Surabaya by Piet - 1/80 - Mid 17th-Century VOC ship

[Omega1234]

Hey Piet and Gwen

 

Happy New Year to you both and here's looking at many, many more.

 

Cheers

 

Patrick

[pete48]

Happy New Year Piet, wishing you all the best in 2016

 

Best Regards,

Pete

[Piet]

Hello all and thanks for visiting and the likes.

 

No, I have not been AWOL!  I posted a progress report a few days ago but it somehow vanished into cyber space.  When I wanted to add another update yesterday I found out it was gone.  I was one ticked-off dude and it was too late to re-post the one that's lost.

 

In the meantime, our daughter Marianne and grandson Troy drove down from the Pittsburgh, PA area and stayed with us over the Holidays.  Needless to say I got very little time in the shipyard, except for a few hours showing Troy how I make a few things.  He has two left hands when it comes to tools and making stuff but he really liked the VOC ship and was totally blown away by his great grandfather's sub, the O19.  I had to demonstrate all the things that work.

 

I started to make six "kruishouten" and six "hoorn klampen" with "korvijnagels."  Sorry but I don't know the English names for these things, must be something specially Dutch.  The first item is for belaying rigging and is fastened to the bulwarks.  The second item is attached to the lower part of the masts, one on each side.  These are to belay the "parten" coming from the yardarms. 

 

In later pictures you can see where they will be cemented to.  A picture is worth many words, specially when all this ship talk is still kinda foreign to me

 

The thingies on the paper are the main parts for the "kruishouten"  They are from 1.5 mm boxwood and I glued them to paper tom prevent the wood from braking when filing them into shape.  Below them are three "hoorn klampen, next to them two pulley knight-heads and then a bunch of eye bolts.  I made the knight heads in case I need them for the running rigging as well as the eye bolts.  There will be planks cemented to the back of each kryishout so bulwark wont inhibit the ropes to be belayed.   At this stage of the game I still don't really know for sure if I need the knight heads but the eye bolts will be needed.

 

Cheers,

 

[Piet]

This is the post I planned to issue yesterday, or was it day before yesterday, but had to postpone it till now.

 

In the meantime The "kruishouten" and "hoorn klampen" were finished and cemented to their various locations.  A literal translation is "cross woods" and "horn clamps". 

 

There is of course a change coming with the kruishouten but that 'll be for another day.

 

This shows the kruishouten cemented to the bulwark, port side, waist.  Hmmm, kinda small - - -

 

This shows the kruishouten as well as one of the hoorn klamped to the mainmast.

 

Here we see one of the two hoorn klampen with their karvijnagels cemented to the foremast.  The karvijnagels acts as belaying pins but are permanently attached to the klampen.

 

 

Looking at the pictures with the kruishouten cemented to the bulwarks they seem too small.  I decided to make them a little larger and see how they look.  I kinda like the size - - unless Jan thinks they are no good and need a different shape and be a little heavier.  I copied the idea from the Prins Willem book.  No problem with that, I can easily rip them out and redo them.  I'm so used to redoing that it's becoming routine   

 

Cheers,

 

[amateur]

Looks fine to .

There is quite a variation in the siz of these kruishouten. I gues there used to be some correlation with the size of the rope that had to go on it.

And as the ones to bebelayed on this are the heaviest running rigging, i guess some decent size doesn't harm.

 

Jan

[ianmajor]

Piet,

 

Looking good.

 

I am going to rig my Unicorn as per Lees. What you refer to as "kruishouten" he refers to "kevels" and what you refer to as "hoorn klampen" he simply calls "pin rack on mast"(!). I am interested in your experience with these items because it will probably help me.

 

By the way, if Troy has two left hands when it comes to tools then he should do very well (I am left handed   ).

 

​ 

Edited January 6, 2016 by ianmajor

[Piet]

Hello all and thanks for visiting the Surabaya shipyard.  Thanks for all the likes and your comments.

 

Thank you Jan. Yeah, I guess that makes sense, that they would come in different sizes for different applications.  I should have made them a hair thicker and perhaps a little closer together at the top but it's mostly the idea that counts in how they look like. 

 

Yeah Ian, I forgot already that Jan mentioned it in a previous post that the kruishouten were called kervels, old age disease    It also makes sense that these hoornklampen are called pin racks.  

All I did with the making the pin racks was to draw them out on a piece of flat boxwood sheet of about 1.5 or 2 mm thickness.  Then drilled the appropriate size holes for the pins and proceeded to cut them out.  I made the pins from bamboo skewers.  First splitting them into thinner pieces and then pulling them through a drill size plate.

I drilled a 1/2 mm hole in the foot of them and cemented a small piece of 1/2 mm brass rod in.  Drilled a 1/2 mm hole in the mast and cemented them in using 2 part epoxy glue.

In my case I could not drill the holes in the main mast because it was already installed and not accessible. Oh, I could have bend a steel needle to 90 degrees and carefully pushed that in making a hole but was concerned about collateral damage in other places.   I just cemented them on with CA.

It's obviously better to do this kind of work when you have the masts on the bench.  

 

I'm coming close to having to make a few carvings and the lower mast tops to start with the standing rigging.

I may have to investigate this casting business like Sawdust Dave is doing, it'll speed up that chore

 

I think I have pretty much put all the fixed rigging parts on the ship except for a few lead-through holes in the bulwarks and eye bolts.  I'm hoping that I can do that when it's needed using the appropriate drawings Jan and Hans have send me.

 

By the way Jan, I have ordered Rob Napier's book "Valkenisse."     Hip, hip, hurrah !!!  That'll help with the rigging together with the Heemskerk and Batavia.  Besides, I just love these Dutch ships, there is something about them - - -

 

I'm currently working on the stern knees and flagpole.  That'll kinda complete the hull work besides mounting a few cannons and then cleaning all the dust out of her.

 

Here are a few pics of the last two day's work.

 

This shows version 2.0 of the kruishouten aka kervels, the three remaing hoornklampen aka pin racks, four boordknights and two three pulley deck nights.

 

Here we see the version 2.0 kruishout, aka kevel, bolted to the frames, a longer pin rack and one boordkecht that you can see just left of the mast bolted to one of the frames.  Now a not so funny thing is that I forgot to drill the holes for the simulated pulley inside of it    I'll either have to worry the holes in using a pin vice or ripping them of and doing it the easy way. 

 

This shows two of the version 2.0 kruishouten, kaka kevels, bolted to the bulwark in the wast.

 

This shows a longer pin rack and a boordknecht on the quarter deck.  Same sad story about the boordeknecht.

 

Cheers,

[GLakie]

All those "fiddly bits" are turning out nice Piet.  Well worth the extra effort! 

[mtaylor]

Lovely work, Piet.  These "fiddly bits" are bringing  more to life.

[JesseLee]

I love little details like these

[pete48]

Nice work Piet, Beautifully done she's looking great 

 

Best Regards,

Pete

[Piet]

Thanks everyone for stopping by and your kudos.

 

Well, let's see - - I managed drilling the rope holes in the four "boordknechten" (the knights against the bulwarks) without any damage to surrounding structure.  I used a small hand-dril and slowly "worried" my way through them.

 

Cemented and bolted the three large knees to the "animal coop" for the counter and put some poly on them.  Made an eye bolt or loop fixture for the flagpole and temporarily inserted that into the center knee.  The flagpole is made from a bamboo skewer and still need to be completed with the needed hardware and a top button.  For now I'll leave it alone till later.

 

I also removed the planking within the forward large grate opening to install a new grating.  I changed this setup a long time ago to instal a forward capstan but thought better of it.  I really need some more space for the ship's boats there and also wanted to gat back to my original design.  This operation was also successfully completed and a new grating piece installed.  Well, this sounds like "duck soup" but there was a lot of cleaning up to do and some minor repairs to be made.

 

Not much else was done and I really must start with cleaning the dust out, especially under the quarter deck.  I'll also wait with cementing the missing cannons into their hidden carriages till after I have painted the hull white up to the waterline.

 

I think I'm going to make a few anchors next and perhaps the supporting pieces, crosstrees and lower mast tops.  I'll be a busy boy looks like, if it doesn't get too chilly in the shipyard.

 

Cheers,  

[Piet]

Hello all.  Just a minor update.

 

It's rather cool in the garage aka shipyard so I didn't spend too much time there and besides - I'm having a few pesky problems with my computer.

 

I finished the stern flagpole with it's hardware and cemented a cleat to one of the knees to tie off the flag rope.

Then I wend ahead and cemented and bolted the anchor lift beams to the forecastle deck. 

 

This about completes most of the stuff that's supposed to be on deck for the rigging.  I still need to check with the drawings I received from Jan and Hans and make my own rigging layout drawings.

 

I planned on starting with the anchors but I need a few 4 X 4 mm square brass bars.  I tried my local hardware stores but they have become very limited in K&S hardware.  So I'll have to go mail order for that stuff.  If it isn't one thing then it's another.  No rest for the weary. 

 

I'm also spending some time looking at pics of the O19 and Java from the URL's Jan gave me.  Still hunting for pics with my father on it.  Very sparse.

 

Yup, I guess it's time to try my hand in making a few carvings.  Have been making sketches and again I guess I need to make the heads for the knights before rigging starts.

 

Okay, this is it for now.  Thanks to all for visiting and your likes, see all y'all next time.

 

Cheers, 

[ceestoorn]

Hey Piet

I love the things you show great job

gr cees

[Burroak]

Piet your ship is beautiful!

[popeye the sailor]

the kevels look really good Piet........I have to make a couple for my Half Moon  {they were missing in the kit}.   deck's looking pretty busy  

[Piet]

Thank you Cees, Greg and Popeye Dennis for the kudos and thanks also for all the likes.

 

I have been busy inside for the last few days.  It's near freezing here in Florida and too chilly in the garage aka shipyard.

I am drawing figures for the carvings and the ship's boats, - it's at least warm inside the house.  I ordered the 3 mm square brass bars for the anchors, which is expected to be here soon, I hope.

 

Actually Popeye Dennis, I'm quite surprised how much room is on the decks.  But that can change with all the rope work and possible additional tackle hardware.  Then the ship's boats on the grates in the waste.  I'm glad I moved the capstan aft, now I won't have to worry about the boats being cramped.

 

I'm also working an another small project that's really testing my patience, finger dexterity and eye sight   No, I'm not telling what it is

 

Hoping for warmer weather so I can get back into the garage.

 

Cheers,

 

 

[Omega1234]

Piet!

 

That's not fair...you have to tell us what your secret project is!!! Is it another submarine, per chance?

 

Cheers

 

Patrick

[amateur]

As far as I can remeber, he promised a ship to Gwen...

 

Jan

[Sjors]

I think he is gonna build a punter for Gwen Jan  

 

Sjors

[amateur]

A 'punter'. Nice little one. Could be trickier than you think: these little ships are build "shell first".

I thought the ship for Gwen was a more substantial build than a punter.

 

Jan

[amateur]

And for all of you, wanting to know what we are talking about:  http://www.punterbouw.nl/page/23

 

Text in Dutch, but the pictures are more or less self-explaining.

 

Jan

[Piet]

Yeah, Jan, you remember and that goes way back to MSW version 1.0.  A punter eh?  Hmmm, kinda difficult to make one, you think I have the talent?   I like that video about building one, very interesting.  We saw them in action when we visited Giethoorn many years ago, transporting cows no less.  

 

Hey Sjors, don't give me any ideas now to build a model of such a thing.  You think I can put it on the VOC ship Surabaya?  Nah, won't look good.

 

But actually, yes, Gwen and I did plan in building a "Freedom" sloop.  That's based on the Friendship sloop but easier to build.  It's all slap-sided with marine grade 3/4 inch plywood, glued and screwed together.  It was supposed to be 25 feet long and sleeps two for an weekend, just great for the two of us.  However, things got in the way and we had to abandon that project.  Instead I designed a sloop of 30 feet long that could sleep 4.  I finished that model way back and it sits proudly on a cupboard in the dining room.

 

Hey Lawrence, thanks for visiting and your kind words.  Sorry for some Dutch humor thrown in, I love it though, brings back some fond memories.

 

Here are a few pics of that sloop model I designed and build for Gwen (who doesn't want to be called "the Admiral").  Gwen's official first name is Gwenfra, her mother was English and was named for one of her relatives near London.  So obviously named the model after her.

 

 

 

Cheers,

[Sjors]

Wow, that's better then a punter Piet     

 

And I know Giethoorn very well.

Bin there a few time on holiday at Paviljoen 't Wiede......

Walking from Smits Paviljoen true the lake to t'Wiede....

Yes, you can walk true the lake.

it's not that deep.

 

Sjors

[Piet]

Thank you Lawrence for the compliment.  That sloop was my first attempt in building a wooden model ship - - - after a lay-off of about 65 years.  I did it to get the feel again before tackling the VOC model.  Hey, my whole working life and academics has been in metals, not wood.  But I'm still trying and learning, thanks to everyone on this forum.  There may still be hope for me to produce a reasonable looking model.

 

Cheers,   

[GLakie]

You're way too modest Piet!  I've seen your work and more to the point, I refer to the level of detail you achieved on the 019, and your current VOC builds. You have a lot of talent my friend, and you should never underestimate it. 

[mtaylor]

Piet,

 

George is spot on... 

[Omega1234]

Hi Piet

 

I have to agree with George and Mark. From everything I've seen, there's pretty much nothing that you can't do. Your O19 is a perfect example!

 

I'm looking forward to your next update.

 

Cheers

 

Patrick

[popeye the sailor]

Piet,

 

George is spot on... 

 

 

you are kidding.........right!?!?!     love the sloop.......she's really sweet  

[Piet]

Thanks everybody for visiting my humble shipyard and all your very kind comments and all the likes.  It's really encouraging.

 

Well, I finally started making the two large anchors.  I ordered and received a 3.2 mm square brass bar from a supplier in Canada at www.qualityhobbyshop.com 

 

I first made a few sketches to my scale to get a feel of how they would look.  I then just started cutting the shank and arms, marked them for the holes.  The hole for the ring that holds the anchor cable/rope measured 1 mm.  The first hole went kinda okay but I had to go very slow with the feed in fear of breaking the drill.  The only small drills I have are made in China and have only a single flute, not very strong.  Good enough for wood end even there when using boxwood you have to be careful.

 

So, when drilling the second hole, sure enough the drill bit broke off and there was no way getting it out of the hole.  Fortunately, the hole was meant for a pin to hold the stock and I'll replace that with a small strip of brass soldered to the shank. That way I'll cut a groove in both parts of the stock to keep it from sliding up or down.  That strip and the stock will cover this hole and no one will ever see it. 

 

Next I made a bending jig from wood to bend the curve in the arms.  Nice thought but it only partially worked.  The brass is too hard for a wooden jig and I could only get a partial bend.  So I used the Rube Goldberg method by putting the brass bar half way in the vice and with my gebanger (hammer) I gave it a nice tap.  I proceeded to do this at small increments, moving the bar out of the vice little by little until I had the correct radius I drew out on paper.  Turned the bar around and did the same thing to the other half.

I followed this procedure for #2 anchor and had very good results, at least it looks pretty darn good to me.  Just a little filing and polishing to dress out the few mars.

 

Next was drilling the hole for the pin at the end of the shank that'll function as the main soldering attaching pin.  I drilled a 1/16 inch hole in the center of the arm, which went off without a hitch, a new cobalt drill bit helps.

 

Okay, next I chucked the shank into my non-centering four-jaw lathe chuck and cut a 1/16 inch diameter pin at 3.5 mm long to fit into the hole in the arm.  That too worked great.  Yeah, my old DB200 Unimat doesn't have a self centering four jaw chuck

 

What I am describing here transpired over two days.  Messed around trying to extract the broken drill bit and had to give up.  Had to do some stuff around the house and try to resolve a computer problem, I'm getting phishing pop-ups that I can't get rid of.

 

So, let me cut this off here, add a few pics and proceed with the next few days work in another post.

 

 

 

I didn't show how I made the curve using the vice and hammer method.  I think my description above should suffice.  This is not the recommended way to do things but beggars can't be choosers. The end result is what counts.

 

 

This sure brought back memories from my machinist training and subsequent machine shop work. 

 

The shank and arm are now ready to be assembled.

 

Here I have put the assembly together.  You can now also see the hole with the broken drill bit.

Why can't we get some decent machine tools here for a decent price.

 

Cheers,