ulrich

Hello my friends
 
this is the last entry in my build log "Fregatte Berlin", Corel, 1:40. I finished the work on this wonderful modelship. Most of the time the build was a pleasure.
 
Some words about the kit:
The timber is good but I changed the 4/2mm stips for the hull into 7/1mm - this looks better and you can work with this strips better.
The prefabbricated parts like decks or frames are not state-of-the-art, but with some work all goes into place
The brass parts are quite good. I decided to paint them according to the color-scheme I found in the WWW. I like it but I do see that the colored parts can look a little bit like toys. But I don't mind
The plans are somewhere between good and awful. Especially if you want to put sails on to the the ship the rigging plan is  difficult to understand. As I did some ships before I got along - but a newbie will have problems. The drawings themselves are good.
The model needs some modifications - deck planking, additional parts, but this is whats modelling is for
Tricky was to change square bars into masts. I was surprised how good the result was at least.
I filled the space between the frames with balsa wood and got all togehther into the correct shape. I was not convinced that a single planking without a strong and stable substructure would work.
 
All in all as a conclusion: Yes, I loved this build (with some doubts as in any relationship ). It's a really nice model, quite impressing an authentic. The price is about 420 - 450 Euros in Europe. That's a lot and not approbiate imo - at least you have to buy some additional items like flags (the ones provided with the kit are not usable) or black yarn for the standing rigging.
No - this kit is not suitable for beginners. You have to know a lot (and I do NOT know enogh) about modelling period ships.
 
I would recommend this kit to everyone who wants to have a unique model, has enough expierence and a lot of patience.
 
I enjoyed the 18 months that I spent with the Fregatte  Berlin. It will adorn my office.
 
The next project will be  Fregatte Friedrich Wilhelm zu Pferde by Euromodel. This will be a real challenge, I expect a building period of at least three years. Just for studying the plans I will need a year...  They are so full of details.  I have all interpretives that Euromodel offer on their site and I did understand yet that very much of the parts have to be carved and made by myself. And that you can build  the ship "out of the box" or cahnge into a museum-like gem. I will decide for a way inbetween this extremes  But I will not start with the FW before 2019 or 2020. The next years I want to travel around the world.
 
That's it for the Moment, please enjoy the pics (you can find more in the gallery on NRG) and feel free to tell me what you think about my Fregatte Berlin.
I will follow the discussions on the board for sure - infected with the modeller's Virus  
 
CHEERIO
 
Max

Great idea!!!  It will make attaching the rat lines easier, faster and more realistic. One (two) question though about the sandpaper: what grit did you use and does the sand paper have any affect on the shroud lines? (ruffing them up?)
 
Ulrich

Hi,
A very small wood work...
After B.E.'s and Jason's (Beef Wellington) advice and instruction at October 2013 (how does life flow?!)
I had decided to close the channels...
Now it's time to do it... First step...
(Comparison)

Hello friends,
new photos from the construction progress of my CHEBECE.
Partition walls of the storage rooms and remaining deck beams are installed.
Photo   9.01 - 9.04
Storage rooms are not shown in the plans of J. Boudriot.
Karl
 

Hi friends.
Assembly of the deck beams the Chebece.
Karl
 
PART 8
 

Hello friends.
Thanks for the kind comments and likes.
New photos of the CHEBECE 1750 on the exterior planking.
Karl
 
PART 6

 

Hi friends.
Construction and assembly of the mast base.
Karl
 
PART 7

Hello friends,
 
according to the plans of Jean Boudriot, France
Scale: 1/48
Species of wood: German Elsbeere
Planning and keel-laying: December 2016
Dimensions of the model:
Lenght: 1,10 m
Width: 0,23 m
Hight without mast: 0,24 m
 
The pictures are the example:  PES.ru
 
Karl
 
 
 
 




 

 
 

Hello friends.
Thanks for the kind comments.
Remaining frames and interior planks installed.
Karl
 
PART 4

Hello my friends
 
it's been a long time since my last entry. Well, I was busy with the sails. The rigging is going on very well, there is no real problem around. The plans could be more clearly, but if you take your time and read the drawings exactly you will have no problem with the sails.
 
I still have to make three sails then the Fregatte Berlin will be fiished. Some coils are necessary and some smaller jobs as always.
 
No more words - just enjoy the pics. They show the status quo (no... not the band :))
 
Cheerio
Max
 

Hi friends.
Thanks to all for the kind comments.
 
The stern prepared.
 
Karl
 
 
Part 2






 

If you want to stick with wood rather than a non-wood substitute you might try soaking basswood in carbon black water color.  The stuff I have is Hydrus Fine Art watercolor 11H carbon black.  It comes in a small bottle with an eye dropper.  Gives a deep black color to the basswood.  To give it the slight glossiness of ebony I use a light coat of clear gloss sealer over the color.  Looks pretty good, is cheap, is easy to work and has no health issues to worry about.
 
I have tried various ebony stains and different types of black paint but none of them are as good as the carbon black watercolor paint.

Hello friends,
for stabilization of the frames I first installed the outside planking.
Karl   
 
 
T e i l  5

Hello friends,
new pictures of the interior of CHEBECE.
Regards
Karl
 
 
T e i l  4

Hello friends.
Frames stand.
Karl
 
 
T E I L  3

Hello friends and mates,
 
a little update again. Due to springtime a lot of garden works and dog fun I took down the level of building speed... So I shaped the parts of the masts with a planer (as the featured parts of the Corel kit are quare-shapened timber). I was afraid this challenge would be too heavy to solve - but it is not. After all I am convinced it's more easy than to taper rods. The next steps are to build the masts with all parts. I will do the next weeks so that I will be ready for rigging in autumn. I want to finish the Berlin in wintertime. I am not sure yet if I will use the sails (I bought the accessoires from Corel).
 
See you soon
Cheerio
Max

Hello again
 
I have finished the hull so far. The decorations are fixed - and hopefully will keep fixed... - all parts are on their place. Only the steps and gunport lids are still missing and I will do this after the rigging. Otherwise it would be too difficult to care for this parts. Next is to build the masts, but as mentioned before I am not sure to start this now. Probably I will wait until autumn when the summer fades away. However, the masts are to been shapen (is this correct grammar??) from square-shapened timber. A challenge But an intersting one. If all goes wrong I can buy some rods and taper them to the right shape.
 
Some pics show the status in which the Fregatte Berlin is at this moment. Enjoy them
 
Cheerio my fellow mates and friends
 
 
 
 
 

Hello folks
 
just a few pics from the status quo. I have almost no time for my model. I hope this woll change soon. But the summer is cumming - and so a time where modelling has to step a little bit to the second row. Autumn and winter are better seasons for ships
 
Nevertheless I will always do a lttle bit on the Fregatte Berlin. I am ready with the hull and the guns and I painted the decorations according to historical sources- Hope you like it
 
I will be back soon
 
Best to you all
Cheerio
Max

The biggest problem with them is inconsistency, so you have to thin then test, thin and test, and each color (and each jar) will me markedly different than the others.  I used them on my AVS and got good results, but I won't be using them again.  Also they are completely unsuitable for spraying if you ever go that route, they'll gum up your airbrush with rapidity as the pigment is not fine enough for airbrushing.
Since you already have them, I'd say give them a shot, and if you just don't like them, it's not that much money to replace as needed with Vallejo or something else higher quality.

Hallo mates,
 
just a little update. I varnished the hull and the deck with colorless semi-matte varnish. The timber darkend as I expected it, the surface is very soft and warm and the entire model has a very charming impression. I am very content now. Next will be to finish the deck furniture and some smaller repairs and the cannons. When this is done I will either have a break or start to build the masts and yards. I am not sure, but spring is rising and thats a time I love to be outside with my camera... Well, we will see
 
As usual some pics to show the progress.
 
Cheerio
 
Max

Gunport stops was arranged around the gunport opening and sometimes also around the lid.
 

VOC Amsterdam

VOC Batavia

HMS Victory

Gotheborg
 
Tadeusz

Hello my friends
 
time for another update. I only can repeat what I said before - the work on the Berlin makes a lot of fun. It is really satisfying to see how everythings fits to eachother. Sure it's a challenge to get all the parts the way they should be - but it's a very calming kind of modelling. Building the beakhead was quite exciting with all the timber that has to be bent and curved. Also the carving was completely new to me.
 
If you follow the plans and look on some internet-sources to find advice you can get a really cute part. I try to build the belaying cleats by my own and not use the metal parts provided with the kit. I have to do some additional deck furniture but will soon be ready with this.
 
Next big challenge is to varnish the completed hull. It's always thrilling to see how the varnish works and that there are no bad spots... But it's still quite cold outside so I have to wait. I can only use any varnish in the garage but not inside the house... the dogs would get crazy (and the Admiral too )
That's it for today - as always: I attached some pics to show the status quo
 
Cheerio
Max
 
 

Hello friends.
Main frames.
Karl
 
 
 
Part 3

Hi friends.
 
Construction of the new model " CHEBECE 1750 "
 
Karl
 
 
Part 1

Hello friends.
Manufacture and construction of the first frames of a total of eighty-five.
Thickness 2x3 mm
Karl
 
 
Part 2