) that bit below deck. Though I remember attaching a rod through the gun deck and adding glue to the base - wanted to be sure that it would not "pull away" when yard rope was attached. Once removed I can unknot the rope - grrrr 
 
In the meantime I decided to also add  the look of "working" parrels to the lower mainmast. The yard and mast are very visible since all shrouds are further aft. So will add blocks and rope to the center parrel line.
 
Regards,

 

You can take up the slack at the yard.  Secure one leg of the tye to the yard with a cow hitch (like the end hitch for a ratline).  Take the tye up over the cap and then down to the rams head block abaft the mast then back up on the other side and over the cap and thence to the yard.  You should easily be able take up any slack in the tye while you are tying the second cow hitch.  BTW the cow hitches should be backed up by seizing the end of each leg of the tie to its standing part just above the hitch.
 
Regards,

Translating this text in to Dutch with google was not simple.
The naming of ship parts are a disaster on google translate .
 
If I understand correctly, the piece you want to loosen is firmly fixed and difficult to reach.
Is the risk of serious damage to your model not too big?
 
I would still wait a little with this work.
Perhaps someone finds a better solution without demolition work.
If I find something on time I'll let you know.

Thanks Martyn and Rich,
 
@ Martyn,
 
I  can take a look right now because she has her Tung oil.
But i don't tell you about it, i don't want to spoiled the surprise 😀
 
Sjors
 

Looking good Sjors can't wait seeing it in the Tung oil  
 
Martyn

Looking good Sjors can't wait seeing it in the Tung oil  
 
Martyn

Because we are gonna have a new computer this evening a quick update.
The hull is closed.
It was not an easy job and I must say that it is not the best hull planking.
Only because it's single planking !
But I'm satisfied and I will keep it this way.
For now pictures of the planking without the tung oil.
Later this week the pictures with the tung oil.
 
Sjors  

Thank you all.
I hope next week a update with a hull that's in the Tung oil.
 
Sjors