ancre La Créole 1827 by archjofo - Scale 1/48 - French corvette

[archjofo]

 

Hello,

thanks to all for the interest in my report.

I think it is okay with the silk fabric so far.

 

In a German forum we are discussing the issue that the windsock should be open at the top, because of the flow technique.

Edited December 30, 2021 by archjofo

[druxey]

I suppose it depends on how loose the canvas weave is. If you don't want it to blow away, a hole at the end would be added security!

[Keith Black]

 Johann, the silk fabric looks just fine but I do think the pointed end of the windsock should be open otherwise lift would be limited. 

 

 

[archjofo]

@druxey

@Keith Black

Hello,

thank you for the interesting comments.

 

Continuation: Main masthead with weather vane and war pennant (flamme de guerre)
To take into account the discussion about the flow technique of a windsock, I now made the windsocks with a small opening at the top for the three masts. I dyed the silk a little darker.

The next picture shows the weather vane (girouette) with windsock (Manche de vent) on the foremast.

 

     

And here again in a modified form, the arrangement of the weather vane with windsock on the main mast.

Now I will start the first attempts for the war pennant.
To be continued ...

 

[archjofo]

Hello,

In the meantime, a fellow modeler Eberhard @wefalck directed me to a publication on how large the flags and pennants were. 
Here I show excerpts of this book - LE GRAS, M.A.: Album des pavillons, guidons, flammmes de toutes les puissances maritimes - Paris 1858:

 

Meanwhile, with the help of Eberhard @wefalck I was able to clarify one thing, what the column marked with a question mark means. This means the fabric web width, which was accordingly 50 cm. Thus, after correctly classifying the type of ship, the sizes of the flags and pennants can be determined. 
Accordingly, the large pennant of the La Creole was 16 m long and the
 width was 15 cm. 
The pennant/tricolore was divided as follows:
Starting at the masthead 20% blue, 20% white and 60% of the length waving red.

 

[archjofo]

Commissioning or war pennant (flamme de guerre)
After I was able to clarify (details here LINK) how big the commissioning pennant of the French corvette was, the thought came about which material it should be made of. In order to transfer the lightness of the original pennants to scale, only fine silk fabric came into question for me, which I had to dye accordingly.

As in the original, I put the pennant together from three parts (tricolor). The pennant edges were carefully coated with white glue according to the template. After the glue had dried, the pennant parts could be cut out with a scalpel and glued together.

The silk used is a very filigree fabric and slightly shimmering through, which was also intended. Therefore a mishap happened when cutting the pennant. So the end of the pennant has become a little crooked. Nevertheless, I wanted to see how the long pennant looked on the model and then temporarily hoisted it for a picture on the main mast and am so far satisfied with the result.

Ultimately, I now know how to make the pennant and can get to the final and exact production. I'll use the same method to make the flags.
Up soon …

Edited January 7, 2022 by archjofo

[archjofo]

Continuation:  War pennant (flamme de guerre)
I continued with the making of the flags and the long pennant for the La Créole. 
  
  
The following picture thus shows the finished flags and the flamme de guerre with indication of the original sizes.

   
In the next two pictures, the war pennant can be seen again on the model, especially the detail on the flag button with the flag line sheared through and the pennant wood. 

 

 

I provisionally sheared the flag line of the large flag at the gaff through the iron single block at the nock.For the detail to attach the flag line to the eye of the boltrope, I used a toggle as in the original. 

Source: Wictionary

 

 
However, the final assembly of the flags and the long pennant will be done just before the model is completed, as this fine silk fabric is not very durable.
So until then, off it goes into the "evidence room" with the other "suspects" until the final installation.
 
 
To be continued ...

PS: Macro shots are merciless ...

 

Edited January 13, 2022 by archjofo

[WalrusGuy]

6 minutes ago, archjofo said:

 

😯 

 

Just brilliant. 

[Wintergreen]

2 hours ago, archjofo said:

PS: Macro shots are merciless ...

Well, yes, in most cases. However in your case I can't really see any flaws or even dust speckles.

Nice evidence room. 🙂 Very stylish in all glass. Think I will take that idea and implement in the future.

 

Keep it up!

[jdbondy]

Beautiful macro images!

 

[mtaylor]

I think many of us wish our macros and our work came out half as well as yours, Johann.

[archjofo]

@Wintergreen

@jdbondy

@mtaylor

 

Hello,

thank you for your interest and the nice comments and also thank you to the others, also for the many LIKES.

 

Here I continue with my report:

Ratlines for the topmast shrouds - Enflechures
Long enough I shied away from attaching the ratlines to the topmast shrouds, also aware that this requires extremely sensitive precision work. 
The ratlines for the topmast shrouds of the La Créole had a smaller diameter than those of the lower shrouds, so these have ø 0.25 mm in model scale. Some time ago I made a successful attempt to attach these thin ratlines to the outer shrouds by means of eyes. The formation of the corresponding eyes was done by a simple splice or fake splice.
I also reported that for this difficult work in the rigging an adapted working height is very advantageous. Accordingly, I got myself a scissor lift in order to obtain the optimum working height steplessly.
Who doesn't know the strain of maintaining a steady hand when doing detailed work in the rigging. A flexible support option close to the position to be worked on would certainly be a great help. With this in mind, briefly searched for suitable material for implementation and set to work. 
In addition, besides the storage facility for rigging tools etc., appropriate lighting was also installed, which brings even more advantages for working in the rigging.
In retrospect, I am very glad to have built this simple auxiliary device. It facilitates this work immensely. It is easy to adapt to new situations.

 
Now back to the actual topic, the ratlines of the topmast shrouds. I started with the mizzen topmast to see if it is at all feasible in the intended form. The further up you go in the direction of the crosstrees, the smaller the distance between the shrouds, which ultimately means less and less space for the simple splice. In the end, I achieved it. In this respect, the way is now clear for the remaining ratlines.

 

  
The last picture should give an impression of the different thicknesses of the ratlines. 

 
See you soon ...

 

[dvm27]

I'm going to try to emulate your ratline technique on my current model but I'm not sure I can pull it off - and I do surgery for a living! You continue to amaze Johann!

[Keith Black]

 Johann, I'm envious of your lift and adjustable rest, that's a really sweet setup. Your rigging is inspirational, it's the best I've ever seen. 

[Wintergreen]

3 hours ago, dvm27 said:

and I do surgery for a living!

that explains a lot having seen your work on Speedwell Greg 😉 

 

@archjofo about the ratlines. I guess that the eye splice is seized to the stay shroud even up there, right? Looks terrific!

Edited January 17, 2022 by Wintergreen

[tlevine]

I am in total agreement with Greg (although my patients only had two legs).  Phenomenal work.

[archjofo]

On 1/17/2022 at 6:16 PM, dvm27 said:

I'm going to try to emulate your ratline technique on my current model but I'm not sure I can pull it off - and I do surgery for a living! You continue to amaze Johann!

@dvm27

Hello Greg,

thank you very much for your interest in my report and for the encouraging comment.

It would be an honor if you would use this technique on your wonderful model.
As a civil engineer and architect, I was involved in communal construction. But now I'm in early retirement, so I can finally deal with these things more intensively.

Edited April 12, 2023 by archjofo

[archjofo]

15 hours ago, Keith Black said:

 Johann, I'm envious of your lift and adjustable rest, that's a really sweet setup. Your rigging is inspirational, it's the best I've ever seen. 

@Keith Black

Hi,
thank you for your interest in what I do, and 
thanks for the nice comment.

[archjofo]

14 hours ago, Wintergreen said:

that explains a lot having seen your work on Speedwell Greg 😉 

 

@archjofo about the ratlines. I guess that the eye splice is seized to the stay shroud even up there, right? Looks terrific!

 

@Wintergreen
Hi Håkan,
Thanks for the encouragement.
If I understood your question correctly, this is what you meant?

 

[archjofo]

6 hours ago, tlevine said:

I am in total agreement with Greg (although my patients only had two legs).  Phenomenal work.

@tlevine

 

Hello Toni,

thank you very much for your nice comment.
 

 

[Wintergreen]

1 hour ago, archjofo said:

If I understood your question correctly, this is what you meant?

Exactly. Thanks for the excellent close up photo. Something to strive for in future builds that I'll do.

[mbp521]

Johann, beautiful work as always. I am always in awe of you workmanship. 
 

You may have mentioned this in a previous post and I have forgotten since then, but what type of material are you using for your rigging line? Not a single speck of fuzz not even on the closest shots. 
 

-Brian

[druxey]

Exemplary! A standard for the rest of us to try to reach. Most of us would not have the courage to try to splice the ends of our ratlines, never mind succeed so neatly.

[archjofo]

6 hours ago, mbp521 said:

Johann, beautiful work as always. I am always in awe of you workmanship. 
 

You may have mentioned this in a previous post and I have forgotten since then, but what type of material are you using for your rigging line? Not a single speck of fuzz not even on the closest shots. 
 

-Brian

 

@mbp521

Hi Brian,

I use silk yarn to make the ropes.
There is a longer review on this and can be read here if you are interested:
LINK

Edited January 18, 2022 by archjofo

[archjofo]

Continuation: Ratlines for the topmast shrouds - Enflechures
In the meantime I was able to finish the ratlines on the starboard side of the mizzen topmast shrouds. 
The tangle of ropes in the upper right corner of the following picture are the topgallant shrouds and royal shrouds that have not been fixed yet.
 
In the next step the main topmast shrouds will get the ratlines.

 

To be continued ...

Edited January 22, 2022 by archjofo

[Gregory]

You know, there is a point where raising the bar any higher just makes some of us feel more inadequate..😁

[Keith Black]

 A raised bar is to be expected when a masterpiece is being created. I have no hopes of every being able to emulate Johann's work, I'm quite content to sit and watch as his masterpiece unfolds. 

 

 

Edited January 23, 2022 by Keith Black

[mtaylor]

6 hours ago, Keith Black said:

 A raised bar is to be expected when a masterpiece is being created. I have no hopes of every being to emulate Johann's work, I'm quite content to sit and watch as his masterpiece unfolds. 

Exactly.  It's sort of like looking over Da Vinci's shoulder while he painted.

[archjofo]

@Gregory

 

@Keith Black

 

@mtaylor

 

Hello,

 

your kind comments make me slightly embarrassed ...🥵
In this context I would like to mention that it gives me a lot of pleasure to be able to exchange experiences with ship model building with you here in this fantastic forum.  So everyone can learn and profit from each other. This also contributes to the development of my model building skills. Therefore, at this point to all a big thank you. 

 

Continuation: Ratlines for the top mast shrouds - Enflechures
In the meantime, the main mast has received the ralines at the top mast shrouds, at least on the starboard side. The futtock stave just below the crosstrees, I have also already attached.
Here are two pictures:
 

 

 
See you soon ...

[druxey]

Thank you for my smile today, Johann!