HMS Beagle by The Gimps Chimp - FINISHED - OcCre - 1:60

[The Gimps Chimp]

Time for another update.

 

Progress has been slow for the last couple of weeks but I'm not too worried about that.  It's due to the change in the weather.  As it warms up the garden starts to come back to life and there is so much to do to keep on top of it.

 

With regard to the Beagle, all I've managed to get done is the second planking on the starboard side and the stern.  For some reason the starboard side was more demanding than the port side but I think that was down to how I progressed and the order in which I chose to plank.  There will clearly be an optimal order but I have no idea what that is.  Starting with the bulwarks is probably the best as these are consistent and lay flat and even, without any tapering to be done.  When you drop below the bulwarks things become more demanding and shaping of the planks is required.  The instructions show what looks to be a fairly random sequence and random length to the planks but I'm sure there's some logic to it.  Whatever you do I think you end up cutting small pieces of veneer and making it fit.  Luckily it cuts easily and with a bit of practice you can get a good close fit.  And where it doesn't fit perfectly there is always filler

 

Chimp

 

 

 

[Gus M]

This is a great boat and full of history, no doubt, if I ever get to learn this hobby well it will be one of the ones I will try.

Thanks for sharing, I will follow your progress with attention, 

[The Gimps Chimp]

Hi Gixli

Good to have you here watching on 

Chimp

[Pete D]

2 hours ago, The Gimps Chimp said:

Time for another update.

 

Progress has been slow for the last couple of weeks but I'm not too worried about that.  It's due to the change in the weather.  As it warms up the garden starts to come back to life and there is so much to do to keep on top of it.

 

With regard to the Beagle, all I've managed to get done is the second planking on the starboard side and the stern.  For some reason the starboard side was more demanding than the port side but I think that was down to how I progressed and the order in which I chose to plank.  There will clearly be an optimal order but I have no idea what that is.  Starting with the bulwarks is probably the best as these are consistent and lay flat and even, without any tapering to be done.  When you drop below the bulwarks things become more demanding and shaping of the planks is required.  The instructions show what looks to be a fairly random sequence and random length to the planks but I'm sure there's some logic to it.  Whatever you do I think you end up cutting small pieces of veneer and making it fit.  Luckily it cuts easily and with a bit of practice you can get a good close fit.  And where it doesn't fit perfectly there is always filler

 

Chimp

 

 

 

Looking great , looks like you are on top of it

[uncarina]

Excellent progress. Knowing when to break up a continuous plank and insert stealers is an art I hope to rediscover! Following your work helps.

 

Cheers,  Tom

[The Gimps Chimp]

Hi guys,

 

After a bit of a break I'm "back in the saddle".  The break was due to many reasons, nothing untoward just so much other stuff going on.  I suspect I have a couple of months of relatively intense building before I get waylaid with other stuff.  However, I'm absolutely adamant this build will be completed.

 

Picking up from where I left off, I now have all the second planking complete.  The ship has had a couple of coats of paint and I'm currently working on the deck fittings.

 

Here are some photos to show where I currently am with the build:

 

[Robp1025]

It's wonderful to have you back in the shop!! 

[The Gimps Chimp]

The next step has been to make up the gun port panels.  Luckily I had saved these when cutting out the gun ports at the start of the build.  It would have been easy to see these as scrap wood and to throw them away.  Covered them with Sycamore for the inner face and Sapelli for the outer.  The outer face was then painted black before fitting the hinges.  I found cutting the hinges from the brass sheet a bit difficult as my side cutters were too bulky to fit in between the tightly packed fittings so I had to cut away much of the outer sheet which was really too thick for the side cutters.  Anyway I got them all cut out okay.

 

I got the hinges glued onto the gun port panels.  They're not perfect and could be better but I think they're good enough. 

 

The hinges are longer than required so needed to be trimmed to the right size which was straightforward to achieve.  They will require a bit of a touchup with the black paint to try and hide evidence of the glue.

 

Chimp

[The Gimps Chimp]

After spending time making sure the surface of the hull is clean and smooth the next step requires you to drill a 5mm hole through it!  Just a little bit unnerving to say the least.  It's to allow the rudder to fit up into the hull.  I need to become more confident during these times but after spending so much time and effort on it I worry that doing something silly can set you back weeks.  Anyway, I overcame my fear of doing something wrong and got on with the task in hand.  As it turned out everything was fine.  I suppose that's given me some confidence for the next time  

 

 

 

I've also spent some time on painting the hull so she's starting to look like the Beagle.

 

 

 

One area which I've found particularly challenging has been the wooden trim around the stern.  The piece on the top does need to bend in two directions, vertically and horizontally.  The vertical bend isn't a problem.  The horizontal bend, whist retaining the vertical bend becomes a challenge.  My first attempt failed.  Thought the best approach would be to make the first bend the horizontal one.  That was performed around a piece of scrap wood.

 

 

Then I fitted it to the hull by gluing just the center section using CA glue.  When dry I then applied water using a paint brush and gave time for it to soak through.  I then glued further out from the center, until eventually got the full length attached.  Even then I wasn't happy that I had got the correct amount of horizontal bend on the port side.  To remedy this I glued on a piece of scrap wood and when dry I shaped to look correct.  It's not perfect but I'm happy with the result.

 

 

The side pieces were also a challenge but with tighter bends.  I applied the same logic and technique to this problem and I think they came out okay.

 

 

[The Gimps Chimp]

Gun port hatches are now fitted, that was straightforward.  Some needed a little trimming to fit but that's expected.  I've also started looking at fitting all the bow details.  The instructions aren't best I've seen and there is still some confusion in my mind as to whether they are consistent, as I've often found the instructions and assembly photos do tend to conflict with each other.  Anyway, I think I've ended up with something which looks half decent.

 

 

 

These are the brass sections after cutting and bending

 

 

This is what it looks like after releasing my glued fingers from the bow.  Not perfect, but I'm happy with it.

 

 

It will be interesting to see what it looks like after painting, if I can now get the brush in to paint it!!

[Robp1025]

If you have not I would drill out the hole for the bowsprit now before painting because it's messing if you have painted already. 

[The Gimps Chimp]

Hi Rob, many thanks for the advice.  I have actually already drilled and filed the hole for the bowsprit.  Making that hole didn't come easy to me as I didn't know what or where I was going.  Turned out I had nothing to worry about as I was only really opening a hole in the planking.  I'm now making the bowsprit, a little out of sequence according to the instructions.  Photo's in my next post.

 

Chimp.

[Bill Morrison]

I just tripped into this thread.  It's a nice job so far, and it is refreshing that OcCre ignored Revell and Mamoli's mistake of simply modifying the HMS Bounty. I may have to get this kit! Again, well sone!

 

Bill

[The Gimps Chimp]

Over the past week I've fitted the channel supports for the deadeyes and started to makeup the deadeyes and chains.  I then realized that some of the chains won't be vertical but will be angled.  I don't want to follow the instructions here as it's clear the instructions are wrong, which has luckily been pointed out a few times in other build logs.   Therefore, to enable me to workout what angle they should all be I've decided to start building the bowsprit and masts.  These won't be permanently fitted just yet but will be temporarily positioned so I can get the right angle for the chains.  I'll then remove them and complete the deck fittings.

 

 

 

I started with the bowsprit as that looked easier than the masts.  I used a David plane to get the taper before sanding smooth.  I must admit, I find that process very rewarding.

 

 

 

There were quite a few small holes that need drilling and I did worry that one slip here could mean a couple of steps backwards.  Again I shouldn't have worried as it all went to plan.

 

Then on with the masts, starting with the foremast:

 

 

I'm currently about halfway with the foremast and things are looking okay.  Let's hope I can keep the progress over the coming weeks.

 

Chimp

[allanyed]

Your build is quite nice Chimp!      Do you know if the OcCre kit represents her as she looked when launched in 1820 or for the cruise with Darwin in 1831?

 

Thanks!

Allan

[The Gimps Chimp]

7 hours ago, allanyed said:

Your build is quite nice Chimp!      Do you know if the OcCre kit represents her as she looked when launched in 1820 or for the cruise with Darwin in 1831?

 

Thanks!

Allan

Hi Allan,

 

Many thanks for your comment.  I'm not in any way an expert on such things but my understanding is that the OcCre kit represents her as a survey ship after she was modified in 1825.  According to that well known 'source of truth' Wikipedia:

 

"On 27 September 1825 The Beagle docked at Woolwich to be repaired and fitted out for her new duties. Her guns were reduced from ten cannon to six and a mizzen mast was added to improve her handling, thereby changing her from a brig to a bark (or barque)."

 

This also appears to be consistent with the Beagle AoTS.

 

Chimp

[DonSangria]

9 hours ago, allanyed said:

Your build is quite nice Chimp!      Do you know if the OcCre kit represents her as she looked when launched in 1820 or for the cruise with Darwin in 1831?

 

The Kit shows the Ship after the 1831 refit for Darwins voyage. In 1820 she was launched 2-masted and later refitted with a third mast.

Edited February 8, 2022 by DonSangria

[allanyed]

Thanks Chimp and Don

The reason  I asked about this was that there were only 74 people on board for her second voyage in 1831 which carried Darwin but there looks to be nearly 200 hammocks in the bulwarks so I could not reconcile the two things.   

Thanks again

Allan

Edited February 8, 2022 by allanyed

[The Gimps Chimp]

Allan

I've also asked myself the same question.  Is it just indicative of hammock storage, was it just intended for hammocks, would it have been used for the storage of other items?  How big is a hammock (and bedding) when rolled up for storage?  What's clear is there isn't a lot of room for 74 people so I'm sure the space wasn't wasted.

Chimp

[DonSangria]

Yes, the hammocks... I don't like them in this kit. Since it is my first build, I realized too late, that these should depict hammocks. For me it was just a decoration of the bulwarks. It is too late to change, since I'm in the process of rigging.

[Robp1025]

4 hours ago, DonSangria said:

Yes, the hammocks... I don't like them in this kit. Since it is my first build, I realized too late, that these should depict hammocks. For me it was just a decoration of the bulwarks. It is too late to change, since I'm in the process of rigging.

Yes I agree with you I wish I could have done more with the hammocks as well but I only learned after doing research and being further on the build then it at point. 

[allanyed]

74 is not so bad, they had 120 when launched and carried 10 guns versus 6.  

Allan

[The Gimps Chimp]

Progress over the last week has been limited.  I've now all but finished making the bowsprit.

 

 

The foremast has had a few bits of metalwork added.

 

 

I've also assembled the six ladders, primed and painted a base coat.  These ladders were a lot fiddlier than I expected.  Not sure why they are made from brass in the kit.  Maybe if made from wood then they might be too flimsy given the thickness.

 

 

Chimp

[Penfold]

Hi Chimp, glad you are back. I know how it’s been … I’ve just begun to pick up my Beagle again after several months of being just too busy with other stuff.

I must admit I chuckled when I read your comments about how you feel when you have to drill holes in the beautiful hull that you’ve spent so long putting together. If you have a look at my Bluenose 2 build, you’ll see I felt just the same way.

Your Beagle looks to be coming along nicely. Hope I can do mine as well.

[The Gimps Chimp]

Progress over the last couple of weeks has been slow but sure.  I now have all the deadeyes fitted.  Getting this complete makes a big difference in the ship's appearance.  I've used 0.4mm wire instead of the supplied 0.5mm wire, mainly because I have 20m of the 0.4mm wire which I had left over from my previous build and there didn't look to be a huge amount of the supplied 0.5mm.  I think the twisted wire looks better than the plain wire and was easier to fit.

 

 

I've also got the rudder fitted.  Again, this was a bit fiddly but I think it turned out okay.  With each of these tasks being completed my confidence is increasing.

 

 

I've also done a dry fit of the bowsprit and completed foremast.  It's becoming clear just how big this model is going to be.

 

 

Now I need to progress all the deck fittings.  I'm surprised just how cluttered/packed the deck is.  There wouldn't have been much room to manoeuvre on deck in addition to the many trip hazards.

 

 

Chimp

[Robp1025]

8 hours ago, The Gimps Chimp said:

Progress over the last couple of weeks has been slow but sure.  I now have all the deadeyes fitted.  Getting this complete makes a big difference in the ship's appearance.  I've used 0.4mm wire instead of the supplied 0.5mm wire, mainly because I have 20m of the 0.4mm wire which I had left over from my previous build and there didn't look to be a huge amount of the supplied 0.5mm.  I think the twisted wire looks better than the plain wire and was easier to fit.

 

 

I've also got the rudder fitted.  Again, this was a bit fiddly but I think it turned out okay.  With each of these tasks being completed my confidence is increasing.

 

 

I've also done a dry fit of the bowsprit and completed foremast.  It's becoming clear just how big this model is going to be.

 

 

Now I need to progress all the deck fittings.  I'm surprised just how cluttered/packed the deck is.  There wouldn't have been much room to manoeuvre on deck in addition to the many trip hazards.

 

 

Chimp

You are for sure making some good progress!!! Keep it up and loving the build

[The Gimps Chimp]

On 4/24/2022 at 8:03 AM, E Z Breeze said:

I'm very impressed with your workmanship. I can see you becoming more confident and fluent as the build progresses. I'll follow from here as I have an ambition to build this ship as she was on the Darwin voyage. 

Good to have you here E Z Breeze.  Will you be making a build log?

 

It's about time I updated mine.  Work has been progressing but it's been painfully slow at the moment  

 

Chimp

[The Gimps Chimp]

It's been two months since my last update so about time for another.  With the change in the weather and the garden coming back to life, the competition for time has been difficult.  I've been able to grab an hour here and a half hour there.  Progress has been slow but it's still moving forward.  I've been working on the deck fittings, and there's a lot of them.  Nothing too difficult just time consuming getting them all done.  I've also managed to acquire a 3D printed ropewalk so have been practicing making rope, with mixed results.  Here is a photo of kit supplied rope (left) alongside my rope (right).

 

Here's a photo of some of the deck fittings to be placed on the empty deck:

 

Most of the deck fittings were straightforward to make.  The only bit which was disappointing were the axles for the cannons.  If using the dimensions given in the kit the wheels are spaced far too wide apart for the smaller cannons.  I should have checked before gluing the wheels on.  Once I realised my mistake it was too late to remove them without damaging them so had to cut the axles and glue the four wheels on individually.  Not a big problem, more annoying in that it would have been so easy to give the correct dimension in the instructions.  But then I guess that's another lesson learnt by myself during this build.  A little bit older, a little bit wiser....

 

The next series of photos shows the progress I've made getting the fittings actually fitted onto the deck.

 

 

Now I just need to keep the momentum going......

 

Chimp

[Prowler901]

Outstanding work!  And, your rope looks superior to the kit supplied rope.  Is there a thread here on the forum with details about the 3D printed rope walk?

 

Todd

[The Gimps Chimp]

16 hours ago, Prowler901 said:

Outstanding work!  And, your rope looks superior to the kit supplied rope.  Is there a thread here on the forum with details about the 3D printed rope walk?

 

Todd

Hi Todd,

Thanks for your comment. I'm not aware of any 3D printed ropewalk details on this forum.  I posted this on a different thread about my experience of making rope:

The Zip file required to print the ropewalk was posted there.  If this link doesn't work I'll post the file in this thread.

 

Chimp