Cutter Cheerful 1806 by SawdustDave - FINISHED - 1:48th scale

[SawdustDave]

Interesting addition to the ship....

 

A staff member asked me if I knew about the silver owl pin Dr. P always wears on his lapel. I had noticed it but never inquired about it. Turns out, there is a unique story behind it.

This lapel pin was given to Dr. Pillsbury by a few years ago by another patient who is a jeweler.

We all recognize the owl as an iconic symbol of wisdom and knowledge....right?

So when he began wearing it every day, his staff, and then dozens of fellow UNC physicians wanted one of the owl pins as well. Last count, there are over 500 owl pins being worn every day by UNC physicians and nurses.

Understandably, he considers that little owl pin very special.

 

So, his admin. assistant gave me one of the pins while at my appointment yesterday.

I used it to create a mold and cast this piece, which I painted blue w/black trim.... now mounted as a headfigure on his ship.

 

 

I realize these small vessels did not usually, if ever, have carvings on their bow.

This one does.

Edited November 5, 2015 by SawdustDave

[JesseLee]

That's a very thoughtful touch. He's gonna love this Dave!

[CaptainSteve]

That's an excellent choice for the figurehead, Dave !!

[SawdustDave]

Major progress update....

 

Four days of rain and gloomy weather, plus the Admiral's off visiting our kids in Louisiana.... adds up to major shop time for Dave.

 

After finishing up all those cannon riggings, turned my attention to a long list of small projects....

Over a dozen cleats and eyebolts, timberheads, belaying pin rails, boom crutches, inboard ladders, boarding steps, stern gun port lids, and several touch-ups.

 

Beginning with the gun port lids.... I tried blue and black first....settled on natural.

One little note on those tricky little boom crutches.... carved them out of two golf tees!

 

Created the keel iron reinforcements.... with brass bolts.

 

The channels and chain plates with deadeyes....also note the boarding steps.

 

Inboard ladders....

[SawdustDave]

A couple of full view shots. She's really beginning to come together now.

 

Birdseye view....

 

I kinda like this low angle shot.... Thinking I might need to darken the keel and bow stem. Don't want to paint over the joinery and iron plates. Something closer to the bamboo hull planks might work more better. What think ye?

 

If all continues to go well, by my next posting .... she will be tall....already working on mast and booms.

Edited November 10, 2015 by SawdustDave

[yvesvidal]

Dave, man you are building so fast. Is your nickname Speedy Gonzales by any chance?

 

Yves

[SawdustDave]

Yves my friend. How are you?

"Fast".... I would say it is far more a matter of putting in lots of shop hours, than being "fast".

Mainly because I've decided to do the presentation to the good doctor on my next follow-up appointment, which will be December 4th.

Think I'll make it?

 

PS....Promised Chuck P today, I will come back and build the Cheerful a second time.... Much slower and according to his plans.

Guess I'll have to finish the SOS first.

Edited November 11, 2015 by SawdustDave

[Piet]

Nice touch with the owl, Dave.  The ship is really looking great, the doc will be pleased.

 

Cheers,

[lionfish]

stunning work, you must post a picture of the finished ship with the doctor. very much enjoying this build log

[SawdustDave]

Thanks all for your regular visits and "likes" .... Like everyone else on MSW, I thoroughly enjoy your support, comments, and encouragement.

 

If all goes according to plan, we will capture the presentation on video and share it as the final posting of this build. I can hardly wait to see the look on his face.

[CaptainSteve]

If all goes according to plan, we will capture the presentation on video and share it as the final posting of this build. I can hardly wait to see the look on his face.

 

I'll definitely be grabbing a large box of popcorn and laying claim to a seat in the front row for THAT show !!

[JesseLee]

I think I would darken the keel & bow stem a little.

 

It would be awesome to see his reaction when he sees this!

[SawdustDave]

Belaying pins....

Quick post, just to share this little innovation I think many of you may like to try.

 

As I got into the rigging of this project, I took inventory of my bone yard of blocks, cleats, and belaying pins. I discovered that, although I have four different sizes of belaying pins, none of them actually fit the scale of this ship. What I needed was a 1.2mm pin length with a 1cm shank.

 

Remember the little plastic tooth picks with the bristles?

 

Stained the heads with a dark walnut.... perfect.

[GLakie]

Pretty clever Dave!  Anymore when I go shopping, I look at things like that with new eyes, and see multiple uses for them. 

[SawdustDave]

You got to have a little MacGyver in you modeling soul George.

[GLakie]

Couldn't agree more Dave! 

[augie]

Love 'em !

[Omega1234]

Perfect, Dave!  Don't tell your Dentist about them, though....

[dgbot]

Nice work Dave and am happy that you are doing okay.  Question I like the look of hard maple but have never planked with it.  How pliable is it or is it on the brittle side?

David B

[SawdustDave]

"Question I like the look of hard maple but have never planked with it. How pliable is it or is it on the brittle side?"

 

Hi David.... No use of hardrock maple in my planking. You may be looking at the bamboo planking, which I love to work with.

 

I could not recommend hard maple as a planking material for many reasons. Not at all brittle, and if milled very thin, it is quite pliable. It just tends to leave burn marks when milled with a saw blade. Requires lots of sanding to get a clean part with no burn marks. Great for carving, shaping, tapping very small holes, etc.

Edited November 15, 2015 by SawdustDave

[SawdustDave]

Rigging progress update....

 

No attempt to describe the rigging sequence here, as Chuck P will be doing a much better job in that area in his continued development of his Cheerful build log.

 

Following his plan sheets and calling on him for a few clarifications along the way, I have managed to arrive at this point of being approximately 80% rigged.

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Next, I will rig the shrouds and begin the hateful task of tying rat lines.

Then, the yards.... already built.

Then, anchors, and flags, and name plate....

Then, display base.

Then I have to finish up the little decoy ship.

 

Much to do yet, but I think I will make it before my December 4th deadline.

Edited November 15, 2015 by SawdustDave

[Rustyj]

Hi Dave, Thats some really nice rigging work. Well done!    

[GLakie]

I'm with Rusty Dave. Looks mighty fine. 

[michael20]

 Dave that one beauty of a ship. Love the refinements and the imagination. Your Dr. is going to love it for sure.

 

          All the Best and Happy Modeling,

 

                     Marty G.

[Piet]

Absolutely outstanding Dave, a real jewel.

 

Cheers,

[yvesvidal]

rigged7.JPG

 

Dave,

 

You are definitely Speedy Gonzales. Here we have a man who can do the rigging of an entire model over the weekend.....!!!

 

Seriously, I love that blue color. So soothing and calming.

 

Yves

Edited November 16, 2015 by yvesvidal

[augie]

Wow.....looking good.  Can I rent you for 2 weeks???

[SawdustDave]

Guess I did get the rigging knocked out a little quicker than even I expected guys. Everything just came together so nicely.

Rainy weather, wife out of town.... Or it could be the meds they've got me on.

Wonder if I double up on them, could I fly like a bird?

[riverboat]

Beautiful job on the rigging Dave, you'll be done before you know it!!

 

Frank

[SawdustDave]

OK, I have finally arrived at the dreaded point I knew would eventually come. Wishing I had a little "Clove hitch Elf" that would rig the ratlines tonight whilst I sleep.

Just thankful, there is only one mast with only four shrouds on each side.....and no top mast shrouds.

Actually should be a piece of cake.