Beef Wellington

Hi everyone,
 
Have just mounted the rudder. I used dome headed pins to simulate the rivets and added a rudder coat as per Longridge. I used .50 tan thread for the rope line to the mizzenmast channel. I couldn’t organize the stopper knot properly so I fastened the rope to a medium cleat.
 
Happy Thanksgiving to all. Stay safe and well,
Mort
 

Fleet Oiler USS Pamanset AO85 in heavy weather 
w/c 11.75" X 8.25"

Happy New Year everyone!  Know I have been absent for what seems an eternity, my usually slow pace was additionally impacted by the many hurricanes and storms that hit the US earlier this year, our basement had some water damage that put an end to ship modelling activities until it was sorted....which it just has been.  Luckily, no damage was sustained to any models, but, I did lose a number of kit pieces and wood strip supplies that were stored in cardboard boxes.  Luckily nothing terminal.  Decent maple strip now needs to be even more carefully husbanded but hoping I will have enough to ensure consistent material on the remaining planking.
 
The holidays provided an opportunity to get back into it and finally was able to complete the quarterdeck planking.  Very slow and intensive, but I am happy with the result and the fact this is task at least is done.  The pictures below show the deck without any tidying up and show the slight differences in plank thicknesses and pencil lead smudging, so next step will be to clean all of this up.  The forecastle planking will require a slightly different approach and planning, but there are some additional things to finalise first which can wait for a future post.
 
Cheers

Post Fifty-six
 Upper deck fittings  continued
 
Colouring the Coamings.
There is a lot of Red ochre  on the model so I decided to paint the coamings black. I felt this would give a nicer contrast to the Pearwood gratings which I will lightly varnish using w-o-p.
The  coamings were shaped on the underside to match the deck camber, and plank thick strips added to give the correct height above the deck planking.
These pieces took a lot cleaning up and removal of laser burn, before painting. Below the grating rebate the  coamings were simply varnished.
Admiralty Brand Ironwork Black was used to colour.

1952
With a grating section removed there are  glimpses of the Lower deck thro’ the Main Hatch.

1941
The trickiest part of modifying the main hatch/ladderway combo, is working a round-up  to the head ledge between the hatch and ladderway.
Through this section pass the forward stanchions of the pump handles. (412) which continue through the Upper deck to seat on the lower deck.
The holes need easing to allow passage of the stanchions without stress, and a  ‘round-up’ is cut to fit around the stanchions.
 
The Fore Hatch grating has been cut into two sections, and looks much better to my eye.

1939

0063
I now have the option to leave  the forward section off giving a view down through the Lower deck to the Hold, and the ladderway to the forward platform.
 
The aft ladderway with Capstan step.

1938

1951
Looking thro’ the aft ladderway coaming down to the Lower deck ladderway to the Orlop.

1968
With these modifications the impression is thus given of a model with all decks represented.

1958

1956
The next stage is to glue the centre line fittings to the false deck, but a couple of the gratings are not as good as I would like so I will defer until I receive the replacements from Chris. It is easier to fine tune the gratings with the hatches off the model.

1959(3)
Overall it’s going to plan, so I’m happy with progress to date.
 
Happy New Year to you all.
 
B.E.
26/12/21
 
 
 

Thank you Ron, a very generous comment, I think we both enjoy 'tweaking ' kits to hopefully add interest to our builds.
 
B.E.
 
Post Fifty-seven
 
Great Cabin
The parquet flooring is glued into place, it is reduced in size due to the cabin modifications, and w-o-p was applied before fitting.
I did experiment with various wood dyes on the offcuts  to see  if the pattern could be enhanced, but none were successful.

1986
Still not convinced whether I like it or not, but there’s always the fallback use of the b/w chequer.
I rather thought that a degree of panelling was appropriate to the Great Cabin but at this scale and with the available views, I considered a printed version would suffice.

1990
I used the simple expediency of printing off the kit panelling and scaling it to fit with a little bit of tweaking here and there.
 
Thinking about deck planking.
The Upper deck will be planked  using 0.6mm x various widths of Boxwood strip, mostly 3.4mm and 4.5mm. Wider strips will be used  to work around the hatches.
The first task will be to plank between the centre line fittings.

1995
I have the idea of using a photo copy of the kit deck plan to mark the butt joints on the false deck as a guide to work to.
This will save me the job of working out a schematic and an appropriate butt shift.
The kit arrangement is a four butt shift which looks fine to my eye.

1982
The overlay will also be used to mark and cut those awkward  fittings cut-outs, particularly  around the Mainmast.
 
Here’s a mock up of how things will look.

1974(2)

1975(2)
Before all this happens I need to invert the hull for the last time to  apply one more coat of w-o-p and complete the fettlin’ of the finishing pieces of the Quarter Galleries.
 
B.E
29/12/21
 
 
 

Post Fifty-eight
 
Back to gratings.
The replacement gratings (separate sets of 1.1mm square holes) have arrived (thanks Chris) so I return to creating gratings with a  ‘round’.
Somewhat disappointed as these sets have a subtly different look to the kit provided ones, not quite as fine, and they are less  accepting of messing with than the originals.
Chris did tell me that the gratings are made using the same timber and process but that The Sphinx ones were specifically made for the kit, as with much of his stuff.

1997(2)
The ones in the frame are originals the others the after market grating squares.
So far I am happy with the originals for the Fore Hatch, and the two sections for the Main Hatch.

1995(2)
My meddling with the Aft Hatch resulted in an acceptable result as above, being destroyed when I decided to split it into two sections.
The replacement had to be made using the newly arrived gratings.
Even there I  destroyed one square cutting the grating the wrong way; those who know will know that the longitudinal strips run fore/ aft on a grating.
With careful cutting I eventually managed to  create the size and round, but I’m back to square one as far as having two sections.

2004
The difference in look is clearly apparent here between the Fore Hatch (original) and the Aft Hatch (aftermarket)

2014
I am unable to split the aft hatch into two sections due to the hole spacing.

2013(2)
The one saving grace is that if I have to use the Aft hatch as is, it is below the Qtr deck, but then there will be very little planking on the Qtr deck.
Not sure my eye will  accept the difference.
 
I may have to approach Chris cap in hand, to sell me replacement kit specific gratings for the Sphinx, or live with the consequences.

5095
A last resort may be to plead with Chris that the Dog ate my gratings. (he does have form)
 
Anyway, Happy New Year to everyone from me and my shipyard liability  assistant.
 
B.E.
01/01/22
 

6 months since my last update; I saw Jason's this morning and thought I ought to update as well.  Progress continued to be patchy; the combination of working from home all day in my office/workshop, then returning tot he same space after supper to potter on the model really didnt appeal. The work/home balance has been skewed.  nevertheless I did the odd hour here and there and I have to say she is nearly finished.  Unlike Rob and Jason's my blog is not very comprehensive as I always reverted to their much more skilled reports for guidance and tips - repeating the lines seemed a little superfluous. 
 
Anyway - running and standing rigging complete; anchors shipped (I still have to do the buoys); rope hanks largely fitted and everything being tightened to remove the inevitable slack.  I'll finish this tiddily stuff in the next few weeks then try to work out how to do the ships boats (Ray and Barbarossa) will be studied carefully. I'm lost - and I have the caldercraft kits! 
 
Some snaps to keep you upto date.  I'm pretty pleased on how my first serious model has turned out. 

Some more of the running rigging

a few more....I'll finish the detail work and then send a few of the whole ship.
 
Peter 

I'm sure you'll do Chris' kit proud BE...and I also suspect that there will be a number of further enhancements so I'll strap in for the ride.

Happy New Year everyone!  Know I have been absent for what seems an eternity, my usually slow pace was additionally impacted by the many hurricanes and storms that hit the US earlier this year, our basement had some water damage that put an end to ship modelling activities until it was sorted....which it just has been.  Luckily, no damage was sustained to any models, but, I did lose a number of kit pieces and wood strip supplies that were stored in cardboard boxes.  Luckily nothing terminal.  Decent maple strip now needs to be even more carefully husbanded but hoping I will have enough to ensure consistent material on the remaining planking.
 
The holidays provided an opportunity to get back into it and finally was able to complete the quarterdeck planking.  Very slow and intensive, but I am happy with the result and the fact this is task at least is done.  The pictures below show the deck without any tidying up and show the slight differences in plank thicknesses and pencil lead smudging, so next step will be to clean all of this up.  The forecastle planking will require a slightly different approach and planning, but there are some additional things to finalise first which can wait for a future post.
 
Cheers

Happy New Year everyone!  Know I have been absent for what seems an eternity, my usually slow pace was additionally impacted by the many hurricanes and storms that hit the US earlier this year, our basement had some water damage that put an end to ship modelling activities until it was sorted....which it just has been.  Luckily, no damage was sustained to any models, but, I did lose a number of kit pieces and wood strip supplies that were stored in cardboard boxes.  Luckily nothing terminal.  Decent maple strip now needs to be even more carefully husbanded but hoping I will have enough to ensure consistent material on the remaining planking.
 
The holidays provided an opportunity to get back into it and finally was able to complete the quarterdeck planking.  Very slow and intensive, but I am happy with the result and the fact this is task at least is done.  The pictures below show the deck without any tidying up and show the slight differences in plank thicknesses and pencil lead smudging, so next step will be to clean all of this up.  The forecastle planking will require a slightly different approach and planning, but there are some additional things to finalise first which can wait for a future post.
 
Cheers

Happy New Year everyone!  Know I have been absent for what seems an eternity, my usually slow pace was additionally impacted by the many hurricanes and storms that hit the US earlier this year, our basement had some water damage that put an end to ship modelling activities until it was sorted....which it just has been.  Luckily, no damage was sustained to any models, but, I did lose a number of kit pieces and wood strip supplies that were stored in cardboard boxes.  Luckily nothing terminal.  Decent maple strip now needs to be even more carefully husbanded but hoping I will have enough to ensure consistent material on the remaining planking.
 
The holidays provided an opportunity to get back into it and finally was able to complete the quarterdeck planking.  Very slow and intensive, but I am happy with the result and the fact this is task at least is done.  The pictures below show the deck without any tidying up and show the slight differences in plank thicknesses and pencil lead smudging, so next step will be to clean all of this up.  The forecastle planking will require a slightly different approach and planning, but there are some additional things to finalise first which can wait for a future post.
 
Cheers

Happy New Year everyone!  Know I have been absent for what seems an eternity, my usually slow pace was additionally impacted by the many hurricanes and storms that hit the US earlier this year, our basement had some water damage that put an end to ship modelling activities until it was sorted....which it just has been.  Luckily, no damage was sustained to any models, but, I did lose a number of kit pieces and wood strip supplies that were stored in cardboard boxes.  Luckily nothing terminal.  Decent maple strip now needs to be even more carefully husbanded but hoping I will have enough to ensure consistent material on the remaining planking.
 
The holidays provided an opportunity to get back into it and finally was able to complete the quarterdeck planking.  Very slow and intensive, but I am happy with the result and the fact this is task at least is done.  The pictures below show the deck without any tidying up and show the slight differences in plank thicknesses and pencil lead smudging, so next step will be to clean all of this up.  The forecastle planking will require a slightly different approach and planning, but there are some additional things to finalise first which can wait for a future post.
 
Cheers

Happy New Year everyone!  Know I have been absent for what seems an eternity, my usually slow pace was additionally impacted by the many hurricanes and storms that hit the US earlier this year, our basement had some water damage that put an end to ship modelling activities until it was sorted....which it just has been.  Luckily, no damage was sustained to any models, but, I did lose a number of kit pieces and wood strip supplies that were stored in cardboard boxes.  Luckily nothing terminal.  Decent maple strip now needs to be even more carefully husbanded but hoping I will have enough to ensure consistent material on the remaining planking.
 
The holidays provided an opportunity to get back into it and finally was able to complete the quarterdeck planking.  Very slow and intensive, but I am happy with the result and the fact this is task at least is done.  The pictures below show the deck without any tidying up and show the slight differences in plank thicknesses and pencil lead smudging, so next step will be to clean all of this up.  The forecastle planking will require a slightly different approach and planning, but there are some additional things to finalise first which can wait for a future post.
 
Cheers

Happy New Year everyone!  Know I have been absent for what seems an eternity, my usually slow pace was additionally impacted by the many hurricanes and storms that hit the US earlier this year, our basement had some water damage that put an end to ship modelling activities until it was sorted....which it just has been.  Luckily, no damage was sustained to any models, but, I did lose a number of kit pieces and wood strip supplies that were stored in cardboard boxes.  Luckily nothing terminal.  Decent maple strip now needs to be even more carefully husbanded but hoping I will have enough to ensure consistent material on the remaining planking.
 
The holidays provided an opportunity to get back into it and finally was able to complete the quarterdeck planking.  Very slow and intensive, but I am happy with the result and the fact this is task at least is done.  The pictures below show the deck without any tidying up and show the slight differences in plank thicknesses and pencil lead smudging, so next step will be to clean all of this up.  The forecastle planking will require a slightly different approach and planning, but there are some additional things to finalise first which can wait for a future post.
 
Cheers

Happy New Year everyone!  Know I have been absent for what seems an eternity, my usually slow pace was additionally impacted by the many hurricanes and storms that hit the US earlier this year, our basement had some water damage that put an end to ship modelling activities until it was sorted....which it just has been.  Luckily, no damage was sustained to any models, but, I did lose a number of kit pieces and wood strip supplies that were stored in cardboard boxes.  Luckily nothing terminal.  Decent maple strip now needs to be even more carefully husbanded but hoping I will have enough to ensure consistent material on the remaining planking.
 
The holidays provided an opportunity to get back into it and finally was able to complete the quarterdeck planking.  Very slow and intensive, but I am happy with the result and the fact this is task at least is done.  The pictures below show the deck without any tidying up and show the slight differences in plank thicknesses and pencil lead smudging, so next step will be to clean all of this up.  The forecastle planking will require a slightly different approach and planning, but there are some additional things to finalise first which can wait for a future post.
 
Cheers

Happy New Year everyone!  Know I have been absent for what seems an eternity, my usually slow pace was additionally impacted by the many hurricanes and storms that hit the US earlier this year, our basement had some water damage that put an end to ship modelling activities until it was sorted....which it just has been.  Luckily, no damage was sustained to any models, but, I did lose a number of kit pieces and wood strip supplies that were stored in cardboard boxes.  Luckily nothing terminal.  Decent maple strip now needs to be even more carefully husbanded but hoping I will have enough to ensure consistent material on the remaining planking.
 
The holidays provided an opportunity to get back into it and finally was able to complete the quarterdeck planking.  Very slow and intensive, but I am happy with the result and the fact this is task at least is done.  The pictures below show the deck without any tidying up and show the slight differences in plank thicknesses and pencil lead smudging, so next step will be to clean all of this up.  The forecastle planking will require a slightly different approach and planning, but there are some additional things to finalise first which can wait for a future post.
 
Cheers

Happy New Year everyone!  Know I have been absent for what seems an eternity, my usually slow pace was additionally impacted by the many hurricanes and storms that hit the US earlier this year, our basement had some water damage that put an end to ship modelling activities until it was sorted....which it just has been.  Luckily, no damage was sustained to any models, but, I did lose a number of kit pieces and wood strip supplies that were stored in cardboard boxes.  Luckily nothing terminal.  Decent maple strip now needs to be even more carefully husbanded but hoping I will have enough to ensure consistent material on the remaining planking.
 
The holidays provided an opportunity to get back into it and finally was able to complete the quarterdeck planking.  Very slow and intensive, but I am happy with the result and the fact this is task at least is done.  The pictures below show the deck without any tidying up and show the slight differences in plank thicknesses and pencil lead smudging, so next step will be to clean all of this up.  The forecastle planking will require a slightly different approach and planning, but there are some additional things to finalise first which can wait for a future post.
 
Cheers

Here is the method I used to get what I feel to be a consistent top camber on the gratings, despite extensive searching I just couldn't find anything on this site to help. In the end, I took the following approach:
 
1) Built a small frame and place a thin sheet of bass wood into the frame at what I thought would be an appropriate curvature, I simply glued a thin line along the center to secure it (I know this is really forms a parabola, but it is certainly close enough to circular in the center to pass muster)
 
2) After putting a fine grain sandpaper on the curve, I then used a couple of spare strips of lime wood to act as 'guides'. Its then just a simple matter of moving the grating back and forth carefully until the curve has taken. The guides ensure that the camber remains centered for consistent result.

Happy New Year everyone!  Know I have been absent for what seems an eternity, my usually slow pace was additionally impacted by the many hurricanes and storms that hit the US earlier this year, our basement had some water damage that put an end to ship modelling activities until it was sorted....which it just has been.  Luckily, no damage was sustained to any models, but, I did lose a number of kit pieces and wood strip supplies that were stored in cardboard boxes.  Luckily nothing terminal.  Decent maple strip now needs to be even more carefully husbanded but hoping I will have enough to ensure consistent material on the remaining planking.
 
The holidays provided an opportunity to get back into it and finally was able to complete the quarterdeck planking.  Very slow and intensive, but I am happy with the result and the fact this is task at least is done.  The pictures below show the deck without any tidying up and show the slight differences in plank thicknesses and pencil lead smudging, so next step will be to clean all of this up.  The forecastle planking will require a slightly different approach and planning, but there are some additional things to finalise first which can wait for a future post.
 
Cheers

Happy New Year everyone!  Know I have been absent for what seems an eternity, my usually slow pace was additionally impacted by the many hurricanes and storms that hit the US earlier this year, our basement had some water damage that put an end to ship modelling activities until it was sorted....which it just has been.  Luckily, no damage was sustained to any models, but, I did lose a number of kit pieces and wood strip supplies that were stored in cardboard boxes.  Luckily nothing terminal.  Decent maple strip now needs to be even more carefully husbanded but hoping I will have enough to ensure consistent material on the remaining planking.
 
The holidays provided an opportunity to get back into it and finally was able to complete the quarterdeck planking.  Very slow and intensive, but I am happy with the result and the fact this is task at least is done.  The pictures below show the deck without any tidying up and show the slight differences in plank thicknesses and pencil lead smudging, so next step will be to clean all of this up.  The forecastle planking will require a slightly different approach and planning, but there are some additional things to finalise first which can wait for a future post.
 
Cheers

Happy New Year everyone!  Know I have been absent for what seems an eternity, my usually slow pace was additionally impacted by the many hurricanes and storms that hit the US earlier this year, our basement had some water damage that put an end to ship modelling activities until it was sorted....which it just has been.  Luckily, no damage was sustained to any models, but, I did lose a number of kit pieces and wood strip supplies that were stored in cardboard boxes.  Luckily nothing terminal.  Decent maple strip now needs to be even more carefully husbanded but hoping I will have enough to ensure consistent material on the remaining planking.
 
The holidays provided an opportunity to get back into it and finally was able to complete the quarterdeck planking.  Very slow and intensive, but I am happy with the result and the fact this is task at least is done.  The pictures below show the deck without any tidying up and show the slight differences in plank thicknesses and pencil lead smudging, so next step will be to clean all of this up.  The forecastle planking will require a slightly different approach and planning, but there are some additional things to finalise first which can wait for a future post.
 
Cheers

Great to see you back at it Andy, your Confederacy is looking very nice, the blue will make for a nice change.