HMAV Bounty by AJohnson - Caldercraft - 1:64

[Mike_H]

You seem to be going great guns. Keep it up!

 

Mike

[AJohnson]

16 hours ago, Mike_H said:

You seem to be going great guns. Keep it up!

 

Mike

Thanks Mike, really hoping to finish this one!  I'm enjoying following your Snake build closely, as I have one of those in stock!  😉

[AJohnson]

Seemed to do a lot of faffing about tonight with not much progress to show, except for the replacement Binnacle from Vanguard installed, it's quite a bit wider than the the CC one, hope that doesn't cause issues down the line.... 🤔

[Trond]

Nice, are this part of the kit or did you make it your self?

I haven't got to this stage yet. But since I don't have this in my kit, but it's described in the Armed Transport Bounty, I will use your nice built as a guide.

[AJohnson]

4 hours ago, Trond said:

Nice, are this part of the kit or did you make it your self?

I haven't got to this stage yet. But since I don't have this in my kit, but it's described in the Armed Transport Bounty, I will use your nice built as a guide.

The new Binnacle is from Vanguard models, they do them in 1/64th and 1/72nd scale, sorry not your 1/50th scale!  However the McKay AOTS book you have just got does show the Binnacle, so maybe you might try building one from scratch if your kit does not provide one?

[AJohnson]

Had a frustrating few evenings tying eyes to blocks and doing the rigging for the Tiller/Wheel.  Got there in the end, but wish I had waited for the brilliant advice I got from John @JRB9019 who talked me through his method and sent me a wonderful word document on stropping blocks! 😁 - Thank you John! 👏

 

Also had  a mini disaster when threading the thread through all the blocks and wrapping around the wheel when one of the blocks popped out.  ☹️  Took most of this evening to redo.

 

Off to practice with Car sponges / rope & gaffer tape rolls!  (will let John explain that one! 🤣) 

 

 

[AJohnson]

More block tying today for the cannons, also made some ring bolts for the breeching rope, used some wire wrapped around a cocktail stick.  Blackened with Brass blackener,  then I cut off "split rings" to thread onto the eyebolt in the cannon carriage.   Hopefully the "split" bit of the ring can be hidden under the breeching rope.  Mock-up picture attached.

[LyleK1]

6 hours ago, AJohnson said:

More block tying today for the cannons, also made some ring bolts for the breeching rope, used some wire wrapped around a cocktail stick.  Blackened with Brass blackener...

 

 

How are you keeping the blackening from wiping off?

[AJohnson]

3 hours ago, LyleK1 said:

How are you keeping the blackening from wiping off?

To be honest some of it does, getting better at blackening metal parts, I used to assume that more blackening = darker metal but it just flakes off / goes crusty.  So I'm now more patient and use diluted blackener for less time (a minute or two) and dip the parts more often if I want a darker tone.

Still it can wipe off a bit, so a quick touch up with thin black acrylic paint is all I use when I have finished messing about with the part, but mostly it looks okay.

[Trond]

What are you using for blackening? I that if one uses gunmetal it was something of an acid base(ish) chemical that changed the copper color over to black/dark blue color, or am I way of?

[AJohnson]

Yes I’m using Birchwood Casey Brass Black, seems to work quite well if you follow the guidance and tips here on MSW. Trick is cleaning the parts and diluting the blackener and not trying to get a jet black finish in one dip. Certainly teaches you patience this hobby of ours! 😂

[LyleK1]

I use Jax Blackener... It does an ok job but it does wipe off pretty easy. I tried putting a clear coat over it but it makes it shiny.

Not good!

Patience is definitely being taught in all aspects of this hobby!

[AJohnson]

Well, the cannons are in place this evening with their breeching ropes.  I soaked the threads in water so they would lay as desired and brushed over with thin matt varnish (MIG Ammo ultra matt.) so hopefully that will keep them in place on the deck.  Next up the tackle, I have stroped the blocks and added hooks, so need to rig them next.

Note to self for next build - add cannons and ropes BEFORE anything else on the deck!  What a pain trying to do this with the Binnacle/capstan etc. in the way! Doh! 🤭

[DaveBaxt]

I thought I would just call in and see how you are getting along. I really like the look of those cannon and the the rest of the deck fittings. best of luck with the rest of the model. Best regards Dave

[AJohnson]

Bit more progress to report, finished rigging the Cannons, well I say "finished" more like left alone before make things worse!  Clearly the blocks are over scale, I used kit supplied ones, but think they should have been smaller.  I tried to do it right with hooks and stropping/seizing etc. but for such small cannons at 1/64th scale, it left very little room for the tackle ropes with all the over scale blocks/eyes/hooks.  Lesson for the future, maybe just the breeching ropes on small guns? - sometimes less might be more perhaps, or learn to be more dexterous and use 2 - 1.5mm blocks! 🤣  I was however happy with my first rope coils!  Snooped about on MSW and copied other peoples ideas to produce a jig using 1 inch plastic counters and push pins.

 

Next up the ships boats! ⛵

[DaveBaxt]

2 hours ago, AJohnson said:

Bit more progress to report, finished rigging the Cannons, well I say "finished" more like left alone before make things worse!  Clearly the blocks are over scale, I used kit supplied ones, but think they should have been smaller.  I tried to do it right with hooks and stropping/seizing etc. but for such small cannons at 1/64th scale, it left very little room for the tackle ropes with all the over scale blocks/eyes/hooks.  Lesson for the future, maybe just the breeching ropes on small guns? - sometimes less might be more perhaps, or learn to be more dexterous and use 2 - 1.5mm blocks! 🤣  I was however happy with my first rope coils!  Snooped about on MSW and copied other peoples ideas to produce a jig using 1 inch plastic counters and push pins.

 

Next up the ships boats! ⛵

Great idea for the rope coils and they love amazing. Mine were a complete mess and I think I used too much rope. I really could do with doing them again and use those counters. I had the same problem with the blocks on the cannons but eventually got away with using 2 mm .However i must of used twice as many extra ones . I was really glad when I finished the Cannons and moved onto something else. You are doing great and look forward to your progress.Best of luck Dave

[AJohnson]

Not much progress this last few days; work getting in the way 🤨 

 

However this has given me some time to pause and think about the next steps before I charge on like the proverbial "Bull in a China Shop". 

 

Anchor cable, just where does that go!?! 🤔  The instructions from CC (see picture) suggest coiling it up just aft of the winch barrels, but that can't be right, AOTS by McKay states Bounty's cables were 100 fathoms long / 600ft /180ish metres, no way that is going on deck easily! Why would CC suggest something not possible?

 

I have seen on other builds a few variations on where the cable enters the hull for stowage:-  in the main hatch, with variation of at the leading or trailing ends, or down some holes in between the main hatch and forward hatch, or the forward hatch even....

 

I'm guessing this is one of those "unknowns" that was not recorded, just wondered if the good and knowledgeable folk on MSW had any suggestion on the most likely?  Think I need to resolve this before tying on the ships boats though.

 

Thanks,

[AJohnson]

Hi all, a quick update.  Regarding the anchor cables, I decided to follow the Artesania Latina 1/48 kit builds and I made two openings in the deck between the main hatch and fore companion way with deck reinforcing collars.  Not sure if that is right given the multitude of ways I have seen the anchor cables dealt with on the Bounty builds on MSW, but at least if it is wrong, then it is partially "hidden" by the two boats that I have now completed and added. Thanks to @Tim Moore & @hornet for advice on tying them to the deck.

 

Next on the list, I am working on the air scuttles and quarter galleries adding details to the kit not provided by CC, with reference to McKay's "Anatomy of the Ship" book, will add updates shortly.

 

Thats all for now, thanks for looking in! 👋

[AJohnson]

Following on from yesterday's update, I've finished the air scuttles and quarter galleries, adding details to the kit not provided by Caldercraft, by reference to McKay's "Anatomy of the Ship" book and comments provided elsewhere on MSW about the appearance of the Bounty.

 

The air scuttles (added by Bligh to help ventilate the great cabin for the Breadfruit plant cargo) were made with spare planking with black card simulating the hinges.  The domed roof of the quarter galleries were made with scrap MDF, which was easier to profile than a hard wood and as it was to be painted, no one would see, detailing again in card strip.

 

Finishing off the anchors next and then on to the swivel guns! 

 

[Gregory]

On 5/5/2021 at 3:39 PM, AJohnson said:

I have seen on other builds a few variations on where the cable enters the hull for stowage:-  in the main hatch, with variation of at the leading or trailing ends, or down some holes in between the main hatch and forward hatch, or the forward hatch even....

The plans you show are severely lacking in the amount of anchor cable required, and it would not be coiled on the weather deck as shown..  It is stored below the main deck.  How it gets there will vary..  My Bounty references do not show it, but at the least it would pass down through the hatch near the windless, or further back near the capstan...

[Trond]

12 hours ago, AJohnson said:

Following on from yesterday's update, I've finished the air scuttles and quarter galleries, adding details to the kit not provided by Caldercraft, by reference to McKay's "Anatomy of the Ship" book and comments provided elsewhere on MSW about the appearance of the Bounty.

 

The air scuttles (added by Bligh to help ventilate the great cabin for the Breadfruit plant cargo) were made with spare planking with black card simulating the hinges.  The domed roof of the quarter galleries were made with scrap MDF, which was easier to profile than a hard wood and as it was to be painted, no one would see, detailing again in card strip.

 

Finishing off the anchors next and then on to the swivel guns! 

 

Very nice touch. I see the hatches in the book Armed Transporter Bounty, but it is very easy to miss, since it is not focus on them. I will defiantly see if I can put them on my Bounty (it might not fit due to technical problems/early mistake from my part)

[AJohnson]

A few little updates, think I am about finished on the hull now, added the anchors, buoy rope just coiled for later attachment to the shrouds (and buoy when I make them.)  Completed and mounted the rest of the swivel guns; I used eyelets to make the yokes and handles as I didn't like the look of the PE ones supplied with the kit.  I have fixed the deadeyes in the channels; used epoxy glue to strengthen them so hopefully the PE straps won't come apart.  I won't add the chains plates until I can rig the shrouds so I can get the "angle of dangle" of the chains correct - I think that's the correct term!

Few other touches here and there to finish the hull fittings off, including a motley crew!   - they will be positioned as the finishing touch when that happy day comes!

 

Next up, masts and yards....
 

Edited May 27, 2021 by AJohnson

[BenD]

This is turning out nicely! The crew on deck really brings it together. I only bought two of the Amati sailors you have, seeing this I think I may get the rest.  

[govtech]

On 4/13/2021 at 3:33 PM, AJohnson said:

Had a frustrating few evenings tying eyes to blocks and doing the rigging for the Tiller/Wheel.  Got there in the end, but wish I had waited for the brilliant advice I got from John @JRB9019 who talked me through his method and sent me a wonderful word document on stropping blocks! 😁 - Thank you John! 👏

 

Also had  a mini disaster when threading the thread through all the blocks and wrapping around the wheel when one of the blocks popped out.  ☹️  Took most of this evening to redo.

 

Off to practice with Car sponges / rope & gaffer tape rolls!  (will let John explain that one! 🤣) 

 

 

What a difference in rudder rigging ,my Amati kit is wayyyy different ,I wonder which is correct lol

 

Nice build

[AJohnson]

It's been a while since my last update, the Admiral has been keeping me busy over the Summer with various "projects" she wanted doing in the garden etc.  But back to it now and have made a start on the masts and yards.  I am using the "Anatomy of the Ship" book to try and make the masts and yards the correct dimensions (or as near as my skills will allow!)  The kit agrees with the lengths generally but is always over scale for the diameters, having done a few of the smaller yards I can see why, they are quite thin and fragile....

 

A few pictures of the Bowsprit for now, will add more of the other masts when I have downloaded them.

[AJohnson]

On 8/15/2021 at 7:10 PM, govtech said:

What a difference in rudder rigging ,my Amati kit is wayyyy different ,I wonder which is correct lol

 

Nice build

I've not seen the Amati rudder rig, so can't comment, but the Caldercraft kit seems to follow the McKay "Anatomy of the ship" book about the Bounty, extract in picture below.  Thanks for looking in on my log.

[AJohnson]

A few more pictures bringing up to date where I'm at now.  Started with the smaller yards and Stunsail booms; some of the later were actually made with cocktail sticks as they were a near match scale-wise than the suggested dowel in the kit.

 

One item I'm not sure of is part No.278 that Caldercraft call a "Bowsprit fairlead", a semi circular item that rigging passes through along the top of the bowsprit.  McKay does not show one on his "AOTS" book, so for now have left it off, unless anyone know better on MSW?

[AJohnson]

A little further update about the masts and yards, I'm working on at the moment.

 

Got all the yards and Stunsail booms built, just in the process of final sanding, painting/staining now, will post an update of these later.

 

Started work on the Mizzen mast, trying to match as closely as possible to the the dimensions and shapes given in McKays' AOTS book, well as closely as my skill will allow.  As I have generally found now on this stage of the build, the masts, yards and other mast components are all over scale in the kit parts, so where I can I have reduced these to McKay's dimension; see comparison of the mizzen mast caps as an example.  I can see from a practical reason why these are provided larger in kit form, just hope I am not storing up future problems for myself when I come to rig this lot! 

 

Thanks again for looking in and for the "likes". 

[AJohnson]

Just a little update for tonight, working on the mizzen top, made the handrail.  Kit notes/plans call for 1.5mm square stock to make the stanchions and handrail, but again following McKay as close as I can used some 1mm strip and pins.  Simulated the stanchion to handrail clamps with card.

[AJohnson]

Further update on the Mizzen mast, nearing completion, just needs another fine sand/fill and coat of paint I think and varnish the stained dowels.  The walnut veneer used for the tops is very brittle and flakey, little lumps keep coming out when drilling or even sanding, annoying.

The mast has been dry assembled and fitted to the hull to test the fit etc.  Shaped the octagonal doubling portion of the upper mast by first filing square, then adding some thin wood strips, then filing back octagonal to match the drawings in McKay's AOTS book.  Masthead reinforcement bands are done with black card.

Thanks for looking in! 

Edited December 1, 2021 by AJohnson