Charles W Morgan by texxn5 - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1:64

[texxn5]

Hi Tony good to see you here. Thanks for stopping by. Fabulous trip really enjoyed it. Dangling a boat on the Davit is definitely an idea. I haven't attempted anything yet, just contemplating ideas. Real dilemma.....thanks for the kudos.

[Beef Wellington]

Sorry to see you mishap.  I don't think its possible to un-dent the plates without replacing them, I'd probably try gradually working very small quantities of paint into the scratch and see where that leads, it may just hide it enough.  I'm a fan of the Admiralty copper paint.   Best of luck.

[lambsbk]

Just blame it on Moby Dick and proudly display the damage.

[texxn5]

Thanks Jason and Dave. I like the Moby Dick idea...pretty cool!

[augie]

Welcome home, John.  She sure is filling out.  Can't think of anything on the scratch....except maybe that is now the 'wall side'.  My models generally have two of those.

[Brucealanevans]

Where did you get the larger draw plate John?

 

I'm back at work in the shipyard now. Going half time at the end of December so will have even more time then.

I have the deadeyes/chainplates on, and finished the bowsprit boom last night ready for painting.

Next will be rigging it before moving on to the masts.

 

Starting to think about furled sails now - it occurs to me that the mizzen fore/aft sail would be easier to attach to the jackstay on the mast prior to mounting the mast!

I'll probably take a diversion to play with my silkspan suppy and faux masts/yards to help decide if I'm going to go that route.

 

I love your boats!

Edited November 2, 2015 by Bruce Evans

[texxn5]

Hi Bruce. I must confess about the draw plate....it's Chinese, but Tungsten Carbide. The Byrne's Drawplate was way too small and too hard to use. I'm going to try the new one out, and if it works I'm going to stock them in my store. This runs about 50% of the cost of a US product, and I'm not sure it the US ones are made here or not....I actually doubt it. I'll keep you posted, it will be here tomorrow and I'm going to see how it works. You're getting into the fun part now on rigging...I love Bowsprits and how they look. As for sails, I agree and think they would be easier on the bench. The boats turned out to be a good surprise, and I really am pleased with how they worked out. Thanks for stopping by, and also for the business. Glad to hear you'll be spending more time on your Morgan.

[lesterpalifka]

to all who read johns build and are building the Morgan I worked on her during her last renovation. I have close to 9000 items on her in my data base. I took thousands of pictures and am willing to share . email me at  lesterpalifka@gmail.com. ask John about me.....

[homer]

HI John, sounds like you had a great vacation! I just read Lester's approach to protect and hold the ship during construction. Sounds like a great idea and I just might try it this weekend! I haven't been able to spend much time on my build due to a multitude of reasons. Still looking forward to using the lathe. I should probably set it up just to make sure it works. Anyway, sorry about your scratch. But there isn't anything that can't be fixed. It will just take some time and patience. I think you should very carefully cut out the damaged plates and replace them. Hopefully you still have some copper that's been laying around and tarnished at the same rate. Even if not, it will all blend in eventually. I usually bust something when I pull my hand out of the build too fast!!! Can't tell you how many times I've done that. 

[texxn5]

Hi guys, I got to work some in the workshop today after some honey do's. I've started making the small dowels for the oars, harpoons and such that require stick handles for the whaleboats. I haven't counted yet but I've got a gazillion of these to make. The Barnes Drawplate proved to be too small starting around 1.3 mm as the largest hole and also it is just steel. I bought a 2.8 mm - 0.26 mm one that is constructed of Tungsten Carbide. I mounted it in my Proxxon Vise with the numbers to the back. Then drew the dowels through the plate. It is still a tedious repetitious undertaking, however, it is very sharp and holds an edge. I'm so pleased with this Drawplate that I'm going to stock them in my "Ship's Store" on my website. It will be a couple of weeks before I have them available. Anyone wanting to reserve one PM me and I'll hold one for you. I have them coming in lots of 5 at a time. I don't like using drawplates, but I know of no other way to successfully recreate very thin uniform dowels. My bamboo sticks are 2.5 mm in diameter and I am taking them down to 1.4 mm. Details are on my website and here is the results:

Edited November 4, 2015 by texxn5

[GLakie]

Looks great for those larger sized parts John. Added to the (already large) list.   I'll be giving you a yell in the first week of Dec. on that other thing we talked about. Couldn't make it happen this month. 

[Burroak]

John you might could try laying new plates directly over the scratched part. Just a thought. Your ship looks amazing

 

Greg

[texxn5]

Hi Greg, thanks for dropping by. Looks like we're almost neighbors. I'm kicking various ideas around, but haven't attempted to do anything yet. That's why I'm making oars and harpoons I guess. Thanks for the kudos, she's been very rewarding.

[md1400cs]

John,

 

Yes drawplates are a "pain" but necessary it seems. 

 

PS: Don't be eating too much "honeydo" I'm on that diet as well - ha ha

 

MIchael

[texxn5]

Hi Michael, yes they are. I have been impressed with the one I'm now stocking in my store. It's Tungsten Carbide and makes all the difference in using it. I have used others before and other than being hard on the fingers (from pulling tightly) this one works better than any I've ever used. That "honeydoopie" is getting old already...just leave home for 6 months and see what happens...it's a very tough diet for an old guy!

[texxn5]

Made six oars for the Orange Boat. Each has a different purpose and each boat has 6 oars and other things on board. Details on my website for construction.

[lambsbk]

John that is some nice detail.

How long are those oars?

[texxn5]

Hello Dave, hope all is well on your end, thanks for dropping in. The oars are long, the Steering Oar is the longest at 101 mm or 21.4' in real life. The shortest is 71 mm or 15' in real life. Each boat carried 6 oars, 5 paddles, a mast, spar and sail, harpoons, lances and a whole bunch of stuff....to me they seem almost over loaded, but they are 30' long, so I guess it all fits...just seems choppy seas or a mad whale could make life a bit hard...

[texxn5]

I'm sure glad the cutters on my drawplate are sharp, because my sore fingers and hands (from drawing the dowels through the plate - have to keep a tight grip on the dowels) would probably gone in for a mutiny...perhaps if I had more to do they would just quit altogether. I managed to draw enough dowels through the plate to construct all of the oars, masts, booms and gaffs for the 5 whaleboats. I made the Waifs, and Sails for each boat. The sails will be attached to Mast, Boom and Gaff, then furled, tied and stowed on each whaleboat. These all still need to be stained, glued, painted and detailed prior to stowing on the boats. There is still a lot to do to these things yet.....mucho details! But Fun! Construction details are on my website for those intrested...

[GLakie]

Very nice work John.  Have you seen the ads for the new "Moby Dick" movie? Looks like it'll be a good one.  I just hope they stay true to the historical details of the ships of that period. 

[texxn5]

Hi George, thanks for looking in. Yes, I saw the adds last night. Hmmm...could be interesting. Just let me know when you're ready for you know what....that little Drawplate really worked well for all of this....but my fingers are killing me...lol too tight a grip required for these old fingers....

[GLakie]

I think I'd use pliers for that and just live with sacrificing the end of the dowel with the "teeth-marks" in it. 

[texxn5]

Well George, I tried that to start, but with the small dowels, I pulled off a half inch with each pull. It takes about 10 pulls per hole to get the dowels shaved down enough to move to the next smaller ones. Once I figured out that you can pull to the sides and shave off some material, I continued to use the larger sizes to reduce the diameter, that then allowed me to eventually move to the smaller holes until I eventually reached my desired diameter. Thus - sore fingers and hands. Just out of shape, and not used to gripping things that tight.

[GLakie]

As someone with severe osteo in both wrists and various other joints, I know exactly what you mean about "sore" from what otherwise would be a relatively simple operation. Takes me about 3 days to heal when they hurt like that. 

[texxn5]

After this I might be out for a week!!!! Sorry to hear about the oseteo...who am I to complain...

[GLakie]

Thanks John, but it's been something that;s been building for around 7 or 8 years now. It's not really that big a deal. I've learned how to manage it somewhat without turning myself into an alcoholic or junkie.   Found out there's more truth to the adage, "old wounds" than I realized. I got a bunch, but I had a lot of fun when I was young though. 

[texxn5]

I totally understand, I had a Brain Aneurysm, stroke, died twice, and now don't even take an asprin...there but for the grace of God..go I.

[edmay]

Somebody was watching over you.Edwin

[GLakie]

You're a lucky man John, and like Edwin said, the Big Guy was lookin out for you. 

[texxn5]

Yes He was looking after me for sure...Thanks guys...