Sultana by CharlieZardoz - Model Shipways - 1:64

[CharlieZardoz]

Hi team! So just a quick update this week as I've started the carving into the hull of various areas that needed to be opened. First was the tiller area and you can see from the photos that its sort of a triangular circle.  You can also see that the keel has been thinned out a bit and will be even thinner when I'm done.  I think part of my work ethic is to do a little of one thing then another then return to the other until it gets done

Edited February 15, 2016 by CharlieZardoz

[CharlieZardoz]

I first took a small drill bill and did the work by hand then used a larger bit to widen the hole.  This way keeping the angle of the rudder was easy. Lastly using the right needle file to widen the hole to more or less where it needs to be 

[CharlieZardoz]

The hatch area needs to be opened and I also plan on opening the back area where the windows are.  So using wood carving tools I traced the outline first then used the dremel once the area proportions were established. You can see in the pics some of the dremel tools I used either very narrow sanding tools or the little metal one I pointed to with an arrow.  I also used a drill bit to drill into the quarterbadge area. Eventually the stern windows will meet by the quarterbadge holes and the inside and I will hollow the rest out with various tools.  

[CharlieZardoz]

And here is the end result.  I have more work to do but it gives an idea of what it's going to look like.  The drilling needs to be about 1 1/4" for both the hatch and stern area which I'll widdle away on during the week. Until next time.

[Elijah]

Nice progress Charlie! It looks very neat!

[dgbot]

Looking good Charles what do you plan to use to glaze the windows when you get to that point?

David B

[CharlieZardoz]

Probably a vinyl/acrylic sheet or whatever Chuck uses for the skylight on the Cheerful.

[mtaylor]

Nice, precise work, Charlie.

[CharlieZardoz]

Thank you Mark. Your support is always appreciated

[Beef Wellington]

Appreciate you sharing these details Charlie, the solid hulls seem definitely seem to need a different plan of attack.  All looks very neat, tidy and methodical, you've worked up a really nice hull shape.

[captgino]

Very nice progress! Your patient and detailled approach will certainly produce some ourstanding results.

[dgbot]

Charlie, now would be a good time to decide whether you are going to plank the hull or leave it smooth.

David B

[CharlieZardoz]

Its going to be fully planked with a cherry keel and pear and boxwood sides and holly deck I just want to wait until all the carving work is done so once the planks are on I dont handle it too much with finger oils.

[CharlieZardoz]

Greetings team! So over the last few weeks this happened. Have I gone mad? Well yes but there is method. I realized burrowing into the hull wasn't giving me the desired result so I just lopped the piece off and as you can see it pops back pretty easily. Let me show you what I have planned.

Edited February 28, 2016 by CharlieZardoz

[CharlieZardoz]

So I traced the edges with a knife to get the area I wanted to cut outlined, then once it went in deep enough used the saw to finish it.  Since the interior was already hollowed out I didn't have to go far.

[CharlieZardoz]

After the piece was off it was merely a matter of using the dremel using various sized bits to sand away the extra material. Using wood putty I then smoothed out some of the rough cuts and then sanded that down as well. Be careful! The top piece will warp when putty is added, as any wood will when water is added, but an asy fix since it can simply bend back to shape. My advice is leave it on the model in its original place to dry 

[CharlieZardoz]

This pic from the interior of the boat is what I'm going for.  A very simple step down which ends where the quarter badges end. As you can see my tools are quite covered in sawdust at this point

[CharlieZardoz]

This is the surprise I was mentioning. A little LED kit that is 1.5 mm in size and runs off a 3v battery.  My plan is to drape a few lanterns in the areas I circled and behind that will be a mirror for added light. Behind the mirror I will drill a hole which will emerge at the hatch area then another hole down and the wires will pop out through the spot where the keel meets the plans and no one will even know... except us!

[CharlieZardoz]

So here is where we are I still have some sanding of the area to do and then will try and construct that little area probably adding a few veneer planks and a few faux looking ribs at the top to make the thing look nice when one peers though the tiny window.  I'm not going for 100% accuracy just a flourish and there is still plenty of work to do, stay tuned!

[tuciship]

Hi charlie goog working, what kind of wood is your solid hull?

[CharlieZardoz]

Basswood and thank you

Edited February 27, 2016 by CharlieZardoz

[mtaylor]

I like what you're doing and the LED's should be a great addition.  Looks intriguing at this point and headed to fantastic.

[CharlieZardoz]

I haz a plan

[Elijah]

Yes, the lighting will add a great effect! You'll also be able to see the interior (right?) !

[Overworked724]

Hi Charlie.....following along with great interest! Although I am not as ambitious as yourself, your unique approach made me to decide finally upon my first sojourn into wood. Bought the Sultana kit...and will enjoy making and learning from my mistakes.

 

One thing this thread has taught me is how easily you can adjust with wood....and that it truly is forgiving. Many thanks and keep up with your awesome build!

 

Pat

[Mirabell61]

Hi Charlie,

 

hollowing out the room for the great cabin is a smart idea, it will give a beautiful stern with those windows 

 

Nils

[CharlieZardoz]

Thank you everyone for the encouragement. The idea itself is to have just enough of the back area open so the windows can be lit up for effect with a touch of detailing. As you can see in the full picture below the great cabin is much larger than the piece i'm hollowing out and while I considered doing the whole thing in reality this being my first wood model it seemed excessive and begged the question of why do a solid hull at all. I wish to challenge the medium and myself without necessarily betraying the nature of the material (it is ultimately a solid hull), and also acknowledge my limitations at this point in building. There shall be other models with more elaborate cabins Halifax, Fair American and more and this process is teaching me quite a bit of what I can expect in the future

[mtaylor]

Charlie,

 

A serious bash like this will get you into scratch and the ships you want to build a lot quicker than building OOB.  To my way of thinking, it frees the mind from the limiting issues of "it's a kit" to "it's a blank canvas".  You haz a good plan... 

[CharlieZardoz]

Aye what I see myself doing because I want to focus on 1/64 scale stuff, is do a few small kits in 1/64 scale to learn the ropes, then take a few kits that exist on the market at different scales like the Armed Virginia Schooner or Halifax and just go off the plans and scratch the parts.  I mean aside from the frames and few fittings most kit pieces like plank wood is useless to me anyways. After small ships I'll get back to larger kits like Syren, Niagara, Prince De Neuf or something like a Cruiser and Swan class then do the same and scratch ships like Vixen, Wasp and my interpretation of Enterprize. Then do the same with frigates, larger ships etc. I don't expect to hit frigates for quite a few years but I'm patient for the long haul. I've got my health and my... sanity? Well so much for that! Bwahahaha!

Edited February 28, 2016 by CharlieZardoz

[mtaylor]

Charlie,

 

As Chico Marx once said: "There is no Sanity Clause!".  We might be nutz, but it's a good nutz.