Barque Stefano by Heronguy - MarisStella - 1:63

[Heronguy]

The bulwark went on without much trouble.  The holding jigs  worked well enough.  If I were to repeat this I would have used a harderer wood for the jigs since the roasted poplar I had lying around split under minor pressure and had to be glued back together a couple of times.  When it came to clamping near the bow and stern (where the rails curve) I cut the jigs so that they were not as long and could follow the curve better.

 

[ccoyle]

I'm enjoying watching this build, as I believe that this is one of the truly top-shelf kits available in today's marketplace. It's a kit I would love to build if I had the money (strike one!), space (strike two!), and patience (strike three!). 🙂

[popeye the sailor]

looking good so far Doug!  glad to see you back at the table!

[Heronguy]

I agree with you Chris.  The kit design seems well thought out and the kit contents are really good.  I must admit I was attracted to the overall size of the Stefano  from a build perspective without giving thought to the size from a display perspective.  One might assume it will be on the bench so long that it won’t be my problem to arrange display.  As a relative newcomer to modelling I’m not sure I’ll give it its proper due but I’m enjoying the process.

 

[Heronguy]

Thank you Popeye. Your continued interest in my projects is appreciated.  I still don’t get useful stretches of time to focus on builds but 15 minutes here and a half hour there do eventually add up.

[Heronguy]

I attached the pinrails and finished drilling holes in the deck for the masts.

 

 

[Heronguy]

Current task is to install the chainplates.  On this kit the chainplates are simulated by PE strips attached to the exterior hull but not all the way through the rails.  Eyebolts will be inserted on the rails to complete the appearance of chainplates.

 

Copying the position of the chainplates from the plans made it straightforward to position the PE strips.  

 

The foremast chainplates

 

 

 

[Matt D]

That looks great, Doug.  Does that mean the deadeyes will snap into the eyebolts?

[Heronguy]

The deadeyes are attached to the eyebolts with some wire and the unit then glued into holes drilled in the mainrail.

 

Then onward to coppering the hull! 

[popeye the sailor]

good to see your making progress on her........very nice looking ship  

[Heronguy]

The lower deadeyes are installed.

 

Each was wired with a small eyebolt that attaches it to the main rail.

 

 

[Heronguy]

The coppering is going to be a long term project.  I expect to get perhaps 10-20  plates per hour.  I am using CA glue despite my general dislike of the substance.  

 

This is a pretty big hull.  Makes me glad the Winchelsea won't be coppered!!

[popeye the sailor]

what did you use to anchor the dead eyes?  she's still look'in sharp Doug!   

[Heronguy]

13 hours ago, popeye the sailor said:

what did you use to anchor the dead eyes?

The kit instructions simply suggest attaching a small eye pin with the twisted wire holding the deadeye. The stem of the eye pin is inserted into a drilled hole in the rail and affixed with glue.  Once again I had to use CA to bond the wire to the wood. (The chainplates mounted on the hull are not connected to the deadeye - just simulating the practice on the actual ship) I’ve “tested” each one with a good tug to see if they may hold when under tension from shrouds and don’t expect too many challenges there!  A long time from now at the current rate!!! 

[Heronguy]

At long last I've finished the coppering of the hull.  It hasn't been a very intense effort until the last month but I'm happy to have completed it and am satisfied with the results!

 

[donrobinson]

Nice job with the copper Doug

[Penfold]

Wow, that really does look nice.

must be nearly time to be thinking about rigging 😬

[robdurant]

On 10/2/2020 at 2:37 PM, Heronguy said:

I've finished the coppering of the hull.

 

Hi Doug,

 

I've just been re-reading your log picking up on ideas and tips for the next few stages once I finish second planking of Stefano... Just one question, hope you don't mind... how did you go about cutting all the copper plates out? Did you use side-cutters? And did you have any troubles with the plates bending as you removed them from the sheet? I've coppered a hull before, but the plates were already separated, so this will be a new thing for me.

 

It's lovely to be reminded that the messy, dusty, time-consuming steps lead to such a beautiful looking vessel... I was getting slightly stuck in the doldrums trying to get the second planks to go round the stern transom... a tricky step for sure.

 

Hope you'll have a chance to get back to Stefano soon

 

Rob

[Heronguy]

2 hours ago, robdurant said:

how did you go about cutting all the copper plates out? Did you use side-cutters? And did you have any troubles with the plates bending as you removed them from the sheet? I've coppered a hull before, but the plates were already separated, so this will be a new thing for me.

 

Hi Rob,

 

I didn't use side cutters.  I used a scalpel or x-acto blade to free up the 1st row from the panel. Subsequent rows just need the end tags cut then bend the whole row back and forth a couple of time and its free.  I did bend a few individual plates.  They straighten out just fine as long and the bend is not too sharp.  When it came to trimming plates (near the end of the coppering process) I cut them with snips that I bought for the purpose.  I'd get a slight curl but it was easy to flatten.

 

Biggest challenge I had (other than tedium) was getting the plates to adhere to the hull.  Ended up using thin CA glue.

 

 

Weather is getting better here so  may get back to the shipyard soon.  

 

[robdurant]

That's really helpful. Thank you. And I agree about the tedium... a good audio book goes a long way for me