Sovereign of the Seas by Tallshiptragic - Sergal - 1/78

[S.Coleman]

That is an epic bow figure! It must be time to head outside for some relaxing sanding.

[Tallshiptragic]

Haha thanks guys. Sascha is her name (the dog) and yep that's King Edgar above the seven kings for the figure head. The sanding will come soon. I want to close in the top sides which will probably be done today and then the mess of sading will begin! 

[S.Coleman]

Aha!!  Soon let the sawdust fly!

[Tallshiptragic]

First layer planking completed and the first milestone reached. 

 

I have decided to change the transom and quarter galleries to more closely resemble that of the Payne and Van der Velde sketches. So will focus on the transom shape next, I've already trimmed the top gallant poop deck and the 11th and 12th frame to thin down the width. As the transom appears to be thinner than that of the sergal depiction. It's also quite a bit higher as it rises much higher above the poop than what sergal provides. This is all very easy compared to the new carvings.... hahaha what have I done?!? Ah well. 

[S.Coleman]

Im all in for the changes.  As for the carvings......um.

 How are you finding the sergal plans?  I dare not ask about the rigging plans.

Be Interesting to see how the transom pans out. I'm sure it will be fine. Nice job.

 

 

[Tallshiptragic]

The carving should be ok as I'll do them piece by piece. If that fails to look as I want them too I'll sculpt them instead. I'm quite confident with sculpture in clay and have done this for other models like my HMS Diana - the log was lost to the never never of the MSW 1. As long as I have some decent boxwood I'll see how we go.

 

As for the sergal plans, they are a good rendering of the Sovereign of the seas after the Greenwich museum model with the different stern decorations. The other thing Sergal did was to have the run of the gun ports in line with the sheet of the ship curving up towards the stern especially the upper gun deck. This was the fashion of earlier ships including the Prince Royal of 1610. It's interesting to note though that it's also mentioned after the 1660 rebuild the SOTS received flatter decks... perhaps they did originally follow the sheer line of the hull rather than cut through the wales. Though saying this both the Payne's and Van der Velde engravings/ sketch show the gun ports on all three gun decks running straight with the lowest two aft cutting down a step (this was common on Dutch ships were the last couple ports were on a smaller deck a step down which was also the same deck as the guns found on the lower transom). 

 

I have attached Van der Velde sketch showing the guns cutting the wales a copy of one of the Sergal Mantua plans - same as mine though mine do not have mantua on them. Paynes engraving of the sovereign believed to be as built (closely resembling Van der Velde's sketch. Three Pics of the Greenwich model, one of the Prince Royal model from Greenwich and a print of the Prince Royal showing the run of gun ports as common at the beginning of the 17th century and 16th century. 

[Tallshiptragic]

As for the rigging... well very simplistic and some inconsistencies when compared to the engravings and sketches of the actual vessel. Rigging though was an ongoing development process and would change as better methods where introduced. Having worked as a bosun on tall ships I know first hand how the position and method of running rigging does change, so using this knowledge I will rig her as best as I can deduct from known practices of the middle 17th century. I have sailed on the Duyfken Replica (technically 16th century), the Batavia replica - early 17th century, the Endeavour replica - late 18th century and various modern tall ships which rigging is based on methods from the 19th century. All very, very different yet similarities are apparent.

[CaptainSteve]

You have an incredible job, Anton. I'm definitely jealous. 

I visited the Duyfken just recently, too. Curious to know if I missed you that day.

[Tallshiptragic]

Thanks Steve, know I haven't worked on Duyfken for quite a few years now. Most of the tallship guys I've sailed with are like me slightly older generation than the current young ones coming through hahaha 

 

I work off shore now with MMA time to earn some coin again. Tall ships are lovely but after 15 years I realised it was time to move on haha. 

[CaptainSteve]

MMA time ??
You're a cage-fighter nowadays ?!?! Or working at the Maritime Museum ??

 

[Tallshiptragic]

Haha sorry Mermaid Marine Australia. Well actually agency as everyone else in the industry but always on MMA vessels for the most part. Drill tenders and supply vessels supporting the oil platforms.

[Tallshiptragic]

Let the sanding begin....

[Tallshiptragic]

Both sides have now been sanded. Started with 60 grade down to 120 grade. Only a couple spots need filler which is good even though it'll be covered by the second layer of planking. For the filler I use a timber based wood filler called timber mate which is also water based for easy clean up. This stuff is designed for furniture and comes in various colours for easy clean up e.g. Oak, maple, ebony, mahogany to name a few. I used the oak as it's just a light creamy yellow colour.

 

Ill leave her for now for the filler to set and then give her another sand for a nice smooth finish.

[Tallshiptragic]

The timber mate filler I use.

[granta]

Hi Anton

Looking pretty cool so far. Wondering about the Ozito sander. Read a couple of reviews suggesting the sanding pads came off too easily. Looks to have done a great job on your hull, though.

 

Grant

[Tallshiptragic]

Hi Grant, cheers mate. The Ozito is a cheap bit of kit at $40 but works fine for me. Obviously on the model I only use light pressure rather than too much heavy weight on it - too be honest if you need to really sand something off I'd say an angle grinder with variable speed is the better option - so the pads stay on fine for me. I also only use it for the initial sand with a 60 grade pad then by hand the lighter grades. 

[granta]

Thanks, mate. Done. Off to Bunnings......

[Tallshiptragic]

9 minutes ago, granta said:

Thanks, mate. Done. Off to Bunnings......

It's a great buy, even comes with 10 pads of different grades in the box haha

[Tallshiptragic]

So the daunting task of marking out gun ports. The sergal plans so the lower ports to roughly match up with the Van der Velde sketch though the rest are out completely and the upper deck follows the sheer. I've started to mark out the ports to match with the Van derVelde sketch, keeping all three gun decks level also having larger ports on the lower deck to suit the larger caliber cannon. A mention though the last ports on both lower and middle decks step down a step. 

 

This is only the first marking, though no cutting until I'm absolutely sure. I'll also draw in the positions of the wales and the quarter galleries to ensure they match up as best I can. 

[S.Coleman]

I have brought the exact same sander a couple of months ago. Purely because I have taken on refurbishing the admirals doll house. They are perfect for the tasks we need them for.

All sanded up she looks brilliant. Good job.

[Tallshiptragic]

Thanks mate, very happy with the shape of the hull also. 

 

Couldn't resist myself after deciding to break away from the sergal depiction of the carving (stern at least) and have ordered the book 'Sovereign of the seas - the 17th century warship' by James Sephton which will hopefully arrive in a week: the store is over in Sydney and apparently in stock though from past experiences... even though stated in stock, not always the case. Quite an informative book on the Sovereign I believe.

[S.Coleman]

I believe the art work on the front of this book has been used for other Sovereign builds for accuracy.  So it will be valuable for your build references.

[mathewp]

G'day. Looks like she's coming along nicely. How is the quality of the kit?. I'll be interested to see the quality of the mouldings they give you. Enjoy your build, and learning to read Italian.

Matt.

[Tallshiptragic]

Hi Matt, thanks for checking in. The quality is quite good and as you would expect for a kit at the $1500+ range though from what I have seen very different to that of the later and current Mantua version. Firstly the first planking is lime wood as you wood normally find in European kits and not the Balsa of the current version. Also birch and walnut is provided for the second layer of hull planking and decks. The current version has pre cut gun port strips with simulated planking which one depicts the incorrect gun port locations if modifying but also doesn't match the walnut to plank in between?? Something I wouldn't expect in such an expensive kit. Also the current versions false decks are scored to simulate deck planking.. again not what I would expect from such a kit. I have downloaded he manual from mantua which is probably the only good and needed improvement from the original sergal kit as it's full of colour photos depicting each step. Though the drawn steps on the plans I'm familiar with having built a Sergal kit in the past and you also find these types of steps in Corel kits I have built. My moldings are heavy brass pieces which hold some crisp detail and carry a nice patina which is an interesting look if you were to not paint them. The bright gold coloured ones of the new kit look too gold and plastic in appearance from photos I've seen. I don't want to sound too critical as I've seen some amazing out of the box models from those kits just a little confused as to why Mantua went down that path? 

 

So all in all I can't complain with the quality of materials in my version of the sergal kit and even without modification a beautiful model can be built.

 

As a side note I still believe the walnut for the hulls second planking to be too dark naturally so am thinking about using maple as a replacement. Need to weigh up the costs in that first before I make a decision.

[S.Coleman]

I believe modelers shiyard from NSW have an great range, But as you said. See how the costs weigh up. But also, You only build the ship once.

[Tallshiptragic]

Well back to the drawing board regarding the SOTS book as it turns out it's not in stock and not expected within 120 days...... I don't think I can wait that long so will need to find another solution. 

[Tallshiptragic]

3 hours ago, S.Coleman said:

I believe modelers shiyard from NSW have an great range, But as you said. See how the costs weigh up. But also, You only build the ship once.

I've ordered some new planks last night for the decks as sergal has included birch I believe for them and they're too dark and too thick even compared to their own plans  and also some maple to see what i prefer for the hull also just got the confirmation from modelers shipyard my planks are ok their way! 

[S.Coleman]

Nice one! Come to think of it, I still have lots of tanganika strips left over. I used them to plank the deck of the Friesland. 1000mm lengths from Modelers shipyard.

Keep an eye out for that long round cardboard tube!!!

[Tallshiptragic]

Haha should be here next week having the tracking from auspost so can't wait! I'll use the walnut for the lower two Gunwale strakes though as they will be painted black anyway and I really want to get that wale right before I pierce the ports on the hull. I will be following the sketches of Van der Velde for this, so the deviation has already started! Haha

[S.Coleman]

Ah the task has a slight change to it. Time to review the JHA. Write out another take 5 and reveiw the SWMS Haha. Please make sure all shipyard workers sign on!!!  That brings me back to the old FIFO Jobs.

Little bits at a time.

As the saying goes, For a man to move mountains, he must start by moving pebbles. Good luck.