themadchemist

Russ, I opened up the holes a bit in one block, to .031 (the next bit up that doesn't currently fit), but the blocks have a frighteningly small amount of room left to do this, and I'm a bit worried about breaking them if I try to open them up much at all. 
 
Of course I've also got quite a few blocks already stropped and mounted to eyebolts in the hull and on the masts, so those will be a bit of a pain to drill out too.  Oh well, I'll keep working with it, I was just wondering if there was a 'technique' that is commonly used to thread the blocks.  In the mean time I'll continue to use the CA glue and cut method.
 
Here is the first one I managed to get threaded, along with the catshead.

That's common I think. It's tough to go from pre-formed styrene parts to (as a friend put it) "a box of sticks".
and many of us started with plastic models, typically modifying them.
Building a 68' mustang like my first car, was what got me thinking about the step up to wood and I still have a Z28 and B-17 on the shelve that will be fun projects. I mistakenly looked down on plastic kits when I first started building, then I saw what some people here were achieving with plastic and card.
I've never looked down on any type of medium, after that. Evergreen styrene has many uses on even a wooden kit, as does card stock.
Check out Dee Dee's use of dollar bills to form mast hoops and you soon start seeing everything as potential building material.
  
I remember showing a friend my build and they mentioned "oh that looks fun", then I opened the box and got the above reply.
They just couldn't believe that most everything came as rough timber and required building/making/shaping every piece by hand.
I also remember a "but they're all straight pieces, how do you make the curvy pieces" that is when explaining this hobby lost them.
This hobby seems to draw a higher developed mind that is seeking something real and tactile, you know the kind of real that isn't on "reality" TV.
The type of people that tend to not see TV as a hobby but a diversion. Personally next year will mark my first decade without TV and yet I just found this hobby less than 2 years ago. It has changed my life. I think I'd only go back to TV if there was a model ship building channel
Someone call discovery channel   Just Kidding.
It's almost strange the satisfaction one gets when, as you mentioned when you made the bitts and said
"I was ridiculously pleased with myself when I finished my first piece of pin-rail. It was about as perfect as I could have hoped for"
 
That feeling has never stopped for me since I started building and when you consider all the types of ships, you know Life just won't be long enough to get to everything we want to achieve. I always revel when I see others cross this bridge into the pleasures of this hobby.
Its a dying art-form that strangely the internet has made more accessible to us usually land locked builders.
 
The community of MSW, can never be given too much credit for their advancement of this hobby. Together we all learn more and as with any activity, the human aspect of belonging to a support group makes the undoable seem not so daunting. 
 
I'm not saying ship builders are smarter or better, just a bit more eccentric in their tastes towards what is fun.
 
I'm glad you received a quick reply from constructo. Waiting forever is isn't any fun.

I agree on setting the masts first.
As I stopped looking at directions over a years ago, I tend to feel that one should progress in the best manner so that your kind of working your way out. Deciding which pieces are next based on what they will obstruct and what obstructs them. I would think this would be even more important a factor on a square rig build.
 
Always remember, you can judge the quality of builder by the size of their scrap box(s). You will always be your own worst critic also. Also never underestimate the VAST difference that a finish can have on that raw wood . That's one of the reasons I love tung oil.
 
Looking at your deck filled, you should feel proud. I think you've done a Superb job. The most important part is the knowledge that you gained.
 
I guess the Amazon and MicroMark stock purchases are proof that you've decided this hobby's a keeper.
 
On the glue issue, do you use CA or PVA. For PVA I suggest getting a syringe. If you don't have access just PM me as the Admiral work in an OR and they trash all unused material that's open, due to sterile protocol. 

Thank you Keith.  I may try this blackening on a bit of scrap brass and see how it works, and just blacken all the brass if that's what it should actually be.  I may have to just paint the chain-plates though, as they are already mounted to the ship, and I'm not going to pull them off for that, as they are attached with  CA and nails.
 
The AVS that I ordered expecting a mid-late October delivery showed up today.  I opened it up and took inventory, and am sort of wishing I hadn't now.  Every single thing about that kit makes the Carmen kit look cheap in comparison, and apparently, wildly out of scale.  The AVS is 1:48, while the Carmen is 1:80, yet all the little fittings (eye bolts, deadeyes, blocks, etc.) on the AVS are actually smaller (and very much sharper and better quality) than the fittings on the Carmen.  All of the wood is much nicer, and the laser cut pieces absolutely blow away the pre-cut pieces on the Carmen both in sharpness, and in the quality of wood.
 
Oh well, I still think it's looking nice and will turn into a nice looking model, but it certainly points out that there is a huge variation of quality between the two kits.  Does the quality within a specific manufacturer vary a lot as well?   I.e. is the Constructo Constitution better quality, or similar to the Carmen.  Makes me wonder for future kit purchases.
 
Finished up the 2nd mast, and have the bowsprit all shaped and fit to the bitt that I modified.
 
Edit: Eh, I'm wishy-washy.  After I blackened the cast fittings, I played with the brass a bit, and decided since the chain-plates are brass, I'm just going to leave all the brass fittings as brass to match them.  Time will tell if that's the right decision, but I've started putting in the eye-bolts, so it's decided now.

That's common I think. It's tough to go from pre-formed styrene parts to (as a friend put it) "a box of sticks".
and many of us started with plastic models, typically modifying them.
Building a 68' mustang like my first car, was what got me thinking about the step up to wood and I still have a Z28 and B-17 on the shelve that will be fun projects. I mistakenly looked down on plastic kits when I first started building, then I saw what some people here were achieving with plastic and card.
I've never looked down on any type of medium, after that. Evergreen styrene has many uses on even a wooden kit, as does card stock.
Check out Dee Dee's use of dollar bills to form mast hoops and you soon start seeing everything as potential building material.
  
I remember showing a friend my build and they mentioned "oh that looks fun", then I opened the box and got the above reply.
They just couldn't believe that most everything came as rough timber and required building/making/shaping every piece by hand.
I also remember a "but they're all straight pieces, how do you make the curvy pieces" that is when explaining this hobby lost them.
This hobby seems to draw a higher developed mind that is seeking something real and tactile, you know the kind of real that isn't on "reality" TV.
The type of people that tend to not see TV as a hobby but a diversion. Personally next year will mark my first decade without TV and yet I just found this hobby less than 2 years ago. It has changed my life. I think I'd only go back to TV if there was a model ship building channel
Someone call discovery channel   Just Kidding.
It's almost strange the satisfaction one gets when, as you mentioned when you made the bitts and said
"I was ridiculously pleased with myself when I finished my first piece of pin-rail. It was about as perfect as I could have hoped for"
 
That feeling has never stopped for me since I started building and when you consider all the types of ships, you know Life just won't be long enough to get to everything we want to achieve. I always revel when I see others cross this bridge into the pleasures of this hobby.
Its a dying art-form that strangely the internet has made more accessible to us usually land locked builders.
 
The community of MSW, can never be given too much credit for their advancement of this hobby. Together we all learn more and as with any activity, the human aspect of belonging to a support group makes the undoable seem not so daunting. 
 
I'm not saying ship builders are smarter or better, just a bit more eccentric in their tastes towards what is fun.
 
I'm glad you received a quick reply from constructo. Waiting forever is isn't any fun.

Historically the metalwork is blackened to simulate the forged steel, but some prefer letting the brass shine. Its kind of a personal thing.
 
Blackening is usually preferred to paint, but paint is less problematic.
Blackening can be a trial by fire, but E&T has done an extensive study on the process.
http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/6977-the-blacken-it-trials/?hl=blacken

You should check out E&T's HMS Terror log also, its another good one, along with Dubz Syren and Sherbourne. Dubz Swift is in the finished section also, which is a Pilot boat similar to Carmen

Just a word on whether you've started or are restarting - practice counts as having started..., so does the grog.... That's why its called a HOBBY

Serving the foremast shroud
 

Nice little deadeye jig Jesse.
I agree with you on the Syren "rope". it makes the stuff that came in my kit look sick. Syren's blocks are a huge upgrade also from the AL stuff.
 
If you can find gears  you can build a simple server fairly cheap. Using helping hands just wasn't cutting it. I used Andy's design with a few modifications and it works well. Now I just need to USE it. Watching you serve shrouds makes me almost have enough energy to attempt getting going again. The work area needs cleaning and I have books stacked. Who would have ever though ship building would require book shelves.

I'm there also, building come from a feeling inside me and it's best not to work when life's other distractions get in the way.
I see no guilt in taking a break as needed, I actually think its good for the build as we do better work when we have "the focus"
 
If your like me, as you enter the next phase of rigging your probably questioning a lot and researching also, which count as building in my book at least. 
 
Hobby's are that, and if your pushing yourself to work, your defeating the purpose of s hobby altogether.
 
Your deadeye and chains look as always Matti-ized, which is always an A+ rated and 99.99% pure.
 
So was your summer over across the pond as cool as here in the US's Midwest? Glad life is keeping you busy. 

I'm there also, building come from a feeling inside me and it's best not to work when life's other distractions get in the way.
I see no guilt in taking a break as needed, I actually think its good for the build as we do better work when we have "the focus"
 
If your like me, as you enter the next phase of rigging your probably questioning a lot and researching also, which count as building in my book at least. 
 
Hobby's are that, and if your pushing yourself to work, your defeating the purpose of s hobby altogether.
 
Your deadeye and chains look as always Matti-ized, which is always an A+ rated and 99.99% pure.
 
So was your summer over across the pond as cool as here in the US's Midwest? Glad life is keeping you busy. 

Ahoy MSW
 
My Vanda lay Drill Press Plus and Proxxon XY table have arrived and I am very happy with my purchase.
 
It holds the Dremel securely enough for my milling/drilling needs. I did have to upgrade the Vanda lay product and contacted the owner “Larry” who was very receptive to my suggestion.
 
The Proxxon table was for the money an “excellent” choice. Made in Japan; it is well constructed and looks like it will serve my needs just fine.
 
Now I just need to learn how to use this puppy

That's common I think. It's tough to go from pre-formed styrene parts to (as a friend put it) "a box of sticks".
and many of us started with plastic models, typically modifying them.
Building a 68' mustang like my first car, was what got me thinking about the step up to wood and I still have a Z28 and B-17 on the shelve that will be fun projects. I mistakenly looked down on plastic kits when I first started building, then I saw what some people here were achieving with plastic and card.
I've never looked down on any type of medium, after that. Evergreen styrene has many uses on even a wooden kit, as does card stock.
Check out Dee Dee's use of dollar bills to form mast hoops and you soon start seeing everything as potential building material.
  
I remember showing a friend my build and they mentioned "oh that looks fun", then I opened the box and got the above reply.
They just couldn't believe that most everything came as rough timber and required building/making/shaping every piece by hand.
I also remember a "but they're all straight pieces, how do you make the curvy pieces" that is when explaining this hobby lost them.
This hobby seems to draw a higher developed mind that is seeking something real and tactile, you know the kind of real that isn't on "reality" TV.
The type of people that tend to not see TV as a hobby but a diversion. Personally next year will mark my first decade without TV and yet I just found this hobby less than 2 years ago. It has changed my life. I think I'd only go back to TV if there was a model ship building channel
Someone call discovery channel   Just Kidding.
It's almost strange the satisfaction one gets when, as you mentioned when you made the bitts and said
"I was ridiculously pleased with myself when I finished my first piece of pin-rail. It was about as perfect as I could have hoped for"
 
That feeling has never stopped for me since I started building and when you consider all the types of ships, you know Life just won't be long enough to get to everything we want to achieve. I always revel when I see others cross this bridge into the pleasures of this hobby.
Its a dying art-form that strangely the internet has made more accessible to us usually land locked builders.
 
The community of MSW, can never be given too much credit for their advancement of this hobby. Together we all learn more and as with any activity, the human aspect of belonging to a support group makes the undoable seem not so daunting. 
 
I'm not saying ship builders are smarter or better, just a bit more eccentric in their tastes towards what is fun.
 
I'm glad you received a quick reply from constructo. Waiting forever is isn't any fun.

Hi JPett,
 
Wish I had noticed this thread before. I have the Vanda-lay AcraMill Plus to which I've added a drill press attachment. I don't actually use this so much any more as I've since added other tools to my collection. The Vanda-lay system holds the Dremel just fine.
 
I hated my old Dremel Drill press, which I actually got the version labeled and sold by Sears. It had so much flex that the holes I was drilling would often not end up straight. The Vanda-lay does still have some flex due to being mounted on a cheap wooden base. However, the table attaches directly to the Vanda-lay hardware and not directly to the base, so it doesn't affect the work. If you're going to attach your own x-y table, however, you'll probably want to spring for the aluminum base too, otherwise you may still have a flex problem.
 
I find the Vanda-lay equipment holds the Dremel quite well since there are two very solid aluminum clamps. It's easy to over tighten them on the Dremel, but it just takes a little practice.
 
Someone mentioned that there is only a single bolt that holds the Dremel clamps to the Drill press assembly. That can be true depending on the orientation of the Dremel (you can set it up as a kind of cut-off saw), but even with just the one bolt, it clamps quite tightly and I've never had a problem with slippage.
 
Of course, my experience is really more with the mill set up and not the drill press per se. But, it's all basically the same stuff just configured differently.
 
 
Clare

Today was girls-out-day :-)   My sweet little Vic was seeing her big cousin Royal William from kay. http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/3174-hms-royal-william-by-kay/page-4   Also Edgar the ship´s cat found its way to join the meeting :-)     Also both proud dads ...     ... were well prepared :-) :-) :-)  
And then also came Robert*** to join the party ... http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/1749-hmy-royal-caroline-1749-by-tarjack-made-from-bone-m-1-50/page-14     ... envy and grudge started to take its toll ...     ... and a hard carnage about the meet started ...     ... just luckily there was enough for everybody in the end ;-)   Thanks @kay and @Tarjack   Truely yours dafi   *** See also Robert Volk and Peter Davies-Garner book in German: http://www.amazon.de/Arbeitstechniken-für-Schiffsmodellbau-Robert-Volk/dp/3881807047

Some more weekend tinkering.
 
First a small sweet part, a new tie for my little shipyard worker?
 

 
No a small loop for the surplus rope on the clamp behind the shroud :-)
 

 
The other ones were left a tad longer. But it was a tough job to place them behind the ratlines.
 
 

 
And here the new lashing of the stream anchor 2.0
 

 
If one looks long enough, then suddenly:  Lavery´s Arming and Fitting page 55, and this makes much more sense. The stream anchor sits neatly arm on arm, can´t rotate, easy to lash and even clears the gun port :-)
 

 

 
Grüßle, Daniel

...okokok...
 
... they got me, better saying my natural laziness :-)
 
Was hard enough to put the lanyards around the buoy so I used plain rope ...
 
... even though I knew better that it was meant to be served.
 
So they got me ...
 

 
... but I covered the rope with several coats of diluted white glue and splashed some black paint onto it. Perfect for the scale and thickness of the rope :-)
 
Still discussing the color of the buoy rope: The Vic in P. shows light rope and also plenty of contemporary models do ...
 
... but also plenty show dark ropes.
 
Also in the literature plenty of hints of serving the buoys lanyards, but no mentioning of tarring the buoy rope ...
 
... but still have luckily the time to research for the big model that´s why I do it :-)
 
Cheers, Daniel

Thank you Sirs, very appreciated!
 
And before the admiralty kills the buoy believing it is a cockroach with hairy legs I prefered fixing it fast :-)
 

 
There it hangs on the shrouds ...
 

 
... the ropes in nice turns ...
 

 
... under the influence of modelmakers gravity ...
 

 
... down to where it is fixed on the anchor.
 

 
And lucky too I was, luckily :-)
When I made the buoy I just guessed its size using pictures of the Vic in P. and gave it 1,5 m. Then got panic and searched through the literature which would be the correct size. Took a while until I found in Lee, that it should be a quarter of the shaft´s length. Hastily measured the anchor - 60 mm so my 15 mm are just about fine :-)
 
Cheers, Daniel

This time started quite easily with a large scale model of a bacteriophage on a 0,5 mm drill ... 
 

 
... mirrored and streamlined ...
 

 
... one side enroled ...
 

 
... other side too ...
 

 
... and done :-)
 
That the stream anchor usually was carried on the port side I wished to be excused in this display, but it was too nice a detail to not fiddle it out :-)
 
But now the difficult questions: I wonder about the lashings of the anchors. Only some turns around stock or shaft up to the timberheads? But still the weight is transmitted to the channels with no further support? And then the steam anchor on top? And should the stock of the steam anchor not be lashed onto the stock of the best bower? Would also avoid the steam anchor to turn around and give better view for the gun ...
 

 

 

 
... so I keep wondering ...
 
... Daniel

Yes,
 
I dared, the lanyards are secured :-)
 

 

 

 
XXXDAn

As being an old incremetalist I chose the smallest possible headway - I fixed an anchor  :-)
 
Some loops around the stock and the timberhead ...
 

 
... a chain around the shaft and a loop around the palm should do the trick for the small display. Luckily the inside can´t be seen ;-)
 
 
 
Cheers, Daniel

And here we go again for the big things in life ...
 
...
 
... a bit of sprue of 4 mm, a hole of 2 mm drilled in the middle, one pick glued on each side, slowly warmed up on top of a candle and very sloooooooooowly pulled ...
 

 
... cut to length, and rewidened the holes using broken 0,3 and 0,5 mm drills:
 

 
Used a wire hook to glue them onto the backside of the shroud ...
 

 
... bound them too for having a stable fixation during rigging ceremony and ready are the shroud trucks.
 
And then came a nice summer bouquet of assorted halyards, sheets, bunt lines, clue lines and tricing lines in a rich assortment of thicknesses. Some clamps still free for the stun´sail´s rigging
 

 
And now you see the reason, why I went through the task of adding the clamps. But equally exciting was to fix the lines onto them as I had no access from the back ...
 
 
 
... later I will still add some bights.
 
Kenavo, DAniel

Thank you Steve, Popeye and Jan.
 
@amateur : I did not decide yet. The earliest mention I have is ca. 1862 but still it is tempting and it would make big sense to me, as the lanyard is only secured by one half hitch as mentioned in all the literature. Could be tried here and to wait for a possible shitstorm ;-)
http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/6923-securing-the-lanyards-of-the-deadeyes/
 
 
The nice thing on such a model is, that one has so many small projects in their own sense, and I believe it to be pure coincidence, that they form a bigger model in the end ;-)
 
Blocks for ...
 

 
... another shifting backstay ...
 

 
... and the tye for the top mast yard.
 

 
As everything was well planned before execution, I had to drill some holes in hidden places, so my barbecue skewer drill was asked for, here 0,7 mm it also sets the scale in the picture ...
 

 
... and new parts already fixed, to be seen in the second row, or to hardly be seen because mostly hidden and unsharp.
 
.
 
Here is the new grammatical comparisson: tight-more tight-I love it :-)
 

 

 

 
And yes, one more thing, the main tack is also in place.
 
Grüßle, DAniel

Thank you Frank !
 
And Popeye, this reminds me nicely on an issue we had already :-)
 
...
 
Nelson: "Damn it man! We are on the eve of the greatest sea battle in 
history. We must advance with all dispatch. Report from the crow's 
nest please." 

Hardy: "That won't be possible, sir." 

Nelson: "What?" 

Hardy: "Health and Safety have closed the crow's nest, sir. No 
harness; and they said that rope ladders don't meet regulations. They 
won't let anyone up there until a proper scaffolding can be erected." 

Nelson: "Then get me the ship's carpenter without delay, Hardy." 

Hardy: "He's busy knocking up a wheelchair access to the foredeck 
Admiral." 

Nelson: "Wheelchair access? I've never heard anything so absurd." 

Hardy: "Health and safety again, sir. We have to provide a 
barrier-free environment for the differently abled." 

Nelson: "Differently abled? I've only one arm and one eye and I refuse 
even to hear mention of the word. I didn't rise to the rank of admiral 
by playing the disability card." 
 
...
 
See:
http://www.strategypage.com/humor/articles/military_jokes_200782222.asp
http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/3609-politically-correct/?hl=%2Bpolitically+%2Bcorrect
 
XXXDAn

Amazed as always.
I'm with Augie, on your better then expected in that deck fit.
You must be expecting better then perfect....um ....oh excuse me.... I forgot who I was talking to.
 
Innovation and perfection, the two hallmarks of a popeye build.
 
Nice engine, is that a Hemi or a SOHC 427? The SOHC's aren't a common piece - I remember buying a model years ago just for that engine. The 63' split window 'vette I was modifying got powered by FORD
 
So where's this other site. I've been stuck in a rut for weeks and I'm eyeballing that B17 or Z28 on my shelf as maybe a way to get the blood flowing again.
It seemed to have worked for you and I've never been stirred wrong by the spinach powered ship builder yet.