US Brig Syren by WalrusGuy - FINISHED - Model Shipways - Scale 1:64 - Second wooden ship build

[WalrusGuy]

1 hour ago, Justin P. said:

Definitely get the blocks.  

K, just placed the order for some blocks and more rope 😁

 

I think I'll just purchase all the blocks except for the 3/32" single blocks since it got too pricey. I also saw the instructions for the deadeyes and it seems that a block tumbler is needed to assemble them, so I'll just use the kit ones for this. I believe Peter also did the same for his Syren, and it turned out spectacular!

[abelson]

Nice work on the pin rails. Good idea on using the scrap wood for setting the rails at the same height. Wish i had thought of that. 

[WalrusGuy]

6 hours ago, abelson said:

Nice work on the pin rails. Good idea on using the scrap wood for setting the rails at the same height. Wish i had thought of that. 

 

Thanks Steven! I also liked your idea of using the plans as a template to mark locations of the details. I was too lazy to photocopy them so I just eye-balled their locations..... probably not the best way to do things 😅, but I did use a caliper once in a while 😁

 

[WalrusGuy]

I finished gluing the eyebolts into position. Not much to describe here, so here are some photos:

 

 

 

 

Next is the cleats. I have no idea how to drill holes by hand (using a pin vise) into the cleats to pin them for a secure fit. The drill bit just keeps sliding.... I guess I will just glue them without the pin and try to treat them delicately

[VTHokiEE]

10 minutes ago, WalrusGuy said:

I have no idea how to drill holes by hand (using a pin vise) into the cleats to pin them for a secure fit. The drill bit just keeps sliding...

Can you make a small indentation with another tool to stabilize the bit?

[WalrusGuy]

15 hours ago, VTHokiEE said:

Can you make a small indentation with another tool to stabilize the bit?

Thanks so much! Your advice worked!! I guess I didn't apply much pressure to indent before but this time I put more pressure. Here's a pic and the indent tool I used. The black strip will be used to support it. Thanks again! 

 

[jwvolz]

You'll find that Syren wheel kit quite an upgrade. Great little kit. 

[WalrusGuy]

I finished gluing in the cleats. I used a caliper to determine the locations. I had to file each cleat so they are smooth. 

 

 

 

 

 

Next I'll be working on the guns. 

[WalrusGuy]

The carronade sleds have been assembled. They did get a bit tedious after the 10th one, so I'm definitely not looking forward to the carronade rigging section 😅.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Matt D]

Your Syren looks terrific!  Nice work.

[SkerryAmp]

That is some fantastic craftsmanship - can't wait to see more!

[WalrusGuy]

11 hours ago, Matt D said:

Your Syren looks terrific!  Nice work.

 

10 hours ago, SkerryAmp said:

That is some fantastic craftsmanship - can't wait to see more!

Thank you for the compliments Matt and Adam , and thanks all for the likes!

[WalrusGuy]

Some more small bits of progress. I have started to stick the carronades on top of the sleds. I'm still deciding whether it is worthwhile to install the pivot pin.. 

 

To paint the lugs I just "beaded" them through a wire and painted with watered down red paint to quicken the process 

 

 

To simulate the elevation screw, I used toothpicks which were sanded down to fit the corresponding holes, and 0.45mm holes were drilled through them to accept the wire for the handle. I deviated from the instructions a bit where I installed the elevation pin, then the lugs. This was done just to make sure I have the same angle on all the guns. The lugs were then glued once the guns were installed to ensure they rest flat on the sleds

 

 

So far the starboard side of canons have been assembled. 

 

 

Looking outside the hull, the carronades can be seen to not be completely in line with one another. I may have to stick a small strip of wood below the sleds in which the guns seem to be lower than the rest. I hope this fixes the issue...

 

 

[WalrusGuy]

I finished assembling all the carronades. I tried to adjust the angle of the guns so they are more in line with each other. Here are some pics 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next I'll be rigging them, and will glue them in place as I progress with the rigging 

[Voyageur]

You’ve been busy, they look great!

[WalrusGuy]

10 minutes ago, Voyageur said:

You’ve been busy, they look great!

Thanks for the component Voyageur! Yeaup, I started grad school this week, so I have less modelling time. Progress has really slowed down 

[abelson]

11 hours ago, WalrusGuy said:

I finished assembling all the carronades. I tried to adjust the angle of the guns so they are more in line with each other. Here are some pics 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next I'll be rigging them, and will glue them in place as I progress with the rigging 

Nice crisp work.

[Retired guy]

Very nice update Wally guns look very sharp 👍 also like your pictures shows your work off very well.

 

Regards

Richard

[Overworked724]

Nice idea using the laser cut piece, Wally!  Wonderful work!,,

[WalrusGuy]

13 hours ago, abelson said:

Nice crisp work.

 

5 hours ago, Retired guy said:

Very nice update Wally guns look very sharp 👍 also like your pictures shows your work off very well.

 

Regards

Richard

 

2 hours ago, Overworked724 said:

Nice idea using the laser cut piece, Wally!  Wonderful work!,,

Thank you all for the very nice comments!! It's very much appreciated! 😊

[Gahm]

It always looks very impressive when the whole battery is in place for the first time! Your Syren got her teeth now 🙂

 

Thomas

[Overworked724]

I think she looks marvelous and gives me more motivation to continue with my own build!  Nice progress!!!!

[WalrusGuy]

On 9/8/2020 at 5:44 AM, Gahm said:

It always looks very impressive when the whole battery is in place for the first time! Your Syren got her teeth now 🙂

 

Thomas

She is definitely starting to look deadly 

 

On 9/8/2020 at 8:28 AM, Overworked724 said:

I think she looks marvelous and gives me more motivation to continue with my own build!  Nice progress!!!!

Thanks for the great comment Patrick! 

[WalrusGuy]

I finished preparing the blocks for the tackles. This was a task I would not like to do again 😅, especially sanding each of the 128 blocks to be rounded, and hand-drilling a hole on each one (using a pin vice 😬). Good thing I distracted myself by watching one of the greatest shows created, the Sopranos!

 

To finish up the blocks, I brushed them with a bit of tung oil (the untreated blocks looked a bit unfinished imo).

 

To create the hooks, I used the pin of a compass and some pliers. Hopefully the following sets of images can explain the process better:

 

 

The tail bit was then cut off:

 

 

Then used pliers and the compass pin to bend it:

 

 

 

 

 

 

This process was time consuming at first, but got quicker as I got more practice making 127 more of these 😄

 

The hooks were then glued to the blocks using a bit of superglue:

 

 

 

Lastly, I found that the eyebolts glued to the canons were too small for the breech lines. So... I had to deconstruct these parts, use the compass pin again to make them larger, then glue them back. I will also need to do this to the bottom eyebolt pairs on the bulwarks. After this is done, I can finally start the actual rigging!

 

[Havelock]

Wow. Not sure I could handle that! Amazing work!

[BobG]

Very nice work and good luck in grad school!

[WalrusGuy]

13 hours ago, Havelock said:

Wow. Not sure I could handle that! Amazing work!

 

13 hours ago, BobG said:

Very nice work and good luck in grad school!

Thank you Havelock and Bob! 🙂

 

[abelson]

Nice work on the blocks and hooks. I've skipped that work for now, but what gauge wire did you use for the hooks?

[WalrusGuy]

34 minutes ago, abelson said:

Nice work on the blocks and hooks. I've skipped that work for now, but what gauge wire did you use for the hooks?

Thanks Abelson! I used the 28 gauge wire that came with the kit. 

[WalrusGuy]

A very small update before starting the rigging  

 

I decided to make rings for the breech line as opposed to making the eye bolts bigger. I guess this is the more accurate way of doing things. Many other Syren builders also did this. 

 

Here are the bridle and aft most ones installed: 

 

 

 

All the rings have been made and I can finally start rigging 😁