Glenn-UK

Today I started work on making the main mast. The first task was to construct the main platform supporting frame. Once that was done I shaped the upper section of the main mast. Starting with a length of 8mmD dowel I created a 5mm square section on the upper section. This was done using a combination of a craft knife and sanding block. I worked on one side at a time, using my digital vernier to check the dimensions as I went along. The final check was to check the fit with the main platform supporting frame. Next the top section of the dowel was rounded off to 5mmD, using a sanding stick and sandpaper. The mast cap fit was the checked. I also check the fit of the platform. I will use some wood filler to hide the gaps when it is time to fit the mast cap. The mast cap will then be painted black. Next I added the flat surfaces for the two cheeks. It was necessary to reduce the dowel width from 8mm to 6mm for this. I used a combination of my craft knife and sanding block for this task. Using my sanding block I created a flat edge for the fish. I used tape to ensure I was sanding the right area. After coating the mast varnish it was painted yellow ochre and then test fitted on the deck. Next up was to add the ring for belaying pins and the support for the main boom, these parts were painted black before they were fitted. The next couple of photo's shows the Harpy with some of my other Vanguard models. The next task was to add the iron banded strips. These were cut from black card. The final task for today was to add the two bibs.

Many thanks Mark

It has been a good couple of days in the shipyard as I have now completed all the deck work and I am now ready to start work on making the various masts and yards. The work I have completed over the last couple of days include the following: a) adding the shot garlands. These were painted black and then once fitted the shots were added. b) adding the hawse rope and fitting the hatch cover where it feeds through c) adding the mast rings, which were painted black before fitting d) The position of the winch assembly was reversed, as its alignment is incorrectly shown in the build manual. e) all the deck eyebolts have been fitted. f) The binnacle and ships wheel have been fitted. I opted for a red and black painting scheme for these items. I will add the rigging for the ships wheel when I am ready to start the rigging phase of this build. Here is a collection of photos showing the completed deck details.

I have spent the last couple of days working on the deck items, With the exception of the ships wheel and shot garlands I have completed all the work. The various parts have been painted and installed. The deck eyebolts and belaying pins also need to be added. Starting with the bow area the bitts have been painted flat red. The shot garlands have been painted black but, as yet they have not been properly positioned and glued in place. The coaming that sits in front of the stove is not added, as I need to add the hawse rope. In retrospect it would have made more sense to do that before the fore mast bitt assembly was installed. Moving toward the main mast area everything has been added. I did add the hand pump drain pipes in the wrong place, but I am sure nobody will notice if when looking at the model. I did paint the capstan top with a black iron band. Shot garlands still need to be painted and glued in place.

I know the ships wheel is wrong way around. I will look at the skylight also. Thanks

Today I have been building and painting all the various hatches. Each hatch comprises a number of parts so there is a nice curve to each finished coaming. In the series of photos below everything has been placed on the deck but they have not been glued in place. I still need to build the hand pumps, capstan and bitts which is the planned task for tomorrow, however if the nice weather continues I may end up in the garden soaking up the sun as I did this afternoon. It is very crowded where the ships wheel, binnacle, skylight and aft companionway are located. I will paint the front edge of the companionway hatch black rather than the olive green as is at the moment.

Over the few days I have started work on adding all the deck item. Starting with the stern area I added the rudder housing and rear hatch. I opted to paint the rudder housing and outer framework of the rear hatch black. I used an olive green paint for the rear hatch cover. I have just noted there is some dried glue to remove on the top right side of the rudder housing. I still need to add the eyebolts to the gun port openings. I then turned my attention to the bow area and added the fore platform assembly which I painted flat red. I also assembled all the Harpy's ladders, 6 off in total. The two ladders for the fore platform have been added. Next I assembled both the companion hatch and skylight. The companion hatch cover was painted olive green, the basic frame work was painted black and the decorative patterns were painted flat red. The skylight framework was painted black and the window panels were painted flat red. The PE window frames were chemically blackened. In the following photos these assemblies have only placed on the deck and I will glue all the deck items in place once I have completed the assembly phase of all the various deck items. The companion hatch ladder has been fitted however. I have started to assemble the ship wheel. My current plan is to paint the wooden parts black and the ships wheel (which has been sprayed with a primer) a wood colour. The following photo shows my initial dry fit of the various ship wheel parts. The dowel will need to be trimmed to the required length.

A little bit more progress over the last few days. The chess trees have been fitted, one per side. Next two side fenders per side and the ships steps were added. I should have spent a bit more time cleaning the char for the step edges, so I will need to tidy that up. Next I attended to the stern area and added the two stern davits. Various cleats were added to the transom, noting I still need to add the eyebolts around the gun port openings. To finish of this post I did a bit of work around the bow.

A little bit more progress over the last couple of days. I have added the gunwales, timberheads and the sheer rails. I opted to paint the sheer rails flat red. On reflection I wish I had painted the upper rail flat red also rather than black. I have also added the woo and stern side counter timbers. Here is a photo of the hull prior to fitting the stern side counter timbers. A couple of photos of the bow area. The next photo shows the woo pattern. As can be seen in the next two photos now the stern side counter patterns have been fitted, I will need to add a little bit of wood filler to the right hand-hand side and I will need to adjust the bottom edge of the left-hand side so it follows the line of the wale.

Many thanks @SaltyScot

The failure of the copper plating task did knock my confidence and dented my enthusiasm with this hobby. That said I have now moved on to tasks which I tend to enjoy so my enthusiasm is returning. The first task I undertook was to add the belaying pin racks and carronade eyebolts. The next task was to add the outer transom pattern which was clamped in place. Once the clamps were removed the transom looked Ok but there were a couple of areas which required so further attention, as can be seen in the photo below (yellow arrows) The top area weas sanded smooth and then some wood filler was added along the lower edge. Once the wood filler was then painted black. The stem post was then painted black above the waterline. The bowsprit bitt assembly was painted flat red. The leading gunwale parts and catheads were painted black. I forgot to add the cleats to the catheads when they were assembled. Finally the leading gunwales and catheads were added to the hull. The bowsprit bitt and bowsprit dowel were dry fitted in the following photos.

Hello Bob It remains a mystery.

After many trials and tribulations I have finally ended up with a simulated coppered hull. After cleaning and sanding the hull after my failed copper plating attempt I painted the hull below the wales white. Next I painted the area between the wale and waterline yellow ochre. Remembering I had made a copper plating template I printed out the template on to some stiff card, and then noted that Richard did something similar with his Harpy build. Next I cut the template into strips which where then glued to the hull using Titebond wood glue. I then sprayed the hull with some copper paint. Whilst it is not a perfect solution it does give an impression of copper plated hull. With all the masking tape removed the hull does not look too bad and is OK for my needs. I still need to attend to painting the stem post, which I will probably use black paint.

Congratulations Bob, a fantastic model, well done.

I did think about a white lower section but I also quite like the look of red oxide which I used on of the small Vanguard fishing boats. My other option is to spray paint it copper as I did with the Indy.