Ganymede

Greetings Eamonn,

Glad to see another Ballahoo on the stocks. I started mine just after Christmas but have been struck down with a bit of a stomach bug and am taking some time to get over it, penalty of old age I expect.

One thing I did notice is that the #2 bulkhead on mine stopped a little short of the bearding line so I've had to beef it up a bit. Have you noticed any similar problem?

I must ask; in your photos are the B/heads glued in place or are they dry fitted?

I ask because I am planning on 1st planking before attaching the keel proper and have and bevelled the false keel for the rabbet. Now I wonder if I will be able to get an accurate fit later after 1st planking. What's your plan?

Patrick M.

Greetings and thanks Banyan and Mark for these most useful and interesting comments. I would imagine that each deck would have been treated in the same way, all with a kingplank or none?

I had not thought it would raise much interest.

Certainly a confusing subject. I'm going to have a little dig about myself.

Patrick.

Hi Jim,

Just checked my No 2 BH and it too is a bit short. I'll fix it tomorrow. No 3 BH is OK.

Will attempt to post pictures at the weekend.

I take it that you have both bulwarks wrapped round the cup at the same time in the pic?

Got my missing part yesterday, very quick service.

Patrick.

Hi Jim,

I'm just about to fit the third B/H. I've checked it with a contour gauge and it is symmetrical with a max width of 81.17mm.How does that compare with yours? I'm fitting the B/Hs., three a day, fit one wait 6 hours for the glue to set. Slow but I'm taking my time. 

Patrick.

PS. Can I borrow your cup please?

Greetings,

When and by whom was the King Plank introduced? I rarely see it mentioned when reading the build logs and wondered if it was a fairly recent method of planking the decks. I am building the Schooner Ballahoo and wonder if I should be considering fitting it.

Patrick M.

Greetings jcavin,

I'm not the most knowledgeable person but I am fairly certain this is the answer.

The two lines you mention are the ends of a single rope which were attached to the yard below the cap i.e. the cap on the main mast and the main yard, topmast and the topsail yard, etc., The rope was taken through the two forward holes and over the sheaves in the cap and down behind the mast to a sheave in a heavy block called, I think, a 'ramshead' situated at/near the base of the mast. The ramshead was large with a sheave (in the athwartship plane) for the yard halliard and below this were three or four smaller sheaves (in the fore and aft plane) These were linked to a similar 3 or 4 sheave block to give sufficient purchase to raise the yard. I hope this is clear. You might try searching for Ramshead Block here in the forum.

This was generally the practise on the continent (I think the correct term was a Dutch Cap) in England the yard halliard was taken through two blocks secured below the top.

Thanks every one for the replies,

 All very informative and useful knowledge.

Patrick.

Greetings Nigel,

Thanks for the reply. Given that the hull planks were caulked why then is there so little visual evidence in the many models we see here? It is no more difficult than the deck is it?

 Asking questions is my means of filling in time, and acquiring a little knowledge, until I get my, first, model kit. Hopefully in the next week or so. 

I'll probably be asking a lot in the near future.

Again thanks

Patrick.

Greetings,

Something that is bothering me.

I see a great deal of correspondence regarding caulking the decks, various methods and preferences but nothing is said about caulking the hull planking.

Now I know,(think) that the hull planking was caulked so why is it not mentioned in the build logs? Is it because the decks were sealed with pitch (and therefore visible), and not the hull? But if that is the case what treatment did the hull have in place of pitch for sealing?

Patrick M

Greetings Jim,

Lucky you. I'm still waiting for my kit to arrive. I thought I would be the first away with the build log on this new MSW 2.0 site. I will be watching your log with keen interest. I note the discrepancy in the wood type and the missing walnut sprue. Will check kit most carefully.

Good luck.

Patrick M

Greetings Chris,

thanks for the info.

I spoke with my retailer this afternoon and the news is that he doesn't think that my kit will be delivered until the New Year. Bit of a nuisance but there we are. Every one says patience is a virtue so I am learning some-thing already. On a more cheerful note my Dremel arrived this afternoon. I think it will be a useful addition to my toolkit, eventually. As to finishing the Ballahoo in an American livery well I'm not averse to that though I don't know what colours that would be. I'll have to ask a bit nearer the time. And where would I get all the pretty spangly Stars?(ha ha!) Thirteen wasn't it?

Off topic my next door neighbours moved to Galt a couple of years ago, they seem to like it.

Patrick M.

Stockholm tar, greetings,

I live in Canford Heath so not so far from your old stamping grounds. Moved here in 1996 after retiring.

The maritime museum had a facelift a few years ago looks quite modern now.

Looking forward to starting the build but there is a delay at the shop who are daily expecting an order to arrive.

Not wasting my time though, doing a lot of reading on various topics. Giving me much food for thought.

Greetings,

It's very reassuring to receive so much help and encouragement from you all.

It raises my confidence after I've trawled through the build logs and seen the exquisite workmanship displayed. I fear my efforts will fall a long way short but one can only do ones best.

Greetings gentlefolk,

Thank you all for the replies. I sense that from your comments that this is a safe bet for a beginner, and that is reassuring.

Well in for a penny etc.

I suppose my next task will be to see if I can manage to set up a build log. I'm not the brightest light in the chandelier when dealing with PCs. Mr Default, that's me.

I've started a log book of sorts with notes taken from the many build logs and forum entries covering techniques, tips, tools hazards and such. I shall be referring to them as I progress.

All being well I will be starting after the holiday providing my model shop can get the kit for me.

As the saying goes 'watch this space'

Patrick M

Greetings,

I'm a few days away from buying my first kit. I had opted for the 'Nelson's Navy Schooner Ballahoo.

It's cheap enough that making a complete mess of it will not be too disastrous and it's small, an important consideration.

However, I've looked everywhere I can think of in these forums and I can't find any reference to it at all. No letters or build logs.

That has got me wondering. Am I doing the right thing? Why has this kit received so little attention. Is it because it is new or the kit is flawed or lacking in some respect?

I can accept that I will, through lack of skill, make mistakes but I would not like to think my mistakes were due to some thing over which I had no control. Can I have some advice please before I spend the Christmas pension money?

Patrick Malone.