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Sovereign of the Seas 1637 by modelshipwright (Bill Short) - Sergal - 1:78 - Port "as built", Starboard "as presented to King Charles I for approval"


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You will notice that the area above the top two arched windows has dimples carved in the left most panel.  I was struggling with the effect I wanted to create and did not keep that presentation. The next photo shows a curved piece of boxwood that has a series of tear drop shaped openings that alternate like theatre seating as the rows expand. This is how these areas were filled in, using one strip and later adding partitions to create panels.

 

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In this shot, you can see the two strips in position with partitions placed over them to create the panels. More carvings are added and the windows treatments were added.

 

post-2916-0-13388000-1364397738.jpg

 

More to follow........................

 

Bill

Edited by modelshipwright

Mediocrity will never do. You are capable of something better.” ― Gordon B. Hinckley

Current build: Sovereign of the Seas 1637

My Book: Carving Ornamentation for Ship Models  

Website: Http://carvingbook.weebly.com/

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Stunning work, Bill.  That's for bringing this back.  Your log is a tutorial unto itself.

Mark
"The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me

Current Build:                                                                                             
Past Builds:
 La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD           Triton Cross-Section   

 NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit                                                                            HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64               

 

Non-Ship Model:                                                                                         On hold, maybe forever:           

CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed                                                   Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned)         

         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

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Welcome back, Bill.

 

I missed your marvelous build log of the Royal Souvereign.

Regards Christian

 

Current build: HM Cutter Alert, 1777; HM Sloop Fly, 1776 - 1/36

On the drawing board: English Ship Sloops Fly, 1776, Comet, 1783 and Aetna, 1776; Naval Cutter Alert, 1777

Paused: HMS Triton, 1771 - 1/48

"Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it." Salvador Dali

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Thanks everyone. It brings back many memories of my first attempts at carving when I repost this build log. As my skill improves I am often tempted to go back and replace some of the earlier sculptures, but alas, there is not enough time for that.

 

Regards,

Bill

Mediocrity will never do. You are capable of something better.” ― Gordon B. Hinckley

Current build: Sovereign of the Seas 1637

My Book: Carving Ornamentation for Ship Models  

Website: Http://carvingbook.weebly.com/

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You may have noticed the presentation of the leaded glass windows on the stern.  I had experimented with black thread soaked in a mild solution of white glue and water and trying to create a grid but this method failed. Finally I fell upon using plastic window screen. I stretched the screen to make the openings in the screen diamond shaped and pinned them to a teflon sheet on a board. I then painted the area with white glue and let them dry overnight. In the morning the pins were removed and the shapes maintained themselves. I cut the appropriate shape and placed it on the hull and laid the boxwood window frame over the grid. It turned out to be an effective method or reoplicating the glass.

 

 

post-2916-0-00833800-1364470057.jpg

 

 

More to follow...........................

 

Bill

Edited by modelshipwright

Mediocrity will never do. You are capable of something better.” ― Gordon B. Hinckley

Current build: Sovereign of the Seas 1637

My Book: Carving Ornamentation for Ship Models  

Website: Http://carvingbook.weebly.com/

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The next two carvings to be added to the stern were Jason holding the golden fleece and Hercules holding a club. Both carvings are standing on pedestals with a decorative motif.

 

post-2916-0-63187200-1364470783.jpg

 

As the carving proceeded, I began the central carving of Victory. It was by far the most complicated carving to date and took many hours to get it to where I thought it deserved to be on the stern. This photo shows Victory in progress held against the stern. Note the arch over her head with sculptures of clouds with faces in them.

 

post-2916-0-28313300-1364470974.jpg

 

More to follow.................

 

Bill

Edited by modelshipwright

Mediocrity will never do. You are capable of something better.” ― Gordon B. Hinckley

Current build: Sovereign of the Seas 1637

My Book: Carving Ornamentation for Ship Models  

Website: Http://carvingbook.weebly.com/

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As Victory was a major turning point in my carving, I will post a couple of in progress shots of her. The first shot shows her size in relationship to a Canadian dime.

 

post-2916-0-88161600-1364471429.jpg

 

The next photo shows the carving compared to a section of the Lely Portrait which was my guide in creating her.

 

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And finally, Victory mounted on her pedestal on the stern.

 

post-2916-0-43906400-1364471461.jpg

 

More to follow....................

 

Bill

Edited by modelshipwright

Mediocrity will never do. You are capable of something better.” ― Gordon B. Hinckley

Current build: Sovereign of the Seas 1637

My Book: Carving Ornamentation for Ship Models  

Website: Http://carvingbook.weebly.com/

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In the next series of photos I am showing the development of Aeolus, God of the Winds. This carving was in a way more complicated than Victory as it involved a bird as well. Ths first shot shows the rough carving compared to a dime.

 

post-2916-0-50818600-1364472052_thumb.jpg

 

In the next show it shows Aeolus in its finished state.

 

post-2916-0-78972900-1364472061.jpg

 

And now in position on the hull. Note that Neptune is also added on the left side of Victory. Additionally, I have added wings to Victory. Note that Victory has rings around each arm. These rings are part of the Victory carving, not added later. By now you have noticed the Bells Scotch bottle in the background. A source of inspiration in my carving. ^_^

 

post-2916-0-28516500-1364472068.jpg

 

More to folllow............

 

Bill

 

 

Edited by modelshipwright

Mediocrity will never do. You are capable of something better.” ― Gordon B. Hinckley

Current build: Sovereign of the Seas 1637

My Book: Carving Ornamentation for Ship Models  

Website: Http://carvingbook.weebly.com/

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Bill,

Nice to see your beautiful carvings again!

Janos

Thanks Janos,

 

Regards,

Bill

Mediocrity will never do. You are capable of something better.” ― Gordon B. Hinckley

Current build: Sovereign of the Seas 1637

My Book: Carving Ornamentation for Ship Models  

Website: Http://carvingbook.weebly.com/

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The next issue was to carve the ribbons. These ribbons connect the faces in the clouds above Victory's head to her arms. The faces are blowing air which turns into ribbons and they wind down to encircle her arms.  Sounds easy, right? After some due consideration, I decided that they had to be carved from the solid.  I started with a piece of boxwood about 1.4" thick and cut out the shape of the ribbon on a jig saw. Then I had to create the different levels of the ribbon from front to back.

 

post-2916-0-56951000-1364481831.jpg

 

The ribbon in the rough.

 

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The finished ribbon on the left side of the stern.  Notice the engraving of the word "NAVA" about which Thomas Heywood said "may Victory point to Jason, being figured with his Oare in his hand as being the prime Argonaut, and say Nava, or more plainly, Operam nava;". The corresponding ribbon on the starboard side is engraved "CLAVA" about which Haywood says "Shee pointeth to Hercules on the sinister side, with his club in hand, with his Motto, Clava; as if she should say. O Hercules, be thou as valiant with thy club upon the land, as Jason is industrious with his Oare upon the water."

 

The next photo shows both ribbons in place.

 

post-2916-0-60138400-1364482396.jpg

 

More to follow....................

 

Bill

 

 

Edited by modelshipwright

Mediocrity will never do. You are capable of something better.” ― Gordon B. Hinckley

Current build: Sovereign of the Seas 1637

My Book: Carving Ornamentation for Ship Models  

Website: Http://carvingbook.weebly.com/

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Next comes the Prince of Wales Feathers.

 

As stated on the web site: http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/the-prince-of-wales/titles-and-heraldry/prince-of-waless-feathers

 

"The badge of The Prince of Wales comprises three silver (or white) feathers rising through a gold coronet of alternate crosses and fleur-de-lys. The motto "Ich Dien" (I serve) is on a dark blue ribbon beneath the coronet. Its use in royal heraldry goes back to the time of Edward Prince of Wales (the Black Prince) in the 14th Century."

 

This was my first in the round carving and posed some difficulties as the feathers curl at the top and some more engraving is needed.

 


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The feathers as depicted in an encyclopedia.

 

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The carving in progress.

 

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The finished carving.

 

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The carving mounted on the stern with a couple of caryatids at each side.

Edited by modelshipwright

Mediocrity will never do. You are capable of something better.” ― Gordon B. Hinckley

Current build: Sovereign of the Seas 1637

My Book: Carving Ornamentation for Ship Models  

Website: Http://carvingbook.weebly.com/

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On either side of the Feathers are gun ports. I carved the gun port surrounds as shown in the next photo.

 

post-2916-0-80522300-1364561787.jpg

 

The surrounds mounted on the stern counter.

 

post-2916-0-39380500-1364561830.jpg

 

By now, I had abandoned the Proxon engraver tool in favour of a belt driven Emesco Dental Drill to do my carving. The beauty of this drill is that there is no torque on your hand as you find in other rotary tools. The belt is smooth and assures that your hand will not ache from fighting the side torque.

 

The Emesco Dental Drill

 

post-2916-0-88401800-1364561990_thumb.jpg

 

More to follow..................

 

Bill

Edited by modelshipwright

Mediocrity will never do. You are capable of something better.” ― Gordon B. Hinckley

Current build: Sovereign of the Seas 1637

My Book: Carving Ornamentation for Ship Models  

Website: Http://carvingbook.weebly.com/

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Now the upper counter is completed with a few other carvings of mythical creatures and I am beginning the work on the lower counter. On the right can be seen a pedestal ready to accept a wreath of angels, the next carving to follow.

 

post-2916-0-68891400-1364562319.jpg

 

The following photo shows one of the pedestals in the process of being carved.

 

post-2916-0-90181600-1364562527.jpg

 

The port side pedestal is finished and mounted on the lower counter.

 

post-2916-0-89379000-1364562544.jpg

 

More to follow..................

 

Bill

 

 

 

Edited by modelshipwright

Mediocrity will never do. You are capable of something better.” ― Gordon B. Hinckley

Current build: Sovereign of the Seas 1637

My Book: Carving Ornamentation for Ship Models  

Website: Http://carvingbook.weebly.com/

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Next in line was a carving of a little fellow squatting and holding a wreath of angels above his head. This was mounted on the previously carved pedestal. A round gun port surround was added as well.

 

post-2916-0-42130800-1364562817.jpg

 

Wreath of angels in progress.

 

post-2916-0-18845700-1364563405.jpg

 

The same carvings were completed and added to the port side along with three more gun port surrounds. Next was the addition of curved side trims on both the upper and lower counter as shown in this picture. These were most difficult to carve and fit to the curved surface.

 

post-2916-0-35832100-1364562974.jpg

 

Curved end trim for counter in progress.

 

post-2916-0-48359400-1364563335.jpg

 

More to follow...........................

 

Bill

Edited by modelshipwright

Mediocrity will never do. You are capable of something better.” ― Gordon B. Hinckley

Current build: Sovereign of the Seas 1637

My Book: Carving Ornamentation for Ship Models  

Website: Http://carvingbook.weebly.com/

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I am simply petrified with astonishment and admiration. I can not believe that you can sculpt in this scale and level of detail. On top of that I understand that this is in fact your first attempt in sculpture (at least the first stages). Wow...

 

I have heard that boxwood is the best wood suitable for carving. May I ask you from which source do you buy it? Thank you.

 

I will follow with the greatest pleasure your build log as it is rewritten.

Nelu A

The shipbuilder without patience is like the ship without an anchor.

 

Completed build: SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST by Mioriticul – D’Agostini (AL) – scale 1:50 – first wooden ship model

 

 

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Thanks Mioriticul. Yes, it was a challenge taking on the carvings with little experience but I was determined. I use a 2.5X magnifier to see an enlarged version of what I am doing so that helps.

 

The boxwood came from several sources. A good friend and fellow modeler gave me his entire stock of 30 year old boxwood as he was alergic to the dust. Additionally, I purchased some from Exotic Woods in Burlington Ontario.

 

Regards,

Bill

Edited by modelshipwright

Mediocrity will never do. You are capable of something better.” ― Gordon B. Hinckley

Current build: Sovereign of the Seas 1637

My Book: Carving Ornamentation for Ship Models  

Website: Http://carvingbook.weebly.com/

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Bill:

It is good to see this log back on MSW. Thanks for reposting it. The work is just fantastic.

 

Russ

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The next stage in the build was to create a representation of the stern lantern. I wanted to use the Lely Portrait as my guide and decided to build it using a 'plug' form to form the superstructure.

 

post-2916-0-28823900-1364645891.jpg

 

The plug in place on the stern for alignment purposes.

 

post-2916-0-73681000-1364646066.jpg

 

The next shot shows the framework of the lantern in progress.

 

post-2916-0-95428700-1364646180.jpg

 

As the lantern progressed, I needed to create a large domw carving and the next shot shows the rough piece of boxwood in place on the lantern.

 

post-2916-0-64958100-1364646197.jpg

 

Another fitting on the stern to chech for alignment etc. You will note that the carving has started on the dome.

 

post-2916-0-88770300-1364646204.jpg

 

The next shot shows the partial completion of the windows. I used the same technique as on the stern windows with plastic window screen to create the diamond leaded glass.

 

post-2916-0-09865300-1364646211.jpg

 

More to folllow..................

 

Bill

 

post-2916-0-97986900-1364646187.jpg

Edited by modelshipwright

Mediocrity will never do. You are capable of something better.” ― Gordon B. Hinckley

Current build: Sovereign of the Seas 1637

My Book: Carving Ornamentation for Ship Models  

Website: Http://carvingbook.weebly.com/

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On either side of the stern lantern there were decorative panels engraved with " Soli Deo Gloriam"  in Latin. It means 'to the sole glory of God' as the ship was dedicated to God. I carved these shapes and engraved them as the following photos show.

 

post-2916-0-77307200-1364646769.jpg

 

post-2916-0-46774000-1364646785.jpg

 

post-2916-0-86678700-1364646792.jpg

 

Just above Victory's head were a crown of feathers.  I carved these in Boxwood that had been heated and bent in a curve as the following photo shows.

 

post-2916-0-59434200-1364904233.jpg

 

The ball for the top of the lantern being made on my Unimat lathe.

 

post-2916-0-36801300-1364906723.jpg

 

The stern with the feathers in place and the stern lantern mounted and completed.

 

post-2916-0-58400800-1364904607_thumb.jpg

 

More to follow.................

 

Bill

Edited by modelshipwright

Mediocrity will never do. You are capable of something better.” ― Gordon B. Hinckley

Current build: Sovereign of the Seas 1637

My Book: Carving Ornamentation for Ship Models  

Website: Http://carvingbook.weebly.com/

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The next are I addressed was the port side stern gallery. The Payne engraving and the Van de Velde sketch of the port side show that the gallery was deeper than is depicted on the Mantua model. There was an additional section at the bottom of the gallery which I determined I should add to my model.

 

post-2916-0-48172100-1364649244.jpg

 

After adding this section, the whole gallery needed to be framed in boxwood strips to create areas for the many carvings needed. Windoes were added as was done on the stern which involved carving individual arches for each window and of course, the leaded glass window itself.

 

post-2916-0-58411500-1364648490.jpg

 

In between the windows, caryatids were required in duplicate. In order to create these on mass, I used a straight edge razor blade with the profile cut into it and scraped a section of boxwood with the blade to create a strip of about 4" in length with the profile in it.

 

post-2916-0-42661300-1364905482.jpg

 

It remained to cut the individual caryatids on my Preac.

 

post-2916-0-45979300-1364648499.jpg

 

In this shot I added the rails covers at the end of the gallery.

 

post-2916-0-74572800-1364648506.jpg

 

More to follow.................

 

Bill

Edited by modelshipwright

Mediocrity will never do. You are capable of something better.” ― Gordon B. Hinckley

Current build: Sovereign of the Seas 1637

My Book: Carving Ornamentation for Ship Models  

Website: Http://carvingbook.weebly.com/

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Now I went forward to the first of three rather ornate and complicated carvings that adorn the top of the port side gallery area. It is a crest like carving with the initials "CR" in it. CR is Carolus Rex or Charles King. In the next photo, the carving has been roughed out to eliminate wood not required.

 

post-2916-0-05767100-1364649572.jpg

 

Showing the carving partially completed on the gallery area.

 

post-2916-0-82207900-1364649614.jpg

 

The completed carving ready to mount.

 

post-2916-0-18249800-1364649886.jpg

 

 

More to follow.....................

 

Bill

Edited by modelshipwright

Mediocrity will never do. You are capable of something better.” ― Gordon B. Hinckley

Current build: Sovereign of the Seas 1637

My Book: Carving Ornamentation for Ship Models  

Website: Http://carvingbook.weebly.com/

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Simply STUNNING.

So much attention to detail.  This is the sort of build I could look at all day and still be in awe of the skill on show, I have started a version of this build but unfortunately I do not posess a fraction of your skill.  But I will certainly treat this build as THE reference for my attempt.

Nat

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