Beef Wellington

Now that it's dried, it's time to turn the smoothed plaster surface into water, as follows:

Water-thinned white glue, a stiff brush and a roll of SINGLE-PLY toilet paper.
 
The following close-up photos are pretty self-explanatory, assorted views of what happens when you "work" the toilet tissue to the plaster surface to create small rivulets, washes and wind "wrinkles." Some of the textures will become wave peaks. There are lots of "happy accidents" in this phase of water making. If a straight line appears, get rid of it by manipulating the stiff brush. An ugly wad appears, pick it off, start over with another piece of torn paper, work the paper so that it makes random textures. Tear-off various sizes of paper too, no straight edges!

NOTE BENE: these intense close-ups make the water surface resemble the the surface of the moon or Mars. From a normal viewing distance these details will transform into an ocean that's being troubled by an intense wind.

A piece of toilet paper that hasn't been "worked" into a water shape.

 

NG! These straight edges need to be reworked while the paper and glue is still wet...

Love how this appeared! TP edges in the previous pic mostly disappeared; paint color and acrylic wave build-up details will mask the tiny irregularities. This lumpy splooge will be a "back wash wavelet" atop the Bigger Wave that Camilla's bow is smashing against.

This is a tedious step (like some aspects of rigging!), but well worth the effort.
The entire surface of the diorama gets this toilet paper treatment, even the smoother sections. 

Almost done (with this step). In time terms, we've moved past a halfway mark for the diorama's water creation. The "arty stuff" is coming-up soon: a handful of acrylic paints and various mediums.

My "Easter Egg." For posterity, of course. My father also left his initials on the inside of his "Fly" head (see my previous post response to OldSalt1950).
 
Taking a "break" now on the diorama. Touch-ups and then choosing the colors for painting comes next.
And, I'm returning to loose ends on the model: a lengthy Mainmast pennant to make (another trip to Staples), dozens of rope coils to hang, loose rigging lines to nail down, tying down a launch and the spare topmast on the midship skids, even clean freshly- laundered britches for Cpt Wigglesworth.
 
 
 

Quick update after a bit of a tidy-up prior to a final push on the rigging.  The running rigging is complete on the mizzen and on the upper yards of the main and fore mast, apart from most of the braces.  So braces, and lower yard tack, sheets and clew lines to go.  The pics don't really show much detail and the 0.25 mm natural cord needs  careful lighting.
 
I have learnt an enormous amount in the last couple of weeks mainly by reading (or rather staring at) Petersson's Rigging Period Ship Models.  In fact I've got the names of so many lines in my head I'm going to write them down on a belaying diagram before I move on. The names matter because they tell the function and the location, and slowly those two things make sense of the vast spider's web that is a square-rigged ship's rigging.  Naturally the kit instructions - and drawings - are silent on the topic.
 
The yellow masking tape visible is mainly a warning to me not to whack the ends of the spars with my hands (I've unshipped the peak halliard on the mizzen three times - fortunately it always fails where a block is attached to the cap, and is easy to get at.

Quick update - even though I've been gathering the info above for some time, immediately after making this post I stumbled across another plan that I had not seen before.  (Available at Ship plan of HMS 'Diana' (1794): expansion of outboard works (rmg.co.uk) ).  Thankfully this supports the thinking outlined above, but makes me happily retract the statement that there are no plans of the Artois class reflecting the 1793 Admiralty order for 4 quarterdeck carronades.  Unfortunately I can't find a high resolution version to be able to read the text, but this planking expansion clearly shows the 2 carronade port alignment.  Fortunately, the approach I've taken described above has been validated and I can continue with a clean(er) conscience.
 
Of interest to other Artois builders, this adds yet another option for the bulwarks showing a fully built up bow, and squared profile of the quaterdeck not commonly seen.
Ship plan of HMS 'Diana' (1794): expansion of outboard works (NMM J5533)

Quick update - even though I've been gathering the info above for some time, immediately after making this post I stumbled across another plan that I had not seen before.  (Available at Ship plan of HMS 'Diana' (1794): expansion of outboard works (rmg.co.uk) ).  Thankfully this supports the thinking outlined above, but makes me happily retract the statement that there are no plans of the Artois class reflecting the 1793 Admiralty order for 4 quarterdeck carronades.  Unfortunately I can't find a high resolution version to be able to read the text, but this planking expansion clearly shows the 2 carronade port alignment.  Fortunately, the approach I've taken described above has been validated and I can continue with a clean(er) conscience.
 
Of interest to other Artois builders, this adds yet another option for the bulwarks showing a fully built up bow, and squared profile of the quaterdeck not commonly seen.
Ship plan of HMS 'Diana' (1794): expansion of outboard works (NMM J5533)

Quick update - even though I've been gathering the info above for some time, immediately after making this post I stumbled across another plan that I had not seen before.  (Available at Ship plan of HMS 'Diana' (1794): expansion of outboard works (rmg.co.uk) ).  Thankfully this supports the thinking outlined above, but makes me happily retract the statement that there are no plans of the Artois class reflecting the 1793 Admiralty order for 4 quarterdeck carronades.  Unfortunately I can't find a high resolution version to be able to read the text, but this planking expansion clearly shows the 2 carronade port alignment.  Fortunately, the approach I've taken described above has been validated and I can continue with a clean(er) conscience.
 
Of interest to other Artois builders, this adds yet another option for the bulwarks showing a fully built up bow, and squared profile of the quaterdeck not commonly seen.
Ship plan of HMS 'Diana' (1794): expansion of outboard works (NMM J5533)

Thoughts and conjectures on 'Jason's' (and Artois class frigate) armament and bulwark configuration:
 
Currently knee deep trying to think through a number of problems making sharing photos at this stage a little premature.  I have however reached a stage where certain decisions are required, specifically the armament bulwark gunport/carronade configuration.  I very much enjoy seeing other builders' thoughts and decisions on how to build their Artois class frigate, Diana or otherwise, and at the risk of putting people to sleep I'm summarizing my thoughts below.  As has been commented many times, much is unknown leaving a lot to builders' discretion, but I think the available evidence suggests that these options can be.  Without either the builders or ships logs to shed more light, much will remain conjecture.   My goal was to arrive at the most likely (IMHO) scenario for 'Jason' when she was launched, but also not let this get in the way of the model I want to build.  (Recognizing of course that certain anachronisms will persist, for example copper plates, armament etc. would not be present at launch).  My intent is not to spark debate, but to get my thoughts on paper. 🙂
 
Chronological timeline of evidence and events:
 
Date unknown:  Various NMM models with no armament, pierced for canons with open quarterdeck bulwarks and multiple design differences discussed fully in AOTS.  
 
1793 (NMM Plan Ref ZAZ2383) – open bulwarks with quarterdeck, with more additional exposed quarterdeck timberheads, ports for cannons only (no carronades)
 
March 1793 (NMM Plan Ref ZAZ2341) - Open bulwarks, originally reflects, but reflects updates (likely1797?) showing 6 quarterdeck, 2 forecastle carronade ports
 
March/April 1793 (NMM Wikimedia Commons J5552) – Open bulwarks, reflects 6 quarterdeck, 2 forecastle carronade ports
 
1st April 1793 (NMM Wikimedia Commons J7737) - Closed bulwarks, ports for cannons only (no carronades)
 
4th April 1793 (NMM Plan ZAZ2344, NMM Wikimedia Commons J7733) – Framing plan, open bulwarks, ports for cannons only (no carronades)
 
12 June 1793 (NMM Wikimedia Commons J5549) – Closed bulwarks, ports for cannons, (reflects change for 6 quarterdeck, 2 forecastle carronade ports, as well as subsequent adjustments to gunport position – date unknown).  Interestingly also shows the mainmast brace bits moved forward adjacent to the barricade which is not reflected in any other sources.
 
November 1793: Admiralty promulgated Order defines armament:  Quarterdeck: 8 x 9lb’er, 4 x 24lb Carronade per Admiralty Order, fo’c’sle: 2 x 9lb’er (Likely long nine chase guns), 2 x 24lb Carronade
 
April 1794: JASON LAUNCHED
 
November 1794: Admiralty promulgated order to replace 24lb Carronades and carry additional 32lb Carronades at expense of some carriage guns.  Quarterdeck: 6 x 9lb’er, 6 x 32lb Carronade, fo’c’sle: 2 x 9lb’er (Probably long nine chase guns), 2 x 32lb Carronade
 
1797 (NMM Plan Ref ZAZ2341)
Closed quarterdeck bulwarks shown on plan per current practice (Details of design or build channel and open bulwark arrangement shown).  This plan also indicates the more austere square finish to the quarterdeck bulwark in addition to the more ornate version used in the illustration on the jacket and used as basis for the kit configuration.  Interestingly, plan indicates that the Foremast of Jason and Diamond were moved forward 6 ¼ inches. Quarterdeck piercings for 12 carriage guns shown as designed/built together subsequent adjustments for piercings for 6 x carriage guns and 6 x Carronades Aug 1798: JASON WRECKED
 
December 1799: All upper deck armament to comprise 32lb Carronades per Admiralty Order, with exception of 2 chase guns)
Quarterdeck: 12 x 32lb carronade, fo’c’sle: 2 x 9lb’er (Probably long nine chase guns), 2 x 32b Carronade  
Decisions and rationale for how to represent ‘Jason’ “as launched”:
Bulwarks:  Sufficient historical ambiguity to allow the model maker (me) to feel comfortable that both open or built-up bulwarks are historically viable.  This short period of a few years when these ships were built was a time when the preference for 'built up' and 'open' bulwarks switched back and forth.  The earlier older design variance of open bulwark with exposed timberheads, while intriguing to model, seems unlikely by 1794. Armament: The admiralty order of November 1793 will be reflected as I believe there would be sufficient time to between issuance and launch for this to be reflected.  As such, Jason will be equipped with Quarterdeck: 8 x 9lb’er, 4 x 24lb Carronade and fo’c’sle: 2 x 9lb’er and 2 x 24lb Carronade.  Gunports:  ‘Jason’s’ gunports will be pierced to reflect the armament described above.  There are however no (existing) plans that show this configuration (i.e. only 2 quarterdeck carronades per side).  In my view, this does not seem problematic:  CORRECTED - there is!  See post #691 below There was only a 12 month period between the Nov 1793 Admiralty orders to carry 4x24lb quarterdeck carronades, and the Nov 1794 order to carry 6x32lb quarterdeck carronades.  Only plans drawn up in this period would reflect this configuration, and given that plans for each member of the class were drawn up pretty extensively in 1793, there doesn’t seem to have been much need to redo. The available plans reflect different things, but it's not definitively known exactly what.  Various plans showing the original cannon only configuration show subsequent modifications for the 6 carronade ports, but none show only 4.  It seems reasonable that any updates to reflect the 1793 (4) carronade configuration, would likely have been updated again to reflect the 6 carronade configuration after 1794, or just updated to once after 1794.  My conclusion therefore is that the absence of a plan showing this configuration does not preclude it.  The ports least encumbered by stays were selected, and which are consistent with subsequent carronade layout. Hopefully back to some photo's next update...

Hancing pieces and volutes....
 
I'm a little embarrassed that it has been so long that I've been away, somewhat from the shipyard but also this wonderful site.  With the weather starting to turn and a bit more available time it seemed a good time to get back into things and try to pick up from a point that I left a little disheartened so many months ago.  To be able to move forward, I had to come up with a solution for the hancing pieces which should then really allow much of the final hull form to be finalised.  The problem I faced stemmed from the fact that I had to come up with a hancing piece volute 6mm high (per NMM plans) to transition the upper rails into the waist, and following a profile already established for the other rails.  Although these are not large details, they are features that to my eye need to be sufficiently elegant and accurate to avoid detracting from the lines of the hull.  I tried many different approaches, but here is the one that worked best for me and provided a method of construction that allowed consistent results.  I'll apologize in advance for quality of the photographs, I was so focused on the work and forgot to check the photo quality as I progressed.
 
2.2 mm holes were drilled using a pin vise into some 2mm pear wood (actually 1.5mm + 0.5mm pear laminated together cross grain because I didn't have any 2mm sheet stock), this matches the starting thickness used for the upper rails which started as 2x2mm square strip.  (A 2.2mm hole was found through visual trial and error to introduce the gradual narrowing of the rail into the end of the volute).  A 1.5mm diameter recess was then carefully made at the edge using a round needle file at 45deg to the bottom of the hole.  Each 'blank' was then cut from the sheet, given a slight reduced profile using an exacto blade, and a thin cut made above the filed lobe (explanation below). 

Small sections of 1.5mm diameter pear dowel were then glued into the 1.5mm recess, so they very slightly protruded above the top of the block.  Sufficient PVA glue was used to ensure that these were well bonded.  Once dry, a the top of the blanks were gently cut back and carefully finished against a circular sander so that the top edge of the blank was tangential to the top of the 2.2mm drilled hole (the cut previously made above the recess allows this section to release easily as it will no longer be needed.

A length of 2x2mm pear wood strip was scraped with the same molding profile as used previously in the build, but care taken to leave an untouched section toward the end.  The volute blanks were then attached to the unfinished end of the scraped molding.  PVA glue was used generously, and left to dry overnight to ensure a full strength bond.  Once dry, the excess was then carefully cut away to give proportions pleasing to the eye (mine at least) and ensure that the final volute form would be 6mm high.  The rough cut was then very carefully reduced to its final shape using various grades of sanding sticks.

 
Once the final shape was achieved, a profile needed to be introduced to match, and transition as smoothly as possible from the molding strip into the curve of the volute.  To do this I needed to create a second scraper profile at the very edge of a razor blade to work on the volute curve effectively (the scraper profile used previously for strip had been centered to give best control on straight strip).  This was performed very slowly as catastrophic failure would be very easy!  While it is true that it took multiple experiments to get this method down, it did work well and the four needed volutes were all first time efforts with no rework, and despite the many imperfections highlighted by the macro lens, the results to the naked eye exceeded my expectations.

In position, the volutes will now allow final shaping of the hull profile.  Onto the next challenges!

Thoughts and conjectures on 'Jason's' (and Artois class frigate) armament and bulwark configuration:
 
Currently knee deep trying to think through a number of problems making sharing photos at this stage a little premature.  I have however reached a stage where certain decisions are required, specifically the armament bulwark gunport/carronade configuration.  I very much enjoy seeing other builders' thoughts and decisions on how to build their Artois class frigate, Diana or otherwise, and at the risk of putting people to sleep I'm summarizing my thoughts below.  As has been commented many times, much is unknown leaving a lot to builders' discretion, but I think the available evidence suggests that these options can be.  Without either the builders or ships logs to shed more light, much will remain conjecture.   My goal was to arrive at the most likely (IMHO) scenario for 'Jason' when she was launched, but also not let this get in the way of the model I want to build.  (Recognizing of course that certain anachronisms will persist, for example copper plates, armament etc. would not be present at launch).  My intent is not to spark debate, but to get my thoughts on paper. 🙂
 
Chronological timeline of evidence and events:
 
Date unknown:  Various NMM models with no armament, pierced for canons with open quarterdeck bulwarks and multiple design differences discussed fully in AOTS.  
 
1793 (NMM Plan Ref ZAZ2383) – open bulwarks with quarterdeck, with more additional exposed quarterdeck timberheads, ports for cannons only (no carronades)
 
March 1793 (NMM Plan Ref ZAZ2341) - Open bulwarks, originally reflects, but reflects updates (likely1797?) showing 6 quarterdeck, 2 forecastle carronade ports
 
March/April 1793 (NMM Wikimedia Commons J5552) – Open bulwarks, reflects 6 quarterdeck, 2 forecastle carronade ports
 
1st April 1793 (NMM Wikimedia Commons J7737) - Closed bulwarks, ports for cannons only (no carronades)
 
4th April 1793 (NMM Plan ZAZ2344, NMM Wikimedia Commons J7733) – Framing plan, open bulwarks, ports for cannons only (no carronades)
 
12 June 1793 (NMM Wikimedia Commons J5549) – Closed bulwarks, ports for cannons, (reflects change for 6 quarterdeck, 2 forecastle carronade ports, as well as subsequent adjustments to gunport position – date unknown).  Interestingly also shows the mainmast brace bits moved forward adjacent to the barricade which is not reflected in any other sources.
 
November 1793: Admiralty promulgated Order defines armament:  Quarterdeck: 8 x 9lb’er, 4 x 24lb Carronade per Admiralty Order, fo’c’sle: 2 x 9lb’er (Likely long nine chase guns), 2 x 24lb Carronade
 
April 1794: JASON LAUNCHED
 
November 1794: Admiralty promulgated order to replace 24lb Carronades and carry additional 32lb Carronades at expense of some carriage guns.  Quarterdeck: 6 x 9lb’er, 6 x 32lb Carronade, fo’c’sle: 2 x 9lb’er (Probably long nine chase guns), 2 x 32lb Carronade
 
1797 (NMM Plan Ref ZAZ2341)
Closed quarterdeck bulwarks shown on plan per current practice (Details of design or build channel and open bulwark arrangement shown).  This plan also indicates the more austere square finish to the quarterdeck bulwark in addition to the more ornate version used in the illustration on the jacket and used as basis for the kit configuration.  Interestingly, plan indicates that the Foremast of Jason and Diamond were moved forward 6 ¼ inches. Quarterdeck piercings for 12 carriage guns shown as designed/built together subsequent adjustments for piercings for 6 x carriage guns and 6 x Carronades Aug 1798: JASON WRECKED
 
December 1799: All upper deck armament to comprise 32lb Carronades per Admiralty Order, with exception of 2 chase guns)
Quarterdeck: 12 x 32lb carronade, fo’c’sle: 2 x 9lb’er (Probably long nine chase guns), 2 x 32b Carronade  
Decisions and rationale for how to represent ‘Jason’ “as launched”:
Bulwarks:  Sufficient historical ambiguity to allow the model maker (me) to feel comfortable that both open or built-up bulwarks are historically viable.  This short period of a few years when these ships were built was a time when the preference for 'built up' and 'open' bulwarks switched back and forth.  The earlier older design variance of open bulwark with exposed timberheads, while intriguing to model, seems unlikely by 1794. Armament: The admiralty order of November 1793 will be reflected as I believe there would be sufficient time to between issuance and launch for this to be reflected.  As such, Jason will be equipped with Quarterdeck: 8 x 9lb’er, 4 x 24lb Carronade and fo’c’sle: 2 x 9lb’er and 2 x 24lb Carronade.  Gunports:  ‘Jason’s’ gunports will be pierced to reflect the armament described above.  There are however no (existing) plans that show this configuration (i.e. only 2 quarterdeck carronades per side).  In my view, this does not seem problematic:  CORRECTED - there is!  See post #691 below There was only a 12 month period between the Nov 1793 Admiralty orders to carry 4x24lb quarterdeck carronades, and the Nov 1794 order to carry 6x32lb quarterdeck carronades.  Only plans drawn up in this period would reflect this configuration, and given that plans for each member of the class were drawn up pretty extensively in 1793, there doesn’t seem to have been much need to redo. The available plans reflect different things, but it's not definitively known exactly what.  Various plans showing the original cannon only configuration show subsequent modifications for the 6 carronade ports, but none show only 4.  It seems reasonable that any updates to reflect the 1793 (4) carronade configuration, would likely have been updated again to reflect the 6 carronade configuration after 1794, or just updated to once after 1794.  My conclusion therefore is that the absence of a plan showing this configuration does not preclude it.  The ports least encumbered by stays were selected, and which are consistent with subsequent carronade layout. Hopefully back to some photo's next update...

Quick update - even though I've been gathering the info above for some time, immediately after making this post I stumbled across another plan that I had not seen before.  (Available at Ship plan of HMS 'Diana' (1794): expansion of outboard works (rmg.co.uk) ).  Thankfully this supports the thinking outlined above, but makes me happily retract the statement that there are no plans of the Artois class reflecting the 1793 Admiralty order for 4 quarterdeck carronades.  Unfortunately I can't find a high resolution version to be able to read the text, but this planking expansion clearly shows the 2 carronade port alignment.  Fortunately, the approach I've taken described above has been validated and I can continue with a clean(er) conscience.
 
Of interest to other Artois builders, this adds yet another option for the bulwarks showing a fully built up bow, and squared profile of the quaterdeck not commonly seen.
Ship plan of HMS 'Diana' (1794): expansion of outboard works (NMM J5533)

Two more photos of HMS Camilla in her sea environment.

What's missing from Camilla's deck? That's correct: the ship's launch. The skids and little boat will be securely mounted post sea creation, since finger access is still required to set the final yard and sail rigging. The launch and her crew board last.

Tropical Storm Nicole has moved on from the mid-Atlantic and the sun is re-emerging. It's becoming a nice day...warming up.
Time for a dry dock. Warm is good, lower humidity is good too. Time to tackle the next step.

A mighty hole where a mighty frigate once sailed. Camilla's keel rests right on the foam board surface. Solid. Once the acrylics I use for making her wake are applied to the hull and onto the plastered cloth, the model will be safely secured into her opening.

It's time to give the diorama waves a thin plaster coat. Although I'll leave it o'night and possibly into next week for the next steps, the warm day will help the coating dry evenly.
 
The "cracks" between all the wave pieces get filled first. A kitchen spatula works great for smoothing and spreading the plaster, almost like putting the frosting on mom's cake - if you were lucky enough to have a mom that would let you do more than lick the spoon.
 
The entire surface gets covered in plaster, right up to the edges around the hull opening and up to the blue masking tape along the perimeter of the case. I try to make the coating consistent in thickness but there are spots that will be a little thicker. After smearing-on gobs of plaster, I will use my fingers to smooth out areas that need finessing; I just can't hold my old iPhone with goopy fingers so I didn't take a photo of this technique, but it's important to make all the subtle, undulating surfaces of the ShaperSheet waves reasonably smooth looking.
 
The plaster mix is also from Woodland Scenics. I purchased it at the same time as the ShaperSheet. Almost any good quality hobby brand will work. The consistency of the mixture (just water and the dry powder) is like a thin pancake batter - more watery than not; it gets thicker when spread on the cotton cloth of the ShaperSheet surfaces. The cloth surface holds the plaster well. When the surface has completely dried, it will be solid, hard as a...rock?
 
 

A fascinating process Ron, I will follow with great interest.
 
B.E.

Well photographed and well described!

Very interesting watching "water" come to life. Your thorough descriptions will definitely help the next guy do it and no doubt encourage more to try.  Well done!

Ron
your detailed description of the process is making me want to do a diorama for my next build. Excellent work and thank you for taking the time to photograph and describe the process. Your build log brings build logs to a new level. 
Thank you
Tom

The Water Puzzle continues.

Rolling along Camilla's port side, another tapered foam wedge supports three raised wave sections. All the ShaperSheet pieces are cut with heavy-duty scissors; an X-acto knife won't cut the stuff.

A few wave sections remain. Working around my completed model while it's in the diorama's cutout isn't too difficult but I needed to be careful while handling the larger sections of the ShaperSheet material.

All of the wave sections have been cut and formed and are securely glued-in around the case's perimeter as well as all along Camilla's full hull. She can be easily lifted out of the setting and is not yet secured to her sea.

A detail of the tricky stern wave sections shown here. Smaller ShaperSheet pieces were cut and had to align precisely so subsequent "wake" making steps would be easier to execute. The locating marks help when executing the final glue process. All the black Sharpie marks will disappear in the next stage.

Time for a water making break: neat. No water, no rocks. Best enjoyed with a good friend or partner, but still acceptable as a solo toast to an involved, multistep process that's gotten to about the halfway mark for the water surface of the complete diorama.

A view from the port stern. Note the gap along her hull. This was subsequently filled with another wave piece.

The completed port bow wave action.

and ...the completed bow waves.
The blue masking tape has been affixed to the full perimeter of the wood case to protect its edges during the next step of cladding/surfacing the synthesized waves.

Hi Beez, think your toned down stern is much more in keeping.  You're making great progress.

Quick update - even though I've been gathering the info above for some time, immediately after making this post I stumbled across another plan that I had not seen before.  (Available at Ship plan of HMS 'Diana' (1794): expansion of outboard works (rmg.co.uk) ).  Thankfully this supports the thinking outlined above, but makes me happily retract the statement that there are no plans of the Artois class reflecting the 1793 Admiralty order for 4 quarterdeck carronades.  Unfortunately I can't find a high resolution version to be able to read the text, but this planking expansion clearly shows the 2 carronade port alignment.  Fortunately, the approach I've taken described above has been validated and I can continue with a clean(er) conscience.
 
Of interest to other Artois builders, this adds yet another option for the bulwarks showing a fully built up bow, and squared profile of the quaterdeck not commonly seen.
Ship plan of HMS 'Diana' (1794): expansion of outboard works (NMM J5533)

Great result on the binnacle, and love those close in deck shots which really show the scale and detail authenticity.  BTW, love your statement "Everything I attempt is taking a lot longer than envisaged."...can certainly relate!

Great result on the binnacle, and love those close in deck shots which really show the scale and detail authenticity.  BTW, love your statement "Everything I attempt is taking a lot longer than envisaged."...can certainly relate!

Very much enjoyed catching up on your progress David.  If only progress could be as speedy as reading a build log.  Great to see some of the techniques you're using, and I totally agree the carronades need some serious TLC, yours came out very nice. 

Great result on the binnacle, and love those close in deck shots which really show the scale and detail authenticity.  BTW, love your statement "Everything I attempt is taking a lot longer than envisaged."...can certainly relate!

The work on the quarterdeck continues. I have come to realise that there are no easy wins when it comes to the quarterdeck. Everything I attempt is taking a lot longer than envisaged.

I decided that I should have a binnacle. There is not one included in the kit but I noticed that most of the other builders include this item and I think it will be a good addition to the quarterdeck. The Vanguard mini kit seems to be the default position but I do not have the patience to wait for the postal service. It is a fairly simple box so I should be able to knock one of those out in an afternoon (this did not happen).
 
I started out with a rough drawing to get the overall dimensions. I based the design on the Victory binnacle but made it slightly larger to give me a fighting chance. I formed the basic carcass out of two pieces of 5mm thick walnut that I glued together. I milled out a 0.38mm deep reveal to accept the glazing. I then added 1x1mm styrene frames and painted the inside of the cabinet white.
 

 


I decided that I would have to include a ship's compass and lantern as there is a possibility that these would be visible through the glazing if I managed to keep the acetate clear of glue, which would be a first. For the compass I ran some 4mm diameter brass rod through the lathe and cut some notional detail to try and make it compass like. I added a splash of white paint to the top to imitate the face. I made several of these gradually reducing their height. I should have gone down another 0.6mm but I was fed up at this stage.
 

The lamp was a lot fiddlier. I milled a slot on four sides of a 4mm diameter brass tube with the remaining material forming the lamp structure. I could have done this a lot more accurately if I could have roused myself to set up the dividing attachment but I was too lazy and just tried to eyeball it once again proving how wonky my eyes are. I was not too fussed as it will be barely discernible on the final model. This is also the reason I couldn't be bothered tidying up the edges. For the lamp glass I somewhat wastefully lathed a 10mm diameter acrylic rod down to a 3mm diameter and then inserted it into the cage. The capping piece was just freehand lathe work on the 4mm diameter brass rod.
 

 


 

 

 

 
Once my ropey looking equipment was installed in the case it was time to start adding some detail to make it look more cabinet like. I used 1.0 x 0.38mm styrene strips to form the mouldings and mullion caps. I added some panels to the 3 divisions of the lower casework and some dummy drawers on the backside using thin styrene with pin nail heads for handles. Just two drawers as a centre drawer would clash with the vent pipe. The glazing was acetate with the centre panel behind the lamp facing the wheel blanked out. I read somewhere, I think in Lavery, that this was the preferred detail to avoid dazzling the helmsman and prevent him steering the ship onto the rocks.
 


The top was cut out of 1mm thick maple with a weak attempt at an edge moulding using a scraper. I have yet to master the correct technique for using the scraper and tend to end up with quite a rough edge. The chimney was constructed out of 1.5mm diameter brass tube with the top cap and bottom collar lathed out of 3.5mm diameter brass rod. These are slippery little suckers and I lost a couple of them to excessive tweezer force never to be seen again. Ringbolts were added to the sides for the tie-down ropes. 1x1mm walnut formed the legs followed by a coat of admiralty red and it was more or less done. I will install it properly later on in the build as it will just get knocked over at this point.
 







Quite a longwinded post for such an insignificant item but it involved a lot more steps than I was anticipating. I am glad to report that you can glimpse the navigational equipment through the acetate so I do not feel like such an idiot for attempting to include it in the first place but rather remorseful that I did not do at bit more research and base them on historical examples but I was just after something shiny in a case.
 

 



 

 

 
 
 

Nice results there David, looking great.  Just curious whether you looked at and compared the 'aftermarket' pins provided by Caldercraft, they are much slimmer and proportional that those provided in the earlier kits.  I doff my cap to you as well for making 60 of those things!

Quick update - even though I've been gathering the info above for some time, immediately after making this post I stumbled across another plan that I had not seen before.  (Available at Ship plan of HMS 'Diana' (1794): expansion of outboard works (rmg.co.uk) ).  Thankfully this supports the thinking outlined above, but makes me happily retract the statement that there are no plans of the Artois class reflecting the 1793 Admiralty order for 4 quarterdeck carronades.  Unfortunately I can't find a high resolution version to be able to read the text, but this planking expansion clearly shows the 2 carronade port alignment.  Fortunately, the approach I've taken described above has been validated and I can continue with a clean(er) conscience.
 
Of interest to other Artois builders, this adds yet another option for the bulwarks showing a fully built up bow, and squared profile of the quaterdeck not commonly seen.
Ship plan of HMS 'Diana' (1794): expansion of outboard works (NMM J5533)

Quick update - even though I've been gathering the info above for some time, immediately after making this post I stumbled across another plan that I had not seen before.  (Available at Ship plan of HMS 'Diana' (1794): expansion of outboard works (rmg.co.uk) ).  Thankfully this supports the thinking outlined above, but makes me happily retract the statement that there are no plans of the Artois class reflecting the 1793 Admiralty order for 4 quarterdeck carronades.  Unfortunately I can't find a high resolution version to be able to read the text, but this planking expansion clearly shows the 2 carronade port alignment.  Fortunately, the approach I've taken described above has been validated and I can continue with a clean(er) conscience.
 
Of interest to other Artois builders, this adds yet another option for the bulwarks showing a fully built up bow, and squared profile of the quaterdeck not commonly seen.
Ship plan of HMS 'Diana' (1794): expansion of outboard works (NMM J5533)