BLACK VIKING

Thanks to those who clicked the 'like' button and to Frankie and Mark for your comments.

Mark ~ thanks for the link you posted. I've only had the milling machine for about 3 months and I wish I had had one much earlier in the build.
 
Frankie ~ first, thanks for liking my build! You said that I "appear to think that I'm not as good a builder as some people." Well, you're right, and it's not for no reason that I feel that way. There are so many incredible build logs on the forum by so many fabulous builders (none of whom will I mention as I wouldn't want to miss any). I'm just blown away when I look at some of these build logs and see the perfect detail that goes into these ships.
But --- you're also right about the scale at which most of these models are built and I would have been happier to have started a project at 1:48 or at least 1:64.
When I started this build it was my intention to finally have a model that will at least have a passable resemblance to the real thing, and as it stands at the moment I'm quite pleased with its general appearance - it looks fairly acceptable at about 2 metres distance!
It's the detailed parts of the ship that sometimes cause me to be disappointed with my results . . . but I'm old enough and ugly enough to realise that I can live with the limits of my own skills. 

Well its been a bit hard going, as I should have done the fire buckets earlier, anyone having a go at this should think on this.
Now having enuff KG etched crests(thanks to Daniel)I started thinking on how to place them with the shroud ropes done.

I added a strip of plastic from the tops left over part, stuck this behind to the top of the plastic rear bulkhead of the poop deck.

Then used plastic glue to hold buckets, later will add CA to the handles.





Later when all settled will paint handles and surrounding area black.

Next its on to the upper shroud ropes.
Used .63mm for the lower and for the upper will use .30mm black.

For both shrouds I will use .08mm for the ratlines.

Frank. 

And the next adventuere started here on MSW with some pictures of the official start of exchanging the copper on the Constitution.
 

 
Great picture I thought, and interesting the damages on the left top of the picture. But then I saw the same thing on other photos and realised them being too even.
 

 
And on top of it symmetrical to the other side ...
 

 
... time to have a closer look.
 

 
So then developed a treasure hunt over several forums, many helping and each revealing some new hints. 
 
The more qualified opinions went soon direction of a rudder lift, in case the rudder has to be put back into it´s hinges. Chapman gave the hint, that those holes was also mentioned in the 1930´s plans, with 2" diameter and inside lead. So must must have served a purpose.
 
By that time I found holes like these on plenty of rudders. Then appeared drawings from Nares and MSW that showed emergency rudders with the use of those hole. In my german forum I got a link to a picture of the rudder of St. George in Thorsminde showing the same holes and I was done: Time to drill two small holes :-)
 

 
And here the tackles that were used according to Nares and MSW: The aft ones served to lift the rudder and the fore ones to juggle the pins into the hinges. Once done, the rope was easily to be retrieved.
 

 
So the mystery about the holes is getting clearer, I will take the tackles down soon as they were only used to reship the rudder :-)
 
Cheers, Daniel
 
 
More to the topic:
Thinking things through: The mysterious holes in the rudder, rudder lift?

So far I've been able to get the first planking done on the launch. Was a few annoying gaps that I couldn't seem to close, but I can deal with those later.
 
I did end up having to use one stealer at the bow, which I detest having to do, although again, first planking so can get away with it and it's barely visible on the inner surface.
 
Gave a light sande and coated with watered down PVA to seal the planks
 
2nd layer to do now, and then an attempt at removing the frames...
 

Hi Dominic will be folowing your build
 
Happy building
Martyn

Hi Keith.
 
I did look at the Billings kit a while back, but to be honest the plastic content put me off greatly. Which would mean buying after market addons. Didn't see the point really when the CC kit has it all included. Although I was dissapointed at the inclusion of PE helms. Although the relief etiching is pretty good I may end up replacing those ones.
 
Anatomy of Nelson's Ships is the book that I have too
 
Edit: Sorry ignore that bit about plastic, got confused between kits)

I say go for it looks the biz to me .  If you like it that is all that matters  All the best Viking

Thanks Nigel yours is looking top notch as all ways Happy building rgd martyn aka BLACK VIKING

Nice work Majstor  Rgd the VIKING