Germania Nova 1911 by KeithAug - FINISHED - Scale 1:36 - replica of schooner Germania 1908

[KeithAug]

Today my wife caught me on the computer studying images for my next build. She commented "there are plenty of other jobs to do before you get into that".

[Wintergreen]

What?! With Xmas over and the spring still far away? Nah, what more important chores could there be, really? 

 

[Keith Black]

44 minutes ago, KeithAug said:

Today my wife caught me on the computer studying images for my next build.

 We are a sad lot. 

[FlyingFish]

3 hours ago, KeithAug said:

my wife caught me

You too eh?

[Wintergreen]

11 hours ago, Keith Black said:

 We are a sad lot. 

Well, not all of us are. In fact, My Admiral encourages me to go out in my shop and produce sawdust. But then it's probably due my recent illness and recovery and that working by hand is good for you and for your soul.

 

Any progress on the display to show us @KeithAug? 🙂 

[Roger Pellett]

Wives fail to understand (or choose not to understand) that fixing things around the house or yard work, now disguised as “gardening” and Ship Modeling are not interchangeable.  For example, “You’re so good at working with your hands, why won’t you fix that toilet?”

 

Roger

[wefalck]

Well, we all seem to suffer from more or less from the same problem: the narrative I hear from time to time goes "why don't you do something useful with your fancy tools, such as making jewellery?"

 

While I am quite capable of repairing things around the house (and do it, given enough urgency and inconvenience  ), I prefer the creative aspect of 'making' things over 'fixing' things ...

[mbp521]

17 minutes ago, wefalck said:

I prefer the creative aspect of 'making' things over 'fixing' things ...

It's that fine line that we dance on with the Admiral between work and play.

 

A couple of years ago I bought the Admiral a Cricut for Christmas. She had said she wanted one and I thought, why not, it would keep her busy enough that she would leave me alone with my shipbuilding. Well so far, I think I have used the Cricut just as much as she has. And the honey-do list continues to grow.

 

-Brian

[Roger Pellett]

Many years ago I bought an old used Sears Metal Lathe.  Not the nice kind made by Atlas, one considerably older.  I think that I paid about $100.  The woman that sold it to me, said “My husband said that he was going to use it to build a bedroom suite!”  I’ll try to use that line of reasoning some time.  🤣

 

Roger

[mtaylor]

On 1/16/2023 at 12:12 PM, Keith Black said:

 We are a sad lot. 

We are?   I may be tired, old, and cranky, but not sad.  

[KeithAug]

Thank you all for your comments and likes.

Edited January 27, 2023 by KeithAug

[KeithAug]

Despite the continuing cold weather and many hours discretely studying my next build I did brave the worksop to finish the display cradle. I wanted the model to be lightly clamped by the cradle at deck level so I turned some eccentric rings to act as clamps. I also machined an "o"ring groove in the rings to provide a soft bearing surface.

I also machined a spigot at the lower end of the supports to fit into a cross brace. The cross brace is necessary to prevent the supports splaying under the weight of the model. The cross braces were machined from 1" x 1/4" aluminium bar and polished to finish.

The base was given 5 coats of wipe on poly and wire wooled between each coat. The supports were then attached to the base using 6mm screws.

Then it was time for germania to say bye bye to the building frame that she had occupied for the best part of 3 years.

The critical element of the move was the tolerance between the model and the keel slot. Fortunately I got the cradle dimensions right.

The position of the clamping rings was also a bit tricky but this also turned out well.

And finally the most critical check------------

That was a bit too close for comfort - about 3/8"

 

Now just a few finishing touches required - a good clean, make the pig stick and burgee and the ships flag. Then it will be time for a major photography session.

 

I must think about starting my next build log.

 

P.S. Damn - I just remembered that I installed the for top fore mast back stay as a single fixed back stay when it should have been a pair of running back stays. Im sure no one will notice but that's not the point!!!!!!!!! 5 more blocks required and some rigging rework.

 

 

 

Edited January 27, 2023 by KeithAug

[wefalck]

That's quite a high-tech stand !  ... somehow it reminded me of those eerie-looking outside braces doctors use to align broken legs ...

 

Perhaps the camera is challenged with the illumination and contrasts, but I found that the underwater body doesn't quite stand-off from the mounting board. It seems to make it difficult to appreciate it's wonderful lines and the artful planking job.

[druxey]

While the base and stand is another masterpiece, I find that my eye is drawn to the shiny and away from the model. This may be heresy, but would chemically darkening the metal be something that you might consider?

[Rick310]

Incredible!!  I really like the stand👍👍👍

[Keith Black]

 I like the stand and the mounting board blends well with the model. The chrome stand looks like stanchions saying, "stand back, mind your manners" 

 

 You could photoshop her on water and you'd swear you were looking at the real thing.

Edited January 28, 2023 by Keith Black

[TBlack]

Keith says:

That was a bit too close for comfort - about 3/8"

I say:

Looks like you nailed it!

BTW, I don't understand why eccentric rings rather than smaller "centric" ones?

Tom

[KeithAug]

1 hour ago, TBlack said:

BTW, I don't understand why eccentric rings rather than smaller "centric" ones?

Tom - as you rotate them they move closer to the hull - hence they clamp against the hull. If they were concentric they wouldn't do this. In effect they are acting like a cam.

[Bedford]

Absolutely beautiful, are you planning some kind of cap to hide the socket head screw. A polished brass plug perhaps?

[KeithAug]

27 minutes ago, Bedford said:

A polished brass plug perhaps?

Hmmm! good idea. 

[mbp521]

Just squeaked that one in there! Beautiful mount, I love the idea of using reclaimed drawer pulls.
 

One thing of concern that comes to mind, would the sulphur in the rubber o-rings cause a reaction with the poly coating of the hull? Just curious. I’d hate for something to damage the beautiful work you’ve done. 
 

-Brian

[TBlack]

5 hours ago, KeithAug said:

Tom - as you rotate them they move closer to the hull - hence they clamp against the hull. If they were concentric they wouldn't do this. In effect they are acting like a cam.

Yes, but you didn't need to do that, did you! You nailed it again! Confidence, my friend, confidence.

TB

[Mark Pearse]

Bravo Keith, & thank you for explaining the process so carefully throughout.

 

What is a pig stick....?

[KeithAug]

22 minutes ago, Mark Pearse said:

What is a pig stick....?

Mark - Thank you for you kind comments.

 

A pig stick (occasionally pigstick^[1] or pig-stick^[2]) is a staff that carries a flag or pennant, usually the burgee of the boat owner's yacht club or private signal, above a mast of a sailboat.^[3] The pig stick is connected to a halyard so that when raised to the top of the mast, it extends above the mast, allowing the flag to be seen flying above the boat's sails.

 

[KeithAug]

On 1/27/2023 at 4:02 PM, wefalck said:

It seems to make it difficult to appreciate it's wonderful lines and the artful planking job.

Eberhard - yes you are right - but the option of lowering the table might have ended in divorce and that is very expensive option at my time of life. 

 

On 1/27/2023 at 5:09 PM, druxey said:

I find that my eye is drawn to the shiny and away from the model.

Druxey - it doesn't look that bad in the flesh, I was clearly focusing on it in the photos which I think emphasised it. 

 

On 1/27/2023 at 11:42 PM, mbp521 said:

would the sulphur in the rubber o-rings cause a reaction with the poly coating

Brian - I'm not sure. I tried looking up compatibility but couldn't find rubber against poly. Fingers crossed.

 

Eberhard, Druey, Rick, Keith, Tom, Steve, Brian, Mark - thank you all for your comments. 

[Roger Pellett]

If this were the original 1900 era Germania the display stand might look out of place, but this is the 21st Century Germania II.  I, therefore, think that the modernistic stand looks great.

 

Roger

[FlyingFish]

On 1/27/2023 at 8:44 PM, KeithAug said:

they move closer to the hull - hence they clamp against the hull

Clever! Lovely job Keith, a miss is as good as a mile.

[KeithAug]

9 hours ago, FlyingFish said:

a miss is as good as a mile.

Yes Andy. The hull surface at the point of contact is curved in 2 axes and of course I also had to allow for the tolerance between the fore and aft vertical supports and the tolerance on the abeam width. The 4mm of adjustment that the eccentric rings gave me was very necessary.

Edited January 31, 2023 by KeithAug

[BANYAN]

I have continued to follow quietly in the background Keith and continue to admire your skills; especially with the metalwork.  To me the stand is a little reminiscent to a cradle used in some hardstands. 

 

I have much enjoyed this build and look forward to your next adventure.

 

cheers

 

Pat

Edited February 1, 2023 by BANYAN

[allanyed]

On 2/1/2023 at 6:12 PM, BANYAN said:

I have much enjoyed this build and look forward to your next adventure.

I totally agree and would bet there are a lot of members that feel the same.

Allan