America by hamilton - FINISHED - Mamoli - 1:66 scale

[Kelp]

An A+ on the cockpit! Very nice work.

 

Don

[hamilton]

Thank you Don - the compliment is much appreciated.

hamilton

[hamilton]

Another small update - this one dedicated (if I may) to fellow America builder Tim (mojofilter), without whose generosity I could not have proceeded with this part of the build - he sent me some extra parts from his kit that I was missing from mine - including one of the aft skylight windows. Today I constructed the forward and aft skylight and thought thankfully of Tim's kindness.

 

The forward skylight was pretty straightforward though I'm not sure I've done the best job on the finish - I used a small paint brush, but probably wanted a smaller implement like a toothpick or (what I used for the aft skylight windows) a straight pin.....anyway, it was just a question of painting the plastic part and fixing it atop the base, which also came pre-figured....here is it....a bit messy....

 

 

 

 

The aft skylight was not exactly tricky but took a lot of work. The basic part comes as a pre-cut wooden framework. I sanded the very top of it flat and placed a vertical 1mm x 2mm walnut strip atop the levelled section as a kind of centre board. On either side of this I placed 1mm x 1mm strips as lintels for the skylight windows. Here's a photo

 

 

As you can see, the piece is very low, but the plans call for a 1mm x 1mm coaming around the bottom. This would have effectively hidden the sides of the skylight altogether and (to my mind) resulted in a pretty inaccurate shape. As a solution, I decided to fix the piece on top of a piece of 1/32 basswood sheet cut so that it overhangs the skylight by about 1mm on all sides.

 

 

I don't have a good shot of this, but to make this part look like walnut (and not having any walnut stain), I stained this part golden oak and then put a very thin coat of burnt umber over that - the wood grain shows through the paint (thanks to the emphasis given by the stain) but the colour is dark enough to match the walnut coamings on the main companionway....

 

The windows themselves I finished with white trim using (as mentioned above) a straight pin and a magnifying glass out of a toy spy kit that my son has. The magnification was like having a film lifted off my eyes. The magnifying glass isn't great, but even then it was so much easier to get the detail at least partially right! My initial attempt at a free hand finish were abysmal.

 

To finish the small plastic windows I first taped them onto a roll of masking tape and then taped down the tape roll on some scrap wood. This fixed the part in place very securely. I then simply dipped the pin lightly in the paint and drew it along the raised lines of the window frames....here are the results - again, not perfect, but I'm pleased.

 

 

 

After the paint dried, I took a window and used it on the part to get the position of the window sills, for which I used 1mm x 2mm walnut. Once these were in place on both sides, I positioned the windows to get an idea of where the central wooden window frame should be -- I cut very short lengths of 1mm x 2mm walnut for these and then fixed the windows on. More short strips of 1mm x 2mm walnut on either side and it was done. Here are the results. Enjoy!

hamilton

 

 

 

 

[mojofilter]

Extremely nice work Hamilton!!

I love the deck furniture so far.  You are welcome for the spare bits - entirely worth it to see this progress!  Found more bits (like some chain plates) - just let me know if you need 'em.

I went the entire opposite direction with my cockpit.  Yes, way too large but opened up the deck/frame area to accommodate the cockpit.  Truth be known, I built the cockpit 100% before placing it on the deck, to discover that it didn't fit.   The cockpit was described as very large - 30' in circumference, ~6.5' diameter  I work that down to ~1.124".  Notice that the tiller shaft is nowhere near the top of the rudder?

Anyway, yours looks great!!  Nice job on the skylights.  I used a stereo microscope (left over from circuit board inspection job) and a toothpick to paint with.

Per my log, I will get back to work soon.

You may want to take a look at the latest - some interesting things I've found.

 

- Tim

[hamilton]

Hi Tim -- I think my cockpit is too small, given your research.....but I'm not in a position to re-do it now!! I should probably have remade the cap at least when I remade the seat piece - this would probably have resulted in a slightly wider cockpit, even if it wouldn't have been exactly to the dimensions you quote....

 

I did take a look at your research and it was very interesting....Are you considering omitting the main gaff topsail? I think I will include mine as I like the look of it and I'm pursuing this build more for aesthetics and refining my modelling techniques than for historical accuracy (I'll save that for my Bellona when I finally get to it!) 

 

Your timing in offering the chainplates is immaculate! I fit them last night and I ended up crushing one of the deadeye strops....However, I scratched one out of an old leftover soft metal gudgeon from another kit.....I positioned this one on the port (non-display) side for the foremast shrouds where it won't be too visible. I guess I didn't account for how soft and fragile the metal parts are!

 

Anyway, I'll post a few more photos later tonight - bye for now

hamilton

[hamilton]

Hello all:

 

More progress on America - quite a bit actually: I've finished the hull and deck features and will now move on to the masts, spars and rigging. A real milestone. Since there's quite a bit to document, I'll separate this update into a few posts....

 

First the main hatch. I decided to make lap joints for the coaming - I cut the fore and aft parts so they overhung the gratings by 1mm on each side, marking and then cutting out a small 1 x 1.5mm (roughly) section. The parts fit together alright.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next up was the capstan, which was very straightforward -- thanks go again to Tim (mojofilter) for supplying some whelps -- Mamoli only put 2 in my kit....

 

 

 

 

hamilton

[hamilton]

Here are a few shots of the windlass and bowsprit bits. I made a point of rough cutting and cutting a tenon into the bowsprit at the same time. 

 

 

 

 

 

hamilton

[hamilton]

The forward companionway was also relatively straightforward. I considered briefly scratch building the doors, but I did not have any wood stock small enough for the purpose and lack the skill and equipment to cut my own.....so I just went with a paint job on the part supplied by Mamoli. Black for the hinges and handle, raw umber for the framing and burnt umber for the panelling. Not the best paint job in the world, but.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[hamilton]

I then fit the anchors and anchor chain. Not much to tell other than that it took some finangling to get the chain through the hawse ports......

 

 

 

 

[hamilton]

Here are a few overview shots of the finished deck features.

 

 

 

 

And finally some shots with the deadeyes, fore channels and chainplates - last of the main hull/deck features. 

 

 

 

 

hamilton

 

 

 

 

[Ferit]

Hi Hamilton,

 

I admire your productivity (Current, Previous, Under the Bench, in Developement Builds) without compromising on quality...

 

Hamilton's Model Ship Factory is on work...

[mojofilter]

Very nicely done!!  I see your capstan bars are on the deck - I presume that is where they are kept when not in use?  And then some shorter bars.  I did not research this and assumed the short bars were mounted to the deck and provided foot traction for the crew operating the capstan?  If I have left enough anchor chain I will wrap at least one wrap around the windlass as you have done - certainly wouldn't work otherwise (duh).

Very pretty work sir!!

 

- T

[rafine]

A lot of work that was really nicely done Hamilton. Looking great.

 

Bob

[hamilton]

Thanks Ferit, Tim and Bob!

 

Ferit -- the hamilton ship yard will soon be taking a break and then coming back in a much slower and less regular way.....I had a long-ish vacation this year and the "summer" out here has been dramatically delayed (cool temperatures and rain.....through most of July)......it's nice to spend some time at the bench though! Still looking for updates on your amazing Berlin!

 

Tim - yes I think you're right - but I wondered why the Mamoli drawings only show four of those bars when it seems there should be six -- two more at port and starboard where (you'll see above) they're missing.....I've seen other modellers position the capstan bars in a fan on deck like this, while others represent them lashed up somewhere or not at all. Seems open to some interpretation, at least in the absence of any concrete knowledge!

 

Bob - thanks very much! 

 

bye for now

hamilton

[flyer]

Hi Hamilton

 

Very fine work.

 

About those capstan bars. I wouldn't stow them in this form loose on deck where they would come adrift. So they are probably really footholds.?? Anyway I will leave them off.

 

Cheers

peter

[hamilton]

Hi Peter:

 

Yes - I'll admit that this feature seemed pretty strange to me, since obviously under sail they'd be flying all over the place....unless of course they are footholds - which would make some sense - except why would they be different lengths.....the kit parts list clearly states that they're "capstan bars"....

 

Anyways - It may be too later to pull them up and doing so might really mess up the decking....I will leave them for now - thanks for the comment!

hamilton

[mojofilter]

As you see on mine, I have both - the "cleats" on the deck and capstan bars mounted to the capstan.  That way, I always have something to snag rigging line on and break off capstan bars - keeps me off the streets

 

- Tim

[mojofilter]

BTW - more than half of the images I've seen for America show her with ship's boat(s?) and davits.  The few texts I've read say that they were in place for transatlantic crossings but removed for racing (at least, The Race).

[hamilton]

Haha! That's an argument for keeping them where they are, I suppose......despite the oddity....

hamilton

[hamilton]

OK - time for another update. I've completed the bowsprit and jibboom as well as the standing rigging on both. I'll split this update into two posts....first, the bowsprit.

 

The bowsprit is made from a 5mm x 5mm strip of square stock. The first step was to mark off the transition between the inboard (square/white) and outboard (rounded/black) sections. I decided to add a bit of chamfering to the inboard square section, as you'll see here. A tenon was created on the inboard end to fit into the bitts....

 

 

The bowsprit tapers to 3mm at the outboard end, so using my compass set to 1mm, I marked out the outboard end - the idea being to taper each of the square faces and then round the tapered strip. Here are the results

 

 

 

 

I then drilled out holes for the inboard cleats and threw a few coats of while and black paint on.....

 

 

 

 

Two irons are fit at the end of the bowsprit - one a simple iron ring that takes the standing ends of some of the rigging and the other a gammoning iron for the jibboom which also carries some lines. These fit on relatively well and their completion was not particularly exciting....you'll notice the martingale attached here - it did consist of two rings, but one of them snapped off and I had to improvise a bit.....the jibboom is here just a dowel cut to length....

 

 

 

Continued in next post......

hamilton

 

 

[hamilton]

The bowsprit rigging was quite straightforward - though getting the dolphin striker to stay in a 90 degree position from the bowsprit was tricky. Here are some photos -- until next time!

 

 

 

 

 

 

hamilton

[mojofilter]

Hi Hamilton -

 

Looks like you've passed me!  Outstanding work!

I have yet to rebuild the bowsprit rigging.  Did you use the kit-supplied rope?  I'm guessing not as the kit only had tan line.  I like your contrasting black/tan line.  I think it is .40mm for the block lines and .25mm for the running lines(?).  Syren doesn't have those exact sizes so like the blocks, I will go with the next size down.

As for the main gaff topsail, I will place all the rigging for it, (including running rigging where appropriate), but I've decided against sails.  I was considering furling the main and foresail but if I'm not mistaken, that would mean that the gaffs would be down too.  I like the look of the gaffs hauled up.  I'll have to look at the sail plan and decide what running rigging to put up.

Like you, I'm going more for aesthetics than configuration accuracy.

Keep up the great work!!

 

- Tim

[hamilton]

Hi Tim:

 

Yes you're right - not the kit-supplied thread, which I don't plan on using. I have a stash of thread of various gauges left over from other builds (mostly the model expo thread) and also some Syren thread that I bought in bulk a while ago. I've tried to go as light as possible with the gauge, but I was having a lot of trouble with the 1/8" syren double blocks - mostly because I needed to widen the holes and I don't have a collet for my pin vice that will hold smaller bitts....So I ended up going with 4mm blocks all around for the bobstay tackles (though not for the martingale backropes...) Anyways....

 

I understand your decision to avoid sails....they are very tricky. I haven't done sails in a while but I will try on this one....we'll see how they come out. Not a huge amount of time for modelling these days (or for the next few weeks - the admiral's down in NYC for the week and then I'm off to Barcelona the week after that, then my classes start the day after I return so it's a very busy time.....Some small update on America later tonight or tomorrow no doubt....

hamilton

[hamilton]

As promised, a very small update - have not taken many photos of recent progress, though at this point I've constructed the foremast, mainmast and maintopmast and stepped and completed standing rigging on the fore mast. I have served the lower portion of the shrouds with white sewing thread (following Tim's build), but it has become really fuzzy....I was thinking I would paint on some diluted PVA glue to calm the frizzies down....but I'm open to suggestions....

 

Anyway, here's all I've got! Quick snap of the foremast head as a teaser....more later

hamilton

 

[mojofilter]

Hi Hamilton -  I ran into the same issue with fuzzy thread on serving.  My solution (don't try this at home) was a cigarette lighter.  It's quite nerve wracking but I used the blue part of the flame and went really fast.  Beware!  I also tried this on a block end (did you call them bobstay tackle?) that I had seized and was fuzzy.  I guess the CA was still a little fresh as it instantly went up in flames!  .  Wondering if you could get a closeup shot of the bowsprit rigging from the side - where the various lines go through/attach to the bow?

Thanks,

 

- Tim

[hamilton]

Hi Tim:

 

Thanks for the tip.....I'm a little short on cigarette lighters (quit many years ago) but I'll have a try of this method....I'll see if I can get a decent picture later today and post it for you....bye for now

hamilton

[mojofilter]

Me too after ~16 years.  Great American Smoke-out, 1986.  Best (hardest) thing I ever did.  But I keep a few lighters around for fireworks on Canada Day! (well, 4th of July anyway).

 

The picture could help me figure out the bowsprit shrouds tackle, which are a bit confusing on the plans.  Rather than block tackle, they appear to be these little grooved triangles (no doubt a nautical term for these).

Thanks!!

 

- Tim

Edited August 22, 2016 by mojofilter

[hamilton]

Hi Tim:

 

The parts you're referring to are "hearts" -- there are closed and open varieties - the open ones you'll normally see on forestays of the 18th century (perhaps beyond and probably prior, as well). The ones on America are closed -- they should be seized into the shrouds with the grooved side facing away from the line. They are rigged using lanyards - I usually tie the lanyard to one of the hearts using a simple overhand knot and then you just wrap the line between the two hearts....I'll get a picture up soon I promise....

 

Yes I quit on Dec. 6, 2006. I had been a committed smoker for about 10 years at that point and an occasional one for the 6 or 7 years prior to that. It was pretty tough, but definitely the best decision - I still indulge very occasionally - usually while travelling, which I do frequently and mostly alone. It's relaxing to sit at a cafe somewhere and have a cigarette with few worries or commitments. I'm heading to Spain this Saturday and will undoubtedly have a few cigarettes over the ten days I'm there if the humidity goes below 65%....otherwise it's just gross.....

hamilton

[hamilton]

It's been a while since I updated here, but progress on America continues.....I spent about a week re-learning how to use the sewing machine and make half (or quarter?) decent stitches, then a bit more time messing up and redoing the sail patterns, then still more time stitching the sails, then accidentally cutting the jib sail pattern in half while cutting out the main gaff topsail.....you get the idea......too frustrated to take photos, but I'll have a few of the sails to this point posted a bit later. I've got the mainsail and the main gaff topsail on at this point - from a distance they look great! Up close....it's obvious I need to develop my technique.....or forget about sails - fortunately none of the builds I have from here on (except the Berlin) feature sails, so I can avoid them....

 

Anyway pictures soon - I imagine I'll be finished this build on the weekend or early next week! Then it's onto something else....not sure what I'll build next...my scratch Bluenose project is on the go but it can't occupy much of my time, so I'll choose another kit to build alongside it....It'll be either Syren or the Corel Bellona but it's been hard for me to make a choice. I know that Bellona will take a long time since I want to build the kit to a high standard of historical accuracy (using the AOS volume, as well as Lees Masting and Rigging). Syren will be "easier" though I'm frightened at the prospect of so many 1/8" and 3/32" blocks!! Anyhoo....that's all for later....in the meantime, happy modelling

hamilton

[flyer]

Hi Hamilton

 

You could consider to glue the hems and pencil the stitches as I did on my Pickle. It's certainly easier than learning to be a seamstress and gives a good result. Somewhere in MSW you should find more information about glued sails. It would be a pity if your America should have to remain in harbour forever for want of sails.

 

Cheers

Peter