US Brig Syren by Hipexec - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1:64 - building as USS Argus

[HIPEXEC]

Two yards to go!  My next build has to be with minimum rigging...theses bandaged fingers don't want to work easily.

Edited February 21, 2020 by HIPEXEC

[JesseLee]

I admire your determination to keep building with your hands still healing from burns. I hope you aren't in too much pain.

 

Jesse

[HIPEXEC]

3 hours ago, JesseLee said:

I admire your determination to keep building with your hands still healing from burns. I hope you aren't in too much pain.

 

Jesse

Thanks, Jesse. After nine months, the pain blends in with normal sensations.

[smarra]

That is looking fantastic, I enjoy following your build.

[HIPEXEC]

All yards are finally lifted. Now I just have to belay the last two. 🤪 

[Nirvana]

Impressive work!

[HIPEXEC]

Putting together the anchors. Had to take a break from rigging! They'll need some touching up before mounting them.

Edited February 28, 2020 by HIPEXEC

[HIPEXEC]

I'm rigging the anchors cock-billed and ready to drop. 

[HIPEXEC]

Now i'm bracing all the yards. Tough with my fingers.

[Javlin]

Nice Rich likee likee!!  Kevin

Edited March 7, 2020 by Javlin

[HIPEXEC]

Thank goodness I've built and rigged other model ships because The Model Shipways instruction manual, pictures and plans are impossible for a person like me to make anything. I don't have the ability to follow detailed written instructions like in the Model Shipways book. They are full of very elaborate and detailed written instructions. I need pictures and detailed prints to build.  Most good kits provide both. Different people have different aptitudes.  I was a military and airline pilot for 30 years and all approach and departure charts had both type instructions: detailed written and detailed pictorial.

Edited March 7, 2020 by HIPEXEC

[HIPEXEC]

All the foremast yards are now braced. I examined my work using these bandaged and burned hands and I'm aghast at the amateurish work I am now turning out. Compared the my past two ships which can be examined with a magnifying glass for fine details, these look like a cartoon version of ship building.

[JesseLee]

I'm amazed you can do it at all. I do understand though. Sometimes building is part of healing or helping you through a sickness. The first year of my treatment for my chronic Lyme disease I had a PICC line inserted into a (vein/artery?) in my arm going right into a chamber in my heart to pump antibiotics straight in. Had it in for 8 months. Spent much of that time in bed. I built my first large wooden ship model during that time. I wanted something to try to do to give me a purpose to live because I was so sick I wanted to go on and die. Somehow I built this whole ship from scratch- no kit- and a single large plan sheet. A lot of it is not accurate but under the circumstances I did the best I could.  I don't even remember most of the build at all but It was what got me through that very hard time. Here is a pic below of it.  I say be proud of what you are doing knowing your condition right now. It can be wonderful therapy.

 

Jesse

 

[HIPEXEC]

1 minute ago, JesseLee said:

I'm amazed you can do it at all. I do understand though. Sometimes building is part of healing or helping you through a sickness. The first year of my treatment for my chronic Lyme disease I had a PICC line inserted into a (vein/artery?) in my arm going right into a chamber in my heart to pump antibiotics straight in. Had it in for 8 months. Spent much of that time in bed. I built my first large wooden ship model during that time. I wanted something to try to do to give me a purpose to live because I was so sick I wanted to go on and die. Somehow I built this whole ship from scratch- no kit- and a single large plan sheet. A lot of it is not accurate but under the circumstances I did the best I could.  I don't even remember most of the build at all but It was what got me through that very hard time. Here is a pic below of it.  I say be proud of what you are doing knowing your condition right now. It can be wonderful therapy.

 

Jesse

 

You're a good man, Jesse Lee

[HIPEXEC]

I finished the lifts and braces ! Now I have to repair all the damage I did when my bandages caught on completed  rigging! I'm also "graying" up the new rigging. It is pure white and very glaring. 

[src]

Well Done Rich!!

Sam

[JesseLee]

The weathering will look much better than the bright white rigging. 

[EdatWycliffe]

Looking very good, Rich. I’ve temporarily halted my Syren build while I research the best way to furl sails. (The research is as much fun as the actual build.) I think I figured out the staysails and I’m now working on the square sales. Ed

[HIPEXEC]

I'm basically finished with what I can do. Now, I have to go through the instructions, pictures  and drawings to catch small stuff I might have missed. Also, I'm still "graying" the pure white running rigging. I might add a mast top pendant. I'll also have to find my original files on the Argus to make sure I got it right.

I can't believe I started this model on January 19, 2017!  That's three years three months of working on it. Of course Stage four cancer and 20% deep tissue burns got in the way.

Edited March 15, 2020 by HIPEXEC

[HIPEXEC]

I added a pennant on the main mast and made paper plaques to simulate the brass ones I'll have made. I installed a miniature replica of the USMC Officer's sword. I'm still cleaning up and repairing minor damage. I'm getting there even after over three years!

Edited March 17, 2020 by HIPEXEC

[Nirvana]

Rich, 

You must feel good now with the completion of USS Argus.

Beautiful build a true masterpiece.

 

Now it's time for a break, unless you have something else waiting to be built.

[JesseLee]

The sword is a nice touch. Looks better with the pennant too!

[Javlin]

Nice!! 

[src]

Well done Rich! You are an inspiration to us all.

Sam

[HIPEXEC]

I can't get to the engraving store on account of this virus. So, my ship has to wait until the store re-opens to do the finishing touches. I hope all is well by all of you. Social distancing has its pros and cons, but we have to put a stop to this scourge. 

[JesseLee]

You stay safe Rich

[Overworked724]

Beautiful job!  Stay safe, shipmate!

[HIPEXEC]

I'm collecting data, drawings and anything I'm going to need to make a scratch or semi-scratch version of Joshua Slocum's Spray. Semi-scratch means parts I have leftover from past builds or I can buy from vendors. I first have to draw to scale what I want to build and buy some much better tools. Any suggestions or contributions would be very welcome.

[Mahuna]

Hi Rich

 

I've been off the forum for a while due to moving to a new home.  Glad to see you're finished your build, and it looks great.

 

Bluejacket has a kit of the Spray.  If you don't want to build from a kit, I think you could just buy the plans.

 

http://www.bluejacketinc.com/kits/spray.htm

[HIPEXEC]

I finally broke house arrest and got  brass plaques made to finally finish this build. Hallelujah! I plan on offering this ship to the Marine Corps Museum for display. How I'm going to get it there is another question.