Black Pearl by Chilliard - Zvezda - 1/72

[Chilliard]

I have been reading this forum for several years and have learned a lot.  I finally decided that I would post a build log.  I have been building models all my life, including model trains, military armor, and airplanes.  This is the second sailing ship that I have built.  The first one was the Lindberg Jolly Roger that I built as the La Flore.  You can see images of it in my album.  My current build is the Black Pearl.

 

I started the Black Pearl by scratch building a replacement bulk head out of styrene and then painted and weathered it. 

 

 

 

I then painted and weathered the decks.

 

 

I wanted to have some lighting in the ship.  So I installed some flickering amber LED's.  I also programmed an Arduino to adjust the flickering rate for the captain's cabin and the lanterns using conventional LED's

 

 

 

The kit's parts that are supposed to be used for the stairs are horrible.  I decided to replace them with 3D printed parts that I designed. 

 

 

 

I then painted and weathered the rest of the ship.

 

 

 

Here are a few current photos.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 14, 2021 by Chilliard

[having-fun]

Excellent work! My Son-in-law wants me to also build a Black Pearl, and he wants it with lights, would you mind disclosing were you got your lights?

I also would appreciated if you could provide any hints as to how to wire them, I have never worked with led lights.

Thanks

Joe

[ccoyle]

12 minutes ago, having-fun said:

would you mind disclosing were you got your lights?

 

Be sure to check out Evan Designs. They're one of our sponsors and have a clickable banner on the home page.

[Chilliard]

3 hours ago, having-fun said:

Excellent work! My Son-in-law wants me to also build a Black Pearl, and he wants it with lights, would you mind disclosing were you got your lights?

I also would appreciated if you could provide any hints as to how to wire them, I have never worked with led lights.

Thanks

Joe

 

I mostly used flickering Orange LED's that I got from Ebay.  I used separate resistors to control the current.   However since you do not have much experience with LEDs I would recommend using the flickering LEDs from Evan Designs since they come plug and play.  You will just need a power supply.  Here is a link: https://evandesigns.com/products/flickering-led?

 

I glued the Leds to the upper deck between the gun ports.  I then ran the wires to the bottom of the ship where I connected them together.  The LEDs have to be wired with the correct polarity.  I brought the wire that will go to the power supply out through the bottom.  I plan to incorporate the ship in a waterline diorama so the wires will be easy to hide.  You could run the wires on either side of the mounting post and paint them black and they would be extremely hard to see.  I hope this help.  Please ask if you have any more questions.

[having-fun]

Thanks, I will check out Evan Design

Joe

[Old Collingwood]

Excellent work  - Love the weathering, you going to do what I did with the masts/spars  - use wood  for the insides of the masts and  all wood spars  - will help to stop bending or snapping when rigged.

 

OC.

[Chilliard]

27 minutes ago, Old Collingwood said:

Excellent work  - Love the weathering, you going to do what I did with the masts/spars  - use wood  for the insides of the masts and  all wood spars  - will help to stop bending or snapping when rigged.

 

OC.

Thanks, I enjoyed reading your build.  It gave me several ideas.  Yes I plan on replacing the top masts and spars with wood like you did.  I will also be installing the wood in the lower masts.  The plastic rigging will also be going away in favor of more traditional methods. 

 

Since the rigging is about to get started I'm working on a 3d model of a rope walk so I can make my own rope.  Here is the 3d model of one end of it. I have started printing some of the parts for it. 

 

  

[Old Collingwood]

57 minutes ago, Chilliard said:

Thanks, I enjoyed reading your build.  It gave me several ideas.  Yes I plan on replacing the top masts and spars with wood like you did.  I will also be installing the wood in the lower masts.  The plastic rigging will also be going away in favor of more traditional methods. 

 

Since the rigging is about to get started I'm working on a 3d model of a rope walk so I can make my own rope.  Here is the 3d model of one end of it. I have started printing some of the parts for it. 

 

  

What a cool idea,   I had a nightmare  stopping my ropes from fuzzing, I had to use watered down PVA on then in the end.

 

OC.

[having-fun]

Well, my son in law decided to buy the Black Pearl from Zvezda. Since I do not have any 3d printer equipment, most likely I will try to build the boat using most of the parts that comes with the kit. He agreed to purchase what ever lights I need from the Evan Design site, thanks to the moderator, ccoyle and you, Chilliard, for letting me know about this outfit.

Well Chilliard I hope you do not get offended if I copy some of your ideas on how to build the boat, obviously, you are more experienced than me and I do need all the help I can get. I will be starting a build log as soon as I get the kit box.

Thanks

Joe

[Chilliard]

On 2/20/2021 at 3:09 PM, having-fun said:

Well, my son in law decided to buy the Black Pearl from Zvezda. Since I do not have any 3d printer equipment, most likely I will try to build the boat using most of the parts that comes with the kit. He agreed to purchase what ever lights I need from the Evan Design site, thanks to the moderator, ccoyle and you, Chilliard, for letting me know about this outfit.

Well Chilliard I hope you do not get offended if I copy some of your ideas on how to build the boat, obviously, you are more experienced than me and I do need all the help I can get. I will be starting a build log as soon as I get the kit box.

Thanks

Joe

Please feel free to copy any of my ideas.  I look forward to seeing your build log.

[Chilliard]

I have been installing some items on the deck.  I installed the handrails around the ladders.  I also added some chain to the capstan.  I'm not a fan of it being around the main mast but it is what it is. 

 

 

I also installed the ships wheel and bell. 

 

 

I also installed the Syrens around the stern. 

 

 

I have been working on the ships boat.  It was a fun little project. 

 

 

 

 

[Old Collingwood]

Coming along really niceley  - yep that little boat is cute and looks nice and detailed, I'm loving your weathering  - really authentic looking.

 

OC.

[Nirvana]

Chilliard, I am surely impressed by your build of the Black Pearl.
I don't know whether you have heard about this website, which has a lot of goodies for us builder in many way.

It's called Historic Ship Model.

They have a true wooden deck for your kit and other items you might want to change.

[Chilliard]

On 3/2/2021 at 8:20 PM, Old Collingwood said:

Coming along really niceley  - yep that little boat is cute and looks nice and detailed, I'm loving your weathering  - really authentic looking.

 

OC.

Yes, I have heard about the website.  I actually bought the rigging kit for the guns from them. 

[Chilliard]

I finished 3D printing and assembled the rope walk.  Its nice to be able to make the rope for this ship.  I designed the rope walk so that I could switch from 3 strand to 4 strand without using any tools.  I just flip the ends around.    

 

 

 

 

[Old Collingwood]

On 3/10/2021 at 3:22 AM, Chilliard said:

Yes, I have heard about the website.  I actually bought the rigging kit for the guns from them. 

"Upss"   you replied to me when it should have gone to @Nirvana

 

OC.

[Nirvana]

2 hours ago, Chilliard said:

I finished 3D printing and assembled the rope walk.  Its nice to be able to make the rope for this ship.  I designed the rope walk so that I could switch from 3 strand to 4 strand without using any tools.  I just flip the ends around.    

 

 

 

 

Would you like to share the stl? 

[JawaJedi]

Hi there 👋 

Would you mind sharing the STL file for the stairs you made? They are perfect! 

[laz]

Hello! Amazing work i just consider rebuilding one after the first one i made! Do you mind sharing the STL files for the cabin and the stairs? And if you happen to have the chart box in front of the helm

[pmirl]

Is there a web site where someone can purchase files of the 3d items you used? Thank you.

[Old Collingwood]

Is  this  still  active  -  it  so  deserves  to  be.

 

OC.