Mayflower by Danstream - Artesania Latina - 1:64

[Danstream]

Mayflower 1620 - 2020

Dutch Cargo Fluyt - ca. 1608

Artesania Latina 1:64 scale

 

Hi all,
this is my first instalment of my first ship model. Ship modeling is a new genre for me, having built so far only aircraft plastic scale models. For this start-off of mine, I chose the kit of the Mayflower from Artesania Latina.

 

My choice was driven by its reasonable price and by its rating as a kit of medium difficulty. In addition, this month, on September 16th, it is exactly 400 years since when the Mayflower finally set out from Plymouth for her historical voyage that brought the Pilgrim Fathers to America after a first attempt from Southampton in August of the same year. I live in the Netherlands, in the outskirt of the city of Leiden, the city where the Pilgrims Fathers resided for 12 years before their departure. The city of Leiden is celebrating this anniversary with several events spread over the year. Considering all these connections, I though that the Mayflower was a nice and motivated choice for my first build.

 

 

The parts of the kit are of good wood quality and are quite precisely cut. The bulkheads and the keel need just a bit of filing to facilitate their assembling. This is the basic structure just assembled out of the box on my workbench.

 

 

[Danstream]

Soon after opening the box, I realized that A.L. took several obvious artistic licenses in the design of the model. I could not really understand the reason for that and I found that a bit disappointing. If I can, I will try to correct at least some of these inaccuracies to bring the look of the ship more in line with the existing pictures of her replica available on the web.

 

After assembling the basic structure, I started fairing the frames. In doing that, I found that I needed to shim the top of frame #6 in order to get the main deck to lie on top of the frames making a regular and not too sharp curvature.

 

 

I also added a shim on the contour of frame #5 to avoid a local depression of the planks. I also added the bottom to the openings of the decks which I painted black and glued the main deck.

 

At this point, I tackled the window openings on the transom that are obviously inaccurate. This how they look out of the box:
 

 

And this is how they look after my correction:
 

 

Finally, I put on the first two planks of the hull. It took me quite some time to shape the planks reasonably and at the end, this was the result:

 

 

 

It is not perfect, but as a first attempt I cannot complain too hard. The plank bends quite regularly around the bow and the sides of the ship.

 

This is all for now, any comment is welcome.
Thanks for looking and best regards,
D.

 

 

 

[Ryland Craze]

Nice work on your first build.  You have done a good job on overcoming some of the deficiencies of the kit.  It sounds like you are enjoying this build.

[Danstream]

Hi all,
I am a slow builder, so I have only a small update since my last post. I completed the first band of planking that I made of five strakes. It took me long time, about one day per strake, probably because of my inexperience. I know this is just the first planking and it will be covered, but I am using it as a learning class, so I am trying to do it as good as I can. The strakes are made of ramin wood (5 mm x 1 mm) which I am finding rather hard to bend. I tried to preform each strake as much as I could, but at the end there is always some bending and twisting to overcome, so, at the end, the parts are not glued stress-free.

 

 

 

This is the way I have arranged the stern area so far:

 

 

And this is the bow. I presume I will have to introduce some drastic directional change of the planking here in addition to the normal tapering as I sketched with pencil lines. Do you guys think that the outlined arrangement makes sense for this type of bluff bow?

 

 

I would like starting in parallel the planking of the deck to speed up the construction. However, I have to take a decision here because on main deck there is another inaccuracy of the A.L. design. The opening on the main deck is shorter than it should be, probably to make room for cannons that A.L. arbitrarily included on the deck. I have not elongated that opening before gluing the deck, therefore, if I add another panel, this will be blind, i.e. with no any cavity behind it. Should I leave it as it is or try to make this modification? If I add another panel, perhaps I could cover it with a canvas to hide the fact that there is not a cavity below it. Any suggestion will be appreciated.

 

That is all for now,
Best regards,
Dan.

 

[Baker]

Nice model Dan.

Everything you need to know about planking

 

 

[Baker]

 

And for general information about your model it is best to look in other logs

You can find it in this topic

 

 

And there is a pdf with links to the models.

 

 

 

 

[Danstream]

Thank you so much Backer!

I had seen only one of the pdf that you linked. I will read the others with interest. Meanwhile, I went on with the planking following the slope that I penciled in the posted photo, which clearly is the wrong pattern on the bow. I am happy that this is the first planking, so I can correct the pattern with the second one. I have now understood that I should have spiled the planks and I will do that with the second layer. I am going to post more pictures soon, but there will not be anything exciting, just the completion of the wrong first layer.

 

Thank you and best regards,

Dan.

[Danstream]

As said in the post above, I went on with my build, but I have not very exciting progress to show, just few more planks added to the hull. I glued balsa gussets all along the false keel that will help to better support the garboard.

 

 

For now, the planking is following the incorrect pattern that was initiated before, but after I studied the material indicated to me by Backer in his posts above, in particular the presentation by Chuck, I tried to spile the last applied strake. I did not spile it in the true way, I just bent and formed the strip within his plane, but the difference was immediately noticeable.

 

 

The strip so shaped practically fell in place by itself. Clearly, this is the way I will proceed with the second planking in order to obtain strakes that run more parallel to the horizontal plane.

 

That is all for now,

best regards,

Dan.

 

 

 

[Danstream]

Hi all,

after a long interval, I am posting some small progress on my build of the Mayflower. Finally, I completed the planking of the first layer. This is a close-up of the bow where I engraved a groove for accepting the keel piece. As said before, I realized that strakes pattern is not quite correct there, but it will suffice as first layer. I am happy that I finished the planking, because I started to get a bit tired of it.

 

 

I started sanding and filling with a white filler for wood, proceeding progressively by areas. This is the overall view of the hull with the stem and middle areas almost finished.

 

 

Although I plan to sand the filled areas a bit more, it can be seen that there are several locations, especially in the stem area, that are quite more under the average level of the surface. I wonder whether A.L. has captured correctly the shape of the hull, because I have the impression that the belly in the stem of this type of vessels should have been a bit 'fuller'. Below, I just started to work on the stern area.

 

 

In the following picture, I am showing the adaptation of the upper strake to the profile of the starboard bulwark. I had to carve the upper edge because when I laid down the first strake, I forgot to consider the shape of the edge of the bulwark.

 

 

I hope that the work will proceed at a faster pace now that the planking is over.

I noticed that another modeler, @TheRedGnome, has started the same model from the same kit here and, striking coincidence, his name starts with 'Dan' as well. This is good, because I hope we can exchange our 'head-ups' to each other. My best wishes go to him, it will be interesting to see the two builds unfolding in parallel.

 

Also @acaron41120 started a Mayflower begin  of October, although from a different kit, but about the same scale. This will add some additional interesting comparisons. Best wishes also to him.

 

Best regards,

Dan.

 

[TheRedGnome]

It's definitely a strange coincidence. Your thread actually gave me some pause several times before I decided to put my build log up,  especially when you started planking the hull before the deck... obviously I did start my log though! Great work so far, looking forward to seeing both ships come to life. 

[Danstream]

23 minutes ago, TheRedGnome said:

It's definitely a strange coincidence. Your thread actually gave me some pause several times before I decided to put my build log up,  especially when you started planking the hull before the deck... obviously I did start my log though! Great work so far, looking forward to seeing both ships come to life. 

Thanks Dan. Yes, I started the hull first because, being my first build, and being the planking of the hull the most intimidating part, I wanted to be sure I was able to complete it satisfactorily before investing my time with other parts.

[Old Collingwood]

Thats a really tidy well executed job of your first planking  - very nice progress.

 

OC.

[acaron41120]

Dan. Thanks for the encouragement. Although both Dans have a different Mayflower kit than mine, by comparing the progress of our ships via the build logs, it can help with various building techniques and perhaps add details to our ships.

[Danstream]

Hi all,

worked a bit on finishing off the shape of the stern. I added two dummy lids for two cannons firing from the stern that A.L. did not contemplate, but they are present in the Plymouth replica and in other ships of the time. The dummy lids will help me to define better the cutouts in the planking.

 

 

 

After planking, filing and sanding, I obtained this:

 

 

I am pleased with the shape that finally emerged. There are still some final touches to do, but the basic shaping is done. Perhaps the fillet between the belly of the hull and the vertical fin should have a smaller radius.

 

 

I am now working on the main deck.

Best regards,

Dan.

 

 

[Danstream]

Hi all,

having the planking of the hull in a reasonably completed status, I started furnishing the main deck area. I started with the bulkhead of the forecastle. Differently from what supplied with the kit, I scratch built a separate wall made of very thin plywood lined with walnut strips. Having a separate part, allowed me to detail it more comfortably on my workbench. The kit provides mahogany wood for lining the model, but I did not like it for this type of ship. It would be great for a luxurious speedboat, but not for an old cargo ship. Hence, I purchased some walnut strips that I found to be more appropriate.

 

 

I found strange that the maximum scale height of the door that I could fit within the bulkhead is only 1.30 m (4.3 feet). Hence I made the top of the door slightly arched so to fit the maximum height possible. I made a two-panels door (the A.L. design suggests a door with only one panel) that likely could let more air and light into the forecastle, where the galley was probably located. I sourced the handles from my LHS (Amati parts). The iron strips are made of styrene strips which I have plenty of (I used to build plastic kit models). This is how it looks once painted and assembled:

 

 

Then, I framed the cut-out of the deck. I painted an additional length black because I wanted to have a longer aperture. I have seen other builds and other period ships that show an opening of the deck larger than that proposed by A.L. design. I think that it is very likely that the Mayflower, being born as a cargo ship, had a large opening for loading goods. Then I framed the opening making the step which the gratings will sit on and, after the deck planking is finished, I will add another finishing frame around it.

 

 

Then I started planking the main deck with the strips provided in the kit. I like the contrast between the clear deck and the darker walnut.

 

 

That is all for now, I will be busy for a while detailing also the other decks.

Best regards,

Dan.

[Danstream]

Hi all,

I just finished to plank the main deck using the wood provided in the kit. This is the final result:

 

 

I have not included any treenail yet. Probably I will skip them, I do not want to bite more than I can chew. The fore bulkhead:

 

 

and the aft one with the base of the capstan which I scratch built:

 

 

I departed from the design suggested in the kit for finishing the bulkheads, trying to get a look more in line with the epoch of the ship. Now, I need to figure out whether I have to apply a protective varnish and which one.

 

Best regards,

Dan.

Edited November 3, 2020 by Danstream

[TheRedGnome]

It's looking good so far. I'm starting to get a callus on my thumb from my own tree nailing

[Danstream]

Hi all,

I have worked on the bow platform, finishing the hull planking and adding the furnished bulkhead. I made also the hole that will accommodate the bowsprit. I drilled it with my Dremel and brought it to the final size with sandpaper wrapped around a dowel.

 

 

Next, I will plank the small deck of the platform. I am thinking of not using the bulwarks made of plywood provided with the kit, but rather I will extend upwards the planking of the hull.

 

On the stern, I mounted the transom bulkhead which was modified as shown earlier. I framed the window cutouts to make a rabbet which the transparent panels will sit in.

 

 

 

Best regards,

Dan.

Edited November 14, 2020 by Danstream

[Danstream]

Hi all,

some updates on my build, still working on the unfinished hull. I planked the deck of the small bow platform:

 

 

On the stern, having added few strakes, I recreated the 'step' of the transom that now needs to be shaped round:

 

 

I am also trying to add tapered strakes to recover the shape of the upper edge that needs to curve upwards. The actual required curve was lost when I applied the planking:

 

 

I will need to add another tapered strake for obtaining a nice, smooth bending up of the upper edge that will guide the wale to be glued before starting the second planking.

 

On the main deck, I added the gratings with their framing. The grating provided with the kit, in my opinion, had too large holes for this scale, hence I outsourced the gratings from Kolderstok with much smaller holes. After assembling and sanding them, I sprayed them with a light coat of Tamiya XF-59 (desert yellow). I have plenty of these Tamiya paints because of my activity with aircraft kits.

 

 

Finally, this is how I have arranged the first planking on the transom 'step'.

 

 

Still plenty of work to do to finish the hull.

 

Thanks for dropping by and best regards,

Dan.

 

 

Edited November 22, 2020 by Danstream

[TheRedGnome]

Dan

 

Very very clean looking.

 

Dan

[yvesvidal]

Great progress on that difficult kit (mostly due to the choice of wood by AL).

 

Yves

[Danstream]

Hi, 

I glued a small wale (I do not know the term for it) on top of the upper edge of the planking that I recreated as shown in my post above:

 

 

Then, I went up with few strakes to form the bulwarks. I had to shape the planks quite precisely because I do not have any bulkhead extensions to support them. 

 

 

 

 

I interposed pieces of tape between the planks for those parts that I will remove later. Inside, I prepared the capstan and glued additional strips along the borders of the deck.

 

 

Work proceeded very slowly, but I hope to speed it up during the festivity break.

 

Until next time,

Dan.

 

 

Edited December 19, 2020 by Danstream

[Larry Cowden]

On 12/19/2020 at 2:17 PM, Danstream said:

Hi, 

I glued a small wale (I do not know the term for it) on top of the upper edge of the planking that I recreated as shown in my post above:

 

 

Then, I went up with few strakes to form the bulwarks. I had to shape the planks quite precisely because I do not have any bulkhead extensions to support them. 

 

 

 

 

I interposed pieces of tape between the planks for those parts that I will remove later. Inside, I prepared the capstan and glued additional strips along the borders of the deck.

 

 

Work proceeded very slowly, but I hope to speed it up during the festivity break.

 

Until next time,

Dan.

 

 

With these changes you are making, are you still following the AL  instructions?

[Danstream]

On 1/19/2021 at 3:12 AM, Larry Cowden said:

With these changes you are making, are you still following the AL  instructions?

Indeed Larry, I am going on without following the A.L. instructions improvising what I am doing at each step. This is also one of the reason why I am proceeding so slowly. Fortunately, I found and downloaded the instruction manual written by Chuck Passaro for the prototype of the Model Shipways Mayflower which is based on the existing replica and which I am using broadly as a reference guide.

Best regards,

Dan.

[Larry Cowden]

13 hours ago, Danstream said:

Indeed Larry, I am going on without following the A.L. instructions improvising what I am doing at each step. This is also one of the reason why I am proceeding so slowly. Fortunately, I found and downloaded the instruction manual written by Chuck Passaro for the prototype of the Model Shipways Mayflower which is based on the existing replica and which I am using broadly as a reference guide.

Best regards,

Dan.

Is there a link available for that? I would like to download it as this ship is on my build list.

[Danstream]

If you search: "mayflower ship model shipways manual", you should find the pdf.

 

[Danstream]

Hi all,

I went up with the bulwark and removed the portion of the strakes that was not glued to reveal the opening between the strakes of the bulwark:

 

 

Then, I lined the inner wall with walnut strips:

 

 

I think the result is not too bad. At this point, before starting with the second planking, I need to finish the transom, because I want that the planking of the hull covers the thickness of the planking strips of the tramsom. I gave the final shaping of the dead wood of the hull and traced the lines for the planking:

 

 

I chosed to lay down the planking with an angle of 30 deg which is easily found with my drawing triangles and resembles what seen on my reference books for the ships of that period. After gluing the stern post, I started gluing the strips:

 

 

Here with the lids of stern chaser cannons provisionally in place:

 

 

I need now to complete the glazing of the windows, which is something that I delayed until now, because I need to find out a good method to replicate the lead framing. That's all for now, any comment or suggestion is welcome.

Best regards,

Dan.

 

Edited January 31, 2021 by Danstream
Corrections, typos.

[Baker]

1 hour ago, Danstream said:

any comment or suggestion is welcome.

 

Nice work

 

Windows : post 169 of the Pelican

 

[Snug Harbor Johnny]

One idea ... on a piece of clear plastic that fills the window opening, one might take cut pieces of fine electronics solder (I have some old Radio Shack part number 64-005  that is 60/40 lead/tin solder .033" diameter - but there must be similar products offered today that are lead free 95/5 tin antimony), then flatten the solder slightly with a planishing hammer on a flat metal surface.  These would be glued onto the plastic in, say, the vertical direction (or at an angle for 'diamond' panes that were sometimes used in those days), then use short lengths of planished solder to glue in the horizontal direction.

[Danstream]

@Snug Harbor Johnny thank you for your input! Your suggestion looks quite labour intensive, but I will give it a consideration. The method illustrated by @Backer seems slightly more practical. I will do some tests and let you know.

Thanks and best regards,

Dan.