Reale De France by fmodajr - FINISHED - Corel - Scale 1:60

[Hubac's Historian]

As always, Frank, the work is impeccable!

[fmodajr]

14 hours ago, Hubac's Historian said:

As always, Frank, the work is impeccable!

Thanks for your kind comments and for stopping by!

If I can accomplish half of what I see you do on your log, it would be a success !!

Thanks,

Frank

[md1400cs]

Frank,

 

Just catching up - looking really excellent. Great work. She'll certainly double in width once the oars are installed.... 

 

Regards from soaking hot west coast lol  

[fmodajr]

8 hours ago, md1400cs said:

Frank,

 

Just catching up - looking really excellent. Great work. She'll certainly double in width once the oars are installed.... 

 

Regards from soaking hot west coast lol  

Lol!! thanks Michael.

Yes, wife is already complaining about buying another piece of furniture to put the model on.  She is hoping I start doing ships in a bottle!

Been keeping up to date with the water shortages and weather on the west coast. Hoping things work out for you. We are in a severe drought here in Massachusetts also.

Hopefully we'll get some rain soon.

Best,

Frank

[md1400cs]

Funny - I guess, but as some of us may agree, they are sometimes also known as our so loved “Admirals" without reason 😂

 

In my next log posting I will also share my Admiral's latest comment as I was working on "my boat" as she calls it....

 

Ships in a bottle a niche within this hobby that I have always admired - that's as far as I will take it however.

 

Edited September 3, 2022 by md1400cs

[allanyed]

Frank

Your build continues to be impressive to say the least.  Perhaps the most impressive thing for me is that you took the advice from Gerard D and reworked all those lines/blocks. That was not a decision everyone would make and you are to be congratulated.  Some members here would call you a rivet counter, but I for one see such action coming from someone that takes great pride in their work.

Allan

Edited September 3, 2022 by allanyed

[fmodajr]

9 hours ago, allanyed said:

Frank

Your build continues to be impressive to say the least.  Perhaps the most impressive thing for me is that you took the advice from Gerard D and reworked all those lines/blocks. That was not a decision everyone would make and you are to be congratulated.  Some members here would call you a rivet counter, but I for one see such action coming from someone that takes great pride in their work.

Allan

Thank you very much Allan for your kind thoughts. 

Yes, Gerard D put a lot of hard work into his research and drawings i'm sure.

I've been trying hard to incorporate some of his research into my model, when I can (due to my skill level), but am not always successful.

I always appreciate his comments and also others when it is constructive. 

Lol, it seems that when I look at every model i've built previously, I am always wishing I did some aspect of the model differently!!

Thanks again for stopping by!

Frank

[fmodajr]

Hello,

Started work on the boat launch for the ship. I am about half way done.

I was able to build around the milled core shape supplied by the kit, after some rework.

 

Made and inserted the keel and planked the outer side of the core.

 

Installed the ribs on the inside of the core and painted the inside the ship's red.

 

 

Planked the lower parts in the stern and bow and installed the mast step in the center.

 

Planked the upper bow area, installed the benches etc.

The light wood that is visible still from the core, will all be covered up and hidden when the top planks are installed soon.

 

 

 

 

Started to paint the hull the same ship's white and will paint the upper part the ship's blue that I have been using.

 

The next steps are to fabricate the upper top planking for the oar locks and finish the trim.

 

Shape for the oar locks base planking glued onto the walnut wood ready to be cut.

 

I hope to be finished with the boat launch in the next couple of weeks. Have to decide how many items, like the oars etc to place in the launch.

 

Thanks for stopping by,

Frank

 

[72Nova]

Looks like you're nearing the finish line Frank! just looks absolutely fantastic!

 

Michael D.

[fmodajr]

5 hours ago, 72Nova said:

Looks like you're nearing the finish line Frank! just looks absolutely fantastic!

 

Michael D.

Thanks Michael!

Building the launch is a nice little diversion!

I will be re-visiting your log soon to try and learn about making the tassels.

Best,

Frank

 

[fmodajr]

Hello,

Finished up work on the boat launch.

 

Painted upper section Ship's blue

 

Top platform made from walnut and painted the ship's blue

 

 

 

Oar pins and bow anchor block added

 

 

 

I made the 12 oars from the plan sketch.

 

 

 

Rudder and Handle added

 

Mounted and tied to ship model

 

 

Next step is to finish the cooking pots and install the anchors at the bow.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Frank

 

[72Nova]

Looks fabulous Frank👍 You're nearing the end of another magnificent build!!

 

Michael D.

[Tim Murphy]

Frank, your getting to the end. Such a gorgeous model! The best that you have done.

Tim

[fmodajr]

Thanks Michael and Tim!

Appreciated!

The launch is not glued to the davits, but just held on by the lashing ropes. (Just in case I have to remove the launch temporarily to install the oars!)

Yes, not too far from the end!!

 

Frank

 

[fmodajr]

Hello,

 

 I am behind on my postings, so catching up to where I am currently.

 

Painted and rigged up the two anchors for the ship

 

Installing the port side anchor

 

My thinking was to have one anchor hanging and the other shown in the stowed position.

However, I messed up earlier in the build.

I had glued the swing arm (shown in photo below) in the position shown.

For the anchor to be stowed, the swing are should be swung back towards the stern and then have the anchor stock sitting in the open space. I tried to pry off the swing arm, but gave up before I caused any damage.  As it is I have to re-align the cannon, which I knocked up a little.

 

 

So I settled for both anchors hanging off the sides. Have to re-align the cannon!!

 

 

Painted and installed the stern lantern

 

 

 

Assembled, painted and installed the cooking pots

 

 

 

My next step is to install the flags and tassels

 

To me, the flags supplied by the kit are not that great.

The top side looks good with vibrant coloring, but the back side is all faded and washed out.

 

Top Side:

 

 

Back side:

 

 

So I researched other methods of making flags, utilizing the methods used by other modelers on this website and with the help of the internet.

I believe, after a lot of trial and error, I was successful in using the transfer paper method and reproducing the flags to look better.

 

In a couple of days, I will sort out the photos and post the method I used.

 

Thanks as always for stopping by.

Frank

 

 

[BobG]

Fantastic work on this incredible model, Frank!

[72Nova]

Looks great Frank👍Took me numerous tries using the transfer paper, mainly creating a mirror file after getting the size right so I could transfer the image on both sides at once.

 

Michael D.

[Tim Murphy]

Frank, the ship looks great. The paint is very vibrant and really brings out the details.

I do think that the transfer method on the flags will work the best.

Good luck!

Tim

[fmodajr]

Bob Garcia,

Thank you for your kind comments. Love your caption "Measure once, Cuss twice" Lol! Nothing can be more true!

 

Tim, Thank you also, and yes, the transfer paper worked out well. I will shortly post the photos!

 

Michael D.  As always, when I am in trouble or confused, the first place I go to is your log of the Reale! That is where I first heard about transfer paper! Also, I have been practicing your method of making tassels!

Thanks for stopping by!

Frank

[fmodajr]

Hello,

As stated above, I did not like the flag material supplied with the kit.

With the help of other ship model logs on this site and also investigating on the Internet, I decided to make new flags using the transfer paper method.

 

First step was to scan the flags that came with the kit into my computer as a pdf file.

Unfortunately, my printer was not big enough to scan the large flags.

So I took a trip down to my local Staples and they were able to do the job.

 

Next step was to buy 11 x 17 Transfer Paper, which I was able to do on the internet.

 

I tried printing the pdf files onto the transfer paper using my printer, but after a few trials, I gave up. I was not able to match the colors correctly. My printer kept making the red too dark.

So I took my pdf files and transfer paper to my local MinuteMan Press store and they were able to print it correctly.

I made 4 sheets of the normal (top) side and 4 sheets of the mirror image for the bottom side. (I was able to create a mirror image pdf file on my computer).

 

Photo of some printed flags on the transfer paper. (The smudging around the flags was from the original fabric supplied by the kit)

 

 

 

At Joann Fabric Store, I bought some thin muslin cloth for the job and ironed it flat

 

 

Per instructions from the Transfer paper company, I laid a heat resistant silicon pad on top of a butcher block.

 

 

Then placed a piece of the cloth on top and ironed again

 

 

Before starting the transfer, I lined up the normal (top) and mirror image sides of the image and punched out some holes with a paper punch so that when I did the transfer on the back side, things would line up.

 

 

Laying down the normal print side, I set my iron to the hottest setting and ironed the top of the paper (image side facing the cloth). 

I found out that for the ink to transfer, I really had to press down hard on the paper while moving the iron around. I was instructed to iron for 60 seconds, but I had to do it for a couple of minutes to get it right.

 

Photo of top side transferred onto the cloth. The photo shows the alignment circles on the cloth

 

 

Next step was to place a piece of parchment paper on top of the silicon pad and flip the cloth over (Top side down). The reason for the parchment paper is so the side facing down will not bleed out the ink onto the pad.

 

With the top side flipped down, I took the mirror image transfer paper and aligned the holes and repeated the ironing process.

 

 

Success!

 

Photos of some completed flags. The small tiny gold "Fleur de Lis" symbols came out perfect. (Hard to see in the photos).

And both sides lined up perfectly.

Sorry about the poor quality of the photos!

 

 

 

 

Next steps are to cutout the flags and mount on the model.

 

Thanks again for the "likes" and for visiting.

 

Frank

 

 

 

 

[Tim Murphy]

Frank, this is a magnificent project! As, I said before, this is the best thing that you have done, and you have done many great models!

I hope you will reconsider and enter your Ship in our February 2023 Model Ship Show at the Constition Museum show. When you add the oars to the ship it my be to large to display.

Just a thought. I think you are a great modeler.

 Tim Murphy 

[fmodajr]

3 minutes ago, Tim Murphy said:

Frank, this is a magnificent project! As, I said before, this is the best thing that you have done, and you have done many great models!

I hope you will reconsider and enter your Ship in our February 2023 Model Ship Show at the Constition Museum show. When you add the oars to the ship it my be to large to display.

Just a thought. I think you are a great modeler.

 Tim Murphy 

Thanks for chiming in Tim! Appreciated!

I am disappointed with the quality of my last 2 photos. I am traveling now, but when I return home I will re-take them.

As far as this years show, unfortunately, I will not make it in time.

I am currently working, as a side project, on the ship's base. Time to remove the steel base with a nice wood one. 

Then I have to start working on the case. The case has to take into account the oars, so the size will be what it will be. Lol!

I will have it all done for the 2024 show for sure. On the home stretch now. After the flags and tassels, the most time consuming item will be the 59 oars I have to make. Not looking forward to that!!

Happy Holidays Tim. I will not make the December meeting. Going to Florida to bring my 83 year old mom back up North for the holidays!

 

Thanks,

Frank

[md1400cs]

Frank,

Just catching up. Great build!!

As you note with oars out this will require a very large footprint.....

[fmodajr]

21 hours ago, md1400cs said:

Frank,

Just catching up. Great build!!

As you note with oars out this will require a very large footprint.....

Thanks Michael!

Yes, I started to rough out the oars in order to get an idea of the size of the case so I can order material from the lumber yard..Yikes! Pretty wide. Lol!

Thanks,

Frank

 

[fmodajr]

Hello,

A thank you to those who are following and for the "likes" as always.

 

Continuing on with the sails

Cut the sail shapes from the cloth and, using some matching watercoloring pencils, touched up the white edges of the cloth flags.

 

Mounted the large hanging flags first

 

 

Then mounted the upper flags

 

 

Made a small base for the stern flag pole and mounted the light colored flag.

It was disappointing to receive this flag from the kit set with red smudging. When I used the transfer process described above, the smudging transferred onto the cloth. Oh well.

 

 

Side pendant flag mounted

 

 

Overview of installed flags.

A couple of thoughts:

1. I will hold off installing all the small flags on both sides of the railings until the oars are installed. (Hopefully this will make the oar installation easier.)

2. I am contemplating leaving off the large stern canopy, or try having it rolled up towards the stern? I keep looking at all the work involved with the stern seating area (flooring, seating, and framing).  This area of work would be all covered up if the canopy is installed.

 

 

 

As a side project, purchased a nice piece of cherry at the local lumberyard for replacing the metal base I have been using during construction.

Cut, sanded, and drilled for the screws for the pedestals in the center and drilled and inserted 4 treaded metal inserts. I decided to use 4 thin polished brass supports to keep the ship stabilized if ship is moved. Hopefully it will look attractive.

 

Underside of Base

 

 

Topside

 

Topside of Base with 2 coats of stain and 5 coats of polyurethane.

 

 

Next week I will start making the tassels to hang on the sides of the flags.

 

Left to do:

1. Install Tassels

2. Transfer ship onto finished wood base with pedestals

3. Manufacture the base of the outer case

4. Have the plexiglass cover for the case made

5. Mount the ship and ship's base onto the case base

6. Manufacture, paint, and install the oars

7. Add the small railing flags

 

Nearing the end of the build.

Thanks for stopping by,

Happy New Year,

Frank

[Tim Murphy]

Frank, a absolutely great build! The best you have done!

Tim

[72Nova]

The flags turned out great Frank! Personally I'd go with the partially rolled back canopy to expose the beautiful detail in that area.

 

Michael D.

[fmodajr]

Tim:

Thank you and thanks for taking a look!

 

Michael,

Thanks for your input. I tend to agree (along with, most importantly , the wife) lol! 

I will see if I can create a partially rolled back look that will be convincing. If not, I'll probably leave the canopy off.

 

thanks,

Frank

[fmodajr]

Hello,

Finished and installed the Tassels.

Many thanks to Michael (72Nova) (Take a look at his awesome Vasa build if you have a chance!)

Michael gave me some instructions on making tassels and my wife also lent me a third hand in making these.

Turned out not quite as nice as Michael's, but they'll do!

 

First step tape down .5 mm line along the length of blade handle

 

 

Using .25 mm line, wrapped around the handle multiple times

 

Knotted the .5 mm line around the .25mm line

 

 

Removed from handle

 

 

Started seizing around the bundle

 

Cut the loops at the bottom

 

 

Repeated for multiple Tassels

 

 

Installed around both hanging flags on foremast and mainmast, and finished line in middle. (Also painted the Tassels the antique gold I have been using)

 

 

Added a couple on the ends of the canopy frames

 

 

Now to start making the 59 oars needed.

As other logs noted, the oars supplied by the kit leave lots to be desired, so I will make them from scratch.

 

Thanks for the likes, comments, and for visiting also.

Frank

[72Nova]

I think they turned out great Frank👍. I can't wait to see the partially rolled back canopy and thank you for the props!

 

Michael D.