Cutter Cheerful 1806 by rafine - FINISHED

[mtaylor]

Sweet work on the rudder, Bob. 

[rafine]

Thanks so much Wes, Ken, David, Grant and Mark for the nice comments and also the "likes". Greatly appreciated.

 

David, I would have been inclined to do so, but Chuck's plans do not show a built up rudder.

 

Bob

[Gahm]

Super work, Bob! It is an absolute pleasure to follow your progress!

 

Thomas

[rafine]

Thanks so much Thomas and the"likes".

 

Bob

[captain_hook]

Wow. Beautiful work so far!

[rafine]

Thanks so much Captain Hook and the "likes".

 

Bob

 

[rafine]

Since I hate doing repetitive tasks, I tend to break them down into segments. Thus, rather than doing all of the guns at once,  I'm moving along the deck doing the detailing for each segment. Starting at the stern my first segment involved the first four guns, some bulwark cleats and some deck ringbolts.

 

The guns were made up using Chuck's carriage kits and brass barrels, to which I added the necessary eyebolts and ringbolts, made from brass wire and blackened. The quoins were made from blackened brass belaying pins. The cap squares are paper. I chose to leave the carriages natural wood with a poly finish. After assembly, the guns were installed and rigged with breeching lines and tackles (those blocks are very small and hard to handle for arthritic fingers  ) . Lastly, I made up rope coils and glued them in place.

 

The next segment will include the next four guns, the pumps and the entry ladders.

 

Bob

[Erik W]

Bob,

 

Your carronades look great!  What size blocks did you use for the tackles?

 

Thanks,

Erik

[Martin W]

Bob -- I like the natural look of those carriages!  And let me follow up Erik's question about the blocks with one on the rigging line:  what diameters did you use? 

 

As someone currently engaged in that repetitious task of gun rigging, I like your idea of breaking it up into units (a light has gone off in my head!)

 

Cheers,

 

Martin

[rafine]

Thanks so much Erik, Dirk, Martin and the "likes".

 

I had asked Chuck about the sizes of the blocks and line to use (I am using his blocks and rigging line). He said either the 2.5 or 3mm blocks and the .012 line. I went with the 3mm blocks because the 2.5mm were just beyond my physical capabilities at this point. Frankly, the 3mm are right at the edge. I tried the .012 line, but even with drilling out the holes in the blocks, I was having trouble, so I went with his .008 line, which worked well. Truthfully, I chalk up my experience to the ever increasing effects of age and arthritis.   

 

Bob

[Stuntflyer]

Hello Bob,

 

I would be interested in knowing your method for making the eyebolts.

 

Mike

[Erik W]

Bob,

 

It looks great though,  The .5mm larger blocks don't look oversized at all.  One last question.  What diameter line did you use for the thick breeching rope?

 

Thanks!

Erik

[druxey]

Many of us know all about age and arthritis. I find a selection of watchmakers' tweezers invaluable. Regardless, your work is terrific!

Edited January 7, 2016 by druxey

[Mirabell61]

Bob,

 

just lovely,

 

guns, carriages and related rigging are wonderful, that cutter will be a "jewel"

 

Nils

[gjdale]

Very nice set of teeth there Bob. I empathise regards working with tiny blocks. I just made the same decision, opting to use 3mm blocks rather than 2.5mm on my cross section.

[rafine]

Thanks so much Mike, Erik, druxey, Nils and Grant for the kind words and comments and thanks also to the "likes".

 

Mike, I put a small drill bit in a vise, butt end up, and wrap wire around it, then snip it off and pinch with a tweezer. I must fess up that I have been known to resort to ready mades from Model Expo when I tire of making them, particularly the very small ones.

 

Erik, I am using the .035 line for the breeching ropes.

 

Druxey, I'm not familiar with watchmaker's tweezers, but I'll look into them.

 

Bob

[wyz]

Real nice work Bob.  The carronades look great and I too like the natural color of the gun carriages,  I'm also starting to feel the effects of old age as it relates to model ship building.  Arthritis in the hands and neck and difficulty seeing sometimes limit time spent in the shop, especially if its a repetitive task and I'm hunched over.  Now where did I put that bottle Tylenol?

 

Tom

[rafine]

Thanks so much Tom. I'm an Advil man myself.

 

Bob

[druxey]

Check out watchmakers' tweezers on eBay. I've collected a variety of shapes that can do things that would be impossible with fingers alone.

[Sjors]

...............

 

( you know for your self what kind of words I want to wright )

 

Sjors

[rafine]

Thanks Sjors. I think that I do.

 

Bob

[Sjors]

[Gahm]

These are great looking guns, Bob! What wood are the gun carriages made of? I am just fiddling with the Syren long guns myself, so your current pictures are a nice help for me 

 

Thomas

[rafine]

Thanks so much Thomas. The gun carriages are boxwood, from Chuck's carriage kits.

 

Bob

[rafine]

I've now completed the next segment of the interior detailing. This included four more guns, the pumps, the entry ladders, four deck ringbolts and the interior scupper openings.

 

The guns were made and rigged as on the previous guns.

 

The pumps were made from boxwood strip.  Square pieces were drilled out and then shaped to octagon with sanding sticks. The handles and their mounting brackets were shaped from strip and pieces of wire added. The bands are black painted paper. The drains are bits of black painted tube, inserted in drilled holes.

 

The ladders are boxwood strip. They were very simply made, without use of slotting tools or fancy jigs. As a result, they are certainly not perfect, but after a couple of tries, I was satisfied.

 

The scupper openings are drilled holes, which do not go through to the exterior openings, but match up closely with them. They were painted graphite with a toothpick.

 

The ringbolts again are blackened brass.

 

Bob

[Erik W]

Awesome Bob.  It looks great!

 

Erik

[GLakie]

As usual very nice work all around Bob, but I especially like how the pumps turned out. 

[gjdale]

Great work Bob!

[albert]

Beautiful work, Bob.

[rafine]

Thanks so much Erik, Dirk, George, Grant and Albert for the nice comments and thanks also to the "likes".