Bill Hime

This will be my third model ship and second plank on bulkhead ship. In addition to this web site I will be building the Pride of Baltimore II (POB II) with the assistance of Robert Hunts Sophomore course practicum, and of course all of you here at MSW. I thank you all in advance for your help and input along the way.

I must confess I am hesitant to start this log as there are already three magnificent build logs under way for this ship. I fear that I may have little to offer as I am very much a beginner and I do not posses any great skill, but I do have a desire to strive for perfection and like all of you a love and fascination with these beautiful tall ships that are reminders of our past. So with some trepidation and having being inspired by the craftsmanship of others here I have decided to take the plunge.

I chose the POB II for many reasons not the least of which is she is a beautiful ship, but also as I think she offers a great deal as a way to learn and improve as a model shipwright. She presents some new challenges compared to the AVS but in a way that is a natural progression for new builders.

The keel was first laid December 08, 2012 shortly after completing my Armed Virginia Sloop. Work progressed to the point where I had begun the process of planking the hull and had completed the first 6 rows below the wales. Some of the photos from early construction are posted below. Then life took me away and the poor ship has sat idle until recently. Like many others this hobby has a way of always pulling me back and the pride as waited patiently for my return.

Nice details on the pumps Augie. Slowly getting caught up
 
Bill

Nice details on the pumps Augie. Slowly getting caught up
 
Bill

I think we have enough here for a small update.
 
The red columns are the Main Jeer Bitts complete with simulated sheaves.  The assorted parts are for the brake pumps:
 

 
These jeer bitts were installed under a deck beam and the main mast coat and some deck rings put in place:
 

 
The pumps were then assembled and painted.  The spouts are 1/16" brass tubing.  The simulated metal bands are black heat shrink tubing:
 

 
The last photo shows everything in place (including the main topsail sheet bitts)  with a few rope coils added for interest:
 

 
Next we'll be adding the carlings and some half beams to complete the framing on the quarterdeck.  
 
Best wishes to all on the blizzard heading for the NE.  And everyone build straight!
 
 
 
 
 
 

As luck would have it, did manage to find some time to work on deck fittings over Christmas.  So, at about 800 hours into the build here's where we are:
 
THE CAPSTAN
 
Supplied as a laser cut sheet, this reminds me why I don't scratchbuild:
 

 
I'm leaving it with the natural finish to show off the pins made of 28 gauge wire.  The ring on top was photoetched.  She's just pinned on deck for now.  Still need to make some pawls.
 

 
And that brings us to THE STOVE.  Also supplied as (many) laser cut and photoetched parts:
 

 
The basic structure was assembled and brass strip cut for the corners and feet:
 

 
 
 
Lids with copper wire handles and more venting added (along with access doors)
 

 
 
Photoetched parts painted and brass tubes added to simulate stove vents:
 

 
Finally, the rotisserie was added!
 

 
Here it is just placed on my fine Italian brick hearth from fore/aft.  The vent stack will be permanently added once we fit the upper deck beams:
 

 

 
Lastly, just an overall look:
 

 
Sorry to be so long-winded but I thought a walk through the stove construction might interest some.  It was all given a coat of flat acrylic as a final touch.  
 
Much of this will be obscured as the upper deck beams and partial deck go in.  But I know it's there.  And, I have to fess up ---- this was a LOT of fun.
 
Hope to have some deck bulkheads and deck beams in place by New Years.  If I'm not back before then, Best of the New Year to all here on MSW!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

About time for an update.
 
After playing around with different configurations (wire, wood, rope), I finally decided on using the photoetched stanchions and some line for the companionway railings.  I'll use this throughout:
 

 
The photo also shows a glimpse of the second of the aft bulkheads and the permanently installed capstan and pawls.
 
The next 8 deck beams for the quarterdeck were also installed, including lodging and hanging knees:
 

 

 
Finally, just an overall shot:
 

 
There are several more decks beams to go in to finish the quarterdeck but first we need to prepare some deck fittings.
 
 

shilhawk,
There has been a lot of good advice given here. My outlook on tools is we all strive to become good artesins. Our tools are an extention of our hands and our soul. Each of us take a personal journey everytime we put a tool to wood. The journey's a little different for each of us. Some of us have spent a lifetime trekking on familiar ground while other's have come to a fork in the road and boldly jumped in wanting something new to challenge and fill their hearts.
 
I learned early in life how to hone and use a good chisel. When I finally had to employ a few craftsmen in my cabinet shop, I chose people who talked with their hands, that brought tools to life by their very love of the craft. Good tools allowed them to extend their heart and soul into the things they created. They do make you better.
 
Everyone here, loves their craft. We're all on a similar journey, just different paths. Whether your name is Chuck, Dan, Mark, Doris, Nigel, Gary, or shilhawk, the desire's the same; to give our best to that which we love and to be a little better every time.
 
You will never regret buying a good tool. It will become a trusted friend on whatever journey you may chose
 
 
Sincere Regards,
 
Bill

shilhawk,
There has been a lot of good advice given here. My outlook on tools is we all strive to become good artesins. Our tools are an extention of our hands and our soul. Each of us take a personal journey everytime we put a tool to wood. The journey's a little different for each of us. Some of us have spent a lifetime trekking on familiar ground while other's have come to a fork in the road and boldly jumped in wanting something new to challenge and fill their hearts.
 
I learned early in life how to hone and use a good chisel. When I finally had to employ a few craftsmen in my cabinet shop, I chose people who talked with their hands, that brought tools to life by their very love of the craft. Good tools allowed them to extend their heart and soul into the things they created. They do make you better.
 
Everyone here, loves their craft. We're all on a similar journey, just different paths. Whether your name is Chuck, Dan, Mark, Doris, Nigel, Gary, or shilhawk, the desire's the same; to give our best to that which we love and to be a little better every time.
 
You will never regret buying a good tool. It will become a trusted friend on whatever journey you may chose
 
 
Sincere Regards,
 
Bill

shilhawk,
There has been a lot of good advice given here. My outlook on tools is we all strive to become good artesins. Our tools are an extention of our hands and our soul. Each of us take a personal journey everytime we put a tool to wood. The journey's a little different for each of us. Some of us have spent a lifetime trekking on familiar ground while other's have come to a fork in the road and boldly jumped in wanting something new to challenge and fill their hearts.
 
I learned early in life how to hone and use a good chisel. When I finally had to employ a few craftsmen in my cabinet shop, I chose people who talked with their hands, that brought tools to life by their very love of the craft. Good tools allowed them to extend their heart and soul into the things they created. They do make you better.
 
Everyone here, loves their craft. We're all on a similar journey, just different paths. Whether your name is Chuck, Dan, Mark, Doris, Nigel, Gary, or shilhawk, the desire's the same; to give our best to that which we love and to be a little better every time.
 
You will never regret buying a good tool. It will become a trusted friend on whatever journey you may chose
 
 
Sincere Regards,
 
Bill

Force9,
Wonderful postings, thank you! I am in the early stages of information gathering. You just saved me about 20 questions hoping for answers.
 
Sincere Regards,
 
Bill

Thanks for the likes and comments. 
 
 
Hi Bill,
The frames are <cough> a bit <cough> rough at this point.  I'm using 100 grit paper but will go to maybe a 120(?) or a tad finer for the final of all final fairings.  I tell myself I'm done and then go back and hit it again.. <sigh>   I want the glue to hold the planks on and using something 400 just doesn't leave enough tooth.   If I were doing an "admiralty style", there would be no rough edges or gouges allowed and I'd probably just now be getting the second or third frame into place.

Mark,
The great thing about wood is you can always rework it or replace it . I noticed that you have left your frame fairly rough to this point. To what extent will you finish it out or at all?
 
 
Sincere Regards,
 
Bill

OK, time to have some fun.
 
Mass production of the gun carraiges has begun.  Like the guns themselves, the carraige sides also grow on trees:
 

 
Chuck's carraiges embody quite a few parts.  Here are a few ready to go:
 

 
 
Before things get too far down the road (I don't like surprises), I decided to more or less complete one 12 pounder to check that everything was going to fall into place.  Besides, I have some extra cannon so gun #1 was done to serve as the prototype.  It will not be appearing on the model.  Here are a few angles:
 

 

 

 
I'm happy to report that she fits nicely into the gun ports from a height and elevation standpoint so now I'm free to proceed with the next 28 !!
 
Take solace in the fact that this mini-model will not go to waste.  It's been deployed as a security measure to guard my vast collection of proof silver coins (one, at last count):
 

 
The assembly line is now in full production mode.
 
Everyone stay well ---- and WARM!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Ain't it grand when you solve the unsolvable, Mark!
 
John

Battle of the Stern - Opening Salvos
 
Reread the plans at least 10 times and compared them to the salvaged stern section from V 1.0...  realized I can do a lot better and also figured out where the errors crept in.  Then reviewed Hahn's article from the NRJ on her.  The pictures were unclear and perhaps I missed something first time through.  So... scanned the article and adjusted the pics... yep.  whiffed it.  Scan of a a scan of a printed magazine with retouched photos...  <hangs head since he knows better>
 
So, I started with some deconstruction by removing the stern post.  That done, took some basswood and worked on the filler piece.  The pics seem to show one curve (which I used for V 1.0) and plans show a different curve.  Originally, I figured Hahn found something and did the filler differently then the drawing and I followed that.  Wrong!!!!  It was the pic. I followed the drawing this time.  Much happier.
 
Also, worked on the first transom frame.  A lot happier even though it took the second try to get it right.  
 
These are "rough faired" for now.  I'll go back and finish shaping when the second transom is installed.
 

I like the black/blue hue of the paint. The dull coat seems to give a sense of "heaviness" to the guns and especially the anchor without masking the details. I think the brass face is a nice detail that will slow the eye down looking across the length of the ship.
Very nice work Augie, love the attention to detail!
 
 
Bill

Indeed, I hope the force is with me, the spice continues to flow, and I don't have bother God.   We shall see....

Hi Mark also catching up yes I have to agree with Yoda regarding the "do"  "not do".  regardless how many times we work on a particular item or element of one we are doing.
Your model of Licorne is showing what a great job you are doing in transforming the raw materials of nature into a beautiful example of a ship that was built centuries before you began your work, which makes it even more challenging because you cannot nip down and take a look at the original to verify some detail.
 
One day in the future you will look back and reminisce about how you accomplished this or that part of the build as yo look at the completed work.
 
Michael 

Just a quick update.  The cannons have been painted .... and I included the anchors for good measure.
 

 
Wound up using 8 coats of my black/blue acrylic followed with a coat of Testor's Clear Flat acrylic.
 
Now, before anyone goes ballistic on the brass muzzle faces........
 
.....  About 1 1/2 years ago, I was very impressed with Mobbsie's treatment of the guns for his Agamemnon.  He leaves the entire muzzle section in natural brass as his trademark.  It was my thought that a scaled-back reveal of the brass on just the muzzle face might be attractive, if not true to actual practice.  As it turns out, I find this approach very appealing but the jury is still out until the guns are mounted in the gun ports.
 
Naturally, I requested Mobbsie's approval on this blatant pilfering of his idea.  He was kind enough to offer his tacit approval.  Yes, there was some discussion about renumeration for certain taxes on tea that apparently were overlooked a while back....but all has been resolved.
 
Work has already begun on assembly of the gun carraiges.  Hopefully, progress by Thanksgiving!!!

Hmm... There seem seems to be a bit of Norm or Tim "The Toolman" Taylor in all of us in this hobby.  Many of us are toolaholics, others, not so afflicted.
 
Yes.. I'm afflicted but in my defense, I use them.  Maybe not very well... but... I'm learning. That's my excuse and I'm sticking with it.

Echoing earlier comments, I have few regrets in life other than buying cheap tools, and then soon after buying better tools. They make all the difference in the world to your confidence and quality, and I could have saved a lot of money over the years buying once to last a lifetime, rather than thinking I could make do and then replacing....

shilhawk,
There has been a lot of good advice given here. My outlook on tools is we all strive to become good artesins. Our tools are an extention of our hands and our soul. Each of us take a personal journey everytime we put a tool to wood. The journey's a little different for each of us. Some of us have spent a lifetime trekking on familiar ground while other's have come to a fork in the road and boldly jumped in wanting something new to challenge and fill their hearts.
 
I learned early in life how to hone and use a good chisel. When I finally had to employ a few craftsmen in my cabinet shop, I chose people who talked with their hands, that brought tools to life by their very love of the craft. Good tools allowed them to extend their heart and soul into the things they created. They do make you better.
 
Everyone here, loves their craft. We're all on a similar journey, just different paths. Whether your name is Chuck, Dan, Mark, Doris, Nigel, Gary, or shilhawk, the desire's the same; to give our best to that which we love and to be a little better every time.
 
You will never regret buying a good tool. It will become a trusted friend on whatever journey you may chose
 
 
Sincere Regards,
 
Bill

What a gentleman my friend...
 
And as every well built ship heads to sea, isn't the only guarantee,  "we shall see..." 
 
You my friend are not only a gentleman, but you are a JEDI
 
 
Sincere Regards,
 
Bill

What a gentleman my friend...
 
And as every well built ship heads to sea, isn't the only guarantee,  "we shall see..." 
 
You my friend are not only a gentleman, but you are a JEDI
 
 
Sincere Regards,
 
Bill

What a gentleman my friend...
 
And as every well built ship heads to sea, isn't the only guarantee,  "we shall see..." 
 
You my friend are not only a gentleman, but you are a JEDI
 
 
Sincere Regards,
 
Bill