HMS Winchelsea 1764 by Stuntflyer (Mike) - FINISHED - 1/4" scale

[Rustyj]

That looks really good Mike. 

[Stuntflyer]

I'm making slow progress on the head rails. There is a lot more going on here than I thought.

 

I struggled initially to keep things in place with rubber cement in order to view the relationship between the head timbers. Chuck suggested that I could set the center head timber vertical and then work the other two head timbers in such a way that it would look okay to my eye. With that in mind I did just that. After setting the middle timber I could see that the front one could lean slightly forward. I removed the fore end of the template which lies in front of the notch. A thin strip was placed between the back of the head timber and the template to angle the timber forward while at the same time keeping it parallel to the center timber.

The aft head timber was angled slightly rearward. I can now use this as a guide for the other side. Btw; notice the position of the main rail in relationship the timberhead on the forecastle just behind it. This worked out okay on my Winnie, though that might be different on your ship.

Mike

Edited January 17, 2023 by Stuntflyer

[glbarlow]

Very descriptive, I’m sure I will thank you when I get to this point. 

[scrubbyj427]

Looks great Mike! Off to a good start. 

[Stuntflyer]

Thanks!! I'm hoping for the good result. Time will tell.

[Hubac's Historian]

Extremely well done, Mike.  It is fascinating that this area of supporting timbers is more of a “splay” than a rigidly parallel construction.  This is art infused with the science of the thing.  Very impressive!

[Stuntflyer]

I finished up the second main rail today. More black touch up needed and then onto the head timber cover boards.

Mike

Edited December 4, 2022 by Stuntflyer

[Chuck]

Perfect!!!

[dvm27]

Beautiful symmetry and photography!

[Stuntflyer]

Thanks, guys!

[scrubbyj427]

Well done! Great photo as well. 

[Stuntflyer]

I've been looking forward to getting the cover boards completed, not necessarily doing them. I had to file down a few of the head timbers or change the angle slightly before I could glue the boards in. I recommend using slow drying CA and not PVA. I also removed some of the moulding under the frieze to make things easier when it's time to fit the lower rail.

 

Anyway, now that they are done I am feeling pretty good about how they turned out. Now its onto the lower rail.

 

Mike

Edited December 20, 2022 by Stuntflyer

[Chuck]

Very very nice Mike.  They look perfect.   I know how hard these can be.   You did a fantastic job on those headrails.   The grating and remaining headwork will be a breeze by comparison.

[Stuntflyer]

Thanks, Chuck!

[Gahm]

Wonderful work, Mike!

 

Thomas

[TomShipModel]

Well done Mike.  Absolutely beautiful and cleanly done.

[Stuntflyer]

Work continues with the completion of the cathead rail. A ton of fitting, tweaking and re-fitting in order to get something that I liked. It would be great if one could add the thin outside layers in one piece instead of a splice. Of course that would be more difficult to do since both halves of the rail would have to be glued together first, while matching the shape of the hull at the same time.

 

Anyway, here you go. .

Mike

Edited January 6, 2023 by Stuntflyer

[Beckmann]

Beautiful!! You should publish some of these photos in a calendar or something like that. They are exceptional.

Matthias

[garyshipwright]

Looks good Mike and ever thing looks ship shape, a very pleasant view of her and easy on the eye's. You should be proud of your self with a big pat on the back. A build that we strive for in our own build's.  Gary

[westwood]

wow that's perfect Mike !

A ton of assembly, tuning and reassembly is well worth the effort.

[Chuck]

Beautiful Mike…and hard to believe done with laser cut kit parts.  I am pretty sure you wont find many other kits with headrails like that.  
 

you are in the home stretch now.  The top gratings should be a piece of cake by comparison.

[Stuntflyer]

Thank you all for the kind words and for all the like's!

 

Chuck, I still have to complete the two aft head timbers. I did remove the lower moulding which should make things easier. It's a tight area to work in. Stay tuned. .

[Rustyj]

That is some fantastic work there Mike. 

[PhillH]

Looks like the fitting, tweaking and re-fitting paid off. Excellent work again Mike.

[Stuntflyer]

Well, I'm not sure if I would call it a milestone, but it does feel good to have finally finished the head timber work. It's challenging and sometimes tedious work. The secret to any kind of success is to just slow down and think things through as much as possible. The head gratings are next.

Mike

 

Edited January 16, 2023 by Stuntflyer

[glbarlow]

So much fine detail, those curves…. Well done. 

[James G]

Mike, she looks great! Your patience and skill have definitely paid off.

[Gahm]

Wonderful!!

 

Thomas

[Hubac's Historian]

Your work is as good and clean as Chuck’s prototype.

[scrubbyj427]

Beautiful work Mike!