md1400cs

Thanks David for your nice thoughts,
 
Finished up the stern upper windows. Here are some updated pics;I was looking for facesCorel gave us lions with crowns-no biggieSo painting, I followed the 1:10th idea for the lionsI used some leftover railing from the upper deckglued the two pieces together to form the shuttersreversed them and patterned for the Dremel sandingchecked for fitnotched the edges for the hingesUsed the micro rail cleats let glue set then Dremel'd for fit

Start on upper Galleries
 
Hi folks,
 
I started the upper galleries. Same procedure as for the lower ones, however a bit smaller. I was trying to adjust the fit to more or less match the 1:1, but did not think ahead of myself.
 
In that regard you will note that the lower bobbinet top decorative bits should actually flange against and along side the upper lower shelve balcony timbers (see pic of Vasa). For that kind of accuracy, I would have had to cut in deeply. It would have made the structures too little to then add the smaller upper bobbinets. Oh well (:-)
 
In any case the upper bobbinets will be really thinned, as well as having a flat (as opposed to rounded) external edge. So they should look "ok" fit wise. But I wish that I had thought about this more when I installed the lower galleries. I would have made them a bit more protrusive.
 
I used balsa, as I mentioned earlier, because of its ease of shaping. So as a form it is great. One of the pics shows some small bits of wood that were glued into the interior front balsa sections. I had broken a previous piece, so I used this method to reinforce the balsa during the gluing of the outer curved covering timbers.
 
After it all dried and set I then "Dremel"ed out the inner shape. In any case it is impassible to see the inside
housing after the longitudinal shelves are attached. So that sorta took care of itself.
 
Next up will be shaping the upper halves, shaping the bobbinets, and adding the wood cover pieces. Installing then back to more painting....
 
I regret not using a red paint or stain for the galleries, stern and upper deck side trim. Next time....
 
Regards,
 
Michael D

Update on painting the figures
 
I think that this will look ok. close up it’s easy to see flaws, but with the naked eye, sorta works. So only 65 more to go (:-)
 
I'm glad that I followed your trends, deciding to paint these. Though, for my next build I will look for a ship that doesn’t require all of this painted art. I would LOVE to do the SOS...but that is such an intimidating project. The two that I'm following here are really spectacular.
 
OK time for more painting. Ruff on the old eyes; two hours and I'm cooked for the session.
 
PS: the figures on the ship are not attached, just placed in approx. locations
 
MJD

Here is the update for the stern windows. I think that these shapes are more closely inline with the original. I prefer this look rather than from those that came with the kit. No need for redundant notes along with each pic, as they are self-explanatory. 
 
However, the grid that I used was purchased at a fabric store; nylon web which is embedded in a soft plastic. When I saw it, I thought that it might work ok. PS: I had to buy enough for 1000+ Wasa windows....The glass panes were created using "window Maker" Something that I learned about on MSW. Excellent idea.
 
Parts of the wood framing went "south" because I got way too enthusiastic with the sandpaper, while trying to thin down the face of the frames. So, what were straight inside framing lines lost some of their inside straight edges - Mmmm. But I did not want to start all over again. Also, I rationalized that the soldiers standing by the windows will partially hide the poor craftsmanship. I will install four soldiers who will be crowding the sides of the windows.
 
 You may also note that the gallery figures have been removed from the bobbinets from previous pics. I decided to remove the cartoonish colors that I did not like. I think that these will have to have the "aged" look. There is just not enough detail with which to paint on. I know, the ship had no age. (:-) Though my wife suggested that I leave it in the bathtub for the next 300 years to get the "right look".
 
That aside, I have also decided to follow in some of your footsteps, and paint the 40 or so soldiers that decorate the ship. I started with the two large figures that stand aside each window. Those will be easy by comparison to the majority of the smaller figures.
 
I'm looking at the 1:10th to help with colors and details. The 1:10th window soldiers seem to have dark purple clothing. I was out of that so black suited they became. The 1:10th is a very intimidating reference (granted its a huge model) oh and so stunning!!
 
Having really looked at the figures, I note that for all-intense-and-purposes many of the Corel supplied figures are close approximations to the 1/1. So I stand corrected from my previous remarks regarding some of the gilded pieces as being "not correct".
 
So, next up will be painting the other stern, and gallery figures. Then build the upper galleries, and their respective bobbinets. From there, on to finishing some deck details that have been omitted from the out-of-the-box kit. As usual thanks for looking.
 
MJD

I have been working on the stern windows, the stern gilded figures (I decided to try painting them). I took a side trip and installed the stern canon doors. Here are some pics.
 
The photos are self-explanatory. However FYI the nails and the bending tool were acquired through Micromark.com
 
You may also note that that the port side door (the pic in which I drilled the rope inlet, well that door was sprung too low. Darn thing would not close, so I will re-do that sucker...Nonetheless it gives you the idea.
 
I will post pics of the revised and re-designed stern windows next.
 
Regards
 
PS: I learned about watering down the glue to secure the rope wrappings on MSW  Such a treasure chest of great ideas. Thanks to all of you, my sages.
 
MJD

Andre Thanks, appreciate your comment.
 
OUCH accident the other day. i was working on the re-install of the stern windows, and the bow was vertically down on the carpet, with the ship between my knees. I moved a bit to quickly and heard a loud snap. Broke the tip of the bow. Here are so me pics of my fix.
 
I was initially going to use a wood dowel, and then thought the better of it, and inserted a brass tube. Pics are self explanatory. This week I will change the windows. I thought of a solution to the dilema from a previous post. Regards to all
 
Michael D 

This set kinda brings some of the previous work up to date. In retrospect I see errors, but I'm my own worse critic. For example the toilets are very wrongly placed. The anchor rope outlets are not correct. Lastly the lower supporting longitudinal bowsprit braces need to be re-worked. The tips cracked, and look rough.So my repair list keeps growing.
 
However I'm seeing such fabulous work on this site; such a pleasure to see; I am learning so much. For example rigging Mmmm there are so many experts here. Thanks to all of you who post your updates, lov em.
 
MJD

Oops,
 
Decided to try again with the stern windows. The kit offerings were too wide, incorrectly framed, and just didn't look right. No solution has come to mind. But I need to make them thinner, and the framing has to be thought out again. Here are two pics. One of which is my original install and the other, of course, is the gutted out "to be fixed" pending solution.
 
I also made a mistake with the gallery hight. Too late Mmmm. If anyone has any suggestions they would be surely appreciated (:-)
 
MJD

I'm posting in retrospect. Close to catching up to the effort so far. Please note that the plain cannons are the
ones that come with the kit. I will be replacing the deck cannons  with the one in the pic. Not Swedish, but closer to the actual ones. I will also alter the carriages to more closely represent those from the ship. 
This, only my second build, has been really helped by all of the available data. Data that are so helpful. I am also learning a lot from seeing some of your projects. Oh my some of you are astonishing artists.


 




 


 


 

Here are some modifications that I have made to the stern of the Corel Wasa. It was woefully incorrect. It is still not "right" but I think that this is an improvement over the "out of the box" build.
 
I had initially been prepared to build, right from the instructions, and I did so. But as I proceeded I became dissatisfied and re-did certain sections. The stern was my first change, as this part did not effect other already assembled areas. 
 
I am alson now removing the rear windows, as they are too wide, don't have enough inner frames and, they dont allow for the correct amount od soldiers standing along side. Though I think that this won't change. The problem lies within Corel's too narrow stern sizing. This was unavoidable, even before the start, because it would have been impossible to see this outcome before construction.
 
Also the gilded pieces that I used are not correct, but (:-) so it goes.I don't know how to add comments with each photo, but this progresses from the original kit through my mods.
 
PS: The chain is hanging because it will be replaced with a black one. Though I think that in the 16th cent. they might have used rope? Does anyone know (:-)

Here are some of the details that I decided to incorporate on my Corel Wasa. The bobinettes from the kit were incorrect. I used photos of the original as reference. Also, the Corel gilded pieces are also incorrect as additions to the Galeries. Here are pics of my attempt. Again, thanks for looking
 

here are a few more pics. Thank you for looking

Hello again,
 
Again, thanks to all of you for posting those super nice comments. They are a real source of encouragement. As you all know this hobby, for the most part, is a very solo effort. So all of your nice posts are very wonderful catalysts for also improving skills, as well as a forum for sharing our mutual passion.
 
I have not spent a lot of time with the boat, as I have decided to also return, on an as needed basis, to work. I won't travel long hauls, as my sweetheart would break my neck. But I am doing a re-current "type" rating and will return to day trips for a charter company run by some long time friends.
 
It seems that, the majors just hired three of their primary guys; they became short of right seat crews, and asked if I would consider. But I'm in school again OMG.....
 
--------------------------
 
So I have a small (very small) update. I installed the small canon doors on each side of the hull near the galleries. A BIG thanks to Ferit for introducing me to that glue for ropes. It works so well (:-)
 
Here are some pics. OH you might notice, on the last pic, that at the top of the stern the superstructure has been removed. Hmmm it kept snapping off on the edge of the table as I reach up and lay the ship across my lap. I fixed it twice. This time I just put it away. Luckily it always snapped off without tearing up other parts of the stern.
 
Regards to everybody AND thanks so much for showing an interest in this project.
 
Regards....Michael
 
 
 

Hi everyone,
 
A very minor update. I'm working again so have less time with the boat. But I'm enjoying my part-time return to my first love (aviation).
 
I tried my hand at sculpturing, No let me rephrase; I tried my hand at shaping two pieces of wood to represent the cathead braces. Not "winners" but painted, they sort of disappear visually. The 1:1 braces are so beautiful, way beyond my capacity as a wood shaper (:-) These will have to do.
 
You will note that the gratings have been removed, working on completely re-installing those, as they should have been. Mine were such a disappointment.
 
There is also a pic of the completed ladders. Thanks for looking in, much appreciated.
 
Regards,     
 
Michael
 
 

Guys,
 
Hi. I need some help. As I have mentioned I am rebuilding the gratings on the weather deck. Note that on the enclosed pics of the 1/10th each grating spar seems to have some nails. I don't see any of that in the 1:1 pics, nor have I ever noticed this on any other really super detailed model of any ship.
 
So the question is, I'm thinking of adding the "look" of these nails on my new gratings, Mmmm would that be correct ??. Thanks in advance for any help with this question.
 
/Michael

Hello,
 
Matti, Ferit, and Zy thanks for your nice comments, always appreciated. Mark you are the lucky one, yes your kit included those complex looking braces. I really like the BB version of this ship. Good choice.
--------
An update; had the last of couple days off, and my sweetheart is out so I can very comfortably make noise with the dremel {and my music}(:-) I painted and installed the bow figures. I am very happy to be DONE with painting those tiny little creatures.
 
I wanted to also add the small pedestals, and small frames behind each figure as seen in the 1/10th, but there is no space, the pedestals would then hang down lower than that timber upon which those little feet are now perched. Looks better that way. Pics are self-explanatory.
 
A couple of thoughts;
They were lined up by height, with the tallest closest to the deck.
The blue figure at the tip has since been straightened out a bit. One might think that he was trying to dive off of the ship before it sank.
 
----------------------
 
Now onto those darned gratings. I did complete the most forward one. I'm comfortable with the results so far. I will post when completed.
 
Again I want to thank all of who have been so kind with your encouraging words, and thanks as well to those of you just looking in. Your time spent at my build is a personal kindness, thank you.
 
Regards,
 
Michael

wow! really nice work Michael!
I really love the added detail on the gratings.. and 
Thanks for sharing them out!

Very nice! It looks very true to the original and is a nice addition to your realistic looking model.
 
 
/Matti

Ferit,
 
Yes, enjoy your time away. Try to not think about your build (:-)

Here is the latest retro-update. When I first started this Corel kit, I was very ignorant in general regarding 16th century nautical accuracy as I was putting this boat together. In fact I was uninformed in general.
 
I have, since joining MSW, had a steep learning curve. And I am now much more aware of what I am doing and how "things" should look.
 
In that regard, the weather deck gratings needed to be removed and replaced with examples that were appropriate for this ship. As well as properly built. So my rebuilding continues. I ordered some new gratings as I could not correctly fit those that were removed.
 
I further decided to follow the 1/10th example by simulating cross member nails in the gratings. After much detail work this is how it turned out. I'm much more satisfied with this latest fix. Though I do still see errors that I could have circumvented had I been  more knowledgeable, and better skilled (for example early in the build, I would have correctly tree-nailed the deck, and recessed the lower and upper cannon openings).
 
Moving on...I took Matti's suggestion and installed a cover over one of the grating frames (thanks nice idea)
 
I apologize for the, too many photos in this update. I may have lost my sense of proper perspective. I personally love to look at a lot of photos here at MSW, so I took some liberties with this post. It also occurred to me that many of you whom I follow are very informative with your notes. From which I have become a better modeler. So this post will include more written details.  Again thanks for looking in.original grating installation
removalslight damage to deck framing. Easy fixstarting construction of new correctly shaped frameschecking for proper fit. On the capstan I also tomahawked the top a bit. I was too tall. Now it looks much more in scale to the original. The upper deck is not complete, but I had no intention of creating it, as some of you have done so beautifully. So from the weather deck looking down it looks correct.experimenting with the cross member nails look. I used a punch to first set marks for the super small drill bit. I found that, on a test piece, the drill bit would sometimes roam before biting into the wood. So, some of the holes were too far off center. The punch marks precluded that. This task took a while.getting there as well. I understand that each grating frame should stand as a separately framed piece, but as a static display this was, for me, in the aggregate OK.initial positioning. Close up shot "gives up" the holes, but viewing with the naked eye from a normal distance almost impossible to read, unless you're looking. Very nice Trompe L'oeil. Purists will be saying, "Hmmm cheating are you?" Yes I am, and I did (:-)measuring for the inner frame separators starting construction of inner separators. The woods had curves on the upper surfaces as well as creases down the middle. So I chose this solutionI curved the tops and added small strips to each upper side. These small strips allow the curved upper surface to maintain its visual perspective. adjusting fit for inner framesset up for small transverse cuts in lower portion of main framesgluing the frames in place, ready for inner pre-measured frames.took a break and drilled out weather deck water drains
now preparing transverse cuts for upper inner frames. I then used fine sandpaper to flatten the inner transverse cut.
small cut out pieces are now in placethose cover handles will be removed and replaced with metal rings. I was trying to be "creative again".

Here is the latest retro-update. When I first started this Corel kit, I was very ignorant in general regarding 16th century nautical accuracy as I was putting this boat together. In fact I was uninformed in general.
 
I have, since joining MSW, had a steep learning curve. And I am now much more aware of what I am doing and how "things" should look.
 
In that regard, the weather deck gratings needed to be removed and replaced with examples that were appropriate for this ship. As well as properly built. So my rebuilding continues. I ordered some new gratings as I could not correctly fit those that were removed.
 
I further decided to follow the 1/10th example by simulating cross member nails in the gratings. After much detail work this is how it turned out. I'm much more satisfied with this latest fix. Though I do still see errors that I could have circumvented had I been  more knowledgeable, and better skilled (for example early in the build, I would have correctly tree-nailed the deck, and recessed the lower and upper cannon openings).
 
Moving on...I took Matti's suggestion and installed a cover over one of the grating frames (thanks nice idea)
 
I apologize for the, too many photos in this update. I may have lost my sense of proper perspective. I personally love to look at a lot of photos here at MSW, so I took some liberties with this post. It also occurred to me that many of you whom I follow are very informative with your notes. From which I have become a better modeler. So this post will include more written details.  Again thanks for looking in.original grating installation
removalslight damage to deck framing. Easy fixstarting construction of new correctly shaped frameschecking for proper fit. On the capstan I also tomahawked the top a bit. I was too tall. Now it looks much more in scale to the original. The upper deck is not complete, but I had no intention of creating it, as some of you have done so beautifully. So from the weather deck looking down it looks correct.experimenting with the cross member nails look. I used a punch to first set marks for the super small drill bit. I found that, on a test piece, the drill bit would sometimes roam before biting into the wood. So, some of the holes were too far off center. The punch marks precluded that. This task took a while.getting there as well. I understand that each grating frame should stand as a separately framed piece, but as a static display this was, for me, in the aggregate OK.initial positioning. Close up shot "gives up" the holes, but viewing with the naked eye from a normal distance almost impossible to read, unless you're looking. Very nice Trompe L'oeil. Purists will be saying, "Hmmm cheating are you?" Yes I am, and I did (:-)measuring for the inner frame separators starting construction of inner separators. The woods had curves on the upper surfaces as well as creases down the middle. So I chose this solutionI curved the tops and added small strips to each upper side. These small strips allow the curved upper surface to maintain its visual perspective. adjusting fit for inner framesset up for small transverse cuts in lower portion of main framesgluing the frames in place, ready for inner pre-measured frames.took a break and drilled out weather deck water drains
now preparing transverse cuts for upper inner frames. I then used fine sandpaper to flatten the inner transverse cut.
small cut out pieces are now in placethose cover handles will be removed and replaced with metal rings. I was trying to be "creative again".

Lawrence,
 
Thanks so much for your very kind thoughts. They are, of course, very much appreciated. I will update some new build details in the next day or so. Again thanks for following this build, very nice of you (:-).
 
PS: love your country, been there twice
 
Regards,
 
Michael

Matti,
 
Yes indeed, your stern as well as your painted figures along with the rd timbers are really super nice.
 
R/  Michael

Andy,
 
On the contrary in your case close-ups' highlight your super well replicated attention to details. Always a pleasure looking in on your build.
 
Regards,
 
Michael

Andy,
 
On the contrary in your case close-ups' highlight your super well replicated attention to details. Always a pleasure looking in on your build.
 
Regards,
 
Michael