Jump to content
MSW Spring Donation Drive

robdurant

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    793

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Everything posted by robdurant

  1. robdurant
    Time for another update... Hope you all had a very happy Christmas a new year * Final spars are lathed and ready to go... * Detailing put on the crossjack * Pendants are on (I'll seize them to the foremost shrouds when the ratlines are tied and I'm comfortable everything's nice and taught. and finally * I've started putting on the shrouds... You can see the little pile of jigs to keep the deadeyes in the right place while they're tied off. (32 in all, just for a little schooner... ) As always, all hints, tips and comments are appreciated and welcomed Happy building Rob
  2. robdurant
    Aah, yes. And I meant to say: Thanks Eamonn. Yes, it's moving along pretty well, now. I wasn't sure how the rigging would go, but so far, it's not too bad. A sharp pair of sewing scissors, tweezers and good lighting seem to make all the difference... (although I still seem to need to attempt everything at least five times before it works out the way I'm after. I also realised that one of the carronades was in the wrong place... it would have been in the way of the ship's boat... so I've moved that, too. Must remember, measure twice, cut once! Take care Rob
  3. robdurant
    Thanks Eamonn. Finished off the channels this evening, and put in the belaying pins... Also started putting blocks onto the masts. (Wow those close-ups really show up everything don't they :S ) Enough for now I've got the blocks still to put onto the schooner mast and yards. Happy building. Rob
  4. robdurant
    So... time for another update. Not a lot to update, really, but just about enough to make an update worthwhile. Yards complete, and driver boom ready for painting. I've put pins in the schooner (fore) mast to take the yards and keep them in position during rigging. I managed to make the 3mm rod shatter on the lathe, and there's only just enough in the kit to do the whole job, so I've ordered some more ready to do the remaining parts... Happy building Rob
  5. robdurant
    Hi Rick, Just catching up on your build log. Looks like you've got a challenge there with the keel ply, but I'm sure you'll get through it. Is the warp as pronounced at the bottom of the keel too? I had a minor bit of twist too, when I'd got the gunport patterns on, but it brought the top of the stern-most bulkhead top about 1mm lower on starboard than port, and I decided I could live with that... especially when the stern fascia was mounted level. Looking at the second picture you posted, it looks like the pattern's a few millimetres higher on the starboard side than the port, which might account for a little of the twist you're seeing? Hopefully with the gunport patterns off it will just pop back into line... and as Spyglass says, they'll be nicely curved ready to refit, which should give you an easier job this time round. All the best Rob
  6. robdurant
    Thanks for the encouragement Eamonn, I'm pleased with how it's turned out, too. Rick: I've got a little list of power tools I'd love to have, too... trouble is, it keeps on growing!! Rob
  7. robdurant
    So... I made up my mind. I really like the idea of the timbermate, but I wanted to avoid the walnut look, and I'd used walnut further up the main topmast than suggested in the instructions... so painting it was... I finished putting the rest of the detailing onto the main mast today, and also started work on the crossjack (main yard). I only bought some digital vernier calipers a couple of weeks ago, but I don't know what I'd do without them now. I also realised that leaving some full diameter wood at either end of the piece I was working on the lathe REALLY helped... Probably sounds totally obvious, but I was having all sorts of problems with it jumping out of true and splitting before, and now it's much better. (I haven't trimmed the ends off in this shot) More photos (and hopefully progress to show soon Happy building Rob
  8. robdurant
    Hi, It's looking pretty good! I say this as a complete newbie, but this is how I tried to work it out for my pickle, so if it's helpful, great! I found using a strip of the first planking wood, and putting it along the bulkheads to see how it lay was really helpful. It should be a smooth round curve, without forming flat sections or kinks in between... and it should lie flat up against the frame rather than just touching at the front / back... I ended up taking off more wood than I thought I'd need to and it still wasn't quite as much as I think I probably should have, in the end, but it worked out nice eventually. It might be worth considering filling the gaps with balsa, as that can help you to see the curve more easily? I only realised others had used this approach after I was planking, so it was a bit late. An example to look at is Blue Ensign's excellent Pickle build log on this forum - especially post number 3, where you can see the way he's used balsa to fill the gaps. Hope that helps. Rob
  9. robdurant
    Definitely. I've got a four year old and a six year old, and they constantly surprise me. Bit more painting last night... update coming soon. Rob
  10. robdurant
    Thanks Rick, Jim, I've never used something like that timbermate before... my previous models have all been fibreglass / styrene / etc... so a very different deal, but it does look like it could come in handy. Love this forum! I'm learning all the time. Good to have the warning about the dust, too... I build on the dining table, so I suspect that wouldn't go down too well. I'll have to get down to the local diy store and take a look around. Rob
  11. robdurant
    More progress... I thought it would be nice to try and get some reasonable photos of Pickle around about the half-way stage... so here they are... I've also started making up the masts... (although they're all dry-fitted without fids at the moment) Still not decided on the colour scheme for the masts... we'll see. Probably yellow ochre below the tops, black at the tops, and something above... (but what??) Happy building Rob
  12. robdurant
    Hi Rick, Mind if I pull up a chair...? Really looking forward to seeing another Pickle join the fleet!- such lovely boats to make. Just make sure you choose a day (or two) when you're feeling calm to make up the carronade slides Blue Ensign's build log on Pickle is so helpful, and well worth a good read, too. It helped me avoid messing my Pickle up a good few times. Rob
  13. robdurant
    Hi Rick, They really are fantastically designed and prepared models... really good fun (if a little fiddly in places - the carronades especially). The figures are Amati, and I got them from Cornwall Model Boats (in the UK), here: http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/acatalog/amati_crew.html It's so helpful having other people building the same kit... it really adds depth and insight to the (very good) plans and instructions provided by Jotika, and gives hints on how things can be improved as you go... It also helps to avoid the pit-falls that I suspect I'd be jumping into all too easily otherwise. I'm sure you'll get great pleasure from building this kit... It'd be great to see a build log as and when you start Rob
  14. robdurant
    A little update... I've completed the fore-bitts, and painted the pumps. I haven't put 'iron' bands on them yet, but I may do that before they go onto the deck. Otherwise, it's just navel pipes to put into the deck, and I'm onto the bowsprit and masts! (I also departed from the official colour scheme, because I preferred it this way (and it's my model ) You can barely see that big gash in the upright with the naked eye, but lighting and camera seem to be conspiring against me!! Oh well... back to the sandpaper! Happy building Rob
  15. robdurant
    Time for another update, now I've had the chance to make a little progress... First, the channels placed together (those brass photo-etch deadeye strops are fiddly little blighters, aren't they :S ) Then I turned my attention to the rudder... The area above the plating was painted first (before plating), and the plating put on... where the rudder post comes above the deck, I'm leaving it natural. I've also drilled and filed out the square hole for the tiller. I was dreading this, but taking it slowly, it went okay. Next the pintles and gudgeons were fitted, and the rudder put in place... Finally, last night I started the elm-tree pumps: Thinking it'd be worth putting a band round the top to add a little detail? What do people think? I've been using a small pillar drill for the holes... it'd be a real fiddle without it. It's really come into its own over the past few tasks. Happy building! Rob
  16. robdurant
    Utterly stunning... Those carvings are beautiful. Thank you for sharing them with us. Rob
  17. robdurant
    Hi Dave, The results speak for themselves... the planking's looking great! Looks like you're on the final stretch, and it's certainly been worth all effort Rob
  18. robdurant
    Thanks Jim, Wonderful kits aren't they Time for another update. * Breeching ropes are finished. * Skylights have the windows in place and grills stuck over them. I glazed the skylights with clear seal, which gives a really nice old effect. I much prefer it to using clear plastic... Sorry about the pictures... they don't really capture it. * Built the ladder to go inside the companionway (although it turns out you can barely see it at all through the partly open doors... - I know it's there! ) * Put the windlass together, and the pawl bitts. * Added the flue and trim in front of the grating. * Put more eyelets and cleats onto the deck. * I've also glued lots of these parts onto the deck now (except the windlass and pawl bitts). Need to read up on making square holes to complete the windlass, and put pins in the bottom to locate them firmly. Think that's pretty much it. Hawse holes and scuppers next
  19. robdurant
    Thanks for the encouragement, Eamonn, and well spotted... I'm glad someone's awake around here since I'm clearly not this evening! I've updated the post accordingly Rob
  20. robdurant
    Well, I've made a bit of progress since my last post ... Added the height adjustment screws through the carronade cascabels (is that even vaguely right?) Put breeching ropes on the port carronades (starboard still to do) Handles on the main hatch Started painting the figures Put together the second skylight and companionway (all but the top hatch) - I've left the doors open a little to just give a hint of what's inside. I can see these breaking right off again, but we'll see how they go :S Put the windows on the skylights, although I haven't yet glazed them (I plan to use Humbrol clearfix), or put on the protective grills. The photos show up just how much touching up is still to do, but I'm pretty happy with it so far... All comments very welcome Rob
  21. robdurant
    Hi, I've got some of the Amati 25mm white metal napoleonic royal navy figures, and I want to paint them to go on my Jotika HM Schooner Pickle, but I've never painted figures before. I've heard that the Vallejo acrylics are highly regarded. Does anyone have any tips on which colour shades I'd be best starting off with? I've trawled through a bit of Youtube looking for some basic advice on preparation, priming, etc... but any other advice people have would be gratefully received, too. Thanks in advance. Rob
  22. robdurant
    I don't mind in the slightest... stunning flower class - a real inspiration!!! Thanks for the post. And thanks for the likes for my last post Rob
  23. robdurant
    Hi Eamonn, Thanks for the kind words. I painted the carronades, along with all the eyelets, but I think I'd definitely look at blackening them on a future project. The black acrylic takes quite a few coats to get a good even finish, and I suspect it won't take much scratching before the brass underneath shows up... The avatar is of a model I built a good few years ago - the Revel HMCS Snowberry Flower class corvette in 1:72 scale, converted for radio control. It looks okay in standoff on the lake, but it's a little rough in places, close-up Here's a few pics of her on and off the water (taken in 2009)... Finally, a picture of her guts... Cheers Rob
  24. robdurant
    Well, I bit the bullet and got on with it... The deck's planked, the capping rails are on, and the carronades are finally built. They still need to be rigged, and I haven't put the vertical screws in the back yet, but otherwise, they're there. I've also put together the other deck grating, and decided to stick with the main hatch as per the kit for a contrast with the gratings (I notice others have replaced this with a fourth grating). Again, I haven't put the ring-bolts onto the main hatch yet. I've also put the name on the back, as per kit. Anyway. Here are some pictures of the progress so far.
  25. robdurant
    Thanks B.E. Yes, I agree. I'm really enjoying the whole experience of building Pickle. More pics of the deck planking coming soon Rob

About us

Modelshipworld - Advancing Ship Modeling through Research

SSL Secured

Your security is important for us so this Website is SSL-Secured

NRG Mailing Address

Nautical Research Guild
237 South Lincoln Street
Westmont IL, 60559-1917

Model Ship World ® and the MSW logo are Registered Trademarks, and belong to the Nautical Research Guild (United States Patent and Trademark Office: No. 6,929,264 & No. 6,929,274, registered Dec. 20, 2022)

Helpful Links

About the NRG

If you enjoy building ship models that are historically accurate as well as beautiful, then The Nautical Research Guild (NRG) is just right for you.

The Guild is a non-profit educational organization whose mission is to “Advance Ship Modeling Through Research”. We provide support to our members in their efforts to raise the quality of their model ships.

The Nautical Research Guild has published our world-renowned quarterly magazine, The Nautical Research Journal, since 1955. The pages of the Journal are full of articles by accomplished ship modelers who show you how they create those exquisite details on their models, and by maritime historians who show you the correct details to build. The Journal is available in both print and digital editions. Go to the NRG web site (www.thenrg.org) to download a complimentary digital copy of the Journal. The NRG also publishes plan sets, books and compilations of back issues of the Journal and the former Ships in Scale and Model Ship Builder magazines.

Our Emblem ®

Modelshipworld - Advancing Ship Modeling through Research

Nautical Research Guild ® and the NRG logo are Registered Trademarks, and belong to the Nautical Research Guild (United States Patent and Trademark Office: No. 6,999,236 & No. 6,999,237, registered March 14, 2023)

×
×
  • Create New...