md1400cs

Peter, Hi. I discovered your Pegasus when you were kind enough to visit my build just as I was leaving for a few weeks. I'm back and I went through your log from page 1. You are such an artist. I would not know where to begin with the accolades.Your attention to details, that you replicate so well are a joy to look at. Wao!! Super nice. I'm happy that I found your ship. I will certainly copy some of your details especially when I start the masts and rigging. Beautiful project. I look forward to your updates. Regards, Michael

Ferit, HI, I'm just starting to catch up. I have been away. I kew that catching up to yours would be, of course spectacular. You are so excellent. Your work is such a pleasure to appreciate.. Nice updates. This will be a masterful Berlin AND from a kit (:-). Regards, Michael

Jan, Hi, Ive been away and just starting to catch up. Nice updates. I really like your galleries. Those layered timbers make a huge difference. Your mast bracing plates (channels) are going to be perfect. You really captured the edge curves. No nice to have photos as a guide (:-) I also really like your hull and deck planking. Looks so good. I'm happy to be back home and following my favorite builds Cheers. MIchael

Matti, I've been away. Just starting to catch up. NICE updates. Your hull planking looks so good. (:-) Regard, Michael

ZyXuz Thanks for your very nice words. Much appreciated. The Gallery was a lot of time consuming work. I'm happy that you like how it turned out. Sorry to bore some of you with Peter and I's aviation chats (:-) Michael

Hi Peter, 340s are sweet big machines. Advantage for you guys; Leave it to the French to have your lunch tray slide out right in front of you. Regarding my flight experience, I trained up to B727s, and then DC10s (simulator only). I rode "side-saddle" as an FX with a regional operator PSA (later sold to US Air) in the late 70s in 727-200s. I also upgraded to the right seat. Though we were working 6-8 cycles every duty. Got a bit tiring after a couple of years. And in 1978 there was an in-company crash that caused a lot of family pressure for me to leave the airline bus (my wife always hated flying). I did, and I taught Aeronautics at UCLA for 5 years, and worked for a charter company. Turns out that I actually preferred driving left seat in the smaller; P. Aerostars, King Air 200s, C 414, and 421s rather than the big busses. Also, we only looked at analog (you remember). You guys flying glass, along with all the redundant systems today including Jeps on iPads, taxi profiles on-screen have it so easy (:-) When HSI's, and flight directors came along for smaller airplanes, we thought that was so great. We would just drive the airplane on ILS's with the two orange bars. Fun... I then went into business with partners and build up just shy of one million miles on Star Alliance in about ten years (sitting). All long-hauls; peaceful. Loved the drink button. Never rode in one of yours at LX. Hmmm need to, it seems. I did ride in an amazing machine three years ago. One of yours; a Pilatus PC-12 (not the ng), a friend was deadheading it for a client, and he asked if I wanted to ride along. Hmmm, now that is some sweet airplane. Nice work Switzerland!! Things looked nice at Fl24 in one of those, along with a cabin altitude of 9000 ft, and a Vso of 69kts, (over the fence at about 85). A rate of climb of about 1,600 fpm it is close to the old 727s that where good for about 1,800 ftm above 12,000 feet. You've prob. already seen this--nice 360º tour. http://www.pilatus-aircraft.com/#11 OK done with "off topic". I don't want to bore those whom are interested in this Wasa (:-) Though I enjoyed our short personal chat. Here are a couple of photos of my favorite machine the 601p. On that flight we were outbound from BUR to BOI. SO----I have returned to my real life and will start posting ship updates after removing the dust, and getting back to having fun at home. Cheers... Yes there were some amazing views from the front. Especially on top above overcasts during sunsets. Those I miss (:-) Regards, MJD PS: Your Pegasus is stunning!!!

Peter, Thank you (:-). Glad to hear about your civil harmony Nice!! Yes, retirement will be a "new game, with new rules". Well you will be able to fly away at a moments notice, nice part of your career perks. Yes, the Wasa has become, especially after the museum opening, a very popular build. You may want to revisit a new build. ------------------------------- So you are a driver for one of the Star Alliance carriers. Good for you. I have, also, always loved aviation. I stopped flying after about 2000+hrs of flight time. Now the big joke in my family is; they tell me that now when I push a button in an airplane its to get an other drink (:-) I should be back to my real life very soon. I miss checking in at MSW. I will have a lot of catching up do. Looking forward to it. Curious, are you with (LX) SWISS? only Airbuses except for some Avros (the 340 is super nice). LH, is my only experiences with Star as a passenger. Nice but mid cabin seats are not yet all fleet consistent. Everything else, for me, has been with those that feed Asia, with SQ, NH and TG as my favs. UA is well UA (:-) PS: Are ATC still on strike over where you are? Regards, Michael

Guys, Peter, Andy, Buck, Mark, Ferit, B.E.,Matti, JanV, Andre Thanks for all of your really nice comments on how things are coming along. Much appreciated. Your comments really motivate me to try to always improve my skills as I read, and learn from MSW's great members and registered guests. The ship has been in dry dock, along with a forced labor strike for the last couple of weeks. I hope to resolve this "labor issue' within the next month or so. I'm just about ready to "go back to work" for this one overseas project I mentioned earlier. I hope to be away for less than 4 weeks. But, one never knows...I was scheduled to leave a week ago, but..... There has also been a sort of civilized civil war (oxymoron I know) here at the house. My wife thinks that I should not start travelling again. Especially on those 24hr+ long haul rides that are required. She thinks that I should put my music on, continue building my ship and send you folks the photos, and enjoy my single malts on the weekends (:-) Women are always right.... I do have mixed feelings, however I'm lucky that I travel with a lot of comfort (Star Alliance owes me!!.) And I also sometimes miss the "business game" if you will. This "bump" will resolve itself in due course. But I love retirement. OK enough of my personal ramblings...Sorry - got caught up in a way to vent. -------------------------------- Specifically regarding JanV's comment about now getting to the masts. I wish! I don't think I'm quite ready for that. When I return, I need to do the following first; •Cut hull water drains on both sides. Along with two large protruding drains near the stern •Holes for cannon ropes •Build, hinge and install cannon doors •Build and install deck cannons (each of the fourteen cannons will have a lot of added details) •Build and install ship mooring stays on both sides of the deck, with some within the deck railings •Re-build bow railing (stanchions are not correct) •Re-build stairs leading astern (wrong shapes) •Remove poop deck stairs and replace with those bench looking things I see in the 1:1 pics •Hull openings need to be cut and windows installed near the galleries on each side •Build and install ratline braces x6 •Paint bowsprit figures. I plan on adding slim vertical supports for each figure this time, as is shown on the 1:10th. I should have done the same for all of the stern figures as well. Too late. If I started installing masts it would be very difficult, given my workspace, to roll the ship on its sides. So my "to do list" is rather long. After I can go "vertical" Again I so thank all of you who have taken the time to view this build, and especially leave your super nice remarks. Thanks Regards, Michael

Hello fellow hobbyists, I would like to, firstly, thank all of you who have been so kind in taking the time to post comments, letting me know how much you appreciate my version of this Wasa build. Your kind words have continued to be a real source of encouragement. I also thank those of you who were also kind enough to add a "thumbs up" to certain posts or jpg's. There is so much art to appreciate on MSW, that I am touched that you have found the interest, and the time to look at, and respond to my efforts.....Again thank you......OK.. An update. It's hard for me to believe, but the stern, and galleries in their entirety, are actually almost completed. This part of the build was very labor intensive. In retrospect, I would have done some things differently but as we say here "put a fork in it - it's cooked" and so it is. Oh what is missing are the two wood trim timbers that appear on each side of the flag and lantern spar, just above the upper gilded curved carving on the stern. I will try my first attempt at sculpturing those two pieces of wood. Speaking of doing things differently; I SO regret not indenting the hull canon port framings as I was framing those. I tried to initially indent the four small pieces of wood in each port, but I didn't have enough of a lip, if you will, and nothing was aligning correctly. So I flushed them all flat along the hull. This work was done before joining the MSW community. I have since learned of a great technique. Always hindsight isn't it? So, that detail failure just glares at me now. It will be an issue when adding canon doors. Hmmm. On the plus side only hobbyists such as us would even notice such a glaring error. I thought of pulling them all out. But I think that I would make a mess of things. Segwaying forward with this posting, I enclose "full body shots" (pardon the pun) to offer a better perspective of the project as it looks so far. I also include a few other pics. as partial updates on side tasks that have been completed to date; for example deck, and hull figures were (some removed) painted and attached. I'm will be taking a break for a while. I have to do some traveling again. Hmmm, and I thought that I was finally retired. I'll tune in, from wherever I happen to be, and continue to admire builds that I very much enjoy following. When I find myself back on my side of the world again, I will continue with deck details that need to be added. I also plan on removing the existing ladders. (Not correct). I will also re-work the front bow cross railing that leads to the bowsprit. That is also not correct. And I removed the most stern ladders. Those will be replaced with a "bench" type looking thing with a wooden sculpture on each side above the "benches" So it goes. And then onto the masts.... Again thanks for your kind words...Always, always appreciated. Regards, Michael

Mark, Thanks for that idea. Good to know. Regards, Michael

Mark, Thanks for the nice thoughts. Hmmm I thought that I had done that. As I was loading the pics, and adding occasional notes they (the pics) showed up on the white frame as I was adding more. But then mid sequence they seemed to go out of order. I canceled the post and started all over again. Same results. I am obviously doing something wrong. I will be more careful when I add some pic of the (finally) completed stern. Thanks for your suggestions... Regards, Michael

Jan, Nice update. I'm going to follow your lead and revisit my bowsprit lion, I really like the colors that you chose for the crest emblem. Mine were a pure guess and poorly done. Matti was discussing the lion paws. They should separate on each side of the timbers. But Corel's guilded piece does not allow for that. A minor issue, but one that makes us more aware of kit errors as we go along. Keep up the really nice work. Regards, Michael

Andre, Looking very very good. Ulises is right. Your resurrection is really so great; certainly in keeping with the original history as well. I cna only imagine how you would do with a new kit. Any thoughts on what might be next for you? I also have the blue box edition. It was such a long time ago, that I may have purchased a separate capstan that looked more detailed and then added it to the deck. It was not until Blue Ensign and Ferit (both of their current builds are spectacular) discussed capstans that I learned that mine was mid 17th century and incorrect. You are also right about the deck gratings. Curved frames are correct. Good for you. Nice touch. Regards, Michael

Kevin, Ive been following your build. Stunning....really excellent. Regards, Michael

Gaetan, Thanks for your excellent advice. I will follow this once I acquire the bits. Regards, Michael

Matti, Nice update. I'm enjoying watching your BB example of the Vasa. Looking v. good. Nice Avatar. Mystery solved (:-) Regards, Michael

Hmmm pics all out of order I need to figure that part out. I loaded them in sequence. Oh well Michael

Hello again, An update for the two upper gallery covers I decided to build "pre-fab" housings. These upper gallery covers were less labor intensive, in that there is only one bobbinet per side. I should have done the same (pre-fab) for the lower ones as well... Hmmm, learning as I go along. I am finishing some last figure painting details. When it's all done I will post some pics. of the totally completed stern. In the meantime built rough support frames for the bobbinets and the gallery covers with a pencil I outlined the shape needed by placing the rough frame on top of the lower existing structure. I cut the housing to match my pencil marks, and added edge trim piece. trimmed away the inside lip to better match the actual intended shape then focused on covering the bobbinets. I wanted to, as best that I could, match the lumber cuts of the 1:1 marked where I should cut the stern ends to match the bobbinet shapes glued on the trim pieces glued on the bobbinets I now shaped, and glued the cover dummies. added the filler cover lumbers checked the shapes of the bobbinets lumbers to make sure that the gilded pieces would fit "ok" I flattened out corners as needed. finally glued the housings in place, leaving spacers for the small support timbers.

Thanks to all for your suggestions. It seems that end mill micro size bits are the answer. I will search for some that fit a Dremel. Here is a pic of what I needed. I was not unaware of these end mill bits. Again thanks for all of your help. Regards, Michael

Ferit, Again. Beautiful updates. Your attention to superbly well done details is really delightful. Love the deck canon door rope brackets, love the long rope on your bucket next to the long boat, love your deck planking detail Super great idea. PS: Nice tools, I need to get some of those. The only one I have is the Proxxon micro lathe, and a Dremel vice. mmmm need to get "real" if I am hopefully going to join builders of your quality. You have an amazing "eye" for this this art form. Super nice !!!! Regards, Michael

Hi everyone, Please see pics. I want to be able to cut long grooves, such as those you see on this cathead (ignore red circles). I have a Dremel as well as a Dremel drill press.What are these specialized bits called? What I am doing is unacceptable. I cut gooves, then add a block at the base. Very poor Hmmmm...., as you can see. I've Googled it but can't find what I need. I can't locate the right kind of "straight" bits. I have some router bits, but all are with ball tips. Thanks in advance for any specific help. Regards, Michael

Karl, I rarely venture to the Scratch Built Section because it makes me soooo nervous (:-) Builds, such as yours are so "out-of-this-world" stunning that I then look at my efforts and need to improve so much. Examples, such as yours, make "all of us" as Karl just said stare for minutes at each photo gazing in wonder. Such a pleasure on the eyes.... I will spend more time learning, and ingesting ideas from this "side" of this great MSW forum. Your work of art is beyond superlatives. I have the Boudriot books, and may (one of these days) try something French (:-) PS: From a kit ha ha ha.... Again, yours is incredibly astonishing. Regards, Michael

Hello Joachim, Yes, it was for that box. Thanks for the suggestion as well as for the link. Nice German site, and Google translates the pages for me as well. I will refer to it.

Ferit, Nice!!! you and I seem to have similar ideas. I have also "re-built" or changed sections of my build to better suit the look. What you are doing is very creative. AND super improving the realistic details of the ship. Always a pleasure to catch up with your Berlin. Oh, thanks for your response to my barrel question. I will remember your details when I get to that stage. Regards, Michael

Kevin, OOPS just re-posted this. I should have scrolled down first. Yes nice site. Regards, Michael