Shotlocker

Hello again everyone,
 
160 years ago today, December 12, 1862, the USS Cairo had her rendezvous with destiny. While patrolling the Yazoo River about six miles north of Vicksburg Mississippi, Commander Thomas O. Selfridge and his crew of 175 men were on a torpedo (mine) clearing mission along with another City-Class iron clad the USS Pittsburgh, the Union Ram Queen of the West and two other tin clads, the Marmora & the Signal.
Roughly four hours into the mission, two loud explosions in rapid succession, rocked the Cairo tearing a huge hole in her portside bow. As the forward hold started to fill with water, Commander Selfridge ordered his pilot to run the ship aground on the east bank of the river. Once the ship was on the bank he ordered part of the crew to secure a hawser to tree on the riverbank and the rest of the crew to abandon ship. 12 minutes after the explosions doomed the Cairo, she slipped her hawser and slid into her muddy resting place for the next 100 years. Not a single life was lost.
 
In 1956 Edwin Bearss and two associates, Warren Grabau and Don Jacks, discovered the wreck and set out on a mission of their own to pull the Cairo from the muddy riverbed. On December 12, 1964, 102 years to the day of her sinking, the final piece of the sunken Ironclad was set on top of the recovery barge. The wreckage was then towed to Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula Mississippi where the pieces were to be reassembled, tagged and catalogued. 
 
Finally in 1977, after several years of neglect, red tape and debate, funding was secured and what remained of the Cairo was transported to Vicksburg National Military Park where she, along with the thousands of artifacts recovered with her, could permanently be displayed properly. In November of 1980 the Cairo reassembly was completed, the protective shelter built and the museum was opened to the public.
 
I first saw the Cairo in the fall of 1984 when I was a Boy Scout. Our troop had taken a trip Vicksburg to hike the park tour road as part of some of our merit badge requirements. A few months prior to our visit, I had just finished my first ship model, Revell’s 1:96 scale USS Constitution. This was the model that started my life long love of model shipbuilding. I still recall as we came down the hill to the Cairo museum and I fist laid eyes on the display, I said to myself that one day I am going to build that ship.
 
A photograph from my first visit to the Cairo in 1984.

Well time passed and life went on, but that thought still remained in the back of my mind that one day I would get around to building my model of the Cairo. In 2011, I moved away from plastic models and started my first wooden ship model, ironically enough it was the USS Constitution cross section. Since that time I have been hooked and have not looked back. In 2014, on our way back from Parris Island, SC to see my daughter graduate from Marine Corps Boot Camp, the Admiral and I decided to take a side trip to Vicksburg NMP. It was then that my interest in the USS Cairo was renewed and I was finally determined that the build was going to happen one way or another. So I searched and searched, but could not find a model kit of the Cairo that I personally felt was good enough (or big enough) to feed my desire to fulfill my dream. So I decided that it was going to have to be a scratch build. Well with only three years of wooden ship building under my belt, I felt that my skills were just not there yet, so I set out to hone my skills by completing more model kits until I felt the time was right.
 
During my Chaperon build, I did a lot of additional research and I added a lot of extra scratch-built details that I had found from contemporary photos of her and from a lot of help from people here on MSW. So in 2020, after completing my Chaperon kit I felt that I had enough practice under my belt that it was time to knuckle down and start a full scratch build. In my mind there was no debating that the Cairo was going to be that build. So here it is, after 38 years of dreaming and over 2 ½ years of work, my final product of the USS Cairo City-Class Ironclad circa 1862.
 










I want to thank all of those who have stopped by to have a look and those who have stuck with me through this build, offering up your suggestions, comments and words of encouragement. It means so much to me to have you following along. I’ll have better pictures coming soon for the Gallery. My daughter works with a professional photographer that is going to do a shoot for me. She is a bit tied up through the holidays, but hopefully after the new year I should have some good ones to add.
 
I am going to take a short break through the holidays, I need to have a procedure done that will put me out of commission for a few weeks, but I need to get it done this year so insurance will pay for it. After that, I will be back at it. I’ve got another scratch build planned that is a bit outside of my wheelhouse, but it should be fun.
 
Thank you all!
-Brian

Modern Mechanics, July 1930.  Again, what could possibly go wrong?

Keith actually spends most of my time building a prototype.
On it, the technological map is worked out, errors that arise are corrected, and optimal decisions are made on the further process.
After that, mass production of repeated samples does not cause any special difficulties and takes much less time.

Quite the machine all right but methinks I would set it on something a bit more stable than those two blocks of wood!

Quite the machine all right but methinks I would set it on something a bit more stable than those two blocks of wood!

The start of my build log...always a very exciting moment for a model builder!!
 
I am assuming most of you are somewhat familiar with the Ketch Rigged English Sloop Speedwell - 1752.   David Antscherl and Greg Herbert have produced a wonderful series of books for model builders on how to build a great model of her.   Not only can you build one as a POF model,  but as a POB and lift model as well.
 
Why would I choose this as my subject.  Those of you that know me,  I have always selected a subject that was unique at the time.  Never been done!!!  The Syren, The Winnie, The Cheerful etc.  I chose this subject for several reasons actually, knowing full well that this would become a commercial laser cut kit like my other Syren projects.
 
First- I never really wanted to build a POF model.  I prefer the look of a fully planked hull myself.  But the craftsman side of me won out as I was looking for a challenge beyond just another POB project.  I can build those and sometimes it feels like I am just going through the formulaic motions with each of them.   This would certainly be a design and engineering challenge as much as a builder challenge.
 


Second-  I am always increasingly frustrated and disappointed to regularly see pirated kits come out almost monthly as of late.  Mostly all the rage are those POF kits from China. 
 
A coincidence??  That almost all of them released are also subjects of Ancre, Seawatch, or Anatomy of the Ship Books.  I think not.
 
You may have noticed the latest pirated kit produced from one of David Antscherl's designs, the Hayling Hoy is now making its rounds.  None of the parts fit as is typical and the instructions render this kit almost unbuildable....again very typical.  Just check out the build logs of pirated Hayling kit from China on other forums.  Its a complete disaster and a waste of money.  Literally unbuildable but they are still selling them to unsuspecting builders.
 
So I reached out to David and Greg and asked them if I could develop the Speedwell before a really bad pirated version is released (and one is actually on the way-surprised?)  They agreed and are as excited as I am about it.  I just dont want to see a crappy unbuildable version of Speedwell being sold to builders.   Hopefully they will wait until this one is released.  Maybe I should do one of Hayling as well. LOL.
 
My goal...to design a kit based on the books where the parts actually do fit.   One that would encourage POF building for folks who want to give it a try.   To also write a set of English instructions that are in depth and easy to understand.  In short, to make a legitimate kit of from a Seawatch book under license and permission from the author with the authors help and guidance.  Will this stop folks from building the knock-off version when it comes out.....probably not.  But at least you will now have a choice.  The pirated version of Speedwell is currently almost ready and being done by the same company who pirated Hayling.   Coincidence again??  I think not.
 
Also and I dont mean to digress....but a pirated version of yet another Seawatch book....Ed Tosti's Naiad Frigate is also set for release very soon as well.   Again a coincidence...I think Not.    Why dont you ever see a subject from these guys that wasnt first a Seawatch Book or Ancre book?   Honest inquiring minds want to know.
 
Anyway
 
There will be differences between my Speedwell of course.  I will be modifying it for simplicity so  you dont have to be a master builder with every expensive tool in shop.   The design concept for this POF model will be unique and allow a novice and intermediate builder to tackle it.   It will also be at 3/8" scale which should also make it much easier to build.  BUT I will also make my Carvings available in 1/4" scale so folks building directly from the books will be able to buy them.  Some preliminary views of the unfinished CAD work on the carvings.  There is much work left t do on these but I hope you agree that they look pretty amazing so far.



 
 
Here is the preliminary framing plan which will show just how different it will be.
 

It will be planked from the wales upward so there is no reason to over complicate the project with bent frames....If you compared this to David's plan it is completely different.  BUT make no mistake.   Yes the folks who pirate these POF projects will claim its different and therefore original. 
 
BUT make no mistake.  This is a 100% copy of Davids work.   All of this is directly lifted from his plans and only modified to make production and building a bit easier.   But it is a copy...literally traced.  But the difference here is I give full credit to David and will be paying for the privilege to use his knowledge and expertise and hard work and years of research on this subject.  
 
I do hope you will swing over a chair and watch this new Speedwell project come to life.  A huge thank you to David and to Greg who will no doubt think I am pain in biscuit by the time this is completed.
 
speedwellsheetone.pdf
 
speedwellsheettwo.pdf
 
speedwellsheetthree.pdf

 
 
 
 

Quite the machine all right but methinks I would set it on something a bit more stable than those two blocks of wood!

Quite the machine all right but methinks I would set it on something a bit more stable than those two blocks of wood!

I finished the display base with a 1/8 inch sheet of acrylic mounted on the matt black MDF board with brass screws. The sheet locates the side walls and gives a finished look to the base,

The keel rests on acrylic cubes. Once the ship is levelled the cubes are glued to the sheet.


Then the scary part - lifting the case over the model and lowering it onto the base. Thankfully I was able to get this done without disaster.

Any doubts about making a case have disappeared. It is great to see the corvette protected from ust and inquisitive fingers and i actually think it enhances the model.
The lighting around the room makes it hard to get good photos but I'll try again
Thanks for looking in
Alan
Thank you 

The last item of the model that I wanted to do was to make the name badge. I used the kit supplied shield and printed (at work) a sticker with the (translated from Dutch) text "Vasa Swedish ship of war, built and sunk in Stockholm 1628. Model in scale 1:75, built 2012-2021, by <me>". The sticker was cut to fit into the shield.
 

 
I have added some photos of my now completed VASA:
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
The next big thing for me is building a display case. I have seen a very nice one here on MSW and will use it as guideline:
The display case made by Shipshaper for his Emma C Berry
 
 

Before placing the model in the display case: one last detail: I made four oars for the life boat. The diameter of the length of the oars are 1 mm round nutwood.

 
I had first made the wooden parts of the display case and then measured the sizes of the glass that I needed.
The thickness of the glass of the lid is 4 mm, the thickness of the vertical glass windows is 5 mm. Without glass, the display case was kind of wobbly, but inserting the glass in the groves gave enormous stability to the complete set-up, even when the lid was not yet present.
The lid of the case was made to house LED strips, for which the cable is housed in one of the vertical beams of the display case. The cable is hidden in a groove of the vertical beam, and a matching thin strip of wood, also with a groove, was then 'clicked' over the cable. So, this part is without glue.
 

 

 
Most parts of the display case are without glue. Glued are the only the big base, the lid, the small pins on the top horizontal strips. To add stability, I also glued the horizontal top strips to the top of the vertical beams.
 
To fix the stand of the model at the desired location on the base, I had made a small combined strip of wood that fits exactly under the stand, and glued this strip on the base. This allowed me to insert the ship into the display case from the small side.
 

 

 
The Vasa in the display case is now COMPLETED. I am very happy with the results.
 

 

 

Nice! A challenge for the kit manufacturer would be to reproduce the structure that was beneath that monstrous turret.
Considering the secrecy that was in place during Yamato's construction, tho', that information may not be available now.

Nice! A challenge for the kit manufacturer would be to reproduce the structure that was beneath that monstrous turret.
Considering the secrecy that was in place during Yamato's construction, tho', that information may not be available now.

Nice! A challenge for the kit manufacturer would be to reproduce the structure that was beneath that monstrous turret.
Considering the secrecy that was in place during Yamato's construction, tho', that information may not be available now.

Nice! A challenge for the kit manufacturer would be to reproduce the structure that was beneath that monstrous turret.
Considering the secrecy that was in place during Yamato's construction, tho', that information may not be available now.

Lower hull done, the upper hull dragged off a bit too much paint with the masking so I don’t know if I’m happy with it. 

Nice! A challenge for the kit manufacturer would be to reproduce the structure that was beneath that monstrous turret.
Considering the secrecy that was in place during Yamato's construction, tho', that information may not be available now.

Nice! A challenge for the kit manufacturer would be to reproduce the structure that was beneath that monstrous turret.
Considering the secrecy that was in place during Yamato's construction, tho', that information may not be available now.

the KA MK!  upgrade set goes on forever, 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 





 

Good evening, I wanted to share with you another completed work of mine, the bow and stern sections of the Volage, long boat, in 1/24 scale.

Thanks to all of you for your welcome, I will put some details about the completed construction sites. This is the Orient, French first-rate 124-gun bladder in 1/48 scale. On the last photo the Orient next to the Commerce de Marseille in 1/72 scale, which is still under construction.
 

Good morning everyone, my name is Michele and I am a vaporetto pilot in Venice by profession. I have been modeling since I was a child. When I was 10 years old I built my first fretwork fort and then moved on to my first assembly boxes. Now it has been 11 years that I have discovered and am fascinated by arsenal modeling. Now I have three construction sites in progress, below I put some photos of my finished works and under construction.
 

 

Thanks Roger. Main gun assemblies are straightforward and move quite well after mounting. Well that’s about it for the time being, I will be away from the shipyard for the next few weeks at least. Thanks for looking in and I’ll pick this up whenever I can get back to it.
Cheers Tim 

Well all the hull handrails are in place 48 each side meaning 98 holes nothing is glued on the decks yet.I have to pick up some screws tomorrow to mount the ship to it's stand after that already staring secondary guns dealing with a bit of PE.The next trip to Mobile I will pick up some of that Tamiya primer if it 's available there.
 
The 1/200 scale Sharnhorst is inbound with the metal barrels and decking coming in later

Thanks everyone!
 I am very pleased that my work is interesting and causes so many positive emotions!
This means that my efforts in the field of photography are not in vain.   
 
I've finished assembling steam boats.