mtaylor

Hmmm.... Bilge Rat not name. Bilge Rat is job. I don't think you'd be far off either. I think there's an article (might Google for it) on some of the 1812 era shipwrecks that might have more details. I'm attaching one such article from Texas A&M (ok... graduate paper actually). Brig-Eagle.pdf

I use rubber cement. Just don't leave it on for months though. I've also used tracing paper and printer paper equally well.

Tiny stuff there Jack. I think you did great.

Looks super nice, Nenad. Great to see you're making progress.

Beautiful tribute, Chief. Two thumbs up from this former Marine also.

Dave, as I understand it the Proxxon and the MicroMark are basically the same product. Go with the suggestions you've received and try them first. There are issues with any tilting arbor saw where the blade is tilted due to play in the mechanism.

There's been a lot of argument over painting, etc. of these vessels. The catch is they were quickly built and not expected to last more than a year or so and as such much of the carpentry was rather rough.

You're a braver man than I Danny. The tracks just look daunting enough and then having minimal instructions to boot. Makes my head hurt.

The bridle port lids is/was what many (but not all) of the French 8 and 12 pounder frigates had even if the rest of the ports did not. Licorne (8 pounder) didn't, but other 8 pounders did. Belle Poule did have the bridle port lid only. France didn't really build like the Brits did in that there was more than one (for lack of a better word) designer. Plus they were constantly testing, modifying and reworking ships. For example, Licorne doesn't have the masting (sizes of the masts and yards) of most 8 pounders. It has the masting/yards dimension of La Venus, an 18 pounder of 1782. Apparently, the masting change came during Licorne's rebuild or there after. The Brits were more uniform in their building methods such that except for minor changes (mostly although some were much different) all the ships of a given class followed the lead ship in furniture, rigging, etc. If what you're saying is true about the mixup in plans, then go with the kit. Nothing really lost there. The problem with older company's kits is the lack of research and marketing pressures at the time. We know that AL's Constellation isn't the Revolutionary War ship that they advertise but the hull dimensions are the from 1855 sloop. The guns, etc. were from the fiction when the ship was moved and fitted out as the museum ship in Baltimore. Go with what you think is best. If you decide to keep it as the kit, that works. If you feel ambitious, figure out which one it actually is and build it as that ship. You're the captain here. Go with what you feel good about.

Mike, I daresay (and I'm someone will correct me) that TFFM will not help much as your ship is a) French and b) from an earlier period. Not all French frigates did have did have fixed (hinged) port lids. I've looked through ANCRE's History of the French Frigate 1650-1850 and there is a section on the La Renommee. I appears that there there were no hinged lids and that the lining only at the top and bottom of each port and covered by the inner and outer hull planking thus, no port stops. The planking at the sides would be flush with the port opening and the sides of the port are the framing. I'd like to think I got it right on Licorne but I'm not 100% sure. Then again, maybe I misunderstood the question.....

I have some of the Dockyard chisels. Nice tools. I don't believe the Dockyard is still in business. I read somewhere that Lee's bought up most of their stock before they went under. I hope I'm wrong. But, my wish list for chisels is the set Greg mentions. A reports say they are top of the line.

I didn't realize how large that was until I saw you with it outside. Even more impressive. Does the Polybak produce toxic fumes? Looks like it might be an interesting material.

I think the kit people got builders hocked on "black" as it's the color of tar. Road tar that is. Personally, I'd drop the black. As others have said, want black, it can be dyed. I did use black on my Constellation since that was how she was rigged in the photos when I built her. Hindsight, I should have went with browns or maybe off-white.

So they assume the pigments didn't change over time or pick up some color from next layer of paint? Interesting.

If you're nuts, so are the rest of us. At least we all gather in the same place. Birds of a feather and all that.

Good answer, OC. I'll offer "majick".... in the sense of beyond normal.

Have a great holiday season, Pat. Pumps look good.

That's great news, Frank! I hope the new year brings more good news to you and yours.

Wow, doesn't it sum it up at all. I'm speechless. I think after looking over the exhibition I'm going to shut down my computer and wander off... totally overwhelming images of superb models.

Two ways that I know of Al. The best probably is it pin the yard to the mast in the proper location. The yard should at least be completely ready for it's rigging or even pre-rigged. The other way, and I'm not a fan of it, is to rig the yard, hoist it aloft using the rigging and them a spot of glue to hold it to the mast. You might have a look at way Rob is doing his:

Very much not "small" Daniel. I think Wow sums it up. Looks like I'll be busy going through the exhibition for a day or two.

I'm 100% LED. Replacement was easy, just a trip to the local home supply store and bought in "bulk" boxes of 10. Depending on the room and need, I use both daylight and pure white. Cost wasn't that bad compared to incandescent.

Wonderful work on the lighting, Doris. The warm glow captures the time period and the whole effect is amazing.

Looks fantastic from here, Daniel. A coat of paint and finished.