San Francisco Cross Section by Gus - Artesania Latina - 1:50

[Gus M]

Ok, let's start with this first project

Well I have decided to start my first registration with my first project. As some of you already know, a friend has given me several kits and among them are the three valued to start in this hobby. The other is "The Terror", but this would be for the future
The premises for me are these
- I am not in a hurry
- To have fun...
- Learn as much as possible
- To share all my mistakes and learn from those who want and have time to help me in my progress.
- Not to lose heart and to reach the end...

After studying and reviewing three options, three above all, La Providence de (AL) , San Francisco Cross Section (AL) and the San Juan (OcCre).

 

I have had a lot of fun searching for records on the forum, and have discovered other great records to follow and learn things from.
It has also been a lot of fun looking for information about the three models on the internet, both technical and historical, my intention is not to make a model only, is to learn its history and have fun, it has been exciting.
I have also read with interest this magnificent thread:

 

 

 

and all the information contained in these articles:

 

http://modelshipworldforum.com/ship-model-plans-and-research.php

 

http://modelshipworldforum.com/ship-modeling-articles-and-downloads.php

 

That said, I have decided to try the San Francisco Cross Section of AL, for these reasons:

 

- I like this model
- I consider it accessible to my skills and I think I can take it to the end, it does not seem excessively complicated for me, at least not to complete the entire section of the hull, the rigging or ropes,  is a subject that I will address with more study.
- It will help me to evaluate my skills working with scale objects and develop them and learn.

 

The Galleon was built near my homeland, in Cantabria in the year 1586, this has pleased me very much to know.
Its history, although short, only sailed 23 years, in 1609 it was shipwrecked off the Japanese coast, has fascinated me. It seems that this event was the origin of the diplomatic relationship between Spain and Japan. In 2017 a cannonball was found at a depth of about 40 meters at the site of its sinking and seems to have been attributed to it. Investigations continue.

 

I have found several compilation logs, most of them unfinished (don't put your hand in the fire for mine), but I think I'll take ideas mainly from this one from @Osmosis

 

 

also from several others that it would be impossible to list

 

 

That said, I have opened the kit, everything seems to be fine, I have checked the pieces and it seems that they are all correctly cut and that nothing is missing, I say this from my inexperience, of course, but I have checked everything well.

I will try to document at least once a week what I am doing and ask for advice when I need it.

 

Sorry for writing so much, but I wanted to start with a good explanation of why I'm here to start and to set some goals, also will help me, when the discouragement comes, to read this first post and get renewed encouragement.

 

I hope not to disappoint if someone decides to follow my progress and help me in my first adventure.

 

The first thing I have done these days has been to prepare a comfortable corner that I consider suitable for working. Beside me the radio for relaxing music. 

 

 

 

Review of the San Francisco Cross Section Kit that I am going to try to make.

 

 

in the next post I hope to put already my first advances

 

PS sorry for my English, I use a translator sometimes, it is not too fluent.

 

Edited March 1, 2023 by Gus M

[Keith Black]

 Gus, it's good to see your build log up and running. I'll be following along to share in your adventure. Nice looking work space and it's good to see future projects on the shelf. The very best to you as you start your new project..........Keith

[Gus M]

 

First I'm sorry for the title @ccoyle, I didn't think to put it right and thank you very much for the likes,

 

@Keith Black it's great to have your support in this adventure. Thanks for your kind words, the kits on the shelf are the ones I have been given and I already commented, The terror is not there because it is bigger.

 

I'm going to put my first steps, today I had time to work on it.

I have decided to build it deck by deck, as @Osmosis indicates in his compilation and  in another network locations, I think it is easier to work on the smaller and difficult to access.

 

After cutting the pieces and adjust them a little with sandpaper I proceeded to glue the strips, one by one, with about 20 minutes of time between one and another for proper drying, I have tried to put them well squared and in the end the goal was achieved, it looked like this:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I noticed this small break in one of the strips, something I will address later, I am thinking about how to protect these fragile tips while I work.

 

 

I checked with a ruler the assembly of the three decks, on the second one I have a problem to solve, when the time comes, two of the strakes have a small gap that I have to fill, one on each side of the model, the third one on the starboard side and the second one on the port side, it looks like in the pictures, I have to fix it when I get to this step.

 

 

 

Checked that the first deck is well seated, I think I will put the boards before putting it as @Osmosis does in its compilation and not as indicated in the kit.

 

 

 

 

next in a couple of days

 

thanks for passing by and taking a look 

Edited March 23, 2021 by Gixli

[Keith Black]

14 minutes ago, Gixli said:

noticed this small break in one of the strips, something I will address later, I am thinking about how to protect these fragile tips while I work.

 Gus, you might wrap the tips with masking tape to protect them? You're fast out of the gate, a big thumbs up!

[Osmosis]

Gixli,

 

I am glad you are finding my build log helpful. I had to take some time away from model building. I am slowly getting back into it and hope to get back to the San Francisco fairly soon. In the mean time I am going to enjoy watching your build and if you have any questions that are not covered in the various logs then just ask and I am sure you will be flooded with answers. Everyone here is very helpful.

 

Enjoy your build and keep up the excellent work.

 

Best Regards

[Gus M]

Thanks for the likes

@Osmosis, thank you very much, your registration was something that has encouraged me to make this section as the first model, I hope to be up to it.

 

thanks for the suggestion, @Keith Black, I have opted for this solution, two rigid cardboard, I do not remember where I saw something similar joined by masking tape (so we call it in Spain), is an adhesive paper tape that is used when you paint to mark the areas you do not want to paint putting this tape, I think it can serve, although you must follow with caution, are fragile. 

 

 

 

A small update, today I have worked the floor below, I have placed all the boards and after a sanding I have made the marks for the nails and the division between one and other boards, then settled in place, glued and waiting for tomorrow to finish adjusting it as perfect as possible.

 

 

 

 

I'm not sure if I will like it tomorrow when I see it again, today I leave it like this, but maybe I can change the nail and plank marks, I don't know for sure....

 

Thanks for seeing it and giving your opinion

Edited March 23, 2021 by Gixli

[Gus M]

I have edited the previous post, it is justice to put where I found the system to protect the hull of the ship with cardboard, today I have seen it, it is in another network location, the author of the compilation that I am doing is JeffT and he uses this system to protect the tips of the strakes.

 

 

Edited March 23, 2021 by Gixli

[Gus M]

this afternoon I hope to have time to post new developments

thanks for passing by and watching

[Gus M]

a small update and some ideas

 

after placing the lower deck, I drilled and made a "presentation" of what would be the lashings for the cargo in this hold, then I removed them, I am not sure whether to put them or not, in the photos of the kit I don't see them, but having the perfforations, it will be useful if I decide to add them at any time.

 

 

 

Then I started with the first hull plating until I reached the area where the second deck would start.

some battens have not been well and I will have to solve it, I suppose that sanding and applying a little putty, in spite of putting a lot of interest, some of them have come unstuck on the strakes that now are inaccessible, I can only opt for the solution of unstuck them and do it again, is the one I value more, or do it with putty and sandpaper, that I do not like so much, I have to think about it.

 

 

 

 

I have decided to make the "walls" (I don't know the real name) of the deck that go between the strips in an external way, measuring up to the beginning of the second cover, I have made a template to try, it is not the definitive one, but I have liked this way of doing it and I think it will be the one I will use.

 

 

 

 

Finally I have made a test with the varnish on some strips of board marked as if they were the deck with the nails, the right one is walnut, the middle one is oak and the one on the left, without importance, is to test a colourless varnish that they offered me in the shop, nothing more. The two to decide are the oak and the walnut, I think I will use the oak tone, the boat was made in Cantabria, North of Spain and it is very common to use this wood there, I like the tone more.

 

 

I hope to continue the work and improve these bugs for the next update.

thanks for watching and, if you feel like it, giving me advice.

 

 

 

Edited March 21, 2021 by Gixli

[Gus M]

good day all

 

thanks for the likes @Keith Black and @Chuck

 

Now, a small update

 

I have finished the interior walls of the bottom deck, finally it has been easier to do it directly on the model and not externally as I had planned.

 

 

 

 

 

Then I positioned and adjusted, only without gluing, the second deck, there is a slight error in one of the seats that I will fix when I will put it definitively.

 

 

 

 

I also positioned the beams that support the main deck to help me in the lining of the hull and bring it as even as possible, but without gluing them, I needed the help of a "beam" supported by two clamps to keep the distances well.

 

 

 

and continue fitting the first hull plating on the starboard side. 

I continue the work with the port side walls and then finish sanding to mount definitively all the elements of the lower deck.

 

 

any advice is welcome to learn...I'm sure I'm doing some things wrong.

thanks for watching and commenting

 

all my best

[Keith Black]

Gus, well done. Glad to see you making steady progress. 

[BCN-Modeller]

Very nice build Gus.

 

Your build is going really well.

[Gus M]

Hi to all, thanks for the likes and comments.

 

little update.

 

I continue with my learning process, little by little, I've been working these days, but without hurry.

 

I have varnished the lower deck with an oak stain, it is the one I liked the most and the one that best suits the existing woods in the area where the ship was built, although it is not or has great historical accuracy. I have also placed the columns that support the beams that will hold the intermediate deck.

Contrary to the instructions and as I have seen in other compilation logs, I have not sanded them to give them a column shape, I like their appearance better this way, it is a personal taste. 

 

 

 

then I continued to line the hull with the first lining until the whole thing was complete, I had some difficulties, but little by little I managed to get something decent.

 

I had to use a guide to keep all the supporting strips in square, as you can see in the pictures.

 

 

 

This is how it looked before sanding

 

 

In the end, I sanded it and evened out the defects to make it as uniform as possible. I haven't taken any pictures, I forgot it,  just the before. In the next post I'll put the after pictures.

 

Now I am building the small details that will be put on this deck, ropes, boxes, boards, etc. that I will discuss in the next post.

 

Not forgetting to adjust the intermediate deck, which I have already mounted and adjusted.

 

They are giving me more work than expected, a bit small for my thick fingers and eyesight, although a magnifying lamp with light that I bought is helping.

 

thanks for looking

 

 

 

[Keith Black]

Gus, I like the stain you chose, it's a very pleasing color.  Your project is coming along nicely. 

[Gus M]

Thank you @Keith Black, much appreciate

 

tonight I have been doing some work on the ropes, the coils as a complement to the lower cargo cover.

I don't know if this is the usual way, I decided to make them in two sizes, for diversity.

Some with a narrower mast and others using the mast of the model.

what I do is to fasten with tape the thread with which I am going to knot them to form the roll, then I roll up the rope and apply a light coat of white glue for wood on the roll to hold it well.

 

 

finally I make the ties as tight as possible and also apply a little white glue to them

 

 

this is the result, I think they look quite credible, I don't dislike them.

 

 

 

I don't know if this is how they usually do it, but it's the best idea I've found for it, if anyone knows or can tell me another one, I'd appreciate it.

 

thanks for watching 

[Keith Black]

 Gus, go to "search" top right (corrected) on the home page and search "rope coiling". You'll see how others have done coiled rope, pictures are worth a thousand words. Where are the coils you made going to be placed? 

Edited April 3, 2021 by Keith Black

[Gus M]

these are only for the ornamentation of the lower cargo deck, they will not be "very visible".

[Keith Black]

Gus, how are you doing on the build? I hope all is going well. 

[Gus M]

Hi @Keith Black, sorry for my delay answer

thank you for your interest,  I don't give up and I continue

a small update...

I'm still building, I've decided to paint and fit all the "ornaments", barrels, buckets, etc.., 

I've been doing it all week, little by little, this week is school holidays in the Balearic Islands and I've had my 4 year old daughter almost all day, I've been doing it little by little.

 

 

 

then I have refined them a bit and they  suitable, now I have my doubts about giving them a bit of stain, usually the barrels for transporting liquids in Spain are made of oak wood, I have to test them.

 

I have also made the "bundles" of goods.

 

 

 

 

 

also finish with the ropes in various sizes, thanks for the link to learn

the board packs are also finished

you can see everything in this picture, what I've been doing so far, well, they are more finished and better finished than they look like there.

 

 

now I am finishing with the boxes, this is giving me a lot of work because of the small size of the pieces and my little experience, but little by little I will learn.

I also hope to start tomorrow the second hull plating up to the second deck at least, then I will complete the lower deck and continue with the first floor deck.

 

thanks for stopping by and for your support

 

 

[Gus M]

Hello, thanks for your support @Keith Black

I continue advancing, I have already finished the lower deck, just need to place the additions, barrels, ropes etc.

I have continued to adjust the middle deck, I made a small mistake when cutting a board and I have to fix it, it is too evident.

 

 

I have also marked the nails and the boards

and prepared the hole for the hatch

 

 

 

 

once adjusted, I decided to make the hatch as @Osmosis today I will prepare it and also mark the hole for the cannon hole before placing the second lining.

 

 

 

then I will line this deck on the inside, pictures in a few days.

 

thank you for stopping by and looking and, if you wish, giving advice.

[Keith Black]

Gus, it's looking really sharp, keep up the good work. 

[Gus M]

hello everyone, a little update, or not....

 

first, thanks for the likes @Keith Black and @Ryland Craze

a few weeks ago I suffered a domestic accident in the palm of my right hand, the wound became infected and I had many problems and pains, reaching the point of not being able to close the hand or do anything with it, fortunately, this is passing, although it is a place that still hurts me a lot, I think that in a few days I can return to work on the model.

I have not lost myself, nor have I given up, I simply have not been able to do anything.

 

 

the model for the moment is like this, I was preparing the grids of the covers and there I had to stop ... I will continue, in a few days I hope to return to put progress.

 

 

all my best

[Gus M]

Hello again everyone, after a long time in which I have had many health problems and some personal ones, I can resume the construction work of this model

[Keith Black]

 Gus, welcome back. 

[Gus M]

Thank you @Keith Black

[Gus M]

I have finally been able to do some work, I have prepared and glued the second deck hatch and I have also assembled and adjusted the ladder. The ladder is somewhat complicated, it is not well cut to assemble it but I think that in the end it turned out quite well

 

 

[Gus M]

Small update, while I have started the assembly of "The Providence" (I will open a build log in a few days with what I have done so far) I combine the works and continue the assembly of the small pieces of this section of the San Francisco, it has been The water pump is assembled and painted in matt black, I have also painted the guns in matt black, I don't like the gold color that the kit "suggests" in the instructions. In the same way, I have assembled and varnished (I do not have photos of this step) the supports for the guns. These works with such small elements are challenging, I never worked on small pieces and sometimes it is a bit complicated due to my lack of vision, but little by little they are being assembled.