Mayflower by JohnRC - FINISHED - Corel - 1:140

[JohnRC]

OK, now that I have some time I'll start a build log.  As mentioned in my intro I picked up Corel Line's pre-cut hull Mayflower model.  Probably just my speed as  don't think I'm yet ready for planking a hull.  We'll see how this one goes before I think about what may be next.

 

So the pics attached today cover a week of activity - Last Saturday (8/1) to yesterday (Friday, 8/7).  I am trying to work on the kit a couple of hours after work each day; we'll see how that goes.

 

1st pic shows the kit contents.

2nd & 3rd are with the upper sides, keel and bowsprit on - before the accident...

4th & 5th - What can I say?  Definitely a case of butterfingers.  I was able to find the 2 pieces that broke off so it was onto mending mode.

6th & 7th - While mending the bowsprit I added the rudder.

8th & 9th - Painted the bottom of the ship and added the rudder hinges.

10, 11 & 12 - Started adding the decorative planks on the sides.  (The 1" diameter hair curler paid for itself.)

13 - 17 - Painted rudder hinges, added thin side decorative planks, added paper decorations (replicates paint on upper sides and forepeak), added ladders & decoration just forward of upper front gunports.

 

Now that I know how to do a build log, I'll post more frequently.

 

Lots still to do - still working on the 1st page of the plans but definitely not in a rush to get this done.  Enjoying the experience.

[JohnRC]

13 Aug 2020

 

Slow progress so far this week.  A couple of railings, gun port covers and some decorations on the stern.

[JohnRC]

20200815

Exterior fittings for the rigging are on and the poop deck is planked.

[JohnRC]

20200816-21

Have all of the decks planked and started adding ladders, grates, belaying pin racks.  Have found that my fat fingers can make building things like ladders interesting.  Bought a German 12v version of a Dremel to use to drill holes; plugs into a transformer.  Did a couple holes with a manual twist drill but decided I needed something to make that particular task a bit easier (quite a few holes needed for eyebolts and belaying pins).

 

Plan for today (8/22) is to finish the rest of the belaying pin racks, a couple of cat’s heads and the bowsprit and then add the rest of the hatches, grates & ladders along with the deck guns and ship’s boat.

[Baker]

Nice work 👍

[JohnRC]

 20200822

 

Rain this morning so spent time on the build.  Belaying pins, doors, ladders, grates, etc. all finished and installed.  Bowsprit installed and lashed down.  Rain has stopped & sun is out; taking a break to enjoy the outside.  Next week I’ll start working on the masts.  Learning as I go... 

[JohnRC]

20200825

Started working on the main mast a couple of evenings ago.  Sandpapered in the tapers, glued the pieces together and then started the lashings at the top.  Let it stay that way for a day and then started looking at it – something just seemed a bit off.  Then it hit me that the lashings needed to look like they had been tarred.  I had some black enamel left from painting the flight deck of an aircraft carrier so I thinned a bit of that with some mineral spirits.  Used a small paintbrush to put that on the lashings on the main topmast and the bowsprit (the thread supplied soaks it in quick).  I liked the way it looked so I cut a length off of the provided line, dyed that, let it dry and then proceeded with the rest of the main mast lashings.  Will do the same for the lashings on the other masts; not sure yet if I’ll dye the actual rigging to look like it is tarred.  Have to look at some photos of Mayflower II and a couple of other rigged replicas of that era first.

Little by little the ship is taking shape.

[JohnRC]

8/29/2020

 

Have finished the masts, crow's nests and cross trees.  Will be working on the yards tomorrow; hoping to finish shaping them and get them hung on the masts.

 

 

[JohnRC]

8/31/2020

A couple of days ago I finished the yards and started hanging them and working on the standing rigging.  After making a bit of a mess ‘tarring’ line with diluted paint I decided to try something a bit different – Sharpie permanent marker.  Working like a charm – no paint specks around the workshop and doesn’t take any time to dry.

 

Yesterday I continued with the standing rigging.  Was cruising right along; at least I thought so.  After a few hours work I took a really critical look at my work.  To say I wasn’t really pleased is an understatement.  Along the way I managed to tilt the mizzen mast forward and the foremast to starboard; ship looked like it was being rigged by a drunken sailor after a storm.  Since making the decision to de-rig and start over was a big one, I stopped for the day to take stock of resources (Do I have enough line?  Can I de-rig without breaking anything?  Do I have the patience to do this?) and figure out a way forward.

 

Can’t accept that I wasn’t as careful as I should have been so I started de-rigging the foremast this morning.  Untying from the belay pins is a pain but not as bad as untying small knots from eyebolts or around masts.  Beginning to wish I hadn’t fixed all of the knots with glue.  Mizzen mast next to de-rig and then I’ll start the reassembly – slowly. 

 

Need to remind myself not to get so focused on what I’m doing that I forget to step back & check the work more critically…it will all be worth it if I can get it looking correct.    

[JohnRC]

8/31/2020

Late morning

 

De-rigging of foremast completed successfully.  Snapped foremast off at deck level and drilled a 1.5 mm hole in the base of mast & in the deck to accept a small dowel (pretty nice what a cocktail toothpick can be used for).  Foremast remounted and aligned with main mast.

 

De-rigging of mizzen mast also completed successfully.  Mizzen realigned properly. 

 

Will continue re-rigging later today.

 

Have to remember to be more like the tortoise and less like the hare.  No need to have a deadline to finish.  When it is done, and done right, it will be finished.

 

Enough with waxing philosophical.  Time to get back to ‘tarring’ more line.

[JohnRC]

8/31/2020

Late afternoon & calling it quits for the day.

Foremast and mizzen corrected; all but a couple of lines of standing rigging complete (time to ‘tar’ some more line).  Will start working on the shrouds and ratlines tomorrow.

[JohnRC]

9/4/2020

Shrouds and ratlines coming along.  Working the shrouds for the upper main & fore masts will be interesting.  Taking my time.

[JohnRC]

9/6/2020

Shrouds and ratlines done; all fixed rigging done.  This coming week I’ll work on the running rigging.  Last sheet of plans; end of the project in sight. 

 

Had a minor scare earlier today.  I attached the anchors to some cord and, using a clamp, had hung them up for the glue on the knots to dry.  About an hour later I looked up where the anchors were hanging and one was missing.  After searching the work table, floor area and even the waste paper basket (which is on the other side of the work table from where the anchors were) I had about given up and was planning a trip to my local modeling shop to see if I could get a replacement.  As I was putting the ship back onto the work table from where I had put it during the search I looked down at the mizzen top – there was the anchor neat as could be.  I apparently hit the clamp at some point while threading rigging and that was enough for the cord to slip out of the clamp’s jaws.  Anchors are secured safe awaiting installation later this week.

[JohnRC]

 9/7/2020

Didn’t need a week; finished the remaining rigging today.  (I forgot it was a US holiday - Labor Day – which meant, for me, no need to go into the office.)  Took my time, took a break in early afternoon and took a walk, all finished by early evening.

It’s been fun & I’ve learned plenty.  Now need to ponder a bit and think about what my next project will be.

[RussR]

Congratulations

Most modelers don't see there projects through to completion.

You did a great job. I look forward to your next build.

RussR

[GrandpaPhil]

Congratulations!  Well done!