olliechristo

Hi all, been struggling to get started again,, Wrote a big post the other night on the phone and slipped a button and lost it all, so a bit disgruntled.. 
 
Anyway i have my new room ready, the transition from proper shed/garage to neat room is not easy..  I want all my power tools in one place, but it may not happen, new habits to be made etc..
 
Also my phone is having dramas downloading photos,, But i, MADE sawdust yesterday,, so after gathering some more materials im into it again,,  more updates soon... ollie

Hi Luca
Just found your log - very, very nice work, especially on the stanchions.
I'm just getting to the end of coppering with the Amati plates on HMS Fly. They are very nice although I have nothing to compare them with. I'm sure you have picked up that the sheets are different for the port and starboard. I also find overlapping the plates vertically - in clinker fashion - is the best (only?) way to get the plates to fit the curvature of the hull. I hardly ever lay them in full strips as they simply can't curve if laid like this. The longest strip would be about 5 tiles before it is forced off line. Cutty Sark will be different though with such a long straight hull. Have a look at my log for a copper ageing accelerant if you are interested in going that way. My experiments with this aren't finished yet and a few here are still laughing about it... 
 
I will look forward to seeing your coppering - I find it very difficult and with only one strip left to do, I'm, soon, happy to see it behind me...
 
Cheers
Alistair

FINALLY SOME PROGRESS!!!
just finished the stanchions, and opted just for the alternating ringed and standard stanchions.
Pretty happy with the result but some touch ups are defiantly needed.
Now onto the Gunwale covers, trimmings and bumper, and eventually painting and coppering.



Also here was my production line for the stanchions
started with cutting brass to 'close enough' lengths and placing them,flux and a small bit of solder into groves set for the stanchion angle

after hitting it with the torch

ready for paint

After a metal primer and 3 coats of gloss acrylic

I like your man cave.
David B

Hi all, My led project was tackled today amongst other things, quite a success..  I purchased a remote controlled 'led candle' off ebay for $11 delivered..
 
I gutted it and re wired and modified to suit, lost the progress pictures unfortunately.
 
Remote works from a bout a metre, but it will need some kind of 'line of sight' (you cant box the electronics completely if you want to remote to work properly.). It is housed inside the unit originally so it does work somewhat inside a model, but in a closed timber hull may be a bit much i think..  I get a pathway through my cut-away... 
 
How long this setup lasts in the long term is unknown. But it will get used rarely..  And if fails its no big loss or can be replaced..
 
The light is appropriate looking, dim and flickers well... I may put a lantern over it instead of just a crude bulb...   If anyone wants a link send me a msg i can provide one for Australian or NZ memebers.. 
 
NOTE - it would be safest to contain batteries in plastic bag or container in case of future leakage..
 
I had to make a video to help show the result..Excuse my mumbling..   Ollie
 

Thanks dave. Only thing I.don't like is the mould.and mildew. But luckily were coming into our dry season.. This load should get it looking a bit more like a workshop.. Regards

Made up the lower deadeyes and straps

The man cave feeling a bit more usable

The man cave feeling a bit more usable

That looks neat, Ollie!  Don't forget that the deadeye straps line up with the angle of their respective shroud or stay.
 
John

G’day all-
 
I thought I’d start off with photos of the end product and my workstation. I really should have gotten into this hobby when we were in NZ with three spare rooms and a huge garage, though this should serve.  My commentary may get a bit wordy, but I’m really keen on documenting everything, because I’m sure by the time I start my second model I will have totally forgotten the start of this one.
 
So far I’ve broken out all the laser-cut pieces, being sure to first cut, at least partially, through the remaining connections from both sides with my X-acto, so as not to splinter the laminations.
 
I put together a keel holder with a bit of board I had around and a length of 5x15mm lath, which I cut into two pieces just shorter than the base and a good bit longer than the keel. I drilled through one end of the first lath, into the base and screwed it down. While holding the lath firmly against a straightedge, I drilled the other end and screwed it down. I then cut a thin bit of scrap off the keel form (to allow room for me to us my Dremel and screwdriver without bumping the keel) and clamped it between the two laths, along with a sheet of printer paper, so as not to make it too tight. I made sure to clamp with the substitute keel between the jaws so the second lath didn’t bow out in the middle. Then I screwed down the second lath at both ends and the middle and added a middle screw to the first. Then I dry-fitted the frames and decks to the keel. Look, a boat.
 

Good to see another kit underway. Beagle is a nice subject combining lots of ship boats - seven by my count, cannons, carronades and a howitzer and all the other deck equipment. It is also transitional with chains replacing ropes in many applications. Being a vessel for survey rather than war is another nice touch. If you haven't already read it, I can recommend the novel "Mr Darwin's Shooter" by Roger McDonald - it will get you "inside" Beagle. Also the AOTS of HMS Beagle by Karl Marquardt shows an enormous amount of extra details that even the very finest kit will lack.
 
I look forward to seeing your progress.
 
Cheers
Alistair

All Righty Then I'm Back..  That odd 'nameless' piece is the last photo! Submit your answers written on the back of a £5 note ($10 will be ok), winner gets a Thimble full of Amazon Minwax... High Stakes Indeed :mellow:  :mellow:
 
All The Best Folks
 
Eamonn
 
Anyhoo..
 
 

Ok Folks.. Small Photo Update (just to show that I haven't forgotten you)
 
Transom Planked, Lower Transom Planked and a full Strake of planking done each side !
 
I wanted to get the lower Transom planked before continuing with the Strakes, as I wanted the strakes to overlap the Transom planks.. if you follow!
The newest strake on both sides is a wider plank as there was a bit of shaping to be done on it towards the bow and at the meeting of the transom.. it is also a Full Plank.. ie not  my scale plank lengths (all this area will be painted anyhoo) But in keeping with the suggestion of Kester (to continue with the Scale Planks all the way to the keel) I shall put a subtle 'notch' in the appropriate place to simulate Butt's.  Don't know about ye Guys 'n Gals but I found that the individual Scale Planking (8.5 cm lengths at this scale) was taking an absolute age!! I was spending as much time laying a single length as I was laying a Full length.. That Might Just Be Me Though  
 
By The Way, there is enough Pegs, Pins & Clamps in these shots to keep everyone's attention, with the addition of some discrete Rubber Band action too for the real aficionado's (You Know Who Ye All Are.. For Shame)
 
All The Best Folks
 
Eamonn
 
 
 
 

Dave,, thanks for the compliments mate... And yes your right about the fridge.. This is right down the bottom of house. Kitchens a trek upstairs.. :-)

You two crack me up. She made her first voyage today of 10 km.. All safe in the new base.... Soon enough the cave will be full of all sorts of useful stuff :-) looking forward to getting back into the mermaid.. Slightly daunted by the rigging but also love a challenge... will be good when get computer going.. Just been on the phone.. Anyway thanks guys.. Sawdust can't be far away in the new dwelling.. Ollie

You two crack me up. She made her first voyage today of 10 km.. All safe in the new base.... Soon enough the cave will be full of all sorts of useful stuff :-) looking forward to getting back into the mermaid.. Slightly daunted by the rigging but also love a challenge... will be good when get computer going.. Just been on the phone.. Anyway thanks guys.. Sawdust can't be far away in the new dwelling.. Ollie

Beginnings

Hi gang.. I have been struck down with a tropical virus, some of you may have heard of dengue fever... I'm not good for much at the moment..
 
Well i have done a few hours here and there when im not sleeping Ive tackled my painting...   i wont paint another model, it just takes too much away, i dont think i would copper again either...
 
Anyhow, keeping with my plan i now have a half painted ship and i am moving onto gunport lids...   Ollie

So that's what you've been up to while faking Dengue Fever!
 
John

Far too clean Ollie, let me at it for a few hours with some sawdust and tiny lengths of timber (which I'm absolutely positive will be useful if not vital later!! :mellow: ) Oh and most importantly Tools every where and in no order (just so you can spend half your build time playing Hunt the Pliers and other fun games like that, am thinking of Patenting those 'Games' and selling the idea to Hasbro.. think of all the hours of entertainment kids are missing out on!  )
 
All The Very Best Mate
 
Eamonn
 
Glad you are feeling so much better by the way.. I can take my mask off now eh!

Hi gang.. I have been struck down with a tropical virus, some of you may have heard of dengue fever... I'm not good for much at the moment..
 
Well i have done a few hours here and there when im not sleeping Ive tackled my painting...   i wont paint another model, it just takes too much away, i dont think i would copper again either...
 
Anyhow, keeping with my plan i now have a half painted ship and i am moving onto gunport lids...   Ollie

Beginnings

Hi gang.. Setting my new man cave tomorrow.. Here's a sneak peek.

Bedford, Sherry, Ed, thank you for your very kind comments, and for the likes.  It is so important to hear positive thoughts in our daily lives, I do appreciate them.
 
Ed the wood is some clear Fir. I like to use the sort of wood that was used for many of the parts of the craft, as you know this is not always possible because of the limitations of scale and densities. The beauty of working at this larger scale is that it is possible to find some pieces of wood that are quite close grained either because they are old or grown in less than Ideal conditions. The Fir and Spruce grown in the higher altitudes is often much more dense because of the short growing season and harsh conditions.
 
Often whist chopping a log of firewood I will notice some particular fine grain and save a few pieces that can be used for modelwork later.
 
Michael