jablackwell
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jablackwell got a reaction from fnkershner in US Brig Syren by jablackwell - Model Shipways - first POB build
Thanks, everyone! I am looking forward to this build as well. The keel is still a little itty bitty bit curved, but I think now manageable with filler blocks. I need to get some wood.... that will be the weekend mission.... some 1"x2" strip to use.
~john
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jablackwell got a reaction from Overworked724 in US Brig Syren by jablackwell - Model Shipways - first POB build
The adventure DOES start! Had some time to figure out that an empty vodka bottle makes a fine way to soak rabbet strips for a keel ;-) It is now curved around the keel and waiting to dry before I glue it in place. After that, onto the rabbet itself. In the meantime, I am starting to hunt around for filler block material. I was thinking balsa, but not quite decided. Any commentary or advice on this? Perhaps something stronger would be appropriate?
~john
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jablackwell got a reaction from coxswain in Sopwith Camel by Mike Dowling - FINISHED - Model Airways - 1/16
Nice! Those ribs are so time consuming. There were points when I was almost just DONE with the whole model thanks to these ribs. Well, now you are on your way!
~john
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jablackwell got a reaction from alde in US Brig Syren by jablackwell - Model Shipways - first POB build
The adventure DOES start! Had some time to figure out that an empty vodka bottle makes a fine way to soak rabbet strips for a keel ;-) It is now curved around the keel and waiting to dry before I glue it in place. After that, onto the rabbet itself. In the meantime, I am starting to hunt around for filler block material. I was thinking balsa, but not quite decided. Any commentary or advice on this? Perhaps something stronger would be appropriate?
~john
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jablackwell got a reaction from Canute in Sopwith Camel by Mike Dowling - FINISHED - Model Airways - 1/16
Nice! Those ribs are so time consuming. There were points when I was almost just DONE with the whole model thanks to these ribs. Well, now you are on your way!
~john
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jablackwell got a reaction from fnkershner in US Brig Syren by jablackwell - Model Shipways - first POB build
The adventure DOES start! Had some time to figure out that an empty vodka bottle makes a fine way to soak rabbet strips for a keel ;-) It is now curved around the keel and waiting to dry before I glue it in place. After that, onto the rabbet itself. In the meantime, I am starting to hunt around for filler block material. I was thinking balsa, but not quite decided. Any commentary or advice on this? Perhaps something stronger would be appropriate?
~john
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jablackwell got a reaction from Richvee in US Brig Syren by jablackwell - Model Shipways - first POB build
The adventure DOES start! Had some time to figure out that an empty vodka bottle makes a fine way to soak rabbet strips for a keel ;-) It is now curved around the keel and waiting to dry before I glue it in place. After that, onto the rabbet itself. In the meantime, I am starting to hunt around for filler block material. I was thinking balsa, but not quite decided. Any commentary or advice on this? Perhaps something stronger would be appropriate?
~john
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jablackwell reacted to Mike Dowling in Sopwith Camel by Mike Dowling - FINISHED - Model Airways - 1/16
After a while (!!!!) all the spars have been capped. What a job !! And I didn't break any.
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jablackwell got a reaction from Elijah in Sultana by Overworked724 (Patrick) – FINISHED - Model Shipways – Scale 1:64 – Solid Hull – First Wooden Model Ship
They DO look good. Nice work on them.
~john
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jablackwell got a reaction from popeye the sailor in Sopwith F.1 Camel Build Log
Hi Mike,
Sure. I'll do that later in the afternoon when I get home. There are some (not many) images of the prop being made in my build log here, I think on the first page of the log. More to come later today.
~john
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jablackwell got a reaction from popeye the sailor in Sopwith F.1 Camel Build Log
I started with wood glue PVA and then tired of that rapidly and got some 15 second CA. It was just enough time to get the pieces in place properly before setting ;-) DO make a jig: it helps a lot.
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jablackwell got a reaction from popeye the sailor in Sopwith F.1 Camel Build Log
Mike, PS - with the sides, note that the side facing the aircraft is flat. The curve starts at the hub and tapers to the tips. Ignore the angle of the prop blade when working on the side view.
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jablackwell got a reaction from popeye the sailor in Sopwith F.1 Camel Build Log
Hi Mike,
I started by gluing the layers altogether being careful to get glue on every square millimeter of the surface before bonding. A couple of days later, I unclamped the layers and then shaped the side view first, tapering evenly to the tips. I started that using a sharp pocket knife, then ended up with rough sand paper. I then worked on the front/back views of the prop. It might help to take a pencil and sketch in the shape near the central hub. Go slowly with this part. I used an XActo blade (11) and then medium sand paper until I was close. The whole thing was then finely sanded and stained/varnished.
If you've not made one before I suggest getting a block of balsa or other carve-able wood and giving it a whirl.... mistakes are easy with the prop. Look at lots of pics online for the Sopwith prop.
~john
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jablackwell reacted to Mike Dowling in Sopwith Camel by Mike Dowling - FINISHED - Model Airways - 1/16
Thank you so much John - a great help.
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jablackwell got a reaction from GrandpaPhil in Sopwith Camel by Mike Dowling - FINISHED - Model Airways - 1/16
Hi Mike,
Pics of the prop for you. Counterclockwise rotation when viewing the nose of the craft (as if it was going to run you over ;-) (figure 5 in the instructions). Their prop is thinner than mine (and likely more accurate). The side view shape is correct. I could have spent more time sanding and sanding and sanding.... With this engine, the prop was attached to the engine solidly, and the WHOLE engine rotates. Amazing to see in real life actually. Very noisy things. Here's a vid:
~john
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jablackwell got a reaction from popeye the sailor in Sopwith F.1 Camel Build Log
Hi Jeff,
Thanks! I enjoyed the build a lot. It got me away from ships for a while and I am now refreshed enough to want to take on the Syren ;-) Thanks also for the search tip for figures. I did some serious hunting for 120mm scale WWI figures and came up with a lot of soldiers and some German aces.... I kept hunting around and found three resin editions of WWI pilots from the Michigan Toy Soldier Company michtoy.com : Eddie Rickenbacker, Billy Bishop, and Frank Luke. They haven't arrived yet, but I'll post some images once I get them in and painted a little.....
~john
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jablackwell got a reaction from Bobby in Sopwith F.1 Camel Build Log
All,
Here is the completed build, sans diorama for now. I'm now in the middle of cleaning out the workspace, ordering new drill bits (and other tools) and getting ready to sink my teeth into building the Syren. I think I am ready for a ship, haven gotten the plane out of my system.
~john
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jablackwell reacted to Overworked724 in Kate Cory by jablackwell - FINISHED - Model Shipways - Scale 1:64
Beautiful!!!
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jablackwell got a reaction from EricWilliamMarshall in Kate Cory by jablackwell - FINISHED - Model Shipways - Scale 1:64
All,
I present to you the completed Kate Cory! It has been a two-and-a-half year long build, with a couple of stumbles, well, a lot of stumbles, some pretty amazing errors, and a lot of learning! Thank you ALL for all your help in so many ways, from the simple to the complicated, from the esoteric to the obvious. Every day is one to grow by. Without this group... I would not have gotten this one done. Really.
In this last section of the build: I completed the running rigging, added flags, and lastly rigged the whaleboats into place. I wanted to be a little different, so placed one of the whaleboats in a position down alongsides as if being lowered into the sea.
Obligatory images below. I did my best to stop the aperture down a lot to get as much in focus as possible. Enjoy,
~john
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jablackwell got a reaction from modlerbob in Kate Cory by jablackwell - FINISHED - Model Shipways - Scale 1:64
A busy last couple of weeks for the Kate Cory. I was able to finish all the fore yards and get the running rigging completed. I am learning that having thin fingers would help a lot in ship modeling! Alas, my fingers may be long, but they are not thin! Tools to the rescue. I got an old model paintbrush, removed the brush and added on a needle which I then clipped the eye off (in half) leaving a nice little pusher-type-tool. Next steps?
Get all the little rope coils in place. I have about half done right now... and to do so without making a big mess of the installed rigging. Maybe I'll make some more tools for the job. Here are some pics of the latest stage. So close! I can see that I need to think about a case now.
~john
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jablackwell got a reaction from modlerbob in Kate Cory by jablackwell - FINISHED - Model Shipways - Scale 1:64
Mainsail boom and gaff are now in place. Phew! Also got the flag halyard in there for the finishing touches later on. Now to the foremast yards, then the lashing of the whaleboats....
Things learned this time through: use longer tweezers that have a flat grabbing area capable of holding onto thread with some strength.
~john
A view of the whole ship as it stands today.
Just the stern section here to show the boom and gaff in place. Getting all those lines tensioned properly was a bit of juggling. The boom topping lift was a piece of work!
Closeup of the peak and throat halliards for the gaff.
Closeup of the boom sheet which rides on a traveler on the transom.
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jablackwell got a reaction from modlerbob in Kate Cory by jablackwell - FINISHED - Model Shipways - Scale 1:64
Finished the standing rigging today! Huzzah! Now I must get back to working with wood to make spars and such for the running rigging. I am very happy to have done the cutting-in work first... it would be very difficult to add that rigging later on in the process. Rule: read ahead in the instructions! Do not be fearful to change the order of operations!
Some pics follow, and as I look at these I think a white background would be better:
~john
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jablackwell got a reaction from modlerbob in Kate Cory by jablackwell - FINISHED - Model Shipways - Scale 1:64
Got some serious work done this week before having to get back to teaching classes(!): finished the cutting-in tackle and rigging. What an interesting workout this ended up becoming. Applying the correct balance of tension is key to this one. Some images follow. I worked on the starboard side first, then the port. By the time the port side was complete, I had to go back and re-tension the starboard side again. It ended up being somewhat iterative, but looks quite good in the end. Now it's time to work on the stays!
~john
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jablackwell got a reaction from modlerbob in Kate Cory by jablackwell - FINISHED - Model Shipways - Scale 1:64
Slowly making progress with the hot summer days taking their toll on our sanity! With temps pushing 100F and high humidity, it's best to be working on the Kate Cory. The main mast shrouds are complete, and I can now happily begin work on the last ratlines before doing some backstays. ~john
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jablackwell got a reaction from GrandpaPhil in Kate Cory by jablackwell - FINISHED - Model Shipways - Scale 1:64
All,
I present to you the completed Kate Cory! It has been a two-and-a-half year long build, with a couple of stumbles, well, a lot of stumbles, some pretty amazing errors, and a lot of learning! Thank you ALL for all your help in so many ways, from the simple to the complicated, from the esoteric to the obvious. Every day is one to grow by. Without this group... I would not have gotten this one done. Really.
In this last section of the build: I completed the running rigging, added flags, and lastly rigged the whaleboats into place. I wanted to be a little different, so placed one of the whaleboats in a position down alongsides as if being lowered into the sea.
Obligatory images below. I did my best to stop the aperture down a lot to get as much in focus as possible. Enjoy,
~john
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