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KenW

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Everything posted by KenW

  1. KenW
    Hey Mike: Good looking pins. How long are they? Thanks.
  2. KenW
    Great work Dave. It's nice to see someone else using redheart. Your model is really coming along. Also, I assume you are cutting your own bulkheads, keel former, etc. Otherwise, I can't see how you can change the scale. Cheers. Oh, and your nibbling looks great.
  3. KenW
    E.J. I really like the coloring of the wood on your model. A nice deep tone. Well done!
  4. KenW
    Thanks Jon. They do look a little big, but hopefully that will be 'covered up' by everything around it once the rigging starts. The stanchion cleats aren't nearly as big looking. Cheers.
  5. KenW
    I wanted to show the kevels, which I thought were pretty good. These are for the forecastle and are much smaller than those on the quarter deck because they have to attach to a stanchion. While none of the stanchions are glued, and I have yet to cut the cap rail, I think that the model is progressing, all be it slowly.
  6. KenW
    Thanks Ryland. Good to meet you as well. Cheers.
  7. KenW
    Thanks Dave. I'll have to look up those definitions again.
  8. KenW
    Thanks Russ. Surprised you noticed the nibbling. Cheers.
  9. KenW
    I’ve planked the forecastle deck and I’m pleased with the results. I think that the tree nailing is the best I’ve managed to do - certainly the best on this model. (In the photo, the yellow coloring means I have to do more sanding.) So, it’s on to the next challenge.
  10. KenW
    Hey Christian. No trouble; I want to rig the ship's boat on my 20 gun Rattlesnake, so I was doing the research anyway. Hope I was helpful. Cheers.
  11. KenW
    Well, I did some more research - I downloaded the Steele book and this is what I found. The main and fore stay tackles and pendants, on a small ship (20 guns or so), seem to be attached to the boat. Photos from Steele: On a recent trip to the US Navel Academy Museum, one of the models had the stay tackles were attached to the boat with the lines attached to the gallows. Photo of the model: And the John Harland book shows the yard tackle and pendant 'traced' up to the yard. Photo from Harland: So, from all this, there may be a solution for a small ship with only one boat. However, I don't know what happens to the main and fore yard tackles and pendants on a large ship with multiple boats. Don't know if this helps.
  12. KenW
    The Burton pendants were for hauling sails, masts and any other item required. I don't think they were used for the ship's boats. They are relatively short and just hang there. I suspect that the main stay pendants used for hauling out the boats were somehow 'traced' up in a kind of coil or something. Don't know. We need more input.
  13. KenW
    Hey Christian: I have that book on order. I just got, "Seamanship in the Age of Sail", by John Harland. He has these drawings in Chapter 20. On reading the text, I can't figure what was done with the mast stay tackle and the fore stay tackle pendants. He says that the two yard tackles have "trace lines" that were used to haul them up and then "stopped neatly along the yard out of the way". He says the (mast) pendants "were permanent fixtures", but doesn't say what was done with them when not being used. They look much longer than the burton pendants so I don't know if they can just hang there. Anyway, sorry to clog up your log with these issues. Probably should be on a separate entry. Your build is looking great and I'm enjoying following it along. Cheers.
  14. KenW
    Just a small update – I installed the horse for the boom sheet, the kevels on the quarter deck bulwark and the bulkhead ‘ladder’ or steps. I made 4 kevels per side to give me a place to tie off the lower main yard lifts. Still need to come up with a place to tie off the crossjack lift, but there is plenty of time to make that decision.
  15. KenW
    Thanks Christian - The method of launching the ship's boats agrees with a model I just saw and the US Naval museum in Annapolis. What I don't understand is what they did with the blocks, etc. hanging from the main stay and the pendants attached to the two lower yards. They can't just be flapping there in the breeze. Anyway, I have lots of time before I get to that point.
  16. KenW
    Great rat lines. I use clove hitches; once I get going, I can tie them pretty quickly. Are you planning any rigging for the ships boats? Not much information out there on this. The model is looking outstanding.
  17. KenW
    Thanks Jon. I agree totally. Enjoy your build.
  18. KenW
    Jon: I just reread your posts, as well as mine, and still feel that I like the Chapelle look better. The problem seems to be that there is no absolute source where a definite plan or drawing can be found. Howard Hahn even questions the Admiralty drafts. Added to that, compromised model kit plans and defects in the modeler's ability means that getting a truly and totally accurate model is probably impossible. I don't mind the look of the fixed platform being higher than the waist cap rail. And, I kind of like the look of the extended platform. I will experiment with a bracket, as well as a post. I completely agree with H.M. Hahn when he says that the model builder must, "do a little research and decision making of his own." Cheers.
  19. KenW
    Nice work. Did you do the tree nailing by hand? I always have a hard time drilling the holes.
  20. KenW
    Hey Jon: Well, I also did some more research with my limited library. It turns out that I do have a Hahn book, but not the one with the photo of the Rattlesnake model. I do have a book by Howard Chapelle entitled,"The History of American Sailing Ships", published in 1935. My copy is pretty old but there are a couple drawings of the Rattlesnake. They show no temporary gangway and an extended fixed gangway. And, there is a post right behind the ladder. As of now this is the way I'm going to do my model. With the extended fixed gangway, I could place a post between the guns anywhere behind the stairs to allow more room for firing. Or, I can try a metal bracket (made of wood). I attach a photo of my fixed platform which is held up by pins and piece of scrape wood to represent the post. It is a solution - maybe it's not the best but I'm open to more suggestions.
  21. KenW
    Hey Jon: I do have the Hahn book, but neglected to look at it. I see that he has a vertical post (but he doesn't have buckets). My fixed platform will be below the quarter deck - about like yours, I think. But you see the issue with the steps on the outside of the hull. Those coming up would have to jump down to the gun deck or make a somewhat awkward step to the ladder in order to get to the quarter deck. Also, how 'fixed' is the fixed gangplank? It seems to me that the vertical post would get in the way of those manning the gun(s). I suspect that there are no absolute answers to these questions. But the discussion is interesting.
  22. KenW
    Jon - Thanks for sharing your research. I'm encountering problems with the fixed platform that are probably due to errors in my construction of the hull. The fixed gangway must extend from the quarter deck beam and not block the cabin door. This puts the platform level with the short rail and above the cap rail. Also, it ends just before the 'steps' on the outer hull for coming aboard the ship. I'm considering doing away with the temporary gangway and extending the fixed gangway to cover those outer steps. A ladder will be added for access to the quarter deck and gun deck. Also, the Hahn plans don't have a turn post under the fixed platform, just metal brackets to provide support. (I may also have a problem since my quarter deck doesn't have a very big curve.) I hope my description is clear as I don't have any photos yet of my proposal. Ladders will also be added for access to the forecastle. I welcome the thoughts of all.
  23. KenW
    Great work EJ. I like your color scheme and the planking is outstanding. Looks like there is an advantage to 'double' planking. An impressive looking model. Cheers.
  24. KenW
    Thanks EJ. I coming to the same conclusions.
  25. KenW
    I made a bucket rack and the buckets are in place on it. However, I found that in order to have room for anyone to get around the rack, I had to reduce the rack to only hold 5 buckets. So I have one bucket left over. Maybe I’ll put on the deck somewhere. (I'm certainly not going to kick it.) Also, I glued the bit and capstan onto the quarter deck. The bucket rack and other furniture (the binnacle, rudder/tiller and mizzen mast) are not glued. I don’t want too much furniture getting in the way when I get to the rigging stage. The tiller will be at its proper angle when it’s glued. Next I will move toward the forecastle, adding the permanent gangway and assorted eye and ring bolts onto the gun deck. I’m unsure about whether to include the temporary gangway.

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