HMS Diana by ECK - Caldercraft - 1:64

[ECK]

Opened box and started before joining but here is the work to date. Have planked the main gun deck. Have been looking at other logs as I forsee the placing of the gunports will be an issue as the plans and guide not usefull. Appears they need to be adjacent to a rib for at least 8 of them. The plans say 30 mm apart but looks more like 33.

 

IMG_4438 2.HEIC

IMG_4439 2.HEIC

[ECK]

Here are the picture in JPEG format as they otherwise may not download

 

[dunnock]

Hi ECK,

Good to see another Diana builder on the forum. DIana is a great kit with plenty of challenges: you have already identified one of them, but you'll find lots of help and ideas from previous Diana builders' logs on this site. You've made a great start, so keep going and enjoy!

 

David

[Theodosius]

I like that model, so I will watch out for what you are doing to her :-). Nice start, as far as I can say 🙂

[CaptnBirdseye]

Loving the colour of the deck planking. What wood is that? Tanganyka?

[ECK]

yes it is tanganyka, which comes with the kit but I put on a sanding sealer then several coats of of a matt polyurethane.I also penciled the edges to give some line effect. For wood this thin I find markers bleed.

[ECK]

So ... planked the gun deck. To mark the gunports I first made a wood template to try measurment.

 

Turned out to keep most ports next to a rib the distance worked out to 4.7 mm from front of port to next front of port except at frame 12-13 where 5mm worked to keep things in line. Then used painter tape to mark it ou.t Looks pretty straight and regular.

 

 

 

Also placed supporting ribs next to port edges not against a frame.

 

 

[ECK]

Port side ports done

[BenD]

Looking good!

 

Is that the HMS Snake in the backround? There seems to be an Occre kit in the backround too. Care to show us some pictures?

[ECK]

You are very observant and correct so... here are the ships in order that I built

 

HMS Victory, first but learnt a lot as the instructions were very thorough

 

Second, Soleil Royale

 

 

 

 

 

Third USS Constitution

 

 

 

 

Fourth HMS Surprise

 

 

Fifth is the HMS Agamemnon here next to my seventh (completed 3 weeks ago) HMS Snake, together for size comparison since same scale

 

 

 and sixth as you recognized the Occre ship Montanes

 

 

 

 

IMG_4420 5.21.21 PM.HEIC

[BenD]

  The Diana is going be easy for you!

 

That is quite an incredible collection you have there. How long did they take?

Edited May 14, 2021 by BenD

[ECK]

About 4 years. Snake took 3 months, the larger ones about 8 months each depending if they have sails or not.

[ECK]

So coming along. Another couple of days to go for first planking

[ECK]

Finished first plank before sanding:

 

and after some good sanding:

 

[ECK]

Gunports now lined and interior bulwarks

sanded

 

[ECK]

Upper second planking done

 

[CaptnBirdseye]

Very nice workyou've done there. Couls i ask - do you plank all the way to the stern? Might be just a trick of the light.

Cheers RB

[ECK]

Yes It is planked to the stern and trimmed off

[ECK]

[Beef Wellington]

Hi ECK, apologies for missing your start, although you're making amazingly fast progress.  There are a number of current Diana/Artois build going on on the site right now and always good to see another.  Your other builds look great, hope you don't mid me pulling up a chair to follow along.

[ECK]

Thanks. With the kids in college, I can spend 2-3 hrs a day working on it as my stress reliever. Biggest problem with the kit is the vagueness of instruction at times, definitely worse than other of their models.  Will sand today and fill in cracks as it will be all painted and coppered.  I will then put in the whale and copper.  I like to copper at this pint as it avoids breaking things . They should change the order in their instructions.

[ECK]

I also wished the false keel and bow could be added latter as in most other models as it makes planking easier and neater.

[chris watton]

3 minutes ago, ECK said:

I also wished the false keel and bow could be added latter as in most other models as it makes planking easier and neater.

This was my first ever period kit design (23 years ago), so was finding my feet....

[ECK]

Glad to hear form the originator. Actually look forward to working on it. It is definitely not a beginner kit but after a couple of thers it is manageable especially with these forms where you can see what others have done. 

 

[DaveBaxt]

You have a fantastic collection of models and definately something to aspire to. The Diana is definately one of the models I would like to build in the future but as I am just a beginner fI elt I should like to build something smaller first. I have just completed the Bounty by Amati but have now just started on the Endeavour and just moved onto Caldercraft. I would like to tag along if I may as I think I could learn a lot form your construction techniques? I also see you have also built the Agermemnon  which is another one I would be interested in building once I have honed my skills somewhat. However as I haven,t yet built a war ship as such I thought I would probably be better off going for the snake first. What are your thoughts of the Caldercraft range as I see you have tried a few different manufacturers? I hope you don,t mind me adding these questions to your blog and perhaps I should have sent you a message instead. Sorry! if that is the case Best regards Dave

[ECK]

So  I first saw an add for HMS Victory  by De Agostini. Formidable as first build, my kids said I should do it, having previously done balsa wood airplanes. SO I got it 5 yrs or so ago. It had excellent instructions and You tube videos. Although not perfect came out reasonably well. Then did their Soleil Royale (plans ok) and constitution (had to print instructions from internet). The company plan for planking involves using more stealer strips than trimming for the bow. Also coppering done d\differently with straight line at water level and then cutting pieces at keel.  Easier to get straight line that way. Finally did their Surprise kit, which was the prettiest but plans less detailed. Had to do mast/yard and rigging from on line plans.

Major issue with the company is horrific costumer service, often never getting replies or the parts. An issue as had often missing cast parts (which I eventually received). Hard to buy needed pieces as have to search to fing products similar as the company does not say where source kits are from.

 

Next did Caldercraft kits. Plans ok but helped that I had done the others. Only pars issue is never enough rigging line for running rigging but easy to buy.

 

Did one Occre (Montanes) kit and have Trinidad waiting to start after Diana. Instruction not to bad but short on some rigging thread and blocks. Also box did not have brass cut out for stern and had to have them send it . There costumer service site works but took a few months to cross the pond and I had to do follow up emails to make sure things were being done.  All in all, although plans, depending on the model, are a little harder to follow, most complete kit were the Caldercraft ones. Only wish could have sails but the ships look good with just the rigging.

 

After looking at this form, I am can't wait until the Amati Victory is available as will be the biggest model to date.  Has anyone heard about when it might come out?

 

ECK

 

[DaveBaxt]

2 hours ago, ECK said:

So  I first saw an add for HMS Victory  by De Agostini. Formidable as first build, my kids said I should do it, having previously done balsa wood airplanes. SO I got it 5 yrs or so ago. It had excellent instructions and You tube videos. Although not perfect came out reasonably well. Then did their Soleil Royale (plans ok) and constitution (had to print instructions from internet). The company plan for planking involves using more stealer strips than trimming for the bow. Also coppering done d\differently with straight line at water level and then cutting pieces at keel.  Easier to get straight line that way. Finally did their Surprise kit, which was the prettiest but plans less detailed. Had to do mast/yard and rigging from on line plans.

Major issue with the company is horrific costumer service, often never getting replies or the parts. An issue as had often missing cast parts (which I eventually received). Hard to buy needed pieces as have to search to fing products similar as the company does not say where source kits are from.

 

Next did Caldercraft kits. Plans ok but helped that I had done the others. Only pars issue is never enough rigging line for running rigging but easy to buy.

 

Did one Occre (Montanes) kit and have Trinidad waiting to start after Diana. Instruction not to bad but short on some rigging thread and blocks. Also box did not have brass cut out for stern and had to have them send it . There costumer service site works but took a few months to cross the pond and I had to do follow up emails to make sure things were being done.  All in all, although plans, depending on the model, are a little harder to follow, most complete kit were the Caldercraft ones. Only wish could have sails but the ships look good with just the rigging.

 

After looking at this form, I am can't wait until the Amati Victory is available as will be the biggest model to date.  Has anyone heard about when it might come out?

 

ECK

 

The Amati Victory sounds interesting. I am far from an expert on anything to do with Amati but generally speaking I think the wood in general is high quality than the Caldercraft stuff. However I did have an issue with the clips for the lower dead eyes were pretty useless and wish I had changed them for the Caldercraft, however someone with your experience might not have the same issue. I think the instruction for amati were ok but the drawings for the rigging were way off for the period of ship (Bounty) After lots of head scratching and loads of stuff I had to do again I finally got there . I might one day go back and build another Bounty but there is so many yo choose from . Thanks for taking the time to do a great blog for us to follow. Best regards Dave and keep up the excellent work.

[ECK]

After sanding, filling defects and sanding am ready for the whales, then paint the gun deck then copper.

[Stephen schultz]

I just found your builder log.  Great work.  It seems to be coming along nicely.  I look forward to following along.  Keep up the good work.  
 

Your previous ships look great as well.

 

thank you for sharing.

[ECK]

Finished the whales, I think needed a bit more curve but followed the plans. When I look at my Agamemnon, it should be okay. Gun deck ports and bulwark painted.At this point I am going to copper the hull for the next couple of weeks. I find it easier to do now as nothing to damage when I have it flipped over or sticking out to snag .