harlequin

On ‎1‎/‎9‎/‎2019 at 11:57 PM, foxbat said:

hi...am new to this site as have just started the Corel Bellona and find your posts and pics very informative and a great complement to the plans. I will probably have a few questions as I go as have just commenced the first planking. As per the second planking, did you plank around the gunports or planked over them and then cut them out?...,,,thanks

 

I planked over then cut them out...…...It was at this stage that I nearly binned Bellona as I had removed the second planking once to start again and the whole build was getting on my nerves......I had to make a big decision scrap the build or go for the corel metal gunports not supplied with the kit.....I chose the metal gunports and managed to rescue the build. I don't think the gunports look too bad actually...….good luck with Bellona and if you need to ask I will try to help. 

well its a new year so workspace tidied up and a little more of Bellona masting completed...…..I am going to try and complete Bellona this year.

I had this kit a while ago but scrapped the entire thing....I bought it of ebay and never got round to a real attempt on it......it was by constructo. They still come on ebay from time to time so keep a look out. The kit I had didn't look too bad a quality kit but like I said I never got round to building it.....the frames were too far gone (thin plywood) to make it viable.

10 hours ago, Morgan said:

Just catching up on this superb build. I’d never been a fan of the Corel cast ports, but I’ve changed my mind looking at your Bellona, the natural wood finish complements then nicely.

 

Gary

cheers Gary......I had not intended to use the cast gunports but would have had to remove the entire planking a second time and probably ruin the frames underneath. I considered scrapping the entire ship but then thought i'd give the gunports a go and see what happens.....not perfect but otherwise a half decent build saved from the scrapyard.

my corel Victory probably took me 10 years from start to finish Kevin.

cheers Kevin....been about 5 years to this stage.

first few steps into the masting.

12 hours ago, harlequin said:

thought i'd work on the masting for a change...the hull is on its finishing straight but a change is as good as a rest. 

On ‎10‎/‎13‎/‎2018 at 10:17 PM, Old Collingwood said:

Really stunning work mate.

how is the old rascal greyhound getting on? 

well compared to my workshop yours is incredibly tidy.....mine looks like a tornado has just passed through compared.

thought i'd work on the masting for a change...the hull is on its finishing straight but a change is as good as a rest. 

by the way....just been to see Rich Hall and his band live in Preston....nothing to do with ships but one hell of a funny bloke.

right ….time to get going on this again.....3 month break......quite a short break as breaks go.....but I have other models shouting at me from unopened boxes so the workshop has been tidied and off we go again.

Michael Palin of Monty Python fame has a new book out about HMS Erebus.....sounds like its a really interesting read....must get a copy.

Not sure this would work for plating the hull and it would be tricky to do because of the thinness of the tape but £1.50 for 20mm x 4m worth a go maybe. I actually bought it for its intended purpose. Plenty of similar on ebay. 

some more progress on Bellonas hull...……..wont be too long before the hull is completed...…..the cannon are not yet fixed...…...few days away climbing soon in Snowdonia and the Lakes so progress will ease for a little while.

my workspace is not the tidiest on plant earth.

Bellona begins to take shape....slowly but surely.....only been five years to this stage...……..on and off.....softly softly catchy monkey.

addition of the heads....no privacy here....

Rudder attached.....all the knocks and repairs of Bellonas hull can be seen that have occurred over the years....adds to her character I think.

bit by bit she is coming on.

little more done at the bow....a lot of fiddly little components on this section so will be on it for a rew days.

cheers Busby.....long gaps occur during my builds.....Bellona was left alone for almost 18 months then suddenly I get a spurt on.....I have ready for the off corels HMS Unicorn and Endeavour....once I move onto the masting and rigging I will start one of the others.....more than likely Unicorn.

Bit of colour for the figure head...…..it is amazing how rubbish your work looks when it is larger than normal. Not sure these will be the final colours for Bellona just happy playing about...

on the pic you posted those will be the natural colours of the wood supplied in the kit......the builder has probably only used a clear varinish on them if any at all. There should be several colours of wood planking supplied with your kit.