themadchemist

By the way Ron, have you considered just cutting the keel slot and planking the plug, then adding the frames after removal of the plug. Personally I think slotting the plug for frames would be a tough job. If doing it this way I would pre notch the keel for accepting the frames at a latter date as they will be tougher to cut afterward. Just a though. Also your plug has a shape very close to the modified MS longboat kit I'm working on, which makes me more confident with my eyeball method of measuring. I plan a plug method next so I'm looking forward to seeing how you progress on this little beauty. Also, your calling it a cutter. I read that the English cutters were clinker planked while the launches, pinnaces and barges were carvel planked (from McKay's Vicky AotS). Just curious how she will be planked.

Beautiful work Ron as always, I have a question on The History of the American Sailing Navy by Howard I. Chapelle. I was looking at Amazon for this and found 2 This one is listed as 1998 with 592 pages http://www.amazon.com/History-American-Sailing-Navy-Development/dp/1568522223/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1387029606&sr=1-5 this one is listed as 1949 with 558 pages http://www.amazon.com/History-American-Sailing-Navy-Developement/dp/9073192463/ref=sr_1_14?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1387029599&sr=1-14 Strangely they both are first ed's but are differing publishers. Does anyone know the difference? Is the newer addition added to or are the addition of pages just a reformatting of paging?

Nice details on how to modify the bulkheads. Thanks!

The picture clearly illustrates the rope placement, but it seems wrong somehow. Its funny how we get use to something being a certain way and everything else looks wrong. One often has to remember that differing countries handled things in completely different methods. For Example the French Xebec toggles rather the deadeyes. Nice work Popeye. Can't wait to see the standing rigging.

My best advise. Look where it couldn't have possibly ended up...or looking in the last place you'd look... you ever notice that's where you always find it...of course you usually stop looking once its found and I hate to say this but Tuxedo looks like the cat that ate the windlass. I think the thicker 1/16" planking is a better idea with the bulkhead removal. Nigel (NMBROOKS) did some Extreme bulkhead remove in his SotS build. I think he stated there's only about 12 sq inches of kit left in the build now. I just love watching kit bashing.

It was an enjoyable read. I typically have several extra tabs open with differing build logs I'm reading through at the time. Eye issues limit my reading time so it took 3 days but then again I spend a lot of time looking at pictures. Its funny you mention 12 square inches. You'll probably need to take picture to show the judges of her construction to prove there's kit in there. I find your work very inspiring and your bravery of just ripping into her is refreshing to see. Dee Dee is building her second lobster smack and she is planning on ripping out and opening up the cabin. I quit paying attention to instructions long ago and so when I started his hobby roughly a year ago Ir was quite easy as the AL instructions are horrible. I was shocked to see the RC arise towards the end of reading. The RC and SotS are 2 such beautifully ornate ships. Here's a technical question you may know, the forward bulkhead with the round gun ports, were they functional? I'd think firing through all the front beak and rigging would call for a really good aim to make sure you didn't take anything out. Just a thought. Sometimes I just really find it hard to believe some of these very ornate ship were actually meant to fight in battle. The difference in mind set from then to today I find fascinating. Seriously, can you imagine if the US built an aircraft carrier and covered it with sculpture. I have recently finished the UK series Monarchy and interestingly they discuss Charles 1 and his ship tax leading to so many problems. One might say that the SotS was a big part of his demise. Its a very informative series well worth viewing and its on Netflix streaming. BTW I looked at originalmarquetry.com as you mentioned it but I can't seem to find the black boxwood. What category is it under.

What an excellent ride the last few day reading through your SotS build. Amazing build for so many reasons. Your striping out of the inner bulkheads makes me think, can you really even still consider this a kit with only small bits of the kit remaining. The work and pictures tell a great story and are very informative also. Thanks for sharing. I did wonder, what is your source for the black dyed boxwood. Its not Ebony but the ease of use makes it a nice alternative. Thanks also for your help on bending the small ebony planks for my project, I'd nearly given up on that.

That's really going to open up the cabin. BTW, what thickness of planking will you be using? and using PVA or CA? I don't think the forward bulkheads and false keel removal will effect the overall structure once its all glued and planked. Plus it should be a nice frustration release. Like tearing out a wall in the house. Just don't use a chain saw. I was amazed when I built the canoe how rigid the shell was after former removal. This should almost be in the scratch built section. Can't wait to she the progress.

Wow didn't realize your moved over to scratch build with keel 3 and 4. Beautiful work, and some nice engineering on the center board and rudder. I'm with Russ on that sheer line. This boat has so much character. Have you considered changing scale and building a monster 1:12. That would be a really nice display and would help in detailing. Whatever you do, its good to see your having fun and I cant wait to see what next.

Looking good. I like how you've blocked it close to the hull but left the inside open so that if you decide to do the lower decks they are not full of balsa. Adding balsa is one of my favorite ideas. It saved me on the DSotM with both the bow and stern, not to mention add blocks for the garboard plank end to lay on. You should have a much more solid structure once finished with this stage and it should be much easier to plank. I love the way Scotty has the planking wrap under the transom but it seems it could be a bear to plank.

HA HA here goes Pete on version infinity and beyond smack Your really making me want to break out my MBLS kit, but at the same time I'm waiting to see you work out the centerboard. I think I could get into RC boats. since my disability the swimming pool has kinda become...well not kept up. I told Tammy I was going to sink a couple of Christmas trees in it and some concrete culverts for fish cover and stock it for fishing. It would be great for sailing an R/C boat also. 30 minutes is a long run Shawn. do you have a possibility of adding reverse to the propeller, in case she become snagged. I'm sure it could be done but for how much money and effort?

So how long does the steam engine run on a load of fuel/water? Just curious as it would really not be fun if it ran out of steam (PUN, literally) in the middle of the lake. Keep up the good work, although you still have a bit before the ice melts and you can take her for a test run.

Yea that what nice about a break like that. Once the deck and planking is done no one will know its there unless they read the build log. So are you going to do any work detailing her lower decks or have the hatch ways open with ladders going down below? My older Swift kit had about 1" holes where the newer kit is the size of the deck houses. I didn't bother as it wasn't opened enough. Your SM looks to have fairly large lower deck sections though.

Yikes don't you just hate when that happens. I know on the older Swift kit the bulkheads are not cut out as much as on the newer kits, so that there's more lower deck space I guess, if one wanted the hatchways open for added detail. I'd add wood to it also as those thin cutouts are just asking for breakage. I saw where Robbyn's Syrene fell off the table and broke off the "horns" on one side of the bulkheads. Breakage seems to be just one of those parts of building. It's never fun when it happens, but its usually a learning opportunity. I look forward to seeing the fix as that bulkhead was always going to be hard to fair without being supported, at least for me it would have to be.

Very Interesting Shawn. She moves faster in the water then I expected. Did the R/C come with the Fantail or was that separate also?

Popeye had the lobster Twins... Now we have the Lobster triplets. I really like the natural wood and blue water line of keel 2, it turned out great. The photo in post #162 with all three side by side is a great shot. I think many new builders could learn much from building multiples as you have. This is a such great project and a Wonderful choice of vessels for such a project. Keep the progress coming.

Hey Popeye I'd try ACME ladder co. They have always provided top notch hardware to Wiley Coyote. Just don't get the exploding version. Isn't it just always something though, seriously. Fix one thing and 2 more things pop up. Luckily that helps us get our moneys worth out of building. More time means less $/hour cost. Unless your using up materials, but as you stated the ladder supplies were raided from the scrape wood box.

Congrats on your first build log Jesse . Mobbsie right, the MSW crowd is a great community for answering nearly any question that can come along and also for giving the support and encouragement to keep one going. Hard to believe I started my first build about a year ago although did start the log until March after the digital blackhole gobbled up all of MSW1. I look forward to seeing this one built. I love the Schooner rigging, it should be quite an adventure.

WOW, I didn't even know Midwest had a steam engine kit. This is going to be a super cool project to see come together.

Actually the differing methods of rigging by country I'm finding interesting. I'm considering my first POF scratch build and am considering the French Xebec La Requin. The huge differences in her deck construction as well as its differences in rigging I find intriguing. As I study rigging, I'm also finding the changes that occurred in rigging with history and its R&D very interesting. I love the lanteen sail setup of La Requin but was reading that later in life it was switched out for square rigging. The many subtle differences within all the ships we build is why I love this hobby. I always told my students I chose science because you can never know everything about it, therefore you always have more to learn. I chose ship building as it offers the same. Before I started the rigging on the DSotM I decided to work in something else as a side project I've wanted to start for a while. Guess the multiple build bug has finally struck. Although this ones very small.

We just watch that movie the other night, its a Thanksgiving tradition around here. You gotta love Randy Quaid's character Cousin Eddie. Your Mizzen shrouds look nice. Now that I've studied all the terminology for rigging maybe I can follow along better as you rig. I was lost when you were rigging the Bowsprit.

Just stopped in to see how things are progressing. More beautiful work as expected. Its good to see you move to the bow. The wood working didn't last long did it, with such an ornate ship will the figures ever be all done? So just how many sculptures does the Wasa have in total, and how many do you have left? Your work is as fine as it ever was, and I really like that new stern photo, I think it was in post #614 last picture.

Nice multi-sheave block mast heads..or whatever they are called. Its one of my favorite parts of this ships rigging.

Would the toggles ever be able to stay parallel to the keel? Unlike a deadeye they have no restriction in rotational movement. I'm sure on models for the correct look they are made that way maybe, but in reality I think they want to be free moving. Here's a pic from Roma's build and it shows them in all directions.

You 2 are watching each other and I'm watching both of you. Cor do you happen to have or have seen the Ancre monography and plates for La Requin. Your 2 builds have pushed me over the edge and I sent an email to Didier at Ancre today on how to do EU to US conversions. Its looking like my Christmas present this year may be my first set of POF plans. The Xebec are such a beautiful overlooked ship and with their 3 mast lateen sail setup I think it would be a excellent first scratch build. The carvings are something else I'm wanting to explore further also and I love La Requin's sculpture. Not to ignore Johns build, I really like that colour of the deck wood your using. its going to look great.