Dfell Posted December 2, 2015 Share #1 Posted December 2, 2015 Hello - a tentative start on HMS Fly. All dry fitted so as to get a feel for things and to get back into building again. All laser parts are an excellent fit with small amount of sanding. I can see the plywood decking will need support which I see has been pointed out in other builds. Have been following all the great Fly builds on here and hopefully I don't let the side down. Regards Doug Herbie68 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Ensign Posted December 2, 2015 Share #2 Posted December 2, 2015 Hi Doug, Fly/Pegasus is a very satisfying build to do, enjoy the experience. Cheers, B.E. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dfell Posted December 17, 2015 Author Share #3 Posted December 17, 2015 Hello - Would like to ask Chris Watton when the upgrade kit for HMS Fly will be available but I see he is not taking any messages. Is there anyone who can help, please, on how I can ask Chris or is there someone who may Know if / when the kit is available. Thank you Doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisLinden Posted December 17, 2015 Share #4 Posted December 17, 2015 hey welcome aboard, enjoy the build ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dfell Posted December 17, 2015 Author Share #5 Posted December 17, 2015 Hello ChrisLinden - Thank you - although I am thinking it is going to be quite a challenge. Regards Doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smith100 Posted February 21, 2016 Share #6 Posted February 21, 2016 I've been waiting over a year for the upgrade, Don't hold your breath on that one. I spoke with Amati and they thought about xmas MAYBE!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betamale Posted February 21, 2016 Share #7 Posted February 21, 2016 (edited) Hi Doug, I hope you enjoy the build. It is a great kit. I would pay close attention to how Blue Ensign has gone about it personally. If I had realised the little tricks he employed when I started, my build would have been better. It is also a very complete and easy to follow build log. Edited February 21, 2016 by betamale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dfell Posted April 4, 2016 Author Share #8 Posted April 4, 2016 (edited) Hello - a few small steps forward. Planking done on lowest deck using kit supplied Tanganyika wood with black thread inbetween for caulking. First done onto thin ply and then glued to the MDF base. Balsa blocks inserted for extra support. Bearding and Rabbeting all done - hard to see as keel is in MDF and not ply Now not sure if to follow instructions and plank the lower gun deck which came in two halves or proceed with the hull planking which I'd rather do. Thank you for all the previous comments and encouragements. Regards Doug Edited April 5, 2016 by Dfell BLACK VIKING, Seventynet, Martin W and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccoyle Posted April 4, 2016 Share #9 Posted April 4, 2016 Doug, I'm assuming you don't have the forecastle and quarterdecks glued in yet, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dfell Posted April 4, 2016 Author Share #10 Posted April 4, 2016 Hello Chris - no just dry fitted Thanks for looking in Doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beef Wellington Posted April 4, 2016 Share #11 Posted April 4, 2016 Doug - best of luck with your build, you look to be off to a really nice clean start. Definitely interested in seeing you move forward so I'll follow your progress. Dfell 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dfell Posted April 5, 2016 Author Share #12 Posted April 5, 2016 (edited) A another small step - lower gun deck in place. Have decided to plank the deck next as instructions dictate. It comes in two halves and to help with support / strength along join have glued a strip of hull planking underneath with a lip so the other half can be attached onto. Where there are hatches / masts etc have cut the support away. The strength along joint is surprisingly good Regards Doug Edited April 6, 2016 by Dfell Martin W, Beef Wellington and Seventynet 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dfell Posted April 6, 2016 Author Share #13 Posted April 6, 2016 Hello - just a question before I start on the lower gun deck planking. On the instruction it says to put a plank width way as can be seen on illustration. Is this normal as I have noticed everyone on their Fly builds plank the entire deck without these two planks across the deck. Is it down to personal choice? Thank you if you can help, please Regards Doug Martin W 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccoyle Posted April 6, 2016 Share #14 Posted April 6, 2016 That strip was designed to make the deck planking easier for novice builders. The actual ship did not have that feature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dfell Posted April 6, 2016 Author Share #15 Posted April 6, 2016 Chris - thank you. Probably could do with some more reference books Right, onwards with the deck planking then ..... Thanks Doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccoyle Posted April 6, 2016 Share #16 Posted April 6, 2016 The kit, marvelous as it is, was designed with the novice builder in mind, so there are a number of simplified features. Fortunately, we have a large number of Fly and Pegasus builds on the forum, both in-progress and completed, and these are provide a wealth of upgrade ideas. I also heartily recommend looking at dubz's Syren log, as he is quite good at adding convincing extra details to ships of the same period and similar rate. I, too, have a Fly in progress, although I started in 2006 (!) and haven't touched her in about three years. Too many projects, dontcha know. Martin W and Dfell 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dfell Posted April 12, 2016 Author Share #17 Posted April 12, 2016 Hello - lower gun deck planked using the kit supplied Tanganyika wood although I wish I was more adventurous and tried something else as I did not feel the quality was there - but still it is suitable for my skills. Still using 0.05 black thread - would preferred grey if I could find it. Realise the caulking is out of scale but as I used this method on my first build thought I'd keep the same build theme going - ie built badly.... Left the edges to do once the side hull section is done. Deck still to be sanded and varnished. Will now make some hatches and try and understand how to do the capstan. Regards Doug probablynot, Seventynet, Landlubber Mike and 4 others 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirabell61 Posted April 12, 2016 Share #18 Posted April 12, 2016 good looking work Doug, nice deck planking Nils Old Collingwood 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dfell Posted April 12, 2016 Author Share #19 Posted April 12, 2016 Thank you Nils - nice to hear from you again. Black Viking, Beef Wellington, Seventynet,and Chris (ccoyle) thank you for the 'likes' - much appreciated. Regards Doug Mirabell61 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Landlubber Mike Posted April 12, 2016 Share #20 Posted April 12, 2016 Looks great Doug. The deck will be mostly covered by the time your done with adding all the deck items. Tanganyika finishes pretty nicely, even though it can be splintery. Dfell and Old Collingwood 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dfell Posted April 18, 2016 Author Share #21 Posted April 18, 2016 One capstan - the centre hole in various parts to make the capstan was 10mm and instructions asked for 8mm dowel? Was this situation experienced by anyone else? Just happened to have a piece of dowel that fitted and this was extended (to link with the capstan above) with a piece cut out to fit under beam. I do realize this will not be visible Some other deck fittings dry fitted to deck - hatch, pumps cistern assembly,rear main mast bits (adjustment required so it sit under beam), riding bit assembly. Hatch is flat with a little curvature on the underside to suit deck. Regards Doug Martin W, probablynot, Mirabell61 and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dfell Posted April 23, 2016 Author Share #22 Posted April 23, 2016 (edited) Hello - More deck fittings - all dry fitted. Was uncertain as to width of ladder and exactly what happens around hatch opening. Have lined hatch opening for ladder with strips of walnut to give some thickness to deck and hide ends of planks and ply underneath. Have some plans of Fly which I would say the ladder looked at least 3 ft wide (just under 1 mtr) so have done the width to about 15 mm. A very crude jig was used to assemble ladder - used the kit parts which were very good. Ladder in place - feels as if too wide Concerned about the ladder on the Quarter deck as I know at this width it will touch the hatch below - may move the hatch opening a fraction over depending on the space for upper capstan. Hatches all done on lower gun deck. Have sanded the top with a slight curve to lose the flatness. Thanks for looking Doug Edited April 23, 2016 by Dfell Old Collingwood, ccoyle, GuntherMT and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dfell Posted April 25, 2016 Author Share #23 Posted April 25, 2016 (edited) Hello - wanted to check that things are going in the right direction as I know this part of the build is extremely important. All dry fitted. The gun port strips were first heated with an iron and fixed on a board between two rows of screws forming the bow's shape A light mist of water sprayed on and then left over night. A test fit and to form the shape so far only one side done - fixed in place with the usual clamps etc. Again a light spray of water and this will be left overnight. Then the other side will be done. The strip as instructed aligned to tops of bulkheads but the odd top of bulkhead a fraction too high. All gun openings appear the same distance above decking and have place a kit's cannon on all seems central although will source some other carriages and use kit's barrels. All needs looking into. Please - if anyone can see something wrong I would appreciate the feed back. Thank you Doug Edited April 25, 2016 by Dfell probablynot, Martin W, Old Collingwood and 4 others 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dfell Posted April 26, 2016 Author Share #24 Posted April 26, 2016 Right - now other side gun port strip dry fitted in place. Hopefully there is no obvious things wrong. Am worried about this stage - if wrong I guess it will cause a lot of problems for other things. Top of the strip is fraction higher at the bow bulkhead Gun in place for checking position to the opening - although would like to change the carriage which will probably alter how the gun points through opening. Another view Join on strip just misses bulkhead which I understand is how it should be - strange. Hopefully this is all okay - I will proceed with glueing it...... Regards Doug Beef Wellington, probablynot, cristikc and 7 others 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donrobinson Posted April 26, 2016 Share #25 Posted April 26, 2016 Looks good to me, I really don't care too much for these strips and the two piece ones are a further mind scrambler, but I guess this versus the alternative of cutting our own gun ports.......let the scrambling begin!! Old Collingwood, Martin W and Landlubber Mike 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dfell Posted April 26, 2016 Author Share #26 Posted April 26, 2016 Thanks Don. Yes it certainly would be quite a challenge to cut the gun ports out. May move all a millimetre or so forward as one of those small square holes on both sides just has a tiny bit of bulkhead showing which I know will be cut off at some stage. This will also help the join as it should sit a tiny bit more on the bulkhead. Would also try and lower the bow part of strip to align with the tops of bulkheads better. Have checked the fit with the quarter deck on and it seems okay with some trimming off the end of strip. Anyway thanks for looking in and your comments. Doug Martin W and Old Collingwood 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin W Posted May 6, 2016 Share #27 Posted May 6, 2016 Hi Doug -- I have just now found your build log, and enjoyed reading up on your progress. As others have said, the Fly / Pegasus is a nice kit. Those gun port strips are about the worst part, so once you get them done to your satisfaction, you should find everything coming together with less agony. And they look good to me -- if you're going to use the kit-supplied guns, then they'll serve as your ultimate measure; but if you want to substitute, with Chuck's guns from Syren, for example, the measurement could shift a nudge. But, really, if the strips line up, if they're even, and they come together at the bow properly, then voila! It's always good to have another Swan builder on board! I'll be looking forward to your progress. Cheers, Martin Old Collingwood, Landlubber Mike and Mirabell61 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betamale Posted May 7, 2016 Share #28 Posted May 7, 2016 Hi Doug, It looks to me like you are making a fine start to your ship.I look forward to following your build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Ensign Posted May 7, 2016 Share #29 Posted May 7, 2016 Nice progress Doug, your deck planking looks excellent to my eye; I think we swan builders have all breathed a sigh of relief once the gunport strips have been fixed and we find that the guns sit squarely in the ports allowing a degree of both elevation and depression. Where the strips join I took the precaution of adding a thin reinforcing strip behind the join for added security. B.E. Landlubber Mike, Martin W, Mirabell61 and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirabell61 Posted May 7, 2016 Share #30 Posted May 7, 2016 nice progress Doug, Nils Dfell 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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