modelshipwright Posted April 3, 2013 Author #91 Posted April 3, 2013 (edited) As you have realized by now, the reposting of my build is a time compression of the build that has taken place over a number of years. It is sometimes hard for me to follow the exact progression but for the most part I think it is close to what actually happened. Over those years, I traveled to model shows and conferences and sought out people who I could learn from and who might also critique my carvings. One example of this which stands out in my mind was a visit to the SMA Ship Modeling Conference in Los Angeles. I met a modeler, Jean Eckert from Los Altos California who was exhibiting a beautiful model of The Nonsuch. Jean won the gold medal at the 2000 Mariner's Museum Ship Modeling Conference in Newport News Virginia for her beautiful model. The boxwood carvings on this model were simply exquisite! Jean's beautiful Nonsuch model photographed through a glass case at the SMA Conference. Jean was kind enough to sit down with me over a coffee and look at carvings that I had taken to LA. She was most kind and considerate in her criticism. She advised me to pay more attention to undercutting aspects of the sculpture to create depth with shadows. When I returned to Canada, I reworked the Aeolus carving adding undercutting and want to show you what a difference this technique can make on a carving. The following two photos show the before and after results. Before undercutting After undercutting I am sure that despite the different colour of the wood due to lighting conditions when photographed, you can clearly see the difference the undercuts made in shadows cast by the light. The carving changed dramatically. I am indebted to Jean Eckert and many others that have assisted me over the years in improving my skills as a modeler. More to follow...................... Regards, Bill Edited April 12, 2016 by modelshipwright DARIVS ARCHITECTVS 1 Quote 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/
modelshipwright Posted April 3, 2013 Author #92 Posted April 3, 2013 Thanks Randy. Regards, Bill Quote 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/
modelshipwright Posted April 3, 2013 Author #93 Posted April 3, 2013 (edited) The transition between the rear decks, the hance, has a small sculpture on it which I chose to carve next. The two hance pieces for the transition to the poop deck. One under way with the handle still attached and the other completed. The hance transition complete and mounted on the port side. More to follow....................... Bill Edited April 3, 2013 by modelshipwright garym 1 Quote 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/
modelshipwright Posted April 3, 2013 Author #94 Posted April 3, 2013 (edited) The hance of the waste at the next deck level required a carving that not only transitioned the two decks, but was imbedded in the rail. The following is a section of the Payne engraving showing this carving. The next series of photos show the carving in progress and finally mounted. This was a tricky fit and now I had to carve the mirror image for the starboard side. Note the dolphin at the top of the carving. More to follow.......................... Bill Edited April 3, 2013 by modelshipwright garym, DARIVS ARCHITECTVS and Mirabell61 2 1 Quote 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/
Erik Nyren Posted April 3, 2013 #95 Posted April 3, 2013 Great to see your log back. Ive missed your Souvreign carvings truly inspirational. Erik Quote Building: HMS Kingfisher LSS Building: HMS Victory Caldercraft Past buildsVasa by IGRAHMS Pandora by ConstructoHMS Victory by CorelFair American by LSS
modelshipwright Posted April 3, 2013 Author #96 Posted April 3, 2013 Thanks for your comments Erik, Regards, Bill Quote 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/
modelshipwright Posted April 4, 2013 Author #97 Posted April 4, 2013 (edited) The starboard mirror image of the imbedded hance carving was next. The next photo shows the carving underway. With the port carving and to show the scale of the carvings....... More progress......... The finished carving installed on the railing between the decks. More to follow............. Bill Edited April 4, 2013 by modelshipwright garym 1 Quote 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/
modelshipwright Posted April 4, 2013 Author #98 Posted April 4, 2013 (edited) I now began to fill in the bulkhead between the Poop and upper gundecks. After planking it in Swiss Pear and capping the rail with boxwood, the ornamentation was to follow. Caryatids for the bulkhead. Assembling and gluing boxwood trim pieces. Carving large caryatids on a strip of boxwood The caryatids separated from the strip. Caryatids mounted on the bulkhead. More to follow........ Bill Edited April 4, 2013 by modelshipwright garym 1 Quote 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/
modelshipwright Posted April 4, 2013 Author #99 Posted April 4, 2013 (edited) The staircases shown on the Van de Velde sketch were next and I used boxwood for the construction. The following picture shows a portion of the Van de Velde sketch with the staircases between the upper gun deck and the poop deck. The starboard staircase in construction beside the tip of my mechanical pencil. The port staircase showing handrail with tiny balls installed. The staircases installed on the deck. Edited April 4, 2013 by modelshipwright garym 1 Quote 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/
WackoWolf Posted April 4, 2013 #100 Posted April 4, 2013 I love the look of the stairs, your work is excellent. Please keep the pictures coming. This is an unbelievable thread and I enjoy watching it grow as time goes on. Quote Wacko Joe Go MSW :)
Keith_W Posted April 4, 2013 #101 Posted April 4, 2013 Everything about this build is simply incredible. I don't know how you made those stairs - I suspect I am younger than you but even my eyes and hands are not that keen. Quote Regards, Keith 2007 (completed): HMS Bounty - Artesania Latina 2013 (completed): Viking Ship Drakkar - Amati 2014 (completed): HMS Bounty Launch - Model Shipways Current: HMS Royal William - Euromodel
michael mott Posted April 4, 2013 #102 Posted April 4, 2013 Hello Bill, I have just read the whole build that you have re-posted I missed it on MSW-1. Your tenacity regarding the working and reworking of details as your research progressed Is beyond what many of us would consider doing. It was also great to see the progress in your skills at carving which support my first impressions about your care and dedication to a work of research and beauty. Thank you for taking to time to rebuild your albeit condensed progress report of your model build. Michael Quote Current builds Bristol Pilot Cutter 1:8; Skipjack 19 foot Launch 1:8; Herreshoff Buzzards Bay 14 1:8 Other projects Pilot Cutter 1:500 ; Maria, 1:2 Now just a memory Future model Gill Smith Catboat Pauline 1:8 Finished projects A Bassett Lowke steamship Albertic 1:100 Anything you can imagine is possible, when you put your mind to it.
modelshipwright Posted April 4, 2013 Author #103 Posted April 4, 2013 Thank you WackoWolf, Amfiibius and Michael for your comments. The build may not contain all the details that were on MSW1 but the main parts are shown here. I never anticipated that it would be lost and I would have to rewrite it, so I hope it flows along well. As for age Amfibius, I am just approaching 70 years young. Hands are still steady for now. As for the details Michael, I guess I just like to do it as well as I can with the information available. Regards, Bill Quote 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/
modelshipwright Posted April 4, 2013 Author #104 Posted April 4, 2013 (edited) There are other materials to carve with and one of those that is very close to Ivory is Tagua Nut. It is a Brown coloured nut and when cut in pieces and the centre removed, the remaining part of the nut us very hard and Ivory coloured. The Tagua Nut from the outside. Cut in quarters with the centre removed... A carving of a lion in the flesh of the nut. The nut is very hard and hold an edge well for carving. Ceertainly another viable material to use for sculptures. More to follow....................... Bill Edited April 4, 2013 by modelshipwright Anja and Mirabell61 2 Quote 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/
Maury S Posted April 4, 2013 #105 Posted April 4, 2013 Bill, You just opened a package of nuts and whipped out a carving of a griffin? Maury Quote Current diversion: Anchor Hoy c 1815 - 1825 1:48 scale Recent Builds: Fair American: 18th C. Longboat: http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/2284-longboat-18th-c-by-maury-modelshipways-by-chuck/ Echo Cross Section: http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/513-echo-cross-section-by-maury/ Emma C. Berry http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/gallery/album/203-emma-c-berry-132-pof-by-maury/
DORIS Posted April 4, 2013 #106 Posted April 4, 2013 Hello Bill,I have just browsed through your thread and really enjoy seeing your great masterpiece. I admire your beautiful carvings and sence for realistic rendition. My respect!Kind regards,Doris pisistrate and Mirabell61 2 Quote Doris Current build: HMS Royal Katherine 1664 from card
modelshipwright Posted April 4, 2013 Author #107 Posted April 4, 2013 Hello Bill, I have just browsed through your thread and really enjoy seeing your great masterpiece. I admire your beautiful carvings and sence for realistic rendition. My respect! Kind regards, Doris From you, Doris, that means a lot to me as I have followed your incredible Sovereign build on MSW1 and your beautiful Royal Caroline build on MSW2, and have great respect for your artistic talent in carving sculptures and building exquisite models. Thank you for stopping by my build. Regards, Bill clipper 1 Quote 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/
modelshipwright Posted April 4, 2013 Author #108 Posted April 4, 2013 Even my wife thinks I am nuts Maury............. Regards, Bill Quote 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/
modelshipwright Posted April 5, 2013 Author #109 Posted April 5, 2013 Hi Janos, The Tagua nuts are native to Central and South America and grow on palm trees. The carving in my post was done some years ago and is still the same colour as the day I cut the nut open. Regards, Bill Quote 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/
modelshipwright Posted April 5, 2013 Author #110 Posted April 5, 2013 (edited) After planking the bulkhead between the upper and lower gun decks, I needed to fashion a curved rail with a profile cut into the leading edge of the rail. As the rail has three distinctive and rather tight curves along its length, I decided to make it from a solid piece of Mansonia and cut out the curves. with the jigsaw and other tools. The first photo shows the piece with the curves on the front side of the rail cut out. It is mounted in my keel clamp with the profile scraped into the leading edge with a straight edge razor blade. As the rail does not follow a straight line from port to starboard, I cut it in three sections as shown. I used a rotary tool with a drum sander attachment to remove the wood from the rear side of the curves. All theee pieces are now complete and ready for mounting on the model. The railing mounted on the top of the bulkhead. More to follow......... Bill Edited April 5, 2013 by modelshipwright garym and themadchemist 2 Quote 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/
modelshipwright Posted April 5, 2013 Author #111 Posted April 5, 2013 (edited) It might be interesting to see the comparisons of the Mantua - Sergal stern, The Sir Peter Lely stern in his painting and my stern The following pictures show the differences. The Mantua stern The Sir Peter Lely Portrait, and my stern side by side. It appears that Mantua copied the stern from the model in Greenwich at the National Maritime Museum. More to follow......... Bill . Edited April 5, 2013 by modelshipwright themadchemist, garym, greg-kam and 1 other 4 Quote 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/
WackoWolf Posted April 5, 2013 #112 Posted April 5, 2013 Mantua might have copy the stern section, but I feel you have done an excellent job of reproducing it to the likes of the one they have copy. I love your work and the detail you have shown everyone here is out of this world. Your have taken carving to a new high. Keep the pictures coming. Quote Wacko Joe Go MSW :)
modelshipwright Posted April 6, 2013 Author #113 Posted April 6, 2013 Thank WackoWolf, Regards, Bill Quote 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/
modelshipwright Posted April 6, 2013 Author #114 Posted April 6, 2013 (edited) The Unicorn that sits on the stern rail at the starboard side was the next carving in the round to be done. The next photo shows the beginning of the carving against the section of the stern from the Lely portrait. I used several aids as guides to how the unicorn would look besides the Lely portrait. Here is an image obained from Google pictures. The Unicorn underway.......... A little more refined........ The finished Unicorn mounted on the stern of my model. The horn was made by inserting a piece of boxwood in my rotary tool and using a diamond file to create the shape. It was then cut off and mounted on the carving. More to follow................................ Bill Edited April 6, 2013 by modelshipwright themadchemist and garym 2 Quote 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/
clipper Posted April 6, 2013 #115 Posted April 6, 2013 Hi Bill, permission to come aboard sir, I have been following this build on msw1 & now of course msw2. I am amazed at how dedicated modellers like yourself have researched and created these magnificent creations. Its modellers like yourself, Doris, Danny Vadas, EdT, Remco just to name a few of the skilful modellers on this website that have transformed this site into a definitive reference work for generations to come on how ships in the age of sail were built and rigged. I just want to say thankyou for all the input that you and all the other modellers (too many to mention) have put into this site. Thankyou. Tony Quote
modelshipwright Posted April 6, 2013 Author #116 Posted April 6, 2013 Thank you Tony for visiting my build and for your comments. There are indeed many very skilled modelers on this forum and we are lucky to be amongst them. With their participation, we can all gain inspiration to help improve our skills. Regards, Bill Quote 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/
Blue Ensign Posted April 6, 2013 #117 Posted April 6, 2013 I've just picked up on your build Bill. That is one hell of a kit bash, in fact the term doesn't really fit at all. Your depth of research, attention to detail, and evident skill is producing a model of exceptional beauty. A new benchmark for a Mantua kit for sure. Look forward to seeing more. Regards, B.E. clipper 1 Quote Current Build: Medway-longboat-1742-by-blue-ensign-½”-scale Completed builds: HMS Indefatigable-1794-by-blue-ensign-vanguard-models-1:64-scale HMS Sphinx 1775 by Blue Ensign. 1:64 scale - Vanguard Models Queen-Anne-Royal-Barge-circa-1700-by-Blue-Ensign Fifie fishing boat Lady Eleanor Muirneag-1903-–-a-scottish-zulu-fishing-boat-164-scale-based-on-the-vanguard-models-zulu-kit/ HM Cutter Alert 1777 HM Cutter Cheerful 1806 18th-century-English-longboat-by-Blue-Ensign-ms-148-scale/ 18thc English Pinnace by Blue Ensign-Model-Shipways-1:24 scale/ HMS-Pegasus-by-Blue-Ensign-finished-Victory-Models-1:64-scale/ Heller Seventy-four 1:150 scale - modified Le Superbe/Le Glorieux kit after Boudriot, waterline setting with sails. The schooner Pickle, Jotika pob kit 1:64 scale, my interpretation.
modelshipwright Posted April 6, 2013 Author #118 Posted April 6, 2013 Thanks for your comments BH. They are really appreciated coming from a skilled kit basher like you. Regards, Bill Captain Poison 1 Quote 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/
modelshipwright Posted April 7, 2013 Author #119 Posted April 7, 2013 (edited) The next project was to start filling in some areas on the starboard gallery. There are small carvings with a face and swirls beside their heads above the gallery windows as shown on this section of the Pett Painting. The start of the carvings in a strip of boxwood. Some of the carvings separated from the strip....... With a Canadian dime to show scale...... Three of the four carvings mounted on the gallery. More to follow............... Bill Edited April 7, 2013 by modelshipwright garym, Blue Ensign and cristikc 3 Quote 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/
Shazmira Posted April 7, 2013 #120 Posted April 7, 2013 Bill, all I can really say is WOW! I am completely in awe....cant wait to see more! Quote Robbyn If you risk nothing, you risk everything! Current builds Syren (Model Shipways) version 2.0 AL San Francisco II Mordaunt (Euro Model) Completed Builds 18th Century Longboat designed by Chuck Passaro In the closet Battle Station Al Charles Morgan (1980s version)
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