Glenn-UK

Hi Rob Just watched your second video. nice idea to assemble and paint the gun port linings before fitting to the gun ports. I can see this will made the installation much easier, assuming the assemblies are correctly made to fit the openings. Food for thought I was planning on fitting each lining strip in turn to the gun port openings, and am currently fitting support battens to aid the installation process before I fit the gun port strips to the hull.

Well done on completing the copper phase, a job well done, I have that pleasure to look forward to in a few weeks time, or maybe a few months time, depending on how my build progresses. Glenn

Hi Patrick Where are you based? I've been in Scarborough over 22 years now and think I may stay. I live out of town in a small village so can escape the holiday hordes in the summer months. Also I'm not to far away from Dave over in Hartlepool or the Hartlepool maritime museum which I have never been to but plan to correct in the next few weeks.

Night at the gym plus still waiting for delivery from CMB for balsa wood supplies so a night off from the boat build. I did find time to check fixings of the gun port strips now that they have dried. I noticed that if I set the strip 270 so it was perfectly aligned with the shape of the stern extension the first gun port opening of Strip 272 does not clear bulkhead 17. This is not problem as I can trim the bulkhead so the gun port opening is clear. However I then noticed the gun port strips 271 and 272 fell a bit short of the end point of the bow supports. I did then reposition gun port 270 so that the other two strips 271 & 272 terminated correctly at the bow and has the added bonus that the gun port was clear at bulkhead 17. The down side is I would the need to trim the stern extension pieces 105 and 106. I did cut out the walnut inside stern fascia piece which seemed to fit very well on the stern extensions. Couldn't see any reason for the weird cut out on the end of the keel between the inside stern extension pieces. On balance I think the best way forward is to position 270 correctly against the stern extensions and trim bulkhead 17 as necessary and then use some filler or small wood offcuts to patch up the bow end which of course will be covered by the planking and copper tiles. This is because I don't think it is a good idea to mess with the stern shaping.

Hello Jerry Nice work on the platforms. Dave is very good at spotting potential problems and offering sound advice. Glad you were able to correct without to many headaches. Glenn

Looking good Patrick and I trust you found the missing cannon ball. I think it will take a year before I get to this stage of the build.

Hi Jerry I do have a build log, please see: http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/4636-hms-victory-by-glennard2523-caldercraft/ I had an initial set back with the incorrect numbering of the 5mm ply sheets but resolved this with JoTika. Just at stage of fitting battens to gun port strips 270, 271 and 272 to aid installation of the linings prior to fitting the gun port strips to hull assembly Glenn

Hello Jerry I have enjoyed looking through your build log to date, I'm just starting out the Caldercraft HMS Victory journey, so will continue to check you log as I progress through my build. Glenn

Glad to see you are making good progress, great to see your pictures as well.

Hello Gary Look forward to watching your progress, enjoy your build. I have learnt such a lot from this forum and can also rely and getting help and advice when needed. Glenn

Your are doing a great job and the rewards are worth the effort.

Managed to get another hours work done tonight, soaked and bent port side gun port strips, also clamped to hull to dry overnight.

Ordered some balsa supplies from CMB first thing this morning so hopefully they will arrive tomorrow or Thursday. This will enable me to add additional material at the bow end for fixing the gun port strips. Also ordered some balsa strips for completing the gun port battens. Don't expect to be able to finally complete the final fixing of the gun port strips until the weekend but will continue to work carefully, taking my time to ensure I get this part of the assembly correct. Spent a couple of hours tonight in the shipwrights workshop. I fitted gun port strips 270 on both port and starboard sides and checked position between bulkhead 6 to 9. Also made sure the gun port openings were clear of the bulkheads. Then checked I was happy with position of gun port strips 271 and 272, their gun port openings were clear of the bulkheads so all seems OK. I then put starboard gun port strips bow ends 271 & 272 in hot water for a long soak stood up in a flower vase. Whilst they were soaking I faired the port and starboard bulkheads 1 to 3 and 15 to 17 using an old plank strip to check then repositioned starboard gun port strip 270. After soaking for 75 minutes I started to bend the starboard gun port strips bow ends 271 & 272, still had to run the strips under hot water for a few minutes to complete the bend process. Once both strips were positioned they were pinned and clamped and will be left to dry overnight so the strips should retain the bend. I hope to get the port side soaked and bent tomorrow night before or after my visit to the gym.

Hi David I'm checking the battens against bulkheads for clearance and plan to adjust size or not fit where space is tight. At moment I have glued strips of 5mm by 1.5mm planking strips together, left over from last build, to make the 3mm deep batterns as I'm unable to get to model shop for balsa supplies at the moment as they shut long before I finish work for the day. I will try to see if I can leave work early one day this week otherwise it will be end of week before I can get there. I'm not going to rush this phase of the build as I can already see the knock on effects if I get it wrong.

Monday night I normally go to the gym so time in shipwrights office is limited. I added more black paint to the dummy barrel strip / deck area as recommended by Patrick & Shipyard Sid, thanks again for the heads up. I then started the mass production of the gun lining batten strips,I decided to make each strip 5mmL by 3mmD by 5mmW. Took a break from the mass production and fitted the first set of gun port battens to gun port strip 272. I will not fit battens to bow end of the strips until the strip has been soaked in water, bent to shape and then allow to dry in bent position. I think this will greatly aid the installation of the gun port linings. Finally here's an extract from the captain's log where I am keeping a record of the time spent on this build, You may think from my handwriting that I'm a doctor, well I not I just don't write very neatly these days.

The problem with the marking was partly my fault as I did not check the cut-out shapes on the sheets with the manual. JoTika were brilliant and sent the replacement parts quickly and these were correctly etched. I suspectthey my have adjusted the tooling to avoid this error in future

Hi David Thanks, they don't cost a lot of money, and came with some other bits and pieces I had bought, including the Mantua 8151 plank bender.

Tested small washers and found they are 1mm thick using my measuring new tool from CMB. These washers are ideal for checking gun port strip 270 correctly aligned 1mm above quarterdeck between bulkhead 6 & 9.

Hello Derek I have been looking through your build, well done so far, I will continue to look through your build as I progress on with my build. I'm at the start of my build and noted on the first page of your log you fitted battens to the lower gun ports on the back of the strips, but these seem to be below the gun port opening is there ant reason for this? I'm about to start fitting battens around my gun port lids prior to assembly of the gun port strips (270, 271 and 272) and would have thought the would battens fit flush with the gun port opening. Glenn

Hi I to have plans to visit the Victory sometime this year.

Hi I opted for the Caldercraft (JoTika) kit after much research. I have been impressed so far although I'm only a few hours into the build. I did have a problem, and found JoTika to be very supportive. Glenn

Hi Gary Thanks for the heads up once, hopefully we can help each other along the way, do you have a build log? Once I have the gun port strips fitted I will look at the fitting for the dummy gun barrels and note your comments regarding using a 1.7mmm drill. Glenn

Hi Gil I've just start on my build of the HMS Victory, just getting ready to fit the gun port lining strips (270, 271 & 272). Its the wealth on information from the experienced builders like yourself on the MSW build logs which provides me with the confidence to tackle the challenges ahead that this boat build will undoubtedly throw up along the way. Many Thanks.

Hello David You have done an outstanding job so far, keep up the hard work and you'll soon be over the finish line. Glenn

Hi David I plan to take my time with the first gun port strips as you suggest as I know it is very important to get right. I could have pushed on with it tonight but realised it would have been foolhardy to do so. I note your comments on the rear bulkheads, as any excess can be filed away.