tarbrush

Having just logged the 500th hour in the build log, it's time for a small update.
 
A portion of the photoetched parts for the outer hull have been added.  The first photo shows them blackened and ready to deploy:
 

 
For the blackening, I use the process described throughout MSW.  Specifically, the trimmed parts are degreased by bathing in acetone for about 10 minutes followed by an 'etching' in a household vinegar bath for about the same time.  They are then soaked in a bath of 50% 'Blacken-it' for 5-15 minutes, rinsed thoroughly then dried.  Before gluing (using either CA or epoxy), the surface to be glued is roughened with a 150 grit sanding block.  After the part is applied to the ship, a coat of Testors Flat Acrylic lacquer is applied.  This protects the coating and (I think) gives a nice appearance.
 
Stern gun port hinges and rings, keel fastener:
 

 
Bilge port and sweep port hinges:
 

 
Bridle port and forward keel fastener:
 

 
Finally, just an overview of where she stands: 
 

 
It is now time to bid a fond farewell to the outer hull for the time being.  There is still much to be done but we will now turn our attention to the innermost details of the ship.  But first, a short break in the shipyard to acknowledge the arrival of good weather, tend to the garden and (long delayed) Spring cleaning. 
 
Everyone stay the course and be well!
 
 

Continuation of the deck gun saga 
 
Hey Freek, look what I found in the con storage area - - - the gun operator seat !!!    
 
No, really, I couldn't resist trying to make the seat anyway.  After i cemented the seat to the gun base I noticed it wasn't quite the way i wanted it but I'll correct it tomorrow afternoon after my doctor visit.
I made the foot rests too and that's now cemented on.  We are making progress   
 
I also made a start with the barrel elevation rack. Not a simple job now that the barrel is mounted but I'll have work around it somehow., we'll see.
 
And Amateur Jan - I have made a brand new eye bolt for the front of the gun, much better this time, agree?? 
 
Okay, here are the few pics showing the seat installed to the gun.
 

 

 

 
Cheers,

This morning I managed to finish the deck gun before Gwen and I went to my birthday party thrown by our financial advisory company.   
 
I made the simulated elevation adjusting rack and cement that in place.  I'm happy with the way de gun came out and it looks quite menacing when viewed head on.
 
Below are the pics.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Cheers,
 
 

The gun port liners are almost done, but to break up the monotony I started working on the decorative frames for the upper gun ports. The starboard side is finished and I'm almost finished the port side.
 

 

 

Young America - extreme clipper 1853
Part 55 – More hold work
 
The plan has been to finish all of the work in the lower part of the hold so finish can be applied to this area before moving upward to work on the lower deck.  The first picture shows the main mast step and the water tank base.
 

 
The members to support the off-center beam pillars are being positioned in this picture using a straightedge.  In the next picture they have been glued down.
 

 
This picture also shows the addition of one last 6” wide strake of planking to bring the width of the limber channel down to the required 10”.  In this picture a few limber boards have just been glued over that final channel – hence the wet spot.  The pins on the opposite side are holding the last plank on that side.
 
The next picture shows some more limber boards in place plus a pile to one side.  The ceiling planking and other structures have just received one coat of beeswax-turpentine finish.
 

 
When dry, the shade of this finish will be about halfway between the two shades in this picture.  Surfaces that will receive glue later have not been coated.
 
The next picture shows some work on the Mizzen step.
 

 
The chunk of pear being marked will be cut to the shape of the knee and then slit into two to fashion the forward knees.  The aft knees are roughly fit at this stage.  In the next picture the mizzen step is almost finished.
 

 
Bolts have been installed down through the frames with epoxy.  These will have to be filed off and the assembly finish sanded.  The bolts will then be blackened to represent iron.
 
The last picture shows the current status.
 

 
With the ceiling planking darkened the contrast with the bilge strakes above is clearer.  This shows the convergence of the heavy bilge strakes forward to butt into the bottom of the lower deck clamp.  In this configuration the heavy band acts like a girder to reduce hogging strains.
 
It will soon be time to start work on the lower deck framing.
 
Ed
 
 

Popeye,
The first attempt got lost to the floor. I thought, by inserting a black wire in the middle of the tube , that in filing down the outside of the tube I would come to the black wire and know to stop. Actually, what happens is that the flashing from the filing covers up the black wire and you end up filing straight through the tube! Second attempt: file a little bit and plunge the black wire back and forth cleans out the flash and you know when to stop filing. Anyway, all 4 turnbuckles done. But I think I need #3 piano wire for the stays to ensure that they are straight.
 
In the meantime, I've been working on the ladder and eagle. This is Andrieke's eagle, by the way. A terrific tip and a huge saver!
 

 
Tom
 
 
 
 

January has been a cold month here, and, with my workshop in the basement, the working conditions have not been ideal. Nevertheless, I've been (slowly) working on the life boats. I determined that they are 5.25" long. I got a plan out of a book (thank you Portia) and sized it on the copier to the proper length. Now, I'm just putting them together. They have a canvas cover over them, so I don't need to do the interiors.
 

 
The stays, with turnbuckles, for the stack all came out fine. I'll see if I can get a decent photo, but I've got a poor camera for detail work.
 
Tom
 
 

I finished the boats. I need to install the tie-downs and trim up the "canvas" covers. The "canvas" is 2 pieces of kleenex soaked in a solution of glue and then draped over the boat to dry.
 

 

 
 
 
I've been slow to work on this boat this winter, maybe because I'm coming to the end of the trail, and I don't know what to do next!
 
Tom
 
 
 

I've gotten the tie-downs for the lifeboats installed; the davits fabricated and installed; and the name boards in place. I'm waiting for some blocks from Chuck to finish off the block and tackle for the davits:
 

 

 
I don't know why the davits look uneven in the photo, but, trust me, they are all the same.

Be sure to add plenty drawers, big ones for drawings, shallow ones for tools. If space isn't an issue make more that you think you'll need and you'll probably end up with just enough
 




 
And check the thread with all the members's workshops, you catch some ideas there too.
 
Remco

Planking progress to main wale



Dick

The bulk of the heavy lifting on the stern and quarter galleries has been completed.  Here are a few different angles:
 

 
The photo etched garlands and metal castings were finished with Model Master 'Wood' color (never claimed to have much imagination) then given a coat of clear flat acrylic.  We've already discussed the glazing.
 

 

 

 
And now for the classic CONFEDERACY shot: 
 

 
Have a few things to add to complete the stern.  Neptune (he's at about 11 o'clock) needs his Trident, the gun ports need hinges, eyebolts and lanyards and there's a little touching up to carry out (one or 2 stern lights needs 'caulking').  That will all wait until I get the rudder and it's fittings mounted.
 
I have to fess up and admit I didn't think I'd get it to come out as well as it did.  But thanks to Chuck's design and a little care with all the alignment going back to the stern framing I feel pretty good about the way she looks at this point.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The rudder, gudgeons and pintels have been installed.  We'll be adding some additional photoetched details to the hull next, including the sweep port hinges.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Started working on the shrouds.
 

 

 

 
/Mark

Hello,
thanks to everyone for the kind words and likes..
 
12 pdrs cannon barrel
 
Pictures from the production of the negative mold to the finished
cannon barrel in the tin casting method.
Karl
 
 
T e i l  46
 
 

Thank you Mark and John,
 
have worked further, and finished the bulkhead.
 

 

 

 

 
Alex

I have decided to add a stern lantern since I have never seen a ship of this era without one.I robbed a lantern from an old model of a dutch ship & modified it slightly.It had some red plastic inserts to represent glass so I removed them & made new inserts out of some clear acetate I had left over from my CC Victory.The separate panes were simulated with some fiberglass screen repair material.
 

 
/Mark

A little bit more work done on my Bracera build. I sanded the hull of the vessel, shaped the bow and is now ready for the second planking. I had problems at the stern with clinkering so I hade to put filler (diluted PVA and sawdust) on both sides as the hull was getting paper thin. I am not happy with the second planking strips that I got with the kit so I am thinking of buying cherry veneer and making my own. In the meanwhile, I started working on the rudder and stained the cargo bay.

Bowsprit finished & pre-rigged.Still working on the masts.
 

 
/Mark

Hi Everyone,
 
I am pleased to say the my little Zeeschouw is now complete! It is always a thrill to complete a ship (boat) model and this little kit is no exception. It was a treat to build and after the Unicorn, a breeze.
 

 
I highly recommend this model to newcomers to the hobby. It might be hard to come by to those who do not live in Europe, but with the interwebby, anything is procureable.
 
For those who have asked me what my next model will be, I have the answer. It will be a Cutty Sark model, by none other than Einar Billing! I purchased this model third hand from Kip (aka Sawdust), who bought it from a former neighbour for some bottles of wine. It is an older kit (Kit 459 - Hull and Kit 565 - Fittings) with mahogany planking which must be replaced due to its age. I have always wanted to build a Cutty Sark since I started this hobby with the Mary Ann.
 
But spring and summer are beckoning, so I won't be starting that project anytime soon.
 
Thanks for following along and posting all your very kind words. I hope I have been able to give some of you a bit more inspiration in continuing with this wonderful hobby. I will post some more completed pictures in the Gallery.
 
Now if you'll excuse me, I have a beer to drink...
 
Peter

Carronades
 
The first photos show the first carronade fully rigged, next photos show the stages in which they have been rigged, I tied up all the tackles first and then just hooked them on and set them up, glued down the end of the rope and added the rope coils, they look a bit shiny in the photos but not in real life,they just need the paint touching up on the hooks and eyes, next I will add the nine pounders to complete the deck guns on one side of the quarter deck.
 
The first one being set up

 
The first Carronade rigged


 
The second one being rigged




 
 
 
 
 
 

Hi Mobbsie
                  The stops in the carronades were part of the moulding I just painted the ends red so as to highlight them. I have added a photo of the original casting of one of the two I will not use.
Carronade as supplied in kit.

Hi Marc,
 
I just went through your build log, nice job.  I will bet that you are happy to be almost finished with your busy season here.
I noticed your avatar changed to a spring hat.  Nice.
 
Years ago I visited Amsterdam and was busily buying wooden shoes to take home to family and friends.  I happened upon this rather special wooden shoe and decided that I had to have it.
 

 
The pennant and the top of the mast had broken off in shipment and I did not notice until the packing had been disposed of.  That resulted in some serious dumpster diving until it was recovered.  
 
Great work on the yacht.

This time I decided to omit the flags that come with the kits because, a. - they are one sided print and b. - they never fall correctly.
 
I am doing it from a handout from Gus Augustin - Equipment needed to make flags.
You make them from paper, fold them, wet them to take memory out, paint them with acrylic, fold them and you have a flag.
 
I make more than one so I can chose the best one and as the brochure says, it is cheap as you use paper and you get better at making them over time.
 
The brochure

 
Drawing the flags.

 
Using a light table jig to draw the other side of the flag.

 
Folding the flags

 
Soaking them in water.

 
Folding the flags after the water and drying.

 
Ready to paint.

 
Finished flag.

Here is the almost finished Mary. I am still working on the flags and the display case.
 

 
More details. I always add coiled rope to ships.

 
The cat just wants to be where to rigging is present.