maggsl_01

Cheerio my friends, I am glad to say: The first two sections of the masts are done. I finished the bowsprit and the foremast includig all rigging that can be fixed at this stage. The construction of the masts and yards is quite easy to do, the masterful plans give you any information you need - and even more fore the professional modellers who want to create their own blocks etc. In general, it is an overwhelming experience to work with these plans. They show every detail, every seemingly insignificant thing, with an accuracy that is unparalleled. However, this can also be confusing... Unfortunately, it is a bit awkward for the rigging that the standing and running rigging are not shown together in one plan drawing. This can lead to real confusion when attaching the blocks. It was only after a few hours that I immersed myself in the plans so much that I understood the actual system and I no longer had any problems. Euromodel forces you to read the plans very carefully and work through them. If you are a little careless, you will definitely pay for it later. But that is also what is special about this build: model building is raised to a high level and you experience a high level of satisfaction as a result. Even though my skills are nowhere near those of particularly experienced model builders, I am still very happy with the results so far. I try to work as precisely as possible, although there may be one or two simplifications in the execution of certain construction phases. But that doesn't matter, because the fun of model building should come first. Before I start on the main mast, I wanted to show you all a few pictures of how the construction is progressing. Have fun with them and as always - I look forward to suggestions, comments and feedback. Thank you all - and ahoi

Cheerio fellow mates, as announced I startet with the masting and rigging. The first step was the bowsprit. As always with this model, I first consulted the interpretive files by piratepete007. His hints and tips are indispensable to find a way through the excellent but also some kind of confusing plans by Euromodel. All in all the construction of the bowsprit and the sprit topmast were not as complicated as expected. I think I got a nice solution with almost no simplifications except the chainplates of the topmast. I am quite satisfied and will now start with the foremast. I cut off the parts for the bowsprit deck with a jigsaw from plywood. IMO this comes out quite good and I will work so with the other mast decks too. At least I painted the parts in black. Some pictures will show the currently state of the build, more to follow. As always, I look forward to your comments and suggestions. Thank you all - and Ahoi 😉

Hello fellow mates and friends, after a long break, I am now devoting myself to my model of the "Friedrich Wilhelm zu Pferde" again. Almost two years ago, I finished the hull and all the superstructures and actually only wanted to take a short break. But then my heart started to give me problems, I had to go to the hospital several times, had a stent inserted and first had to regain my strength. I have now also finished my working life and am now retired. Now that I have fully recovered, I am back at the workbench. I am starting the final spurt and want to finish the FW by summer. Exciting tasks await me - the masts and yards have to be built and then the rigging is next. I will provide you all with texts and pictures as usual and look forward to every suggestion, every comment and every friendly contact. BTW - I just ordered the brand new kit from Occre, "Fram". Nansens and Amundsens expedition ship for the exploration of both the North and the South Pole can be a very interesting project and perhaps gives me inspiration to create a diorama some day. Cheerio - Max

Thank you so much Pete. Actually I am a little bit proud of it. With your fantastic files and some own brain work I came to this result. You know the kits better than anybody else and thus you know the challenges that have to be done. But every one can be solved with a deep satisfaction. I am looking forward to the next steps. But now it is time for spring and the last months of my business life. What would you recommend as next Project? I am Not sure if I want the Mordaunt or the Falmouth. Both are most interesting😁 Best wishes Max

Cheerio again as mentioned in the post above I finished the first construction stage - hull, deck furniture, cannons, decorations - of the Euro Model Friedrich Wilhelm zu Pferde. I will have a break now before I start with the masts, spars and finally the rigging. I will retire in September. I think this will be a good time to restart building this extraordinary model. Please enjoy the pics and don't hesitate to tell me your thoughts about my FW. CU all again Maximilian

Hello my friends and fellow men (and women of course) it's time for another update, mostly with pictures. The work at the hull of my Friedrich Wilhelm step by step comes to its end. Still I have to build and install the remaining canons, some decorations are still missing - but that's it more or less. I think that it will take not longer than about two or maximum three weeks to finish this big stage of construction. I am very content with the quality of the figurines and other decorations. I used primer and some acrylic "antique gold", but there are some minor spots where I have to repair the color coating. After this step I will take a break before I start to construct the masts and spares and finally do the rigging. Before that I have to study the great Euromodel plans very carefully. So please take a look at the photos, enjoy it and as always don't hesitate to tell me your opinion and comments. CU soon with the final results of the hull construction Cheerio Max

Hello my friends, it is time for another little update. The Friedrich Wilhelm grows more and more. These days I went over to the galion, what is a really tricky matter. I modified the build in the way that I did not double-bent the rails. I bent the timber in a horizontal meaning but not vertical. So the galion is not as pointed as the plans show. It is wider what has consequences to the appearence of the bow. For me it is ok as it is. It's the way I can build it, I don't have a higher skill. Probably it would be better to cut out the rails in the exact shape with a coping saw or to carve it. Nevertheless the result is quite impressing. Now the hull is almost done. I have to fix the decorations, to build the cannons, the gun port lids, the channels with the chains and some smaller details. All over the hull it will be necessary to repair some details that got affected during the build and all those things. I assume that I will be ready with this first grand step this year. I am not sure yet if I want to show the boats, as they will take a lot of space and hide some pretty details. But we will see...😉 As always - some pics. Enjoy and don't hesitate to tell me your opinion. Best wishes - and Cheerio Max

Hello my friends after almost four weeks it's time for an update. I finished some steps like the balustrades, the railings and some deck furniture. All comes good, I started the decorations. Everything seams to go on smooth and with no or just minor problems. The build is a challenge, as I said before several times, but there are no problems that will stay unsolved. Looking at the plans very carefully and with full attention, the interpretive files from Euro Model and at least thinking about the things you do and the progress you want to make will always lead to a proper way. And finally success. I hope I am right with this when it comes to the next step - the galion. But I am sure I alreday found some working methods... As always I present some photos to show the progress. Enjoy and as always don't hesitate to tell me your opinion, hints and remarks. Cheerio Max

Hello merry boys and girls, time for some new pics from the Friedrich Wilhelm. Still working on the inner planks and other interior stuff. I got the first reling in place, tghe secon on will follow quite later. I am not sure if I use the same size for the upper reling. Mr Mondfeld says in his book that it was commonly made in smaller size. As my first reling is in 7mm I could use some 5 or 4 mm timber. I will try and then decide what looks better. Last week I was in Milan and had a trip round Lake Como where Euro Model ist suited. I wonder if it will be possible to buy my next kit directly in Como as I go to Milan several times a year. I will ask Mr Mazzi from Euro Model if they have a shop... If yes this would be really exciting... Have a got time and Cheerio Max

Hi mates, today there is just a little update with pics. Between the construction of the gallery and the stern, which I have completed (without the decorations yet) and the construction of the bow section and galion (what I see as a BIG challenge) I have installed the decks, now planked all decks and I will continue with the ships interior so far (inner planks etc). This work makes a good progress and is not as far a challenge as other steps. After a few hours you see a nice result. So look at the pics and always have in your mind - all is in progress 😅 Cherrio Max

Hello mates, some update. Due to some busy days in the job there is just a little progress. Started planking of the decks. Try to get a good curve to the upper deck and proceed this for the poop deck. At the moment things go fine and I am hopeful to solve all challenges with the help of Pete's files and the study of the plans. The plans are so extraordinary... I always discover some new details by every look at them. Well, enough words, there are no real problem at the moment. Some pics show the way I am on. So far, see you later Cheerio Max

Hi Kirill, thank you for your posting. I followed strictly the plans of Euromodel with both the gratings orientation and the opening for the rudder pendants. I did not know that there was a difference, but the old drawings show this quite clearly. So - you never stop learning. Best regards Max

Hello again my merry men Time for al little update. I installed the main deck and planked it - maple that I stained before with a mixture of oak and a very small drop of black. I like the changing of the colors of the different strips very much. Next was to plank the inner side a second time, the gratings and the capstan. I stained the gratings with dark walnut for two times so the timber got a dark and shiny surface. I am not sure yet if I will show the stakes in the capstan as seen in the pictures. Perhaps I will remove them again. My first attempt of the grating was unsuccessfull - I build them as I did in earlier builts with a thick border (2x2 mm), but that did not fit or look good. The gratings need to be on the same level as the deck. I only attached a thin strip as a frame for a better appearance (although this might not be really correct). I expect a problem with the cannon's tackling as there is only a little space. But I will see when it is so far. Next will be to complete the decks and a final sealing of the inner ship. (Due to the light situation the color might not give the exact look). Thank you all and Cheerio

I am sorry - of course there are your excellent files and I have them all and printed and use them. But this was not I wanted to express - you surely know those booklets from e.g. Occre that show you step by step -like a plastic model kit. No doubt - without your writings and helpful pics I would have quit the build... Thank you

Ahoj, hello, cheerio... my trusty old friend Friedrich Wilhelm has made some further steps... I sealed the hull (three coats of a colorless satin finish). I actually decided not to paint the ship. I use different timber so there is a interesting change of natural colors. And I stain the strips whenever necessary. Furthermore I decided not to paint the figurines or the decorations so far - I found a wonderful golden color that fits perfectly to the timber. This model is largely idealized and not so much a lifelike replica. It's more the impression of a great and imposing ship. The more time and intensive examination I give to the build the more I come to believe that this model suits me and my intentions. There are so much great and beautiful kits on the market with details and perfect precut parts. And I would never say anything against this kits. But this special EuroModel kit makes you to create something own and new and wonderful. You don't glue parts together and in the end have a great model. To build a kit like this is almost a journey with so much crossroads, deviations and surprising solutions to problems you never would have had otherwise. And it's - not at last - a way to slow down yourself. Learning about the slow way of life... After these almost philosophical thoughts I will show some pics of the status quo (I also love photography so some pics may look a little bit different... ) I've done the major hull work so far. Next step will be to fix the cannons and the interior stuff that has to be done before the next deck will be installed. I look forward to this work. At the moment I don't have any further questions and I'm getting along well with the plans. That's it for the moment - Cheerio my friends