Virginia 1819 by Joseph F. - FINISHED - Artesania Latina - 1:41 Scale

[Joseph F.]

 

I bought this kit a few months ago from HobbyTown, not knowing a thing about this hobby, and got a few tools I thought I would need. I’ve used them all so far, and gathered many more tools.
 

 

Two boat kits later, I feel experienced enough to tackle this ship. The instructions on CD are mainly visual, but it’s gotten me through so far. I may be missing a couple timbers, but thankfully it seems all the hardware is here.

 

I had intended to build the Bounty Launch from Model Shipways next, but I ran into trouble early into that kit. By comparison, this kit has been very easy. I find working with nails much easier than trying to glue all those planks.

 

 

As before, I’ve had a little trouble tidying up the stern and the bow, but I am gratified to learn that I am improving. 
 

 

The fully planked hull. On one side of the hull I used perfectly sanded and beveled planks to join up the center. But on this side I just used scraps of wood, dust, and glue to fill it in, then sanded it down to shape.

 

 

This is where I am at present, with the gunwales and transom installed. I have begun veneering the hull, and hope to hang the rudder sometime this weekend. I am about a week into this project, I think it will take me another week to build the railing and deck furniture, and another week to do rigging and sails. It’s coming together much faster than I anticipated! Let me know your thoughts.

[Nirvana]

Hi Joseph and welcome to MSW.

You are off with a great start with the schooner.

It's looking good, I know you have attached the second layer of planking, so I wonder "Did you file down the nail heads in order to get a smooth surface for the second layer"?

I filed down the heads when I build the hull of Constructos America 1851, that after all the glue had set.
Besides I didn't get a second set of planking.

Looking forward to see the outcome.

Never hesitate to ask questions - that's why we are here!

[Joseph F.]

@Nirvana Thanks for the compliment! I tried to make the nail heads as flush as possible, but I didn’t file them down. My veneer planks went down pretty well, but it might have been better to do that.

 

 

I have done a lot of little things on the schooner this week, but I didn’t take a lot of pictures. Attaching the posts for the railings was the most time consuming thing. 

 

 

I used Ammo by Mig Burnishing Fluid again to blacken the metal parts of the kit, and it really gives a great iron-like finish, much better than paint. I would highly recommend this product. I believe I got it from scalehobbyist.com

 

 

It was a lot of fun to build the deck furniture. There is a lot of rigging to be done for the carronade, which I will need to do before starting on the ship’s rigging.

 

 

So I did discover my kit was missing one of the 8mm applewood masts, and instead of having mismatched masts, I decided to use a 5/16ths Oak Dowel for both of them. I hope with staining, it will not look too different from the bowsprit and boom. Here is the ship as it stands, railings, rudder, and rubbing strakes installed, along with the deck furniture.

 

I hope to shape the masts and start the standing rigging this week, and to have the whole ship done by June 20th so it can be a Father’s Day gift. 

[Joseph F.]

I got distracted a bit during the month of June. Missed my June 20th deadline I set for myself, but I did finish the boat on July 3rd, and was able to present it to my Dad as an Independence Day gift, also my parents’ anniversary is not far off.

 

Fixing the bottom deadeyes.

 

Rigged my first deadeye, which was not difficult to do, you just have to manage the height of it. Also got a base and some pedestals for the neat plaque they give you in the kit.

 

 

I simplified the rigging a great deal, both for time constraints, and because I figured it was meant more for display.  The kit’s sails did not come with the correct sizes, and I had my mother alter an extra jib sail to look more like the gaff sail that should have come with the kit. 

 

 

Rigging is inaccurate and not functional, but I was trying to make it look clean and presentable. Also a noticeable cant in the foremast, the thing split in half on me and I had to fill it with wood glue and sawdust.

 

 

The finished product on my parents’ mantle. They’re happy with it, and although I can see many mistakes, it gives me confidence to continue on to bigger projects. Ship is complete now, I would appreciate any feedback!

[aaronc]

Well done,..enjoyed the pics. 

[GrandpaPhil]

Congratulations!  Well done!

[Ryland Craze]

Nice build and a nice gift for your Dad.