Bill Hime

Carl,

Looks like you're off to a great start! A well-detailed build log is a benefit to everyone. Thank you for sharing, I'm following closely

Warm Regards,

Bill

Jack,

I've spent better part of an evening reading and studying your build log. Beautiful work. I get a since of it's antiquity from the finish and photo presentation. It looks like a museum piece, very inpressed

Sincere Regards,

Bill

Augie, Your deck looks like a dance floor, tight and uniformed. Pristine work to say the least  Enjoy the globetrotting!

Bill 

Dan, Just got caught up on your build. A true artisan you are my friend . BTW...is there anything finer than a sharp chisel, I think not

Kind Regards, Bill 

Well, this morning I find myself standing outside the gates of the shipyard looking in. The sound of harbor bound gulls and flapping tarps have settled over the grounds of the C.W. Hime Shipyard. The steam powered boiler sits idle, loops of drive belts hang throughout the milling house silent, covered in saw dust and cob webs. Benches strewn with chisels, mallets and calipers lay waiting to bring life to timber. The echo of life is faint here now, for it takes a man's hands to bring life to wood and purpose to tools.

I've been away but it's time to open these gates now. I don't know how much time I'll spend here, but I'll be here. Now, first things first, fire up that boiler and find the broom...

Good morning everybody

Augie,

Just stopped back in to take a peek. Everything from the cabin walls, deck furniture, bricks and the cabin floor is just beautiful. You my friend, seem to be refining your technique with every step

Bill

Augie, she is simply beautiful!

Hey Augie,

Those wale lines have a real nice flow to them. That's a long hull, those lines either make or break the beauty of this ship . Wonderful work, I'm taking notes :)

Bill

Michael,

What a great tutorial! And your so right, there is nothing like making your own tools. It takes a true artisan to know his craft well enough to create tools to fit his needs. And that is a very fine looking chisel indeed.

Warm Regards,

Bill

Hi Robert,

Thanks for looking in. Watchful eyes always keep me on my toes

Lou,

Hey my friend, thanks for shaking the bushes. We're alive and well

Augie,

Yes, waiting is the right thing to do. I think I was just thinking out loud on in that post. With the shipyard in the living room, it's never too far out of my site.

Alistair,

Lol, now that's the way to call a man out! Thank you my friend   "Passion is Patience" ...and that is the truth of my heart

This is my long weekend on in ICU. I'm off Monday and Tuesday. First thing up, to dial that scroll saw in and get those Wenge wood patterns cut. I feel like I just woke up. Thanks everyone for getting my blood running again.

Bill

Hello everyone! Wow it's been awhile. Life took hold and shut down the shipyard in December. Unexpectedly replacing our computer and then my truck was just the start of the storm. Things are improving now though

So back to the build; Current dilemma is I'm at the point I need the wood I was going to replace the supplied material with to move forward. So do I press forward and just use the supplied wood or be patient and order the wood in a couple of weeks when money issues are less of a concern?

I get a little nervous when a project sits idle too long.

Personally, I think I should wait. If I settle for something I didn't want in the first place, I may never be happy with this first build.

Bill

Well played Sir! Well played indeed

Bill

Augie,

She's really looking beautiful! I like her lines. The overall sense is crisp, then the eye starts picking up all the little details, an amazing execution of craftsmanship :)

Bill

Danny,

I love jigs! Great execution and forethought. Enjoying every step of your journey !

Bill

Good morning my friend,

Nigel, I spent the duration of this night reading and studying this log. I'm afraid every possible adjective has already been involked upon these pages, I'm at a loss for words . You represent the best parts of all of us and then some. I will continue to follow closely. I will shift over and join you on the Caroline for the duration.

You inspire me deeply, thank you.

Warm Regards,

Bill

Hi Bob,

There are numerous sources for these. Micro draw knives are very popular as Japanese carving tools. Spoke shaves are very similar except they have a mounted blade like a wood plane. I think you would like these better. Mine are very old. New one's come in many sizes and prices. They also come as straight, convex and concave. You can imagine how useful a concave or quarter moon shape would be for masts and spars and arms

Search "micro spoke shaves", many choices, even some kits for making them with wood handles. Look at the Japanese micro draw knives and see what you think. We all have different budgets and priorities. You're probably going to spend $40 to $60. $100 on the high end.

Bill

BTW,

That is a really cool display base! Very creative and well done

Bill

Looking real good Lou! Any redo's have definitely paid off. Sometimes when we're on a roll or hyper focused we forget to breathe. Way to regroup and come through

Bill

Beautiful build and great story, thank you for sharing

Bill

Ron,

Your deck furniture looks wonderful. Very crisp lines and details. Obviously a very tight grained wood. Are you using pear or is this something else?

BTW..I defer to your build frequently to keep my mindset were I want it to be. There's nothing more motivating to me than seeing the possibilities, thank you

Bill

Really clean work Bob! When you were cutting the octagon on the bowsprit, what kind of tool did you use? I think this would be a great place to use a draw knife. 

Warm Regards,

Bill

Hey jcoby,

Nice consistent work. You seem to always come up with good end solutions for troubling problems. Great thing about ship modeling, there is always something to work on while taking a break from unresolved issues

Bill

Rob,

Did you start with a resin hull? If so, great job interfacing two mediums. I'm very interested in watching this all come together. Nice work! I'll be following along

Warm Regards,

Bill

AJ,

This is a beautiful build! The Niagara is one of my favorite ships, and a great history to boot. Definitely on my short list. I'm doing the Pride of Baltimore right now as my first ship build. If the Niagara hadn't been on back order it would have my full attention for sure.

Your work is first rate and a pleasure to follow. I love the free spirit. I too cannot look at anything without wanting to make changes .

On a personal note; Art always finds a way. It is not a part of who we are, it is what we are in that it defines our very being. Whether it be through a brush, pen, chisel or spoken word, our heart sees the world through our eyes. And it will express itself, even if only with a simple tear. That no man nor disease can take from you.

With great Respect,

Bill

Hi Mort,

The Flying Fish and the Cutty Shark are of later design. The Baltimore shipyards started producing the earlier smaller clipper ships as slave runners, privateers and blockade runners in the early 1800's. There are several kits out there. Check Model Expo

Warm Regards,

Bill