olliechristo

A small amount of filler for the small opening....trim is in and now off to do the planking of stern sides. This will be stained a light Oak as the main and aft decks.
 
John E

Hi
I thought I should share my build as reading other peoples have been a great help and inspiration.
 
Here are some pictures of the early stages, for a new person I spent the first week or so reading and re-reading the instruction book and plans which for this kit were extremely vague for 99% and the obvious bits had excellent detail! As I have nothing to compare it too I don't know if this is typical for wooden kits? I did buy several books on the subject to help --one on planking, one on rigging  and a general making model ships books which were excellent. I have posted some pictures which dates from Jan 2014 to date. I have stuck closely to the plans but the jolly boat in the kit looked wrong to me so I used the Caldercraft jolly boat kit which has loads of detail which I will show in another posting (when I have painted the oars etc.)  I shall also be ordering better anchors as the plastic ones even painted looked out of place.

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Also got the bowsprit guys done.. went ok but i think my lashing could have been better.... Looks ok i think, rope just clears anchors within a reasonable distance at their most raised position..   Regards Ollie

She's looking great, Ollie.  Just a tip for next time (don't change it on the model) - make the guys a little longer and the lashings a little shorter; that'll be more realistic.
 
John

this pic might show better what im concerned with, not great lighting...
 
Also. Notice the board i have the ship on.. I cant believe i dint rig this up sooner.. I can spin her around and pick her up so much easier now..  Over and out,, Ollie

Wondering what was used for docking against wharfs etc..? Cleats? :-)

Nice... i have another query...  I want to do bowsprit guy ropes tonight... Just wondering how this lashing is done? Im sure its simple.. I figure it just doubles back from ring to ring..but unsure ..
 
Plans dont really explain it and picture is rough...  Any help/tips much appreciated... thanks Ollie

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Also got the bowsprit guys done.. went ok but i think my lashing could have been better.... Looks ok i think, rope just clears anchors within a reasonable distance at their most raised position..   Regards Ollie

Excellent John... 
 
So I have completed lifts. main yard required some weight to give rope tension (used pegs).. otherwise it just pulled the yard upwards..  It still needs some tension from fore and aft braces which are next on agenda.
 
Top sail was no worries as it is fixed.. I spliced tiny eyebolts into top shrouds to run top lifts through as if they were grommets of some description.
 
 

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Also got the bowsprit guys done.. went ok but i think my lashing could have been better.... Looks ok i think, rope just clears anchors within a reasonable distance at their most raised position..   Regards Ollie

Excellent John... 
 
So I have completed lifts. main yard required some weight to give rope tension (used pegs).. otherwise it just pulled the yard upwards..  It still needs some tension from fore and aft braces which are next on agenda.
 
Top sail was no worries as it is fixed.. I spliced tiny eyebolts into top shrouds to run top lifts through as if they were grommets of some description.
 
 

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John that looks much tidier than the picture above.. just a tip... i would advise in investing in some very sharp craft blades for intricate cut out jobs.. really sharp is the key... i use a 9mm stanely knife and snap and change blades often.. looking good even though i know nothing of this ship.. Ollie

:)I love the idea of flattening soldering wire for banding.. I could use that for all sorts of detailing...

Following are 2 photos of what I was attempting to do with the grating aft...I am not pleased and feel my craftsmanship is little to be desired. I wanted some critique to see a better approach.
 
But first, let me say before I even started on this aft section I remembered I have a good size stack of 1/16" Birch wood that is just sitting on a shelf. So I began to think of replacing the 1x4x.5 planks with a cutout of the area with the Birch. I was successful at cutting a piece that slipped right into the exterior framing quite nicely. All I have to do is drill holes at 5/64" to show where the water would drain to keep vessel from pitch-poling upon being hit by a rogue wave.
 
My problem with this approach seems to be just how much of a realistic look I need to achieve. I am looking for a clean look which will look better than the kit part. I figure this is a good approach but was wondering if anyone had any ideas.
 
I am looking online to research the grating for the Xebec and potentially discover a better way.
 
(Actually, I am ashamed of the 2 photos I will show but some of you folks with more experience may be able to help.)
 
These instructions in the Amati kit (to me anyway), are difficult to understand. I also feel this is an opportunity to advance a scratch built section of the vessel but really need to see real time photos of the actual build from someone else.
 
Thanks for allowing me to ramble on. It is 4:30 AM where I am and I am half asleep.
 
 

Ollie,
 
Sorry I missed your earlier post regarding the braces.  Yes, they would certainly lead as far aft as possible.  I doubt that a cutter like this would mount swivels on the rail - very unusual.  Do any of the contemporary paintings show them?
 
John

An small update.
I decided to plank the balconies and cut-out the frame from 1,5 mm mahogany veneer
 

 

 
I made the frame a bit larger so I’m sure I still can adjust its size if needed.
 

 

 
So next thing on the list are the columns/handrail and some nice wood carvings ..
 

I agree Sjors, it turns out that the build of the ST looks more and more like a scratch build project  ..
 
.. It still depends a bit on the results of this build, but ...
I’m considering to build the  “H.M.S. Triton, 28 gun frigate” (drawings are available as an “online project” on MSW) as my next project.
 
..with my current building speed I guess this will not be actual within the next 2 years ..
 
an updated picture of the (scratch build) stern, no issues so far.. 
 

Thinking what I could do for a cover up? Like a cleat over the hole for example... .. Or maybe just leave the holes.. Thanks as always everyone on board... :-)

Exactly, Ollie.  Back and forth between the two rings a few times and then finish off with a series of half hitches going right around the lashing.
 
John

Ok some pictures..  I have finished backstays now the missing part arrived a few days ago and had it prepared....
 
And of course.......   I did a clean up and the part turned up, i knew that was on the cards!!!!
 
Any way, top sail halliard fitted also, preparing parts for bowsprit guys... 
 
 

some more rigging done