rlb

The manufacture of beams continues.  All the beam 'blanks' have now been completed and I've started to work on the deck opening framing for them. Everything still, of nececcity, still unfixed, so everything needs to be carefully marked as it all goes together like a mad jigsaw puzzle.
 
below are a couple of images of the forest of frames all roughly in place.
 
John
 

Boarding steps--


 
I would have made the steps the full width of the hammock opening, but the carronade position wouldn't allow it.   The hammock position corresponds to Chappelle's sail plan drawing and also the location of the outboard boarding steps shown on the hull plan, but a little foresight may have warranted shifting the steps and opening just a bit.
 
Ron
 

The capstan bars are roughed in--

 
I need to soften some of the transitions between the square end and the rounded part, but they are dry fit into the capstan head, and on deck--




 
They'll also need a coat of Tung oil finish when done.   
 
The list is getting smaller of what is still needed before stepping the masts and starting the rigging.  At this point I still need some inboard boarding steps, and I think I'll make some mast collars.  I am also contemplating redoing the gratings, with a tighter grid.
 
All for now,
Ron
 

The capstan bars are roughed in--

 
I need to soften some of the transitions between the square end and the rounded part, but they are dry fit into the capstan head, and on deck--




 
They'll also need a coat of Tung oil finish when done.   
 
The list is getting smaller of what is still needed before stepping the masts and starting the rigging.  At this point I still need some inboard boarding steps, and I think I'll make some mast collars.  I am also contemplating redoing the gratings, with a tighter grid.
 
All for now,
Ron
 

Boarding steps--


 
I would have made the steps the full width of the hammock opening, but the carronade position wouldn't allow it.   The hammock position corresponds to Chappelle's sail plan drawing and also the location of the outboard boarding steps shown on the hull plan, but a little foresight may have warranted shifting the steps and opening just a bit.
 
Ron
 

Boarding steps--


 
I would have made the steps the full width of the hammock opening, but the carronade position wouldn't allow it.   The hammock position corresponds to Chappelle's sail plan drawing and also the location of the outboard boarding steps shown on the hull plan, but a little foresight may have warranted shifting the steps and opening just a bit.
 
Ron
 

Boarding steps--


 
I would have made the steps the full width of the hammock opening, but the carronade position wouldn't allow it.   The hammock position corresponds to Chappelle's sail plan drawing and also the location of the outboard boarding steps shown on the hull plan, but a little foresight may have warranted shifting the steps and opening just a bit.
 
Ron
 

Boarding steps--


 
I would have made the steps the full width of the hammock opening, but the carronade position wouldn't allow it.   The hammock position corresponds to Chappelle's sail plan drawing and also the location of the outboard boarding steps shown on the hull plan, but a little foresight may have warranted shifting the steps and opening just a bit.
 
Ron
 

Boarding steps--


 
I would have made the steps the full width of the hammock opening, but the carronade position wouldn't allow it.   The hammock position corresponds to Chappelle's sail plan drawing and also the location of the outboard boarding steps shown on the hull plan, but a little foresight may have warranted shifting the steps and opening just a bit.
 
Ron
 

Boarding steps--


 
I would have made the steps the full width of the hammock opening, but the carronade position wouldn't allow it.   The hammock position corresponds to Chappelle's sail plan drawing and also the location of the outboard boarding steps shown on the hull plan, but a little foresight may have warranted shifting the steps and opening just a bit.
 
Ron
 

Boarding steps--


 
I would have made the steps the full width of the hammock opening, but the carronade position wouldn't allow it.   The hammock position corresponds to Chappelle's sail plan drawing and also the location of the outboard boarding steps shown on the hull plan, but a little foresight may have warranted shifting the steps and opening just a bit.
 
Ron
 

Boarding steps--


 
I would have made the steps the full width of the hammock opening, but the carronade position wouldn't allow it.   The hammock position corresponds to Chappelle's sail plan drawing and also the location of the outboard boarding steps shown on the hull plan, but a little foresight may have warranted shifting the steps and opening just a bit.
 
Ron
 

Thanks Joe, and all looking in.
 
The hammock cranes and cloth are done.   It was more work than I anticipated, but I think it was worth it.  I got some practice making jigs and drilling small holes on the mill, and I learned about Silkspan.
 
Here one side is done, and the other has been "strung".  I was tempted to leave it this way, but elected to complete both sides--

 
Done.   Work on the capstan bars continues--

 
Knotted boarding ropes hang over the boarding steps.  I don't know why Lieutenant Woolsey is falling all over the deck in the previous photos, but he's found his feet here.  I'll secure the ropes with a dot of glue on one of the lower steps, but for now the clips make them hang straight and give the idea--

 
I am reminded of something I read about Oneida being reported by an early crew member (I think) as being a "warm cozy" ship.  They were probably talking about below deck, but the more enclosed and protected feeling with the hammocks in place on the rails does give me that impression--
   

 
All for now,
Ron

Boarding steps--


 
I would have made the steps the full width of the hammock opening, but the carronade position wouldn't allow it.   The hammock position corresponds to Chappelle's sail plan drawing and also the location of the outboard boarding steps shown on the hull plan, but a little foresight may have warranted shifting the steps and opening just a bit.
 
Ron
 

Boarding steps--


 
I would have made the steps the full width of the hammock opening, but the carronade position wouldn't allow it.   The hammock position corresponds to Chappelle's sail plan drawing and also the location of the outboard boarding steps shown on the hull plan, but a little foresight may have warranted shifting the steps and opening just a bit.
 
Ron
 

The capstan bars are roughed in--

 
I need to soften some of the transitions between the square end and the rounded part, but they are dry fit into the capstan head, and on deck--




 
They'll also need a coat of Tung oil finish when done.   
 
The list is getting smaller of what is still needed before stepping the masts and starting the rigging.  At this point I still need some inboard boarding steps, and I think I'll make some mast collars.  I am also contemplating redoing the gratings, with a tighter grid.
 
All for now,
Ron
 

Thanks Joe, and all looking in.
 
The hammock cranes and cloth are done.   It was more work than I anticipated, but I think it was worth it.  I got some practice making jigs and drilling small holes on the mill, and I learned about Silkspan.
 
Here one side is done, and the other has been "strung".  I was tempted to leave it this way, but elected to complete both sides--

 
Done.   Work on the capstan bars continues--

 
Knotted boarding ropes hang over the boarding steps.  I don't know why Lieutenant Woolsey is falling all over the deck in the previous photos, but he's found his feet here.  I'll secure the ropes with a dot of glue on one of the lower steps, but for now the clips make them hang straight and give the idea--

 
I am reminded of something I read about Oneida being reported by an early crew member (I think) as being a "warm cozy" ship.  They were probably talking about below deck, but the more enclosed and protected feeling with the hammocks in place on the rails does give me that impression--
   

 
All for now,
Ron

More hammock crane work.
 
I decided I needed a better way to make the modeling clay form for the hammock covering cloth.   I had just kind of rolled it out and mashed it into rough shape, but it was a little TOO rough and varied in height and thickness.  So I made a mold out of scrap wood.  This is the length I need for the forward sections.  The previous clay form and removed covering paper are above it--

 
Then I mashed the clay into one side of the mold--
 
And clamped the outer mold piece against it.  There are spacers at the end to make the right thickness, and I used my calipers to make sure it was the same width at the middle.  They also worked as a clamp.  I mashed additional clay into the top where needed--

 
Then scraped the top smooth--

 
This gave me a piece of clay that was uniform in height and thickness--


 
I ran a finger along each side of the top to round and smooth it--

 
New pieces of Silkspan were moistened and folded around it--

 
When this dried, I tucked and glued the loose ends at the bottom, and let that dry--

 
Here it is fit into place--


 
 
I am much happier with this attempt.   It may be more uniform than it really should be, but it will be easy to go back and make it a little "lumpy" if I decide it needs it.  Here's a view from inboard--

 
As I finish up the hammocks I'm adding the capstan bars to the capstan.   It's always one of the things on a model that catches your eye, and I've been waiting a long time to add this touch!   I cut some blanks, and test fit a few times to get the length I thought was appropriate.  They look pretty chunky, but they haven't been tapered or rounded yet, hence they are also not glued to the capstan yet--

 
I numbered each hole and bar on the underside just in case it matters which one goes where--

 
As the afternoon light starts to fade--

 
That's all for now.
 
Ron
 
 

The capstan bars are roughed in--

 
I need to soften some of the transitions between the square end and the rounded part, but they are dry fit into the capstan head, and on deck--




 
They'll also need a coat of Tung oil finish when done.   
 
The list is getting smaller of what is still needed before stepping the masts and starting the rigging.  At this point I still need some inboard boarding steps, and I think I'll make some mast collars.  I am also contemplating redoing the gratings, with a tighter grid.
 
All for now,
Ron
 

Thanks Joe, and all looking in.
 
The hammock cranes and cloth are done.   It was more work than I anticipated, but I think it was worth it.  I got some practice making jigs and drilling small holes on the mill, and I learned about Silkspan.
 
Here one side is done, and the other has been "strung".  I was tempted to leave it this way, but elected to complete both sides--

 
Done.   Work on the capstan bars continues--

 
Knotted boarding ropes hang over the boarding steps.  I don't know why Lieutenant Woolsey is falling all over the deck in the previous photos, but he's found his feet here.  I'll secure the ropes with a dot of glue on one of the lower steps, but for now the clips make them hang straight and give the idea--

 
I am reminded of something I read about Oneida being reported by an early crew member (I think) as being a "warm cozy" ship.  They were probably talking about below deck, but the more enclosed and protected feeling with the hammocks in place on the rails does give me that impression--
   

 
All for now,
Ron

The capstan bars are roughed in--

 
I need to soften some of the transitions between the square end and the rounded part, but they are dry fit into the capstan head, and on deck--




 
They'll also need a coat of Tung oil finish when done.   
 
The list is getting smaller of what is still needed before stepping the masts and starting the rigging.  At this point I still need some inboard boarding steps, and I think I'll make some mast collars.  I am also contemplating redoing the gratings, with a tighter grid.
 
All for now,
Ron
 

The capstan bars are roughed in--

 
I need to soften some of the transitions between the square end and the rounded part, but they are dry fit into the capstan head, and on deck--




 
They'll also need a coat of Tung oil finish when done.   
 
The list is getting smaller of what is still needed before stepping the masts and starting the rigging.  At this point I still need some inboard boarding steps, and I think I'll make some mast collars.  I am also contemplating redoing the gratings, with a tighter grid.
 
All for now,
Ron
 

The capstan bars are roughed in--

 
I need to soften some of the transitions between the square end and the rounded part, but they are dry fit into the capstan head, and on deck--




 
They'll also need a coat of Tung oil finish when done.   
 
The list is getting smaller of what is still needed before stepping the masts and starting the rigging.  At this point I still need some inboard boarding steps, and I think I'll make some mast collars.  I am also contemplating redoing the gratings, with a tighter grid.
 
All for now,
Ron
 

Thanks Tom. I have a mill attachment for the lathe but I don't have a good way to hold and rotate the dowels when using the mill. I have a rotary table but it does not have a hole through the center so can only hold the dowel on the very end, which is nowhere near secure enough. I am a little worried about the fences on the tops but I wasn't sure how hard it would be to add them later. Hopefully I won't break them off too many times.
 
Just a quick update on the cutter. I drilled the holes in the deck and slid the pins under the supports in place. I added the oars, rudder, boat hooks, and grapple to the inside of the cutter too.
 

 
I am not sure how well that ladder works with the cutter in the way. Onto the anchors and upper yards.

The capstan bars are roughed in--

 
I need to soften some of the transitions between the square end and the rounded part, but they are dry fit into the capstan head, and on deck--




 
They'll also need a coat of Tung oil finish when done.   
 
The list is getting smaller of what is still needed before stepping the masts and starting the rigging.  At this point I still need some inboard boarding steps, and I think I'll make some mast collars.  I am also contemplating redoing the gratings, with a tighter grid.
 
All for now,
Ron