Development blogs for new BlueJacket Kits

[alross2]

Searchlight and binnacle platforms are on.

[MrBlueJacket]

Started to fit out the rear boom. Interesting that on the bottom of the boom there is a block and tackle setup that apparently goes nowhere. I seem to recall (and correct me if I'm wrong) that it is a tensioner to help prevent hogging of the boom itself.

In the Penobscott Marine Museum there is a schooner model with the same setup, belaying to the jaws.

 

 

Edited July 22, 2022 by MrBlueJacket

[alross2]

Brackets for the boat davits and the starboard boat skids are on. The unfinished boat crane is just sitting in place. The brackets are .035" laser board. I really like this stuff as it is exceptionally strong for its size and cuts extremely well.

[MrBlueJacket]

Rigged the rear gaff......

[MrBlueJacket]

Turned the ship around to work on the starboard side. First 2 stays in place.

 

[MrBlueJacket]

Here's a close-up of the mast top.

[alross2]

Fitting the boat cradles to the skids.

[alross2]

No more posts for a week or so. I'm teaching at the WoodenBoat School from Sunday to Friday next week. Love that place!

[MrBlueJacket]

Back on the Wyoming front.........

 

Prepping #5 mast's boom

 

And the boom installed

[MrBlueJacket]

The rest of the lower shrouds on #6 mast

[MrBlueJacket]

Now to add the battens. We developed a unique method to insure the battens are evenly spaced. We made a "batten ladder"

[MrBlueJacket]

Once the battens are glued to the shrouds, the ends are clipped off and we have beautifully spaced and even battens.

[MrBlueJacket]

Even though this ship has battens instead of ratlines, it still has ratlines every 5th batten to the outer shrouds.

 

[alross2]

Back from a great week teaching ship modeling at the WoodenBoat School, guess I have to work on OREGON.... Boat skids are all in and the boat cradles attached and painted. The boats are drying and will have their thwarts attached sometime today. Also attached one of the 6 pdrs on the hurricane deck.

[MrBlueJacket]

And for the Wyoming, last night put in some forestays.

[MrBlueJacket]

Put on the starboard battens #5 mast. now trimming them to size.

 

[alross2]

8" and 6pdr barrels installed.

[GrandpaPhil]

That battleship is absolutely amazing!

[MrBlueJacket]

#4 boom prepped and installed.

[alross2]

Four of OREGON's cowl vents had an offset. In the kit, they will be made up of a dowel, lasered offset, brass air port, and a cast cowl vent (not shown).

[alross2]

OREGON boat cranes are done (except for rigging).

[alross2]

Getting close, still waiting on a few parts.

[alross2]

Winches are on. Each one comprises three laser-cut sections for the base and a cast Britannia barrel.

[alross2]

Whaleboat with bolster and life rings aft.

[alross2]

Doing my favorite thing - rigging (grump...).

 

 

There are two bow scrolls in the kit - one photo-etched brass and one printed paper. The brass one is for those with really, really, really fine paint brushes. The stripes and stars are raised. The paper one is for those of us who want really nice sharp paint lines, but can't paint for crap...

 

Edited September 2, 2022 by alross2

[alross2]

One of the boat cranes and one anchor davit rigged. Boats go on next.

[alross2]

The full complement of boats is on and half of the signal flag halliards.

[MrBlueJacket]

Referring to post #122 above, the tackle under the boom is called a boom preventer guy. Our buddy Jerry T sent me this:

 

"Nic,

I came across the Model Ship World blog you and Al are doing regarding the WYOMING prototype.  An extraordinary model for sure.  I read with interest the question about the purpose of the luff tackle rigged along the bottom of the booms.  I came across this feature when researching my construction of the BOWDOIN model a number of years ago.  See photos below.  I found the answer to this question in Chapelle’s “The American Fishing Schooners”, page 357.  This was a boom guy, a preventer whose forward end was rigged to a staple on the rail just aft of the shrouds when the boom was rigged out for running before the wind.  Its purpose was to keep that boom steady as the vessel rolls and to prevent an accidental jibe.  Maintaining control of those booms was critical on the big schooners."

 

 

So while the boom sheet prevents it from extending too far, this guy prevents it from accidentally returning towards the boat thereby keeping it in a fixed position..

 

Edited September 7, 2022 by MrBlueJacket

[alross2]

OREGON (and me) as of this afternoon.  Josh made me the rest of the parts, so the model should be done in a day or so.  Next week I'll update the plans and complete the instruction manual.

[Red Rhino]

Wow! Hi Al, your Oregon looks great. Congratulations!!

Dave