Glenn-UK

Build Log – Post 43 (28/01/26) Task 67 – Mizzen Topsail Yard Over the last few days, I have been making the three mizzen mast yards. I started with the topsail yard, as that was the easiest one make. I was happy with how it was looked however I brushed too much diluted wood glue when I was shaping footrope. Task 68 – Mizzen Crossjack Yard Once the crossjack yard dowel had been tapered using my mini lathe, I added the cleats and footrope stirrups. I am having to be selective with the 3mm kit supplied blocks as the rigging holes are either too close to an outer edge or they have no hole at all. I am using my normal method for seizing the blocks. With the block held in my quad hands some black thread is wrapped around it, as shown below. The seizing is added using alternating cross over knots, 6 on the bottom and 6 on the top. The completed block is then added to the yard. When adding the footrope, I start by making a loop on one end of the thread. The loop is then seized using alternating cross over knots, 4 on the bottom and 4 on the top. The loop is then position on the yard and the loop is then closed up. Once the footropes have been threaded through the stirrups, another loop is formed and seized. The remaining blocks are then added to the ends of the crossjack yard. The yard is then coated with a thin coat of polyurethane varnish before it is painted black. Task 69 – Lateen Yard Once the lateen yard had been shaped and the cleats added it was time to add the various blocks. I thought I would detail the method I used to add two flying leads with blocks. I start by wrapping a thread around a block witch is secured with a simple crossover knot. A length of natural thread is added before the cross over knot is fully tightened. Another crossover knot is then made and a length of black thread added before the knot is fully tightened. A touch of ca is applied to the knot, and the excess thread is trimmed. The threaded black thread is then held in the quadhands so it can be seized using alternative cross over knots, 6 on the bottom and 6 on the top. The block is then inverted in the quadhands so the natural thread can be seized. The two flying leads are then added to the lateen yard. After the lateen yard has been given a coat of polyurethane varnish, it is painted black All three yards are shown below.

Build Log – Post 42 (26/01/26) Task 65 – Bowsprit, Jibboom and Spritsail Yard I have completed all the work related to shaping, adding blocks, deadeyes, eyebolts, etc. to the bowsprit, jibboom and spritsail yard. I have lashed the jibboom to the bowsprit, but in the photo below the spritsail yard is only held in by a pin. Task 67 – Mizzen mast and mizzen topsail mast I have competed the shaping for both the mizzen and mizzen topsail masts, The platform has also been assembled. I still have to add all the various blocks and cleats before moving on to making the associated yards. In the photos below the topsail mast and mast cap are only dry fitted.

Build Log – Post 41 (22/01/26) Task 64 – Start of mast and Yard Production I have cut all the dowels for the various yards and masts so there are ready to be shaped and have the various blocks and PE parts added. I decided I would start with the bowsprit, jibboom and spritsail yard. In the first picture the bowsprit and jibboom have been cut to length and tapered. In the next photo the I am test fitting the bowsprit and jibboom with the bowsprit cap. All looks good. In the next photo I have tapered the spritsail yard. In the next photo I have added the PE parts and cleats. In the next photo I have added the various blocks and footropes. The more eagle eyed reader will note that I have made an error with the footrope rigging. I will correct this mistake. Finally, the spritsail yard has been painted black.

Build Log – Post 39 (20/01/26) Task 63 – Completing The Deck Work All the deck items have now been installed. SInce my last post I have added the belay pins to the various rack, the cannons have been added along with the shot garlands. The windlass assembly has been secured in place. Eyebolts added to all the gun ports. I have not added the channel deadeye strops / chain links as I normally do these when adding the shrouds so they can follow the same path. I did rig one of the cannons but then decided I preferred the unrigged version. I have started work the yard production and will add a post in due course. Photos Here is a selection of photos of the current build status. Lower Deck Upper Deck Stern Bow Deck Area Cannons and shot garlands Rear section of lower deck Upper Deck Mizzen Bitts with belay pins Decorative windows

Build Log – Post 38 (15/01/26) Task 62 – Fixing Deck Items Most of the deck items have now been fixed in place. I have managed to repair the ship’s chimney, but I will have to make a new base. There is still a little bit more work to do regarding the windlass assembly as the ships bell and some PE parts still need to be added. The ships wheel rigging has now been belayed and seized. The ships hand pumps have been assembled. The cannons have been placed on the deck, but the carriage wheels still need to be added. I am planning to rig the cannon. There a few staghorn cleats, shot garlands and eyebolts to add to the inner lower deck. Finally, the all the timberheads and the three upper deck hand rails will be added. #

Build Log – Post 37 (14/01/26) Task 61 – Painting and Test Fitting Deck Items Starting with the upper deck items I gave some thought to the colour scheme I painted the binnacle in a similar manner to the ships wheel. The top section and side panels were painted black. The front and rear panels were painted with red bands and blue panel infills. The mizzen mast bitts were painted red. The mizzen mast base and upper deck spiral staircase coaming were painted black. The decorative PE quarterdeck companion rails were painted gold, These items were then test fitted, and I am happy with how they look. Moving on to the lower deck items I decided to paint both the gallows and main mast bitts red and then added a gold finish to the top section of the gallows bitts. The various coamings were painted black. I painted the belfry assembly red with a gold colour top section and black for the ship’s bell head stock. The bowsprit bitts were painted red. The windlass bitts were painted black along with the main and fore mast bases. I have painted the windlass a nice wooden colour, but more work is required as I need to add the black bands. I did notice that one end section of the windlass was detached when I removed the part from box. I have pinned and glued the parts together so hopefully all will be OK (right-hand end in the photo below). I also have to paint and assemble the two hand pumps. When folding the ships stove chimney the PE part sheered along the fold line. I also managed to break the chimney coaming. I have a couple of ideas to solve this problem.

Build Log – Post 36 (13/01/26) Task 60 – Tiller Housing, Tiller and Ships Wheel The various parts of the tiller housing were painted black. The front and two side patterns were then glued in place. Next the tiller was painted black and two 2mm single blocks were added. The tiller was then glued in place. The tiller housing roof was then glued in place. A length of 0.25mm natural thread was wrapped around the ships wheel drum. Once that was done the ships wheel assembly was added to the upper deck. 6 off 2mm single blocks were then seized to eyebolts. Three blocks per side, complete with eyebolts, were then threaded to the ships wheel rigging. The eyebolts were then inserted in their respective locating holes on the upper deck, and the ships wheel thread was then tensioned. The two free ends of the ships wheel rigging still needs to be belayed to their respective eyebolts.

Build Log – Post 35 (12/01/26) Task 56 – Cabin Bulkhead Installation The cabin bulkhead had previously been assembled and painted. It was a simply task to glue this assembled part in place. With the bulkhead in place I did a test fit of the rail assembly. This will be fitted later on in the build. I decided to paint the upper deck inner bulwarks red. I think this enhances the upper section. I will paint the rudder housing assembly black which will add a nice contrast, once fitted. Task 57 – Hull Steps There are 5 steps per side hull which were glued in place. I decided to paint this steps the same colour as the hull. Task 58 – Channels There are 5 channels required per side. Each channel was carefully lined up with the locating holes on the hull. I marked the channels with the position of the holes and drilled holes. These were then fitted with small 0.5mm brass pins and test fitted. The front rails were then glued to the front edge of their respective channels. Once that was done the channels were painted black and then glued in place. Task 59 – Spiral staircase and Domed Canopy The domed canopy base was glued to the 3-D printed domed canopy. The assembly was then painted gold before it was glued in place. The previously assembled spiral staircase was also glued in place.

Build Log – Post 34 (09/01/26) Task 55 – Fitting The Rudder I had built the basic rudder assembly a few weeks ago. The first task, when fitting the rudder, was to add the rudder pintle strips along with shortened pins (simulated rivets) in the various pintle strip holes. The photo below shows a test fit of the rudder, noting the pintles had not been added at this point. Next I painted the rudder so it matched the hull colour scheme and then I drilled rudder so the pintles could be fitted. I did have to slightly enlarge the rudder opening to the deck area so the pintles could be inserted into the stern post. The final task was to add the pintle strips along with shortened pins to the hull. The paint on the hull strips is still wet in the photo below. I may need to add another coat or two. The hull pintle strips are incorrectly set as I mistakenly aligned then with the rudder pintle strips rather then the pintle part which is inserted in to the stern post. It is not an issue for this build but would be for someone knows how the should be aligned. I also have added the crown decorations between the gun ports

Build Log – Post 33 (07/01/26) Task 54 – Bow Rails, Catheads and Decorations Following on from my last post the remaining hull decorations were added successfully. Once that was done it was time to add all remaining details to the bow area. The various rails were added along with the catheads, hawse hole bolsters & brackets and figurehead. Once that was done the the various bow decorative patterns were added. I then decided to add a bit more colour to the stem post by painting the area below bow rail and above the water line red. Now that this work is complete, I can move on to adding the rudder. Photos The first two photos show the current build status, the Duchess is stating to look more regal, noting I do have some PE decorative crowns to add between the upper wale and gun ports Now a picture show the decorative bow area head on. The lower right-hand wale fit to the stem post is not very good Finally two photos showing the right and left bow area. I opted to paint the bow rails gold.

Looks great and very neat work 👏

Possibly, but I have no experience with shellac. My thoughts are you just need something which is clear when dry and will provide some level of adhesion when as it dries.

It works well, pe parts can be adjusted when first positioned and no nasty ca overspill issues

Build Log – Post 32 (29th Dec 2025) Task 53 – Hull Decorations I have now started to add the PE decorative patterns to the hull. I am coating each section of the hull with a thin coat of polyurethane varnish. I then wait for a few minutes to allow the varnish to get tacky before placing the PE pattern in place. Once the pattern has been positioned and being held in place by the varnish, I then apply a top coat of varnish. So far, this method seems to be working really well. Photos

Thanks