Aussie048

First attempt at planking the deck. I wasn't happy with the caulking, too crude and uneven, and a few other things. This would soon be the least of my problems though. I did know enough to stagger the planks.
 



 
An excellent reference to the topic of deck planking and the one I used is "Deck Planking by Ulises Victoria, 2008":
 
http://modelshipbuilder.com/e107_images/custom/conversionfiles/Deck_PlankingII.pdf

I'm reposting some of the photos that I've archived from the original log. Being a novice I did a considerable amount of reading and made too many mistakes to count. Lacking experience and being a perfectionist was rough and knowing when "good enough" was "good enough" is probably the most important thing I learned, other than not to repeat the mistakes, of course!
 
So here goes, from the beginning, yet another San Francisco II build log.
 



 
If I were to do this again, I would probably add filler all the way to frame 2. Being so blunt nosed it was difficult to give a consistent gentle curve to the planks from frames 2 to 0 afterwards. There are some annoying flat spots that can't be sanded out after planking.

Thanks all.
 
Yes Mark the rabbet was cut using chisels, as it curves in two directions no way I could do it on a mill.
 
The parts that make up the helmport are an interesting exercise in testfitting to get them right
 

 

 

 

 

 
The straps to the counter timbers were cut from 0.2 mm brass sheet and bend to shape, 0.4 mm brass bolts (actually a bit oversized) were used to glue the strips down
 

 

 
Remco

Thanks all.
 
All the parts are glued in place and the stern is faired.
 

 
 
Remco

Not much progress to show over the last few weeks.  Spring has finally arrived so the model does not get as much attention as it desires.
 
I decided to install the string at the waist and the forecastle and quarter deck clamps.  The string at the waist is a single row of planking with its lower surface forming the top of the gun port and its upper surface forming the top of the bulwark. It continues fore as the forecastle clamp and aft as the lower quarter deck clamp.  Hook scarves are used throughout. The apparent decorative element at the fore end of the quarter deck clamp will actually be used to help lock in the spirketing.   
 

 

 
The upper quarter deck clamp has simple butt joints.  In the pictures is appears that the lower edge of the string overhangs the gun port.  It actually is flush with the top of the port.
 

 
I encountered two problems.  First, I measured the height of the clamp at the stem incorrectly and had to replace it.  On the picture you can see a faint pencil line indicating where the clamp was originally positioned.  The second problem has the potential to be more serious.  I have two rows of planking with the top edge just coming up to the bottom of the aft port opening.  David's layout shows the planking runs above the level of the port with a chock connecting the planks fore and aft of the port.  At this point it is too late to change the port.  I think I measured the port height off David's mylar and the clamp height off the NMM plans.  Hopefully it will all work out OK.  The key is that the top of the opening is below the top of the deck beams.
 

 

 
 

Because of the server issue I went back and checked all of the photos in the build log.  It was necessary to repost  about a dozen pictures.
 
I have made and installed the hammock battens.  These are pieces of tooth shaped wood that attach to the beams just under the carlings.  Their function is to provide a hook to secure the hammocks.  I first made several strips of wood the correct dimension (2" x 3") and glued them together.  I set the height of the blade on the table saw to the depth of the notch and sawed all of the strips simultaneously.  The distance between the teeth is 12".  The piece was then put into a bottle of isopropanol and the individual pieces separated from each other after several minutes.  The interior and exterior edges were rounded off with files.  The nails attaching the batten to the beam were simulated with an awl highlighted with pencil.  I decided to only place these on the starboard side since I have not yet decided how much decking I will install on the port side.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
I have also finished the upper row of planks for the aft bulkheads.  They now extend to just below the beams.
 

 
 

my waterline still needs a bit of work, as i have a white gap towards the stern, more red paint on its way, oh and my first time/attempt at pre shading
 
teacher says " could do better"
 
 
 

Been a busy week of work but got some good time in last night and this afternoon on the ship.
It's the little things sometimes with these projects. Didn't make huge visual headway, but what I did was pretty time consuming.
Got the strakes on the sides and decided to put pins in running along. I like how that looks.
Added the sides to the interior gunports and drilled out and installed the eyehooks for all the cannon riggings.
I got on the railings and forward got the catheads and such made. I enjoyed fabricating the stuff up on the bow, it was a challenge.
 
 

It's been a bit, but I've been working!!
 
Got the first layer of planking done, second layer of planking done, bulwarks on and planked...and the portholes cut and keep put on.
 
Pros: First layer of planking was pretty easy, kind of nice not having to worry about what it looks like.
Cons: The bulwarks weren't pre-measured or cut and I hda to cut all the portholes by hand. Thank goodness for dremel. 
 
Second layer of planking as a pain in the butt. That mahogony does not like to cooperate no matter what thickness it is. The super thin strip used to do the second layer of planking was finiky on gluing, tended to splinter, and when sanding in several spots I sanded right through and had to execute some repairs.
 
Keel also didn't fit quite perfectly and had to do a lot of sanding to ofset a few little gaps.
 
Overall I think it's coming along though. Worried about getting the rudder on. That part was a little tricky on my last build as well. 
 
 

so,  the build kicked of in November of 2012.   right now,  I'm just doing small things,  until I can get some of the other builds out of the way.   the deck sections are the most important thing first off.  they need to be made so that when they are put together,  they will lock together without any lines or unevenness..the planking will cover all this over anyway.  for the moment,  I decided to put the hull together.
 

 
 I'm going to use the stand parts.....they do work quite well.  I also assembled the bow chaser cannon...I wish I had two of them.....I like them better than the other cannons.
 


 
I put the Gothenborg up next to it......I think the size difference in scale is cool.
 

I have some pictures of my first build......this had to be in the mid 90's
 





 
here is the kit as I got it
 




 

this is the Revell 1:96 scale kit.   I had built this kit some time ago.  the model was short lived though and met it's demise at my hand.   I had been looking for another one for quite a while.  I got a tip that there was one on E-bay........didn't think I would suceed......but I managed to get it.   it spent a long time in the closet, until one day,  when my curiosity got the best of me.  I had seen Daniel's build of the Victory here on the site,  and wondered if I could pull something like that off.   so here it is.....in it's infancy.
 
Now,  when Revell came out with this series of large scale models {there we several in the series},  quite a bit of evidence pointed towards the reasoning of the grouping in the series.  The Cutty Sark mimicked the thermoplyae.....the C.S.S. Alabama mimicked the U.S.S. Kersarge.....the U.S.S. Constitution mimicked the U.S.S. United States....the only one that didn't seem to have a clone,  was the Spanish Galleon.  these kis may have.....or probably were,  molded from the same molds.  whoever came up with this idea was a genius,  in my view.   outside of a few minor discrepancies....they came out with some of the best kits that revell had ever done.  sadly,  the Constitution was the only one to survive the discontinual chopping block.
 
my rebuild of this fine vessel is going to be a bit different.....I plan to replace all that I can do with wood.  I don't think I'll be able to go as far as Daniel did on his build {which is exsquisite, by the way},  but I'll do what I can.   the one thing I want to defeat.....are those nasty separation lines that cursed these decks.
     the decks on these particular kits are done in sections.  when put together in the build,  you can't help but see these section lines.  I have seen other folks try many ways to hide them.....some are pretty good, but I think doing the decks in wood will totally erraticate them once and for all!   what started this build sounds kinda silly......just playful banter on the site.   I decided to bring out the cannons to put on the Gothenborg......as a show of force,  and to defend the wharf.  It opened a can of worms.......it got me thinking of the deck idea again.....and so I went for it.
 






I spent quite a bit of time making the barrels for the cannons


I did manage to do a little painting on them.  the parts are in pretty good shape....not a lot of flash,  or deformaties.  there are some things that were not put into this kit,  that are in the Connie kit.  the aft quarters,  for one thing.   I'm going to try to add the parts for it in here.....I think it would make for a nice addition
 

And, here are intruders and aliens on Her Majesty's workplace ...

Why every time I make furniture, I make this mountine of tools ???

...

I'm starting to lean toward HMS Grasshopper. I'm saying this based on the brig Irene (ex-Grasshopper) model in the Naval Academy Museum, which shows both the fore and aft platforms. I doubt the Batavians would have gone to the trouble of adding those after her capture...
 
I forget who built that beautiful model, but I'm assuming they did their homework. I'll need to stop back in there and get some better photos next time I'm down that way. 
 
 

Progress Report - Its been a while since my last post, and I have done some things.  I planked the decks, added the quarter panels, completed the "beak" and added the rudder and hatches.  I still have to do the quarterdeck companionway, quarterdeck rail and skylight...and everything else.  But that is my progress to date.  I can never seem to achieve the nice finished look that I see on some other posters on this site, so I guess this is my "unabashed" build.
Some photos are below.  <<Gary>>

Here is a photo from Manitowoc on a medal winner.  This is the color scheme.  As I said it makes up to be a pretty model.
David B
 

I start to put pulleys pulley blocks 10 millimeters

I managed to clean with a degreaser, and I can pavonar brass

Thanks Rudolf.   Your assumption is correct.
 
Railings at quarterdeck and poop:
 
I suppose the following pics are self explaining and don't need much words:
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I took measurements for making the poop bulkhead I discovered that I've cut the toptimbers in the aft part too low for the required height of the great cabin. To remedy this I glued a square piece of wood over the toptimbers which gave me the required additional heigth 
 

 
Into this I cut slots for an extension of the toptimbers
 

 
and tzhe outside was covered by on additional strake of clinker pkanking
 

 

 
 
Klaus
 
 
 

Thanks Nils an Janos 
 
Hatch in the forecastle deck built in:
 

 

 

 
The ramshead block and lanyard between block and knight for the fore yard tie has to be rigged  already now, because later on it will not be accessible any more. The black thread through the upper part of the block is temporary only to be able to pull the block up through the small opening and will be replaced later by the tie.
 
Grating and opening for the lanyard added:
 

 

 
Planking of fore castle deck and catheads added:
 

 

 

 

 
Klaus
 
 

I just could not find the time to make an update of my log as intended, whenever I started there was something more urgent to be done and so time went by.
Whatever, I will try now to catch up and to bring the log to the current status by reposting the Pictures with only a few words.

Steering gear: I intend to make a working steeering gear (don't know yet if I will succeed)

 the making the whipstaff rowle and the rowle inserted in it's place in the hull:
 
Klaus
 
PS: for whatever reason the inserting of the pictures did not work as it should, I could not place the pics at selected positions in the text. After clicking on "Add to post" no attachment code was visible at the selected positions and all pics were shown after my post

Milling the sides of the gun carriages
 

 

 

 

 
Drilling the holes for the 4mm blocks for the carriages
 

 

 
Turning a step suport
 

 
New carving of a rabbit
 

 
Model so far
 

Thanks Greg and Michael and all the likes / looks.  I appreciate them, this build has been a long time in coming!
 
With spring break being over with all the trips / visits / teenage angst I can finally get back to work.  First on the list was the 90 eyebolts and 40 rings (18 gunports, 5 eyebolts per, 3 rings per).  Just pull up a cozy chair, have a good magnet nearby to find all those AWOL pieces and a mere 3 hours later they were done:
 

 
Since I needed to blacken them, it was a natural to finally get all those hinges done to allow everything to blacken in one bunch.  I sliver soldered a thin rod onto a cut rectangular piece of brass then super glued this along with another small piece of brass to achieve the look I wanted.  These were also used for the rear lockers.  Then everything had a coat of gel coating.  I did make this job easier when I suddenly realized I didn't need hinges on both sides of the door!
 

 
Then of course you have the obligatory draft install to check out the final look:
 

 
Another notch in the complete column.  Now for some clean-up, the addition of a small windlass, affix all that cannon tackle and I will declare the gun deck complete. Maybe by tomorrow night?
 
Stay Building My Friends,
Mark