themadchemist

hadn't commented yet but I was just re-re-looking over your log and I have to say I rather like the signature series brass cannon tips protruding from the ports against the black background of the wales. I really like that shade of blue also.

Excellence again

I've always quite liked your photography Kevin, especially when you take her out in the sun for natural lighting.

But the you can tell from my photographic skills and the messy background that photo taking isn't my specialty, for me it more about content.

The biggest problem you have, as I see it, is the BIG problem called Vicky. If you get all of her in the pic, you can't see the detail. Thats why such a build requires multiple shots to get all the detail and majesty of a 1st rate ship and build.

Consider it a chance to reorganize... EVERYTHING

I definitely do not envy all the work, but once its all complete and your settled It will all be worth it. After all Home is the place where family is. It amazing how fast we adjust. When Tammy lost her job a couple of years back, as an OR tech she had the option to travel. As nothing was available around here at the time, she signed on with a travel company. We only ended up doing the first 10 week stint before the clinic owned by the Dr's she'd worked with at the hospital called and we moved back to Home. While on the road we were put up in a candlewood suites 1 bedrooom suite. Its strange how fast we adapt.

I hope everything goes smoothly in finding not just a place, but the RIGHT place. Also If I'm recalling correctly, this is a move back home for you and the Admiral? There's something about Roots, being born a navy brat I was 11 before living in So. IL but it was always home. I've lived many places and there's no place like Home, however you define Home.

Here's to the Journey ahead and the patience to live through the trauma,   Cheers to a dear friend and his crew.

Another masterpiece. I hate to see you finish, its so anti-climatic...and you make me feel slow, but thats ok as I am

I love that you went your own way, meaning she's not the picture on the box. She has personality and character, just like her builder. I've enjoyed the friendship we've developed due to our mutual kit build, even though we went 2 completely different directions. Neither being superior to the other, just different visions. The sail billow turned out beautiful, which is important if you want  to make it look real, which has been a key part of your build. The off level mounting also adds to this and I really like the rock as a mounting method. If Im remembering correctly you used the same on your Mare Nostrum build. BTW, I tried finding her and can't find her, was that log lost on the MSW1 crash?

If I recall, this one was built for your brother? He should be so happy to receive such a work of love. So is it the bluenose next?... if I'm remembering correctly you had mentioned that, but I don't trust memory much anymore.

Congratulations on a Job done well.

only a true friend will tell you when you have a booger on your face.

Personally I thought they looked fine. The ratline should be smaller diameter rope then the shrouds also. I see too many where there isn't a significant difference between the 2. The only issue I saw was the knots/hitching size. Seems I read somewhere that in the scale models the clove hitch which is really the correct method produces a TOO large knot and there was another hitch that was smaller and looked less bulky. I don't even reallly see this as an issue except as ratline go up the shroud and get bunched toward the top.

But one things for sure, Randy does NOT do A- work or even A for that matter..... its 100% or nothing. The urge to "get on with it" I think is the worst monkey on any builders back. As Dubz calls it "deconstruction" is just as important as construction. For those of us building our first few models, I don't see issue with redoing and learning. As I know, your alot like me on that topic. It's not just about doing it, but more about understanding it and learning the art of tall ship construction and engineering.

Sorry I haven't been around much, luckily most of the time I was under the weather you were awaiting parts. No matter the ultimate outcome will be one of the SF standards for future builders to learn from. Seeing you struggle helps them understand that ship building is about perseverance and determination... and fun

If your still having fun then your doing it right.

Too Florencia  Cheers.

deep fried whale blubber is suppose to have an avocado like taste, but raw??

LMAO, You gotta keep it light with all that packing going on.

Seeing more update of this one really makes me want to build my Smack next.

Excellent work Dee Dee and isn't wood grain just fabulous. I love the beauty of wood and your build really uses that to its fullest effect.

Can't wait to see the rigging work start.

...and I just caught up, sheesh....

Safe trip Andy.

What a Grand old Lady. She's gonna be beautiful with all 37 sails filled. I also like the idea of displaying her with her ports cracked open as they would as she croosed the great expanses of sea. The wind coursing,into her sails and throuugh the ports down into the holds. What it must have been like to have been upon her when she was just sailing. The Lady at Rest. 

Beautiful colour on the upper deck, its a nice backdrop for the Anchors.

Wow that Stun boom is out there, the display case will be enormous.  

So how many hours now Kevin, you haven't updated recently, that I've seen.

and don't forget this one

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1320476/Sculptor-spends-17-years-carving-replica-HMS-Victory--using-wood-real-thing.html

Wow, nice work on the Wells Fargo, I see the rifles but no one to shoot them.

Love the tufting on the seats, Beautiful detail work thoughout.

I think once the balsa blocks are in the bow the chew marks won't even be an issue. Its amazing what wood filler and sand paper can fix. Plus none of that will show. I've discovered in this hobby, expect the unexpected and you will never be surprised. I can't count the number of ships I've seen dropped and the beak broken, just to be later fixed and never to be known, unless someone reads the log.

I think the worst story I've read was John (AKA tex) and his telling of finish the rigging up - dropping the rope to the floor exactly as his wife decided to vacuum. Well lets just say, he scrapped that one after the vacuum had its way with it.

I agree with Grant, I doubt there is a person out there that takes on the Victory that does not at least once, if not many time question if they bit off more then they could chew. There is so much to building her I can't even image attempting such a build.

The prototype site also shows on page 5 the 4th picture down the forward ports marked, but after several steps and way after the other ports. I wonder the reason for this.

Also back when I recognized them I was comparing to actually Vicky pictures. I remember looking at Gils Vicky also as its a Jotika kit and his was forward portless also. This can be seen on page 4 post 49

http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/485-hms-victory-by-gil-middleton-jotika-172/page-4

My main question at that time was that the Vicky had been retro fitted several times in her career and I was questioning if this was something from one of her incarnations.

However the issue occured, It does not diminish the high standard of work, love, time or quality that you've done. I still follow your build and love to see her develop into a magnificent 1st rate ship and reproduction.

"Not for you", I beg to differ and I think there are a host of other builders that would agree, you have proven your self able and capable.

If you always do what you've always done, you'll always have what you've already got. Attempting to stretch and reach for more is what make us better and your in that class. 1st class, just like your ship and build.

yes where is this stagecoach. ...and when is she carrying the gold for the payroll so I can plan the ambush...opps... well there goes my surprise attack plans 

Hum, not to be an I told you so person....

Way back on page 9 I remember asking about the gunports, post #125. I was wondering then if it was a kit thing and never followed through. Now it seems there is supposed to be ports there. The only reason I bring this up is I remember looking at other Jotika kits and they didn't have those ports either. So was it a kit mistake/omission? Anyway, nice fix. Cutting her must have been quite a nervous endeavour.

http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/403-hms-victory-by-kevin-caldercraftjotika-172/page-9

Nice work. I agree on the staining, it has that used look and turned out quite nice.

Great fix on the transom, its hard to take one apart after finishing but with the 2 problems (print and short planks) I think it was a well planned and executed modification.

WOW, nice colour.

For basswood the colour and evenness is fantastic. Turned out browner then most of the cherry stain Ive seen but I love the colour.

Her shape also make me see a whale shape for some reason, I love the hull shape of this one.

2 kits and remodeling, sheesh you might need professional help taking all that on at once. In my opinion remodeling is enough, depending on how extensive the job. We did a huge overhaul 5 years back and seems theres still work to be done, but that was a huge ripping out of walls (interior and exterior) and the addition of an upstairs and roof deck with interior and exterior stairs. I could barely function while that was going on.

Good to see your back at it. Oh, are you going to link the stagecoach in your sig? I'd love to see it.

I get what your saying about the sag, They seem to be sagging/twisted more on the outer shouds and toward the outside. I wonder if a slight wetting with water from a brush and a bit of downward force in the center would make them sag symmetrically? I also wonder if just a bit of PVA in the water might let them dry in a more natural fashion and hold the symmetry.

Of course this is just speculation as I've not done any rigging as yet. I also question if redoing them would change things much as they aren't slack and the rigidity of the rope is probably the twist effector rather then your work. Just some ideas. Either way, left alone or modified, your works outstanding.

Maybe Augie the spider whisperer would have more experienced advise, as I'm only guessing how I might approach it. Thats the great thing about MSW. All the knowledge and expertise to draw from, which helps make better builds and builders of us all.

Thanks for the tutorial on grating construction. Grant Dale directed me your way for instruction and your method of gluing addresses exactly what concerned me. Thanks for taking the time to share your methods. The Atalanta is a beauty. I'm in IL also and the March 2012 and 2013 photos really so how one year makes a world of difference. I still can't believe the July weather we've had.

I also love your display cases. Nothing like having your own ship museum in house.

I think they look GREAT. I've always questioned over tight ratlines as the climbing would have given them some sag inthe middle from the weight of climbers. Plus I've noticed in several movies with period ships, they seem to always have a bit of sag. To me its more realistic, which you have a natural ablity towards. Thats what I love about this build, its beautiful but looks natural. The way you treated you barrel first drew me to your build due to your eye for making it look used and natural, as a real ship would be.

Of course, I'm mad, but I still know what I like and there's nothing on your Berlin I haven't loved. Have you noticed the similarity between your berlins double caprail and the modification the the DSotM's caprails.

geez how I've missed my log reading. Hopefully I can get back to form soon.

Your boat, well I think I'd say not only WOW but very sexy. Girls like guys that are good with their hands, so hopefully the admiral won't dock your pay for misappropriations of funds.

Again, I love your well explained and photographed tutorials. The blocks and boat are mere shadows of the methods recorded that are helping restore so much to the new MSW2. Your log will be inspiration and a learning tool for long to come. It's nice to see it finished, but GREAT to see it done and shown so well illustrated. I love the community of improvement that MSW creates, such as your mods to Chucks methods. I always said to my students TEAM is an acronym for Together Each Achieves More. Its so great to learn methods from experts, not just see the finished beauty.

Beautiful work as expected. BTW i love that pear/boxwood and holly combo in the boat and the paint turned out perfect.

Oh, one question, you mentioned making the grating. How? I'm imagining several clamped together and sawn slots together.... any info on the saw/cutting device used would be appreciated as I'm wanting to make some gratings rather then buy them.

To Excellence   Cheers!

Figure I might as well throw in my 2 cents worth.

Nice yellow table, too bad its so small. Luckily you can build more  and you'll most likely need them. One can never have too much space, or tools, or extra materials, or books.....

The keel fix was a nice repair. Personally I never have had my Swift (AKA DSotM) in a clamp, I prefer holding her, I think she likes it too. Its good you had an opps early on, it will help you realize anything can be fixed and in this hobby I'd say few models get finished without some opps along the way. Its the way of building and makes us better builders.

Elsie really reminds me of the Bluenose. I guess the Bluenose has the white stripe though. Nice crisp waterline, too bad about the bleed though, but she still ended up beautiful. Thats the great part of this hobby, nobodys counting how many times it take to get it right. I also agree, MSW is "THE" community for getting the best help ever.

looks good PopJack

I agree on the belaying pin situation. Dubz (its in the gallery section) has her rigged but some of the rigging is hard to see due to the angle and resolution of the pic's. Also I've been questioning how is the back sail on the front mast secured at the bottom. Rigging is going to be tough for me as I haven't a clue about it.

The copper really looks good with the colour scheme.

I've also already made mast wooden hoops as you suggest, I really hated the brass rings, I may have to make more though sounds like, as I can't remember how many I made

.

I've been struggling along attempting to make a binnacle for DSotM, which has been a pain as I going with a new version.

Hey Floyd

Laterally bending the caprail is a tough task. I attempted it on my build but with no luck, so I ended up butt jointing 3 planks to form a wider plank to cut the curved rail from. I use scarf joints to join the rails.

The knee's are a better way to go and should be indestructable. I've seen where fruit tree knees are used in wooden spoon making to give the grain strength in the curved part of the spoon. Plus the knee will make and interesting talking point when she done.

Clamping should be a breeze once the rail isn't under the force of spring back, at least I would think.

I found the small binder clip really helpful in holding the rail down

It very important that the bulkheads are square in the keel.

Why is it not? Poor production, warpage or possibly someother issue.

Squaring the frame and Fairing the bulkheads is an important part of starting the ship. If the bones are warped, everything else from that point will be also.

Its hard to tell from the picture, but it looks as though the bottom of bulkhead 2 is forward, which makes me question the cut of the slots. Ok course my swift is the older kit but it should still be square. I had a bit of warpage that I fixed with blocks. You can see this in my log.

I would suggest before gluing anything, getting something to hold the bulkheads square while gluing. I used angle Aluminum in the four corners but I've seen big legos used as well. All depends on whats handy.

Also watch that the bulkheads are the right height, they should be at the same level at the deck. This may require some work of the slots to get the correct fit. You can expect alot of this type of fixing the weak points of the kit. Its all just part of the hobby though.

Patience and pesistence is key and a bit of innovation helps, of course you can get most of that right here on MSW.

Here's how I glued and retained square. Einstein action figure optional