Kate Cory by Richvee - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1:64 - solid hull

[Richvee]

A little background before I start this log. I played around with models of all kinds when I was young, but this was my first effort at a "quality" model as a result. (The term "quality" is up for debate )I am in the middle of this build. I started it back in the late 80's. The hull was shaped, sanded and topsides painted. Plankshseer, rails and decking added and painted.....And there it sat as life went on. Bought a house, raised 2 kids, and late summer of '17 I dusted it off, and started adding rivets to the strip copper for the hull. Little did I know these strips should have been cut into plates. I simply simulated the plates by using the ponce wheel to run vertical rivets every  15mm.

After the copper, I started on the deck work. Hatches and companionways, wheel, skylight, galley. 

 

Next up was the tryworks. 

 

Edited December 30, 2020 by Richvee

[Richvee]

While doing research on tryworks and trying to figure out how I was going to make this, I ran across this site, namely, jablackwell's Kate Cory build log. His log, along with Thomas Lauria's great site, and texxn's  C.W. Morgan added a wealth of information for me. it was after discovering all these places on line that I truly realized how much I had to learn, and how much better I needed to get. 

 

So the tryworks were built. I used the metal pots that I still had from the original kit. The brick was a thin plastic sheet of model railroad "S" scale brick wall, that I painted. The rest is wood sheet and strip wood I had from various kits, and steel wire for the slide rod for the oven doors. 

 

 

 

Edited March 7, 2018 by Richvee

[Kurt Johnson]

Looking good. I always liked that workbench/chicken coop.  The neat part with whalers is all the extra whalecraft that almost make them into dioramas. Dis you work out the green paint issue?

 

Kurt

 

 

[Richvee]

Hi Kurt.

I actually found a bottle of the floquil rail green that is still good. I don't think I'm I want to repaint the deck furniture with the slightly darker green. I'm going to leave it as is. I will use the Floquil for the little bit a green on the bottom of the masts up to rail level on the fore mast, and up to and including the boom jaw rest on the main mast. I'm also thinking about painting the bowsprit inside the bulwarks with the darker green to match the bulwarks. I might be better off at this point to just leave it though.

[Richvee]

After the tryworks I moved to the bowsprit, and a few details on the deck,  deadeyes and chainplates, windlass details and anchor chain

 

Edited March 7, 2018 by Richvee

[Richvee]

I don't have a lot of time over the summer for modeling, but I managed to make the masts this past summer. 

 

Decided at this point to start the standing rigging of the foremast and bowsprit. (in an attempt to put off carving the whaleboats even longer )

Added the davit and bearing post on the port side for the waist boat. This davit goes on the outside of the hull. details are sketchy so it was a a best guess as to how to portray it. 

Which brings me up to date on this build. I guess uit's time to dive into the whaleboats. I don't want to add the iron davits other than the one above until I have the whaleboats done at least to the point where I know the davits will line up over the hoisting eyes on the whaleboats. 

These whaleboats are the old machine carved that came with the original kit way back when. There's a lot of sanding, filing, and chiseling to do to get the walls to 1/32". The process has begun. 

I guess I can always take a break and start stepping the main mast. 

 

[Tigersteve]

Nice work!

Steve

[jablackwell]

Fabulous work on your build of the KC. Mind if I pull up a chair and enjoy the rest?

 

~john

 

[Richvee]

Thanks Steve. 

John- Honored to have you watch.  And thank YOU for your KC log. I might still be trying to figure out a way to build a tryworks if it wasn't for your log. 

[Kurt Johnson]

Really nice work. The Kate Cory was always one of my favorites. I just wish the kit was a slightly larger scale so the builder could really go crazy with the details. But you’ve really nailed it with her. Keep up the good work.

 

Kurt

[Richvee]

Thanks Kurt. I agree abut the scale. There's so much that can be added but in this scale you have to decide how much is enough, and what becomes clutter. Tools for the Cooper's bench, tools for the tryworks, barrels, Cutting in stages, there's just so much....And that doesn't even include how much one can pack into these little whaleboats. Besides mast, spar, harpoons,spades, etc,there's line tubs, knives, lantern box, compass...how much is too much at this scale? I'm still debating if I should be accurate with number of harpoons, lances,etc.  in each whaleboat or just a few to give a good representation of all the different things that go in the boat.

[Tom E]

Really admire this ship.

She's in my "to do" stash of kits. Probably my next, If I ever finish Niagara!

 

Your build is looking great so far!

Will watch with keen interest.

 

Tom E 

[Kurt Johnson]

Rich, You are right, some restraint is required with the fluff. Here and there a piece will really set her off though. Maybe just equip one whale boat. The others could even be covered. You could leave one boat off as a separate model and fully equip it. A barrel or two wouldn't be amiss.

 

Kurt

 

 

[Brucealanevans]

Harpoons and other implements, line tubs, water barrel, etc.. probably not stored in the boats until launching.  

Suggest ribs, ceiling planks, fore and aft details, oars and mast with furled sail lashed to the seats, detailed seats, rudder in stored and hoisted position will give good level of detail. 

Wrestled with this on my Morgan build (5 whaleboats!) and was pleased with the result - see link to build below (whaleboats at the end of the log). 

 

. 

Bruce

Edited March 8, 2018 by Brucealanevans

[Richvee]

Thanks for checking in Bruce. Just got home from work and a did a quick scroll through your Morgan build....All I can say is...OUTSTANDING!!! How I haven't come across it before I don't know. the workmanship, detail, and neatness is inspiring. I'll be using your log often as I attempt to get a result somewhere close to your whaleboats. Of all the whaling models I've seen at this scale, those boats are up there with the best I've seen. The whole model is just jaw dropping! 

 

Odd thing about the KC whaleboats..they didn't have a centerboard. I like the idea of masts and oars only. However, I feel I need to have some harpoons/lances (pointy things) somewhere on the model.  Although it may not be authentic, I think I may want to put the line tubs in the boats. The thought also crossed my mind of outfitting one completely and showing it being lowered into the water, but I'm afraid that may offset the "symmetry"   of the whole ship. 

 

I'm pretty sure from the plans, KC's boats didn't have a rudder. Just a stearing oar. Is that possible? No mention of the rudder in the plans. I'm also wondering where the mast was stepped, as the plans do not show where it would go.  

[Brucealanevans]

Thanks for the kind words   

I like the idea of fully loading one boat on the "show side" of the model partially lowered. 

Without a centerboard those boats must have made a lot of leeway in a wind!

Edited March 9, 2018 by Brucealanevans

[Richvee]

Added the cranes, and dry fitted the davits. I don't think I'l permanently install the davits until rigging is just about done. 

In between working on the whaleboats, I think I'll get the main mast stepped. Ratlines and little whaleboats - Slow progress at this point. 

 

Edited March 16, 2018 by Richvee

[russ]

Rich:

Very  nice details. I think you are right about the davits. That can become a very tight working space. 

 

Your deck planking is really good. I like the effect you have achieved. 

 

Russ

 

 

[Richvee]

Thanks Russ. The deck was almost by accident. Like I said, I did the deck and hull years ago. When I pulled it out again, the deck was badly stained. I sanded it all.I was able to get the quarter deck pretty clean.I wasn't that worried about the fore deck, because I knew it would be mostly covered with the windlass.(It's really too tight up there because back in the day,I didn't shave those front bulwarks  enough). I varnished the quarter deck and used a diluted white/grey on the main deck. Adding white and grey washes until I was happy with the color. Then I added a very thin wash of black over everything. Some old model railroading weathering techniques came in handy.

[russ]

Rich:

The seams came out well and caught my eye. They are just about right by my eye. Not too much and not too little. 

 

Russ

 

 

[Richvee]

Looking at the boom rest, the fitting that comes with the kit seems way oversize.

Figured I'd take the snow day and try may hand at making my own.

I think it's a bit better than the metal fitting. I'll take it off and paint it up, and ad the iron band. Then the mast will be ready for mounting. 

[russ]

Rich:

Excellent work. Your slightly smaller, scratch built replacement looks much better. When in doubt, slightly smaller is usually a good choice. It fits better into the scale of the model. 

 

Russ

 

 

[alde]

Rich, your KC looks fantastic. I have always really liked the look of this ship and your definitely doing her justice.

[torpedochief]

Rich, you are my new Hero! Loving this as I have an ancient Kate Cory to be built. If you can get a copy of Whale Ships and Whaling by Cook. All you need to know about whalecraft, including pictures of them being built and the folks that built them. Also, recommend Sperm Whaling From New Bedford by Ashley. Great work my Brother!!    

[Richvee]

Thanks for the likes everyone.

torpedochief- Thanks. I'll try to find them. The set of plans and the rigging booklet that the New Bedford Whaling Museum sells has been invaluable. Detailed rigging specs, great detailed plans of the deck furnishings, Masts, spars, etc. I'm not only enjoying the build, I'm enjoying the history lesson in 19th century whaling  that comes along with this build.

[Richvee]

56 minutes ago, torpedochief said:

Rich, you are my new Hero! Loving this as I have an ancient Kate Cory to be built. If you can get a copy of Whale Ships and Whaling by Cook. All you need to know about whalecraft, including pictures of them being built and the folks that built them. Also, recommend Sperm Whaling From New Bedford by Ashley. Great work my Brother!!    

Found both on Amazon. They're on their way! Thanks. 

[Richvee]

I had a small dilemma with the pump just aft of the main mast. The MS plans show a pump pivot secured to the main mast. (See boom rest photo above). The plans from New Bedford has a wooden pivot post in the center of the pump lever. 

I decided on the later. 3/32 square pivot post, notched to accept a 1/16 square lever sanded round and tapered. I used some split rings I had for the lever straps. I cut them down until they fit fairly snug over the lever with a piece of 24 gauge annealed steel wire hooked to the ring for the pump spear.  Wow, those pumps are tiny! 

 

[Richvee]

Spring and summer is a slow shipbuilding season for me as my other interest, baseball umpire, take up a good portion of my free time. Bad weather has kept me off the baseball fields, and added some time in the shipyard. 

 

Main shrouds rigged. A few loose ends still to be cut off on the starboard side. 

Grid made from a copy of the plans, and taped to a thin plastic sheet for some stability.  Now ready for ratlines. maybe I can get them done before the Northeast joint clubs show in 2 weeks. 

[Richvee]

Been a while since I've posted. Spring and summer keep me busy. Work is progressing VERY slowly. Ratlines done and some stays being rigged. Some pics to follow when time allows. 

[Richvee]

The standing rigging is just about complete. Backstays and royal Forestay still need to be tensioned and cut. 

 

I decided to use small bulls eyes for thimbles as my metal working "skills" need a LOT of work. Hope they don't look to oversized. 

It's amazing what the camera picks up. That drop of glue on the trestle tree looks horrendous, yet hardly visible looking at the model. i'm going to have try to clean that up a bit. 

 

Next up I guess is cutting in tackle. Or whaleboats. If I get frustrated trying to rig the tricky cutting in tackle I'll switch over to whaleboats for a spell. 

 

Edited July 16, 2018 by Richvee