Omega1234

INTRO: I promised my mother-in-law that I would make her a ship in a bottle for her big birthday coming up.
 
She deserves a modern sail yacht, not some crusty old schooner.    The Parsifal III  - built in 2005 by Perini Navi and refitted in 2012  - ought to do the trick. 

 
Similarly, my typical vintage whiskey bottles wouldn't fully speak to her charm;  and since I cant find a proper size bottle of grey goose (!!) I will use this sleek french water bottle!

 
PART I: The Hull and Superstructures
 
 Starting with a hull blank.  I suppose this is more of an american style approach as opposed to european or japanese method using sagittal slices.
 
  Mini belt sander to grind it close.
  I do wear gloves.
Sanded down to 320 grit, then primed.
I decided   once again to drill-route a channel into which the masts will lay flat aft.
The two masts will each sit on their hinges at a different level from each other. Here the mizzen mast axle hole is drilled athwart, through the hull. 
While the main mast will hinge atop the deck.  I hope this split-level approach to the hinges will allow for an easier fold.
 
Making the cabin superstructure
Straight lines are not my strong suit.  But its beginning to take shape.
 
Next: Masts & Rigging
 
 

Thanks, Patrick! So glad to see your new luxury yacht in the works.
By the way, when I made Parsifal for my MIL I remembered your haunting words: Once you make a luxury yacht, you'll never be able to stop! (or something like that! 😁)

It has been quite a while since I last posted. The easing of lockdown regulations made catching up with family feasible and this plus various garden jobs led to little available time for boat building. What time I did get was quite disjointed and this didn't help progress. Thank you Michael, Patrick and Druxey for you comments and thank you to everyone for the thumbs ups.
 
I made the 4 fairleads from a solid piece of brass bar .500" wide by .125" thick.
I drilled a series of .0625" cross holes and then removed the central webs with a jewellers saw and needle file.
 
 
 

 

 

 
The square edges were then rounded off and the resultant piece was removed from the bar.
 
 
 

 
I glued this piece to a scrap of wood and slit off 4 fairleads .080" wide.
 

 
A bit more filing to round the edges and then the base flange was drilled to take the mounting bolts and the roller.
 

 
The rollers were turned and then the fairleads were mounted on the rails.
 

 

I then  moved on to the turnbuckles of which 21 were required. 16 for the mast shrouds, 3 for the bowsprit braces, 1 for the forestay and 1 for the mainmast brace.
 
I started with a sketch. I proposed to make the body in 3 parts, two identical conical sections each with an integral collar and an axial .04" hole. The 3rd piece was a .080" length of tube to create the central boss. I then made one to check that it looked ok.
 

 
 I then proceeded with the manufacture of the next 20.

 

 
 
The elongated eye was bent from .040" wire using a bending jig.
 

 

 

 
The eyes were closed with soft solder.
 

 
I then moved on to making the Y shaped section for the other end. I am part way through this but I don't like the results so may have to have a rethink.

Great to see you back in the workshop Keith; I have missed your updates. 
 
Another fine example of your techniques, machining skills and execution mate, they look great.
 
cheers
 
Pat

Hi Keith
 
Just catching up at long last.  Oh..My..Gawd!!!!  No words, Keith.  Simply no words can sufficiently describe your work.  It’s THAT good.
 
Cheers
 
Patrick 

thank you very much for your condolences...

Sorry to hear about your Mum, Mehmet.  Pls accept my sincere condolences to your and your family.
 
Your model looks great so far and will be a wonderful tribute to your mother.
 
Cheers
 
Patrick

What he said, Keith. First rate work on the rails.

HI folks
 
Allow me to introduce you to my latest miniature mega-yacht model, “Splendid” (1:500).  Splendid is based upon an actual mega-yacht named Nirvana https://www.yachtcharterfleet.com/luxury-charter-yacht-25086/nirvana-layout.htm and as is customary with all of my models, I will attempt to include as much internal detail as I can; with all of the decks made removable in order to view the interior.
 
The following photos show that the general layout of the superstructure has been mocked up in order to give me an idea of how everything will fit together.  It’s all still very rough and there’s lots of work to go.
 
I hope that you can continue to join me on Splendid’s construction journey.
 
Thanks
 
Patrick  

Going against the Admiral's wishes would be a very brave act, I'd have thought.

Hey Vaddoc
 
Re:  Your last paragraph about the painting of your beautifully planked hull.  Well...our Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison has been alerted and he has scheduled an urgent meeting with your PM to discuss the issue. At this stage, it is hoped that diplomatic action will be enough to avert the heinous action that you intend committing.  Should you still continue to pursue the painting of such a beautifully planked hull, I understand that economic sanctions may be invoked as the ‘last resort option’.
 
Oh...who am I kidding, if that’s your wife’s desire, then so be it.  It’ll still be one heck of a model no matter what you choose to do!!!
 
Hehehe
 
All the best!
 
Cheers
 
Patrick

Hi Keith
 
Just catching up at long last.  Oh..My..Gawd!!!!  No words, Keith.  Simply no words can sufficiently describe your work.  It’s THAT good.
 
Cheers
 
Patrick 

Hey Vaddoc
 
Re:  Your last paragraph about the painting of your beautifully planked hull.  Well...our Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison has been alerted and he has scheduled an urgent meeting with your PM to discuss the issue. At this stage, it is hoped that diplomatic action will be enough to avert the heinous action that you intend committing.  Should you still continue to pursue the painting of such a beautifully planked hull, I understand that economic sanctions may be invoked as the ‘last resort option’.
 
Oh...who am I kidding, if that’s your wife’s desire, then so be it.  It’ll still be one heck of a model no matter what you choose to do!!!
 
Hehehe
 
All the best!
 
Cheers
 
Patrick

Sorry to hear about your Mum, Mehmet.  Pls accept my sincere condolences to your and your family.
 
Your model looks great so far and will be a wonderful tribute to your mother.
 
Cheers
 
Patrick

Hi Vaddoc
 
Just catching up.  Geez...for crying out loud!!!  How the hell you’re able to build these technically accurate, beautifully constructed models woven together with a touch of magic and oodles of skill, is nothing short of amazing.  And...this model is no exception, as witnessed by the perfect planking and framing.
 
Nice job!
 
Cheers
 
Patrick 
 
 

Thanks and welcome aboard!  I just scrounge around the Net using Mega Yacht Deck Plans as the search criteria. It’s always lots of fun!
 
Cheers
 
Patrick

Welcome aboard Mark!  The more the merrier. 
 
Cheers
 
Patrick
 

Hey Vaddoc
 
Re:  Your last paragraph about the painting of your beautifully planked hull.  Well...our Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison has been alerted and he has scheduled an urgent meeting with your PM to discuss the issue. At this stage, it is hoped that diplomatic action will be enough to avert the heinous action that you intend committing.  Should you still continue to pursue the painting of such a beautifully planked hull, I understand that economic sanctions may be invoked as the ‘last resort option’.
 
Oh...who am I kidding, if that’s your wife’s desire, then so be it.  It’ll still be one heck of a model no matter what you choose to do!!!
 
Hehehe
 
All the best!
 
Cheers
 
Patrick

Hey Vaddoc
 
Re:  Your last paragraph about the painting of your beautifully planked hull.  Well...our Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison has been alerted and he has scheduled an urgent meeting with your PM to discuss the issue. At this stage, it is hoped that diplomatic action will be enough to avert the heinous action that you intend committing.  Should you still continue to pursue the painting of such a beautifully planked hull, I understand that economic sanctions may be invoked as the ‘last resort option’.
 
Oh...who am I kidding, if that’s your wife’s desire, then so be it.  It’ll still be one heck of a model no matter what you choose to do!!!
 
Hehehe
 
All the best!
 
Cheers
 
Patrick

Hey Vaddoc
 
Re:  Your last paragraph about the painting of your beautifully planked hull.  Well...our Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison has been alerted and he has scheduled an urgent meeting with your PM to discuss the issue. At this stage, it is hoped that diplomatic action will be enough to avert the heinous action that you intend committing.  Should you still continue to pursue the painting of such a beautifully planked hull, I understand that economic sanctions may be invoked as the ‘last resort option’.
 
Oh...who am I kidding, if that’s your wife’s desire, then so be it.  It’ll still be one heck of a model no matter what you choose to do!!!
 
Hehehe
 
All the best!
 
Cheers
 
Patrick

Sorry to hear about your Mum, Mehmet.  Pls accept my sincere condolences to your and your family.
 
Your model looks great so far and will be a wonderful tribute to your mother.
 
Cheers
 
Patrick

Hi Keith
 
Just catching up at long last.  Oh..My..Gawd!!!!  No words, Keith.  Simply no words can sufficiently describe your work.  It’s THAT good.
 
Cheers
 
Patrick 

HI folks
 
Allow me to introduce you to my latest miniature mega-yacht model, “Splendid” (1:500).  Splendid is based upon an actual mega-yacht named Nirvana https://www.yachtcharterfleet.com/luxury-charter-yacht-25086/nirvana-layout.htm and as is customary with all of my models, I will attempt to include as much internal detail as I can; with all of the decks made removable in order to view the interior.
 
The following photos show that the general layout of the superstructure has been mocked up in order to give me an idea of how everything will fit together.  It’s all still very rough and there’s lots of work to go.
 
I hope that you can continue to join me on Splendid’s construction journey.
 
Thanks
 
Patrick  

Druxey - more laborious than nerve wracking. I think the professionally made ones are very expensive but I can see why.
 
At a number of positions the stanchions have a bracing strut - hence the third hole in some of them. The drawing is a guide rather than exactly what I made.
A couple of experimental ones are displayed in the photo.
 

 
I figured that to get them identical I needed a jig.
 

 
I had a fair number to make, 12 in all. They are 0.6" high.
 

 
I needed to accurately space the holes in the rail so I made myself a little drill guide.
 

 
As per the other stanchions the braced ones were pressed in to slightly undersized holes with brass washers at their base held by a spot of CA glue.
 

 
At the fore and aft ends of the stanchions the grand wires are attached to eyes mounted on the rails. The eyes were turned and milled as previously described.
 

 
Tensioners are attached to these eyes - simulated from micro tube and wire.
 

 
 I used 0.017" beading wire for the guard rails. The wires were looped at the ends trough ferrules made from .031" bore micro tube.
 

 
At 4 positions on the rail are openings for embarkation / disembarkation. These are protected by chains. I had some very fine jewellers chain which was ideal (except that the holes were so small I couldn't see them). The pin in the photo is .025" diameter and is only marginally smaller than the chain.
 

 
A bit of a fiddly job to mount but with perseverence and profanity I got it done.
 

 

 

 
I cant complete the rials abreast the fore and main masts until I have completed the standing rigging.
 
Hopefully I will make better progress this week.
 

It has been a couple of weeks since I last posted a build update. The weather went from very cold to quite warm almost overnight prompting work on tiding the garden ready for spring. In consequence the shipbuilding suffered.
 
I did manage to drill all the stanchions with either 2 or 3 x .025" holes depending on their purpose. A piece of a kitchen cutting board was used as a soft jaw to prevent damage.
 

 
A couple of hundred holes later:-
 

 
The stanchions fit into circular brass bosses on the rail. These bosses were made as brass washers from 1/8" rod.
 

 
The rail needed to be drilled with .062" diameter holes to take the stanchions. The depth of drilling needed to be controlled to prevent the drill breaking through and damaging the hull. I made a stop for pressing over a 1/16" drill bit.
 

 
The stanchion positions were marked out on masking tape attached to rails and then the positions were hand drilled using my home made drill press.
 

 

 

 
The stanchions were a press fit in the rail so they were tapped home with a pin hammer. Once installed a .025" length of rod was passed through the stanchion top hole and the stanchion was rotated until the hole aligned with the rail.
 

 

 
With the stanchions in place and correctly orientated a drop of CA glue was placed at the base and a washer was passed over to simulate the rail boss.