Cazador Jabeque / Xebec by Katsumoto - FINISHED -OcCre - 1:60

[Katsumoto]

***OcCre - Cazador Jabeque / Xebec 1750***

Hello my friends, it's been a while since my last buildlog of Santa Maria Buildlog.

Today I would like to present my new log of the Xebec Cazador of OcCre.
As a child I was fan of the Redbeard comics, maybe known by some of you. Anyway, one of the titles was "Fight With The Moors" (1973) and describes a story of Moorish pirates who looted merchant ships in the Mediterranean sea.  The ships they used were fast, agile and armed to the teeth Xebecs! In the story, ships were plundered, crew were killed, the ship burned to the ground and women were kidnapped and sold on the black market as slaves. 
It intrigued me because regular ships,  even well armed were not capable to cope with these dangerous circumstances and the Xebec's with their ruthless crew were winning most of the fights. Ofcourse this Redbeard story was fiction but based on true events in that timeperiod. A different and dark time compare with today so to say.

The Spanish Crown built Cazador mid 18th century to fight the Moors in the Mediteranean Sea. To me, this was the conclusion to take on this ship and build her myself. A beautifull representation of a Spanish Xebec in combat with the Moors is shown below. It's a picture of Ángel Cortellini Sánchez!

 

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DonAntonioBarcelóConSuJabequeCorreoRindeADosGaleotasArgelinas.jpg

 

OcCre - Ocio Creativo made a beautiful kitmodel but compare to reality it has some shortcomings. I'm not sure if I have the possibilities to change a couple of things, but we will see on the way. My workplace is the dining table in the dining room with only my handtools and hopefully a lot of creativity! ☺️

 

 

Some specifications of the kitmodel 

Ref: 14002
Scale: 1:60
Length: 860mm / 33.9 inches
Height: 630mm / 24.8 inches
Width: 160mm / 6.3 inches

Chapter 1 - The Box and parts
The boxart is pretty basic but neat and tidy. It looks like OcCre use the box design for almost all their models kits. A picture of the ship makes the difference and is a piece of paper which sticks to the box. It's the contents of the box that has my interest. 

 

Wel about the contents inside the box. All things are neatly packed and the milled wood looks all right. Not perfect or of the highest quality, but just fine.
What bothers me are the plywood parts. Even the keel, transom parts are made of plywood and stained into a walnut color. I prefer walnut parts instead of stained plywood.

 

Chapter 2 - A new beginning

To me the scale of the ship and the less complexity of the model is ideal for the dining table situation. After modeling I can easily clean up the table and put the box, tools and the ship away for the next moment. 
After inspecting the parts, I start with numbering the plywood parts.

 

 

After numbering the parts, I'll cut the parts out of the frame and dryfit the bulkheads.

 

 

 

The plywood it very thin and brittle. The bulkhead fits nicely on the main plate of the ship. After putting some glue on the bulkheads, it's time to cut out the main deckplate. Hopefully this give the structure some rigidity and strength.

 

 

 

Time to plank the deck. I choose a pattern and start laying the strips. Unfortunately the strips a not consistent in thickness and varies widely between 1 - 1,3mm.

 

 

 

After a while...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Job's done. Time to scrape the deck flush.

 

 

 

 

 

Also the upper part of a bulkhead needs to be covered with the same strips but placed verticaly.

 

 

 

 

At the aft of the ship, strips of veneer are placed horizontally. I bend the veneer with an iron so it follows the curve of the bulkhead. It's hard to do, but to me it looks a bit nicer instead of straight strips.

 

 

 

 

Time to put another deck plate on the ship. 

 

 

 

 

 

Also this needs to be covered with some strips of wood...it's the same process as on the main deck.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, it's a start so to say. I'll try to update once a week if possible. If you like to leave a comment, I'll appreciate it and please feel free to ask me any questions.

See yah later!

Peter

[ccoyle]

You're off to a great and very tidy start. I think the basic OcCre kit looks nice, but like you said, it is a little on the simplistic side and could certainly benefit from a few improvements. Looking forward to seeing how you accomplish those.

 

Cheers!

[Ryland Craze]

You are off to a great start on this build and your detailed build log is going to be a pleasure to follow.

[Cathead]

Nice rapid start on a very interesting prototype.

[Robert V802]

You are off to a great start.  Have this kit sitting in front of me now and thinking I might need to put the Gulnara aside for a while !

[BobG]

I just found your build log and you are doing a wonderful job so far on this beautiful and interesting model. Have you been able to make any more progress?

[Katsumoto]

I have to blow off the dust of my buildlog. I'm sorry for that, just so bussy with work. I did continue a lot and I'll post my update more frequently from now on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, the kit comes with standard laser-cut parts out of plywood. It's been stained with a dark "walnut" stain. I do not like it so I discart these parts and make my own out of solid walnut.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More to come, have some catching up to do in my buildlog... 😅

 

Regards,
Peter

[Etcher]

My build of this kit started 7 years ago and it’s not planked yet, so yours is fresh by comparison! 😂 You made a much better job of meeting the bulwark pieces at the bow. It looks a lot neater. Like, ‘This is how it should look’!

[Katsumoto]

Chapter 2 - preperation of the hull first layer planking
In this update I'll show you the first layer of hullplanking. Some photo's were lost during editing, but I can show the result.
I begin with the stern. Btw, this ship will be bashed beyond believable.....My mission is to let you forget this is a kit....

 

 

 

 

 

I used East Indian Ink to blacken the bulwarks.

 

 

The kit comes with Sapeli veneer strips. It's a sort of Mohagony color. I'll change this for American Walnut.

 

 

 

 

 

Placing the wales...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preparing the hull for second layer of Walnut veneer. Put some lines on the hull for reference....See these as temporary battons which devides the hull into three parts excluding the garboard strake.

 

 

 

 

 

[Katsumoto]

Chapter 3 - Second layer hullplanking

 

I've done my prepwork prior to planking. Did my calculations, battons placed (green lines) so time to put some planks on shall we?!

I work from the wales to the first green batton (line). Each section contains 5 strakes. On all bulkheads the width of my planks are even.
Now I fill in section by section until the last garboard strake will be placed. I can place the garboard as last strake, because there is no rabbit in my keel otherwise I suggest to place this one as the first strake on the hull.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One side done, other one to go! 

[Katsumoto]

Chapter 3 - Second layer hullplanking (part 2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Both sides done. Pretty pleased with the outcome. It's always a challenge but exciting part of the build.

 

regards,
Peter

[Katsumoto]

Chapter 4 - Stern, gratings and prow

I've replaced the plywood stern and made a new one out of limewood strips.

 

 

 

 

All other plywood parts I've replaced with solid walnut. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the prow of the ship, some gratings has to be made. I use a cardboard template to cut out the gratings.

 

 

 

 

 

regards,
Peter

[Katsumoto]

Chapter 5 - Oarlids

Well I decided to close the oarports with lids. To make these I did the following...
I cut some veneer strips and covered the sides of the plywood. The plywood parts were to small so I had to enlarge them. Then the front and back as well...

 

 

 

 

 

[Katsumoto]

Chapter 6 - Bulwark reenforcement.
I've used some walnut to dress up the inside of the bulwarks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The railings also placed on top of the bullwarks.

 

 

 

 

Time to place the two gratings. I've let them curve a little bit just in sync with the top of the deck.

 

 

 

 

regards,
Peter

[Katsumoto]

Chapter 7 - Hinges for the oarlids

 

So, the oarlids are closed, but needed some hinges to simulate opening and closing of these lids. I made a new design for these hinges which I saw on another Xebec.

 

 

 

 

 

One down, many to go...

[Katsumoto]

Chapter 8 - Profile strips and first steps into carving

I've made some walnut strips and cut out a profile into a dull blade. Time to scrape the profile into the wood.

 

 

 

 

This dresses up the sides of the hull a bit. Next step is to make a test carving out of Castello Boxwood. I prefer the real boxwood, but it wasn't available in my area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm not convinced about the endresult tho. The castello boxwood is a bit softer than the real thing. I'll have to think this one over and I let is rest for now.
Time to experiment with the gunport lids. I made one as an example for the rest.

 

 

 

so, one down, many to go....

[Katsumoto]

Chapter 9 - Guncarriages

 

Pffff....I really did not update my log for some time......🤪

During last Christmas, the warf was closed, but I did some designwork on a guncarriage. The metal ones provided with the kit aren't too bad, but I decided to make a testcarriage out of wood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Left the one provided with the kit. Right the one I made

 

 

 

 

 

 

Okay, these will do....now I have to duplicate 19 more

[yvesvidal]

Thank you for building one of my favorite vessels: Le Chebec. I will follow your log with a lot of interest.

 

Yves

[BobG]

Beautiful work, Katsumoto! 

[Katsumoto]

11 hours ago, yvesvidal said:

Thank you for building one of my favorite vessels: Le Chebec. I will follow your log with a lot of interest.

 

Yves

 

Thanks Yves, it's one of my favorite ships as well. We share the passion my friend! 

 

4 hours ago, BobG said:

Beautiful work, Katsumoto! 

 

Thank you Bob, for leaving a comment and following along! 🙂

[Katsumoto]

Chapter 10 - making gunportlids
In my previous post I made a single lid for one of the gunports. Time to fabricate a lot more. This is the process of making these lids.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The hinges are done, need to blue these with Birchwood Caseys Brass black.

On to the lids itself. The same process as for the oarlids. Cover every part with veneer...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'll place these lids in a later stadium on the ship. 

Edited February 9, 2022 by Katsumoto

[Katsumoto]

Chapter 11 - Davits

So the davits needs to be fabricated and some other parts at the Fore. I fabricated everything out of American Walnut and throw away the pre-cut plywood parts. They are horrible to place on the ship....
I was a bit anxious because I needed to cut out parts of the upper railing....there is no way back when you put your blade into it....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next chapter will be the hatches at the main mast...

[Katsumoto]

Chapter 11 - Main hatch, pumps and bell tower

In this chapter the hatches at the main mast are being constructed and placed on the main deck.  I did not used the metal parts of the pumps and bell tower, made my own out of walnut.

Besides the main mast opening, there is a hole for the pumps installation. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next chapter will be the stern remodeling...

[Katsumoto]

Chapter 12 - Woodcarving and stern remodeling

In this chapter I'll focus on the stern. I had to remodel this part to my liking and I happily could buy some real boxwood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then I realized I made an error and the frame is to high. So, I took it apart again, adjusted the height, made a new frame and assembled it again.  

Let's say I wasn't too happy in the beginning... 🙄

 

 

 

 

Time to find a use for the boxwood.....

I made a drawing of a Baroque theme of Acanthus leaves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's it so far, this topic is back on track with the current status of the build. 

 

regards,
Peter

[yvesvidal]

That is fantastic work and this carving is gorgeous. You are a true artist.

 

The adjustable model bench/vise that you are using seems great. Where did you procure that tool?

 

Yves

[Katsumoto]

8 minutes ago, yvesvidal said:

That is fantastic work and this carving is gorgeous. You are a true artist.

 

The adjustable model bench/vise that you are using seems great. Where did you procure that tool?

 

Yves

 

Hi Yves.
It's the Professional building slip of Hobbyzone. I believe there is a review of this one somewhere on this forum. It's a great tool, but also has it's limitations like any other tool out there.  Professional Building Slip (hobbyzone.pl)

 

Thanks for stopping by and the kind words! 👍

[BobG]

Amazing detail work and your carving is incredible, Katsumoto! WOW! 😲

[Katsumoto]

Chapter 12,99 - constructing the rudder and helm

I've done some work on the rudder. Made out of walnut of course...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next update the rudder with helm will be placed on the ship. 

 

see you next time and thanks for all the likes and comments! 

Peter

[goetzi73]

Nice work. The carvings are outstanding!

[hollowneck]

On 2/9/2022 at 8:16 AM, yvesvidal said:

That is fantastic work and this carving is gorgeous. You are a true artist.

 

The adjustable model bench/vise that you are using seems great. Where did you procure that tool?

 

Yves

 

Ditto! Very nice work, clean with a good eye for the artistry these models beg from their builders.

Cheers to a model that will be beautiful once she's rigged and marauding in the Med!