Beef Wellington

Thanks, druxey, I might try that on the port side and see which one works for me. I like the idea of tracing against the edge of the tape to put pencil on the hull, although the string might give a fairer line.
Thanks, albert, I hope I can continue to make it interesting.
 
By way of interesting, I spent the day looking carefully again at the joints on the wales of the 1760 first Bellona model, shown in frame. It is unusual, to say the least.
 
As the sketch below shows, the top two strakes labelled with B are standard top-and-butt, each 33 feet long with 22 feet and 11 feet arms.
 
The lower two strakes, however, are all over the place. Starting at the right side (fore), there are a number of anchor stock pieces labeled A. These are 22 feet long, with equal arms. Aft of these are 2 top-and-butts, the same as the ones in the upper two strakes, labeled B.
 
And then there are two top-and-butts labeled (D) and (E) that are not the same size as any other pieces in the wales, nor are the arms a standard ⅓-⅔ proportion. Strangest of all, the aft end of (D) aligns with the butts of the B pieces above. This would not appear to be a good structural idea.
 
And finally, heading aft, the wales finish with more top-and-butt pieces labeled C, which are 22 feet long, the same as the anchor stock pieces labeled A at the fore end.
 
I have looked at the photos of the model very carefully, and I believe this accurately captures what the model builder actually created. Was it an experiment, or an accurate representation of what was really built in the actual ship? The model hull is framed differently on each side, showing some experimental ideas about framing around gunports. Perhaps this was a proposal for radically shifting butts on the wales. Wales are only shown on the port side of the model.
 
Whatever the reason, I am determined to recreate it on my own Bellona. So now I have to think about how many of these can be cut by a standard template, as shown by Longridge's Victory or Ed Tosti's Naiad.
 
 

Thanks, Mike, the beauty of that underwater form keeps me going.
 
I reflected on setting up the wales last night, and it bothered me that I could not see the fairness of the wale past the clamps on the batten.
I re-read appropriate portions Ed Tosti's Naiad book, and saw that he used painter's tape. I tried this, and it works much, much better. I can see both top and bottom. And sighting down the length really highlights the low or high spots. In this case, I saw a low spot at the fifth gunport from the bow, and could fair in another piece of tape to get the edge just right. Thanks, Ed, much better process. Now, thinking about how to cut the hooked scarph joints that are so distinctive in the first Bellona model of 1760.
 
Mark
 

Hi Ed,
 
Thank you, this is very helpful. I think you identified the reason for the curved or straight knee, and it appears to do with assuring that the knee and the spirketting are locked together. In the case of the Bellona, the top surface of the wing transom is aligned exactly with the top surface of the upper strake of the spirketting, and so these would lock in the same horiontal plane. In the case of the frigate, the spirketting is below the wing transom, and so would need the curved knee to connect together. This makes structural sense.
 
Just out of curiosity, which way would the hooked scarph be arranged? If I understand the structural role of the wales and spirketting, it is to help resist the hull's tendency towards "hogging", where the bow and stern tend to drop down due to greater buoyancy midships. So the wales and spirketting are put into tension, not compression along their lengths. This means that the hook in the scarph would be aligned as shown below. Would this make sense? (I am not sure I am going to cut the hook, but I am interested nonetheless).
 
I have seen no reference to a contract for the Bellona, including in Lavery's books which focus on the ship. I had assumed all these years I have been working on this that no contract exists. But I should look into this. Is anyone aware of a contract for the Bellona? I will try contacting the NMM.
 
Best wishes,
 
Mark

Update :
 
yesterday had a little fright, when viewing from bow to stern over the length axis I recognized there was a little warp in the hull, due to the unsymmetrical planking arrangement and the tension of the planks on the framework. Was a bit upset, but that was to be expected.   
Then, after seeking a solution to to compensate the warp, the model was clamped in a vice at the front keel portion, and a thicker plank tied to the upper stern deck, so giving a lever on port side where I could lay a lead weight on over night, in order to twist back the warp. This morning I was pleased to see that it worked fine (happy agin) , hoping it may stay this way    
 
Nils
 

 
 

 
 

Update :
 
about 3/4 of the planking is done, it went quite well so far, only 4 planks had to be tapered a little bit in the bow area, and no stealer planks fitted so far.
On port side the viewing openings can clearly be seen. I hope all stays well and will overstand careful sanding during fairing. The planking is glued on with PVA white Express glue As the plank edges were not put glue on, I added some very thin viscosic white glue (Uhu Holzfest) in to the thin gaps from the outside. It cures fast, is transparent and is quite hard. That glue is normaly used to repair-glue loose wood joints on furniture, chairs, etc., and I have good experience with that.
 
Nils
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

will be appr. 18 planks per side
 

 
 

Three more
HMS Campanula cuts through a convoy to investigate a 'contact'.
Replenishing at sea HMS Saumerez and Wave class RFA Tanker
Corvette  Campanula and  Wave Tanker

Simultaneously with the construction of the hull of the ship, I continue to manufacture parts. Details very much and all different. So far I have been able to withstand the style of "vintage". However, I did not expect a hundred difficulties in my way. Very complex model.

I think it fits vey nicely Christian, nice precise work - now you can truly go places!

I think it fits vey nicely Christian, nice precise work - now you can truly go places!

I think it fits vey nicely Christian, nice precise work - now you can truly go places!

Here's part 2/2

Hi, the work outside continues

Some from WW1 Scapa Flow at night
'Hell Bent' Battle fleet with Destroyers
HMS Warspite , steering jammed, veers out of line towards the High Seas Fleet at Jutland.

The lanterns are now installed my having delayed as long as possible - partly because of their fragility and partly avoidance - because it's a rotten job.  I first tried to mount them by simultaneously putting the three supports into the holes drilled into the stern fascia.  This was not a good idea.  Best glue the two prongs of the upper support in first, then carefully slip the lower support through the hole provided in the upper support and then manipulate it towards, then into the hole drilled for it in the fascia. Then, of course, the lanterns didn't want to sit properly...   I found the whole business rather fraught.  At least they came out respectably in the end.
 

 
 

 

 

 
To my pleasant surprise the Granado showed up today. A quick look suggests that is quite high quality.
 

 
 
 
 

Thanks for the kind notes Martin, Nigel and Jim - much appreciated.
 
There are still a few things to do on Vanguard. The anchors are a work-in-progress. I found what I understand to be the correct knot for the anchor cable and in most of the photos of anchors I have come across seem to have the anchor ring (?) served in a manner shown on the photo below. So I decided to give it a try with the following results.
 

 

I have since touched up the copper wire showing here - though the close-up exaggerates all  its faults.   I have now done the remaining two which have turned out a little more neatly than the first.

 

 
 
 
 

Really nice work on the rigging, the footropes came out great.  Nice technique!

Hi Pat, the issue doesn't impact the axles as they work just fine, it only impacts the width of the interior dimension between the carriage walls - the impact being the provided part for at the front of the carriage (no idea what its called) is then too small.  If you look at the 3rd photo you can see how it is too small.  No big issue to make my own when I get there.  I'm just glad I saw it, because if I had mixed up all of the carriage walls, I would probably have mixed the different thicknesses and I think it would not have been noticeable until all of them were glued up.  At least I can now ensure the sides match to minimize and discrepancies.

Thanks everyone for the very kind words and continued interest...not really much to report with only some ad-hoc shipyard activity, but a cautionary tale whilst its still fresh.  Started to make up the gun carriages, all 28 of them :-(  The axles took quite a bit of time to shape appropriately which I did with a file to rough shape and then turned in the lathe to fine tune.  Cautious going is the name of the game, and of course some turned out not at well as I'd hoped but these should be able to be "hidden at the back".
 
The issue I encountered was that I didn't think to check the thickness of the Syren sheets the parts come from and assumed these would all be consistent.  The prototype I had already built all seemed to go together nicely and to make life a little easier I built a simple jig to make alignment easier.  By chance, I then noticed that there are some reasonably significant differences in dimension.  If you look at the second picture where I stack those that look thicker against those that appear thinner the difference is apparent (both 11 in number).  What this means is that to build the carriages to the same dimensions will need some parts to be custom made from spare stock as the laser cut part is too small.  It appears by chance that the prototype was built using the 'thicker' variety.
 

 

Well this was over before I even found it, but really nice looking pickle dipped in ketchup Carl!

Hi Dafi, I don't remember you saying how you were ultimately going to be 'finishing' the overall model.  Are you going to leave some part of the decks open, or will the live action scenes be lost to photographic record?  Looking awesome, but that goes without saying :-)

Update - the footropes are finally done. I started by clamping a balsa board to my table & made two lines representing the length of the stirrups. The yard was then pinned down on the upper line. Then I bent a piece of 1mm brass wire into a u shape & pushed it into the board along the lower line. The stirrup ropes were tied around the yard & cut off long enough to wrap around the wire & with a small clamp holding a little tension on it,a seizing was made to make a small eye. Some diluted white glue  was applied to stiffen the ropes so they would hang straight. Lastly,the footropes were then ran through the eyes & tied off on the ends.
 

 

 

 
Mark

The rigging of the bowsprit is now pretty much complete - quite the mess of ropes! Most of the sail handling lines were installed with the lines running through the blocks with a toggle on the ends to keep them from pulling through the blocks
 

 

 

 

 
Mark 

All of the guns/gunport lids are now finished. This is how it all looks, including it seems, a crewperson.  Hope all the photos don't overdo it.
 
I have now ordered a Granado.  It will be interesting to see how the quality compares with Vanguard.
 

 

 

 
 

 
 

 
 

And here ends my IJN phase. I really don’t want to build another for quite a while as it just starts to repeat itself. 
 
Hope you enjoyed this one, I’m going forward to the Cold War next. 
 
Off to the digital graveyard. 

I posted this on an other web site some time ago 
A while back I posted a painting of a sailing ship and a verse of poetry, which some of you commented on.
The poem I found on a website of the Falkland Islands, where it was on the grave marker of one of the islanders. I don't know if he wrote it himself and I trawl the Internet every now and again, but have found absolute zilch!. 
I was so impressed with the first verse I decided to have a go my self. I'm certainly no poet, and I don't know about copyright, and the last thing I ever wanted to do is offend any one.
Any way here's what I came up with.

D'ye Mind the day
D'ye mind the day we squared away and ran her east by South.
When she trampled down the big Horn waves with a roaring bone in her mouth.
When the best of hands fought the bucking wheel , afraid to look behind.
At the howling grey beards in her wake.
D'ye mind old Pal, D'ye mind.
 
D'ye mind the day, now far away, we were south of Kerguleen.
With the rigging worn and the sails all torn, and the foc'le taking them green.
Where that tiredness ache behind your eyes, was like to make you blind.
But you soldiered on till the cold grey dawn
D'ye mind old pal, D'ye mind.
 
D'ye mind the day, down Caraccas way
Where the Frigate Birds glide and the palm trees sway.
Where the Dolphins ride the Bow wave bright.
And a billion stars light up the night.
Where the moonlit wake we towed behind 
Was made from memories of every kind.
D'ye mind old pal. D'ye mind.
 
D'ye mind the day in Liverpool Bay
With the Pilot by the wheel.
With the Crew all smiles  for the last few miles
But with ten thousand under her keel.
Then at four o'clock in the Albert Dock 
We left the ship behind. 
To sail no more to a foreign shore
D'ye mind old pal. D'ye mind.
Jim