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

[texxn5]

I almost forgot the Flags....Got them done today. The American Flag w/26 stars and the J&R Wing Co Flag (they owned the ship for over 50 years) on the Main Mast. Now she's done...I also fixed my scratch on the hull. The flags have a piece of aluminum foil inside them and I am going to attempt to gets some furls in them hoping the foil will hold them in place???? They were tricky to make since they are not part of the kit.

Edited December 26, 2015 by texxn5

[texxn5]

I dug the wood slab for the base out of the garage and photographed it. It is a slab cut from the side of the restored Morgan's Bowsprit. The photos show top, bottom and roughcut Bowsprit from the Dupont Shipyard in Mystic, Ct. This is not finished yet and will be a couple of weeks yet. I have to get a belt sander for finishing it. It is 57"x15"x2". My understanding is that the tree this was cut from was a knocked down tree during Hurricane Katrina in '05 and given to Mystic Seaport to use on the restoration and preserve a 100+ year old tree. Quite a few truckloads of trees came to Mystic.

[GLakie]

That's going to make a great base John.  A 14" bandsaw would be just the ticket for trimming and squaring that slab up. 

[texxn5]

Hi George, I do not intend to cut and trim it, only to sand certain areas with a belt sander and keep it relatively rough and irregular, highlighting the light and dark areas on the outside surface, with the flat sanded surface to the bottom. I did this to make a mantle at a previous house with Mesquite wood. It is a real unique look and irregular....not the normal base for ships. It'll look a lot like a dark moderate sea with some wood colors coming out of it.

[GLakie]

Ah -- Good choice! -- Au Naturale! 

[Piet]

That'll look fantastic John - a relationship between the base and the ship itself.  

 

Cheers,

[texxn5]

Managed to take a few pictures inside without all the background junk showing.

 

Not sure if some people know, but if you click on a picture it blows it up quite nicely..!!!

Edited December 27, 2015 by texxn5

[texxn5]

a couple of more....Also, note: no scratch on copper side

[GLakie]

She looks splendid John. Nice job on the scratch-repair.   Gonna put her in the gallery? 

[texxn5]

Hi George, might put it in the gallery once I get some good outside pictures along with the Base and some other things I have in mind.

[Piet]

Splendid looking ship John. congrats to a great build.

 

Cheers,

[texxn5]

Thank you Piet, I appreciate all the kudos. I'm very happy with how she turned out...not completely done yet but close enough...

[mobbsie]

Hi John,

 

I like your idea on the base mate, definitely different and as you say will have a nice flow about it. It will certainly fit in nicely with the Morgan.

 

Well done John, you certainly have a ship to be proud of.

 

Be Good

 

mobbsie

[chance]

Hi John.

 

Great idea to use the wood.  The ship is amazing, I just log on and admire it.

 

Tom

[texxn5]

Hi Tony, I am honored to have your approval Mate, thank you. I hope the base turns out like I think it will, it will be different and I think its cool to have a model mounted on a piece of the real ship...I was lucky and at the right place at the right time with the right person to be able to pull it off. Probably another week or 10 days to finish that too. I'm waiting for a belt sander to come in.

John

Edited December 30, 2015 by texxn5

[texxn5]

Thanks Tom, I understand that as I catch myself staring at it. Can't believe I pulled it off...very happy!

[mtaylor]

Congratulations are definitely in order, John.  Looking mighty fine and that base should look great with her.

[lesterpalifka]

John,

 

would it be possiable to get a piece of that slab say 2 inches wide by maybe 6 inches long? it would be cool to have a piece from the restored bow sprit as I am good friends with Trev who was the ship wright who made the new bowsprit...I never thought to get a piece of it when he was making it....let me know if it is possiable. alsso would love some outdoor pictures of the Morgan that I can send to Dick Wing.. the Wing flag looks great...Lester

[texxn5]

Hi Lester, yeah, I think I have an area I could cut off for you. I'll be working on the base next week weather permitting. I can't work on it inside...too big. I'll get the pictures for you just as soon as we get a decent blue sky for the photos. It's been cloudy and rainy looking every day since I got finished. This morning was clear but real windy, and when the wind died back it was threatening rain and cloudy again, so it didn't look good outside. I'm anxious for Dick to see them and see what he thinks. Maybe the flag will do the trick....lol

[GLakie]

Have a safe and Happy New Year John!! 

[texxn5]

Thanks George, you too. We're homebodies, went out this afternoon and stocked up. Home in front of the tube for NY. The cops have gotten so bad here it is totally stupid to go out without a cab or driver....not worth it.

Happy New Years to you and whoever should read this also.

Take Care my friend,

John

[GLakie]

Well stocked up myself John, since I don't go out on "amateur nights" either. I've seen the majority of people can't drive sober most of the time, let alone after drinking. 

[Burroak]

Hey John your ship looks fantastic. Are you gonna age the copper on the hull like the picture on the model box or let it age gracefully? Have a Happy New Year!

 

Greg H.

[Piet]

Hello John, Gwen and I wish you and Diane a very good 2016 en in good health.

 

Cheers,

[texxn5]

Hello to all and Happy 2016. Thanks for all the comments and the like button.

 

Greg, the finish I have now has been sprayed with an acrylic satin finish varnish. I'm trying to preserve this color. Since everything is crisp and brand new looking I want to keep the whole ship this way.

 

Thanks George, glad we're all safe at home.

 

Thanks Piet, the same for you and Gwen, give her a hug and a New Years kiss for us.

 

Thanks Mark, hope all is well in Oregon, you guys have been getting kind of beat up lately

 

John

[popeye the sailor]

oh....my.....god John..........she looks absolutely beautiful!   I'm ashamed to tell you how many pages I had to catch up on.......so many great progress pictures       I like the blocks you used......they look so natural for the ship.......and they add so much detail.   the whale boats add a lot as well......all the added detail      congratz on the finish of this fine vessel....{I read that she was finished}...I am so happy for you      now the stand.........and there had better be a case in store for her as well.......I quite agree on the preservation of her beauty.

 

I hope the holidays turned out to be all you had hoped!  

[texxn5]

Hi Dennis, welcome back.

Thanks for all the great accolades. I still have a few tricks up my sleeve, unfortunately I can't put her in a case...I just don't have enough room in the house, and we might be going full time in the RV soon. Holidays were great, hope the same for you. I'm glad you like the Morgan.....she's way more than I ever expected possible....come back soon....there's still a little left to go yet...

[texxn5]

Well, my belt sander came in Friday and I've completed the base, mounted the ship to it, and I have a 3/16" scale Sperm Whale that I sculpted to go alongside the ship along with a fully fitted out whaleboat complete with sails. the whale has been harpooned and lanced and tied alongside. I am now officially finished. The base is a slab of wood cut from the Bowsprit of the real Morgan, obtained from the Dupont Preservation Shipyard, Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT., rough finished and Satin Varnished to protect it.

 

I'M DONE!

 

Anyone interested on the steps to accomplish this can find all the details in my website BUILD LOG - PART VI at the bottom of the log as well as a lot of photographs.

 

THANKS GUYS - IT'S BEEN FUN!!!

 

LINK TO WEBSITE: http://charleswmorganmodel.com

Edited January 11, 2016 by texxn5

[texxn5]

A couple of more

[Landlubber Mike]

Wow John, congratulations on a gorgeous model!  I'm a few years from starting my Morgan, but your model is a great inspiration.  I love the base - I'm wondering if I should inquire now about sourcing a piece of the actual Morgan to incorporate in my build somehow...

 

Thanks for sharing the journey with us!  Do you have a next build in mind?

Edited January 11, 2016 by Landlubber Mike