Karleop

At the start of this project I had a different plan for the presentation. Holes were never drilled into the keel from the start. Drilling them with the boat on your lap is not recommended. It worked fairly well though. 
 
Dry fitting reveals holes not drilled perfectly vertical. I opened up the diameter of the holes slightly so everything can be leveled during installation. I’m hoping I can use wood glue for these bonds so I have enough time to adjust the fit. I might cut the brass tubes from 2” to 1 1/2”. The boat is sitting a bit high for my taste. 
 
Is it a mistake to use wood glue for this installation? I really need the open time to make leveling adjustments. 
Steve

Hola Andy:
Nice to see you again. 
I finished my POB II 6 months ago and you can see the photos in the forum. Maybe they can be of some help.
 
Saludos, Karl

Helmsmen seating completed. This task was trickier than I thought, but that’s to be expected at this point.
Steve

Hola Michael:
You have really done a splendid job, especially considering that your finished boat has nothing to do with the original Corel Kit and much to do with the Vasa found in the museum. I remember your first post in February 2013 about Vasa, and although time has passed, it has been well worth it.

Ready for the next project?

 
Saludos, Karl

Hola Michael:
Very nice lantern you made and doesn't matter if it is real as it was (anyway nobody knows what it looks like, jaja).
One question, where did you find those sailors, they serve as a good way to show the big size of the ship.
 
Saludos, Karl
 

The topmast level is done, it remains only topgallant level and the standing rigging will be completed.

A small but irritating point: I made the same error on a model some years ago. The netting for stowing the sail is incomplete. The illustration we referred to only shows the first stage of creating the netting, the zig-zag part. A more experienced modeler pointed this out to me. The second stage is to tie alternating pairs of those longitudinal threads together (I used fine fly-tying line) to form diamond-shaped netting. It was fiddly and tedious work, best done on a jig off-model. But perhaps you didn't want to know this! However, you are doing such a lovely job on your rigging I thought I'd mention it.
 

Hola Michael:
You have really done a splendid job, especially considering that your finished boat has nothing to do with the original Corel Kit and much to do with the Vasa found in the museum. I remember your first post in February 2013 about Vasa, and although time has passed, it has been well worth it.

Ready for the next project?

 
Saludos, Karl

Hola Michael:
You have really done a splendid job, especially considering that your finished boat has nothing to do with the original Corel Kit and much to do with the Vasa found in the museum. I remember your first post in February 2013 about Vasa, and although time has passed, it has been well worth it.

Ready for the next project?

 
Saludos, Karl

Hola Michael:
You have really done a splendid job, especially considering that your finished boat has nothing to do with the original Corel Kit and much to do with the Vasa found in the museum. I remember your first post in February 2013 about Vasa, and although time has passed, it has been well worth it.

Ready for the next project?

 
Saludos, Karl

Hola Michael:
You have really done a splendid job, especially considering that your finished boat has nothing to do with the original Corel Kit and much to do with the Vasa found in the museum. I remember your first post in February 2013 about Vasa, and although time has passed, it has been well worth it.

Ready for the next project?

 
Saludos, Karl

It is my opinion that the flag halyard should be your thinnest possible rope and come down all the way to the deck.
 
Regards,

Hi Mates,
Well the flags came out as I had hoped. Using starch, as opposed to watered down glue has some advantages (for me in any case)
1) It dries flags into shape as soon as the starch dries within seconds (using a blow dryer-low heat low, speed – adjusting the distance)
Your fingers need to be part of the shaping as well when using the dryer – yup they can get a bit hot.
 
2) If the “shape” is unacceptable, you can always re-soak the area and reshape ( I had to do this for the large stern flag to get the final shape I wanted)
That said – Who knows it the shapes will hold over time?
 
Next post should be shots of the completed build along with its case.
 
Oh PS: that stern flag is incorrect but I sure like the looks of it - haha
 
Regards,
 

Hola Michael:
Very nice lantern you made and doesn't matter if it is real as it was (anyway nobody knows what it looks like, jaja).
One question, where did you find those sailors, they serve as a good way to show the big size of the ship.
 
Saludos, Karl
 

Hola Michael:
Thank´s for the compliments and it was nice to be helpful. In my case the lantern was provided with the kit, so probably you can ask for one (but seeing yours I don´t see the case).
Thank you for the information about the miniature sailors, probably I´ll include a pair of them.
 
Saludos, Karl

Martyn - nice touch
 
Working on the flags - My technique - might be of use to some---
 Use a wire to pre coil the ends. Add Elmer’s Glue, and now spool the end around the wire
 
 
 
Add  hobby masking tape, roll/twist the wire up and down then remove it before glue sets
 

 
After glue dries here is the tube shaped end
 

 
Now using CA Gel run a bit along the intended rope, double the length of the flag’s end let it harden
 

 
Run the stiff rope through, add a ring and then return the end back through the flag’s coil. BUT first add, Again CA Gel along both lengths of the rope. Pull through from the other side.
 

Next pics are self-explanatory.
 

 
 
 
WORK in progress. Now need to figure out a way not to have the whole thing fall apart when soaked in starch for the flags shaping’s.
BECAUSE when I initially experimented using only the Elmer’s Glue with a piece of extra flag material– the starch saturated coil just fell apart. It was as if starch removes any trace of glue – grrr  My reason for the above CA glue insurance.
 
I’ll post results of the next steps -- need to preserve the already done work _ (I have some ideas) Hmmmm
 
PS: I did make some mistakes by coiling the flag's ends on the wrong side. I had intended, when flags just hung, that the brighter colored face would be the face of the flag.
I know that I can still do that, but a couple of the coiled bits don’t look so good wanted to hide them when the flag hung around the mast.
 

 
Cheers,
 
 

Hola Michael:
Thank´s for the compliments and it was nice to be helpful. In my case the lantern was provided with the kit, so probably you can ask for one (but seeing yours I don´t see the case).
Thank you for the information about the miniature sailors, probably I´ll include a pair of them.
 
Saludos, Karl

Hola Michael:
Thank´s for the compliments and it was nice to be helpful. In my case the lantern was provided with the kit, so probably you can ask for one (but seeing yours I don´t see the case).
Thank you for the information about the miniature sailors, probably I´ll include a pair of them.
 
Saludos, Karl

Hola Michael:
Thank´s for the compliments and it was nice to be helpful. In my case the lantern was provided with the kit, so probably you can ask for one (but seeing yours I don´t see the case).
Thank you for the information about the miniature sailors, probably I´ll include a pair of them.
 
Saludos, Karl

Hola Michael:
Very nice lantern you made and doesn't matter if it is real as it was (anyway nobody knows what it looks like, jaja).
One question, where did you find those sailors, they serve as a good way to show the big size of the ship.
 
Saludos, Karl
 

Thanks again, yes your constructive criticism is much appreciated, as it has been from other members who where kind enough to take the time to post suggestion comments. Your historical knowledge is super impressive as I have also noted from reading other logs at which you add historical information. Kudos to you. 
 
Also, thanks for looking up, and sending jpg,s of excellent contemporary lantern examples. Yes indeed mine will wilt by comparison. Those are so detailed and much more first class examples, if you will.
But for, me I don’t have the skill set nor the energy to delve deeper, again into this project’s very complicated looking stern lanterns. It (this build) has gone on too long  - need to move on. I had wanted to copy Alexander's and had made a folder from his log sometime back.
 
But for-all-intent-and-purposes she is done, exclusive of a few shrouds here and there. I will have the case cover measured and made next week BUT…….
 
Still need to;
Add, shape, and rig the five flags (PS: incorrect Corel supplied flag examples no less)
Make two keel bracing structures
Fix two broken mast platforms
Re-install missing cannon doors
Touch-up paint hull and deck gilded figures.
 
Grrrr (need to move on)  haha
 
The stern lantern will have to be what it will be, especially per Fred Hocker’s remarks with Alexander regarding the still missing lantern.
 
……I do, again much appreciate your sage advice, and comments about how you consider my kit build to to be a good example of how a kit can be improved upon.  and conversely how this lantern may detract, a bit, the project.
 ========================
 A few more photos of the, well, lantern lol…I will foil the top with gold leaf, bottom – not sure yet.
PS2: I did order six figurines from Corel (the ones that are above the upper galeries, I may add those to the six sides of the lantern if they look "ok" after receiving them, This would add Vasa correct detail per what Corel supplied.
 
Regards,
 
 
 
 

Thanks mates for your much noted, and thoughtful input. Yes my choice for the lantern is plainly too plain . Duly noted - will finish this build without a lantern, case it, and move it to where it will reside. Though I might install the one I'm working on and then change it to a much more appropriate example.
 
Then, subsequently I will re-visit the lantern issue (after taking several breaths in between several weekend cocktails) – then work on an appropriate lantern. Easily added later.
 
Patrick: Yours is brilliant indeed, Thanks for the link to your build. That said I have not explored the art of carving. And carvings are certainly needed for a Vasa lantern. Also I had forgotten about the Batavia of which I have many photographs. Thanks for the reminder as well.
That leaves me with other ideas; one of which it to purchase a couple of Amati examples adapting one to the right-angled metal arm, and possibly adding some sculptured details. Here are the three I’m thinking of each 30mm - the oval one being 40mm.

 
In any case I will not, in the short-term, stress any more about the lantern. I now know, that it needs to be correct looking. My choice is not. Huback thanks for initially pointing this out to me 
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 PS: I will actually re-visit the Vasa in April - meeting my son in Stockholm. Looking forward to the trip - Had been to the museum only once in 1995, certainly much more to see since then. Will also take many photos of the long boat, may want to add it to the Vasa one of these days. Or not hahaha
 
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Denis: Again thanks so much for your very kind compliment. NO the copper leaf sheet is super thin AND has an adhesive backing. You only need to keep rubbing it with a cloth or cotton bud to remove ALL wrinkles – they just disappear. Its mostly used by car modelers to add chrome details to their cars. Bare-Metal has several diff product choices.
 
Cheers,
 
 
 

Hola Michael,
your rope coils are really nice and adding splendid details to your Vasa.
 
Saludos, Karl
 

Hola Michael,
your rope coils are really nice and adding splendid details to your Vasa.
 
Saludos, Karl
 

Hola Michael,
your rope coils are really nice and adding splendid details to your Vasa.
 
Saludos, Karl