Le Soleil Royal by EJ_L - FINISHED - Sergal - Scale 1:77 - 1669 Version

[EJ_L]

Thank you so much Michael and O.C. as well as everyone else who have been leaving the nice compliments, suggestions and likes. The support is always welcome. 

 

No pictures at the moment but I almost have the rest of the port lids ready, just 8 more to attach ropes to and then I can start hanging them in place and setting the dummy cannon barrels. With some luck, I may have a fully armed ship this weekend! 

[popeye the sailor]

great job on the port lids.......really getting to be a super decorative hull now!   

[J11]

Wonderful craftsmanship! Look forward to watching this build. 

[BLACK VIKING]

Lovely work as always,  😎

Martyn

[EJ_L]

Thank you all for the words, likes and following along. Jonathan, welcome to the build! 

 

I finished with the starboard broadside today. Now, just a few details left to go and then the mast and rigging will start. 

[KenW]

What a great looking ship.  Keep going.

[Hubac's Historian]

It really is amazing, EJ, how the ship has come together.  You are doing an incredible job!

[EJ_L]

Thank you everyone! 

 

Working on the skids this week. I made a template out of a note card that I can transfer to the wood. Traced it out and am ready to start cutting. I plan on doing a test piece first and if everything works out, I will progress to the rest. There are five skids on each side. Two of which will frame the ladder. 

[EJ_L]

Starboard side skids and ladder are in place. Now to repeat on the port side. 

[Ulises Victoria]

Outstanding work!!! It is a pleasure to behold!!!

 

 

[EJ_L]

Skids and ladder are installed on both sides. I have also added a couple more decorations on the upper quarter galleries. With those pieces, the ship’s hull is basically complete. The only other major structures left to build are the ship’s boats and cradles which are more of a separate assembly in my opinion. 

 

I will likely be pausing on this build for a while to spend some time on the Royal Louis build. When I return, the boats and masts will be the priority. 

 

[Old Collingwood]

First rate craftmanship   - she is looking superb.

 

OC.

[KenW]

I think you've done a fantastic job!  This model is massive.  Keep at it.

Cheers.

[EJ_L]

While Royal Louis is waiting for my health to improve so I can begin the sanding/filling and more sanding work to smooth out the hull, I have decided to start construction on the ship’s boats for Soleil Royal. Figured these would be a “simple” enough project to attempt right now. 

[testazyk]

Hope you feel better soon!

 

Looks like you are using the kit materials for the boats.  I've always found boats one of the most challenging things to do and I'm dreading the experience with the quality of this kit.  Good luck!

[EJ_L]

Thank you all for he nice words, well wishes and of course the likes and visits. I am feeling better and I think this round is finally ending. I have a follow up with my doctor soon to find out more.

 

I did use the kit supplied materials to build the boats. Not overwhelmingly happy about the end results. The frames were not cut very well and with the wide spacing and extremely thin provided planks, the overall condition leaves more to be desired. Fortunately, I mostly just need them as a placeholder for now. I will not secure the cradles nor the boats till the rigging is further along and nothing else needs to go down to the bits below. 

 

With that time available to me, I am going to look into seeing if here is a way to improve the current boats and if not, then I will probably just fabricate new ones. 

 

So up next will be he start of mast building. I will start the lower masts up to the tops. 

 

 

[Old Collingwood]

Glad to see you back   - hope all is well for you with your health, looking forward to more updates when you can.

 

OC.

[EJ_L]

Small update. I got the masts cut to length and squared off the heads. Now I am working on the cheeks for the tops. 

 

Would have have done more but my dogs have demanded my attention to make up some play time now the the weather is nice after the cold and wet winter. 

[EJ_L]

Cheeks, trestle-trees and cross-trees in place. I will place the woldings and any blocks that secure to he lower masts next and then work on the tops will start. 

[BLACK VIKING]

Lovely work on the masts EJ she is looking stunning.

Martyn

[EJ_L]

Mast work continues with woldings on the main mast. 

[popeye the sailor]

catching up on your project EJ...........glad to hear your feeling better     the hull looks fantastic.........and the first steps of the masts are looking fine as well.  awesome work  

[Elijah]

Nice work EJ! She's looking very cool!

[EJ_L]

Thank you all very much for the comments and likes. As always, they are great sources of knowledge and encouragement. 

 

Work is continuing on the masts and no, hey are not glued in yet nor will they be for some time yet. Much easier to work on them off the ship.

 

Woldings are in place and I’ve begun to fit some of the blocks. I’ve ordered the ropes and blocks from Chuck that will be replacing all of he kit blocks and all of the standing rigging. 

 

While I await those, I have started to build the tops. Pictures of that work to follow probably this weekend. 

[EJ_L]

Received the rope and blocks from Syren this week. Great service from Chuck as always and incredibly fast delivery. Ordered Wednesday morning and they were in my mailbox waiting for me when I came home from work on Friday. 

Work has has been progressing nicely on the tops. Fore and main tops are built and in place though not yet glued. Mizzen top is underway, then the bowsprit. Once the masts and wood works are complete, the rigging of the stays will commence. 

[Old Collingwood]

Nice work on the tops  - that stuff from Syren looks tasty, I never thought to order different thread/ropes - I just use watery pva to de fuzz the thread that came with some of my kits.

 

OC.

[EJ_L]

Thanks O.C.. I use a mix bag when it comes to rigging. It largely depends upon what I receive in the kits. In this particular case, the ropes I got are actually decent, but they are only of one color and two sizes (not counting the rope for the anchor). I will be able to use them extensively for the running rigging, but I had nothing that I could use for the standing rigging. 

 

The hardest part is measuring for quantities and figuring out what sizes are needed. Not really a difficult task, just takes some time. Spent an evening with flexible tape measures, note cards and calculators plus my scale conversion app. I think I got all that I will need. If not, well I know where to get more!

 

 

[EJ_L]

Had a rough start to the weekend when a tire on my truck blew out while I was going 70mph on the highway. Exciting moment when the truck suddenly lunged to the right. Fortunately, I was able to keep control and pull off safely. Now I get to go tire shopping instead of buying wood for Royal Louis.... 😕

Mast work is progressing well. The tops have been built and dry fit. Still have a few details to add to the bowsprit as well as attaching the blocks and then I will be able to permanently install it and add the gammoning. Once the bowsprit is in place, the stays will be fit to the fore, main and mizzen. 

 

First, it is time to take a little time and clean up the table. It has become a bit too cluttered with wood scraps. 

 

[yancovitch]

wow never seen that before.....amazed that you had enough control.....good shew.....

[CDW]

Oh wow, that tire. You are very fortunate not to have had a major mishap. Any idea what may have caused that tire to come apart like that? I know you must be concerned now about the other three tires.

I love the way your model is progressing. It is beautiful.