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HMS Sophie by TBlack - kit-bashing Jack Aubrey's first command from the Vanguard Models HMS Speedy


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 The new red looks good Tom.

Current Builds:  1870's Sternwheeler, Lula

                             Wood Hull Screw Frigate USS Tennessee

                             Decorative Carrack Warship Restoration, the Amelia

 

Completed: 1880s Floating Steam Donkey Pile Driver                       

                       Early Swift 1805 Model Restoration

 

 

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Next up is to make this bulkhead with companionway. My only references to companionways are Speedwell and Fair American. Speedwell seems a little too fancy for this craft.

If anyone has an idea, let me know.

bulkhead.jpg.cbd5d8f0613fe800a6e422fa2d93fd83.jpg

I'm thinking that the companionway goes in the center which allows for two cabins on either side (Maturin, 1st Lieutenant) before the captain's cabin at the rear.

I want to thank so many of you who are following this modest attempt. As I look at what you are accomplishing, I'm in awe and hope I can keep up.

Tom

Edited by TBlack
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23 minutes ago, TBlack said:

I want to thank so many of you who are following this modest attempt. As I look at what you are accomplishing, I'm in awe and hope I can keep up.

Tom

I think you're doing great.  It's not a race so don't sweat "keeping up".

Mark
"The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me

Current Build:                                                                                             
Past Builds:
 La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD           Triton Cross-Section   

 NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit                                                                            HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64               

 

Non-Ship Model:                                                                                         On hold, maybe forever:           

CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed                                                   Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned)         

         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

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17 hours ago, mtaylor said:

I think you're doing great.  It's not a race so don't sweat "keeping up".

Mark,

Not a race, right! But it is a question of quality and trying to measure up. Besides, according to NRG standards, this model shouldn't be built (being fictional), so I wonder if my membership will be revoked! With Jim's endorsement I'll go with a centered companionway. Notice Speedwell"s arrangement here:

speedwell.jpg.0c7acea3766f04ede5db4ac4c5ba9c05.jpg
Notice the ladders come down right at the cannon placement. I want to do the same thing.

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1 hour ago, TBlack said:

Mark,

Not a race, right! But it is a question of quality and trying to measure up. Besides, according to NRG standards, this model shouldn't be built (being fictional), so I wonder if my membership will be revoked!

 

 

If you get booted, there will bunches more for building kits that are fiction.  LOL.

 

3 minutes ago, TBlack said:

I can't use Speedwell as an example for ladder placement. Not enough room, so the center area will have to suffice for a ladder and a companionway.

 

ladders.jpg.4aa09c353e424cbe40ea6039038e6596.jpg

So that means I only have to make one ladder, but I'll have to make two railings.

Tom

I'd opt for a double wide ladder in the center.   I like the idea of the putting the ladder there.  Will there be doorways on either side of the ladder?

Mark
"The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me

Current Build:                                                                                             
Past Builds:
 La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD           Triton Cross-Section   

 NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit                                                                            HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64               

 

Non-Ship Model:                                                                                         On hold, maybe forever:           

CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed                                                   Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned)         

         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

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18 hours ago, mtaylor said:

I'd opt for a double wide ladder in the center.   I like the idea of the putting the ladder there.  Will there be doorways on either side of the ladder?

Mark,

I had envisioned that below the quarterdeck would look like this:

46476790_cabinlayout.jpg.68aa3890dd290e5af206b45e4cc0cd29.jpg

The center area of the bulkhead is where the ladder and companionway will go. Im going to put the companionway in the center (I've already cut the pieces for that), and the ladder will go to the side.

Tom

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4 hours ago, TBlack said:

Mark,

I had envisioned that below the quarterdeck would look like this:

46476790_cabinlayout.jpg.68aa3890dd290e5af206b45e4cc0cd29.jpg

The center area of the bulkhead is where the ladder and companionway will go. Im going to put the companionway in the center (I've already cut the pieces for that), and the ladder will go to the side.

Tom

Sounds like a good plan, Tom.  

Mark
"The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me

Current Build:                                                                                             
Past Builds:
 La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD           Triton Cross-Section   

 NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit                                                                            HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64               

 

Non-Ship Model:                                                                                         On hold, maybe forever:           

CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed                                                   Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned)         

         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

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Tom, the ladder and door look great.

 

 I think another ladder is required not only for symmetry but mainly to replicate the orderly flow of foot traffic especially during the heat of battle. To my way of thinking it seems only commonsense that any elevation requiring a ladder to gain access would have been built in pairs, one for up and one for down.  

Edited by Keith Black

Current Builds:  1870's Sternwheeler, Lula

                             Wood Hull Screw Frigate USS Tennessee

                             Decorative Carrack Warship Restoration, the Amelia

 

Completed: 1880s Floating Steam Donkey Pile Driver                       

                       Early Swift 1805 Model Restoration

 

 

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I agree with Keith   Add another one.

Mark
"The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me

Current Build:                                                                                             
Past Builds:
 La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD           Triton Cross-Section   

 NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit                                                                            HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64               

 

Non-Ship Model:                                                                                         On hold, maybe forever:           

CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed                                                   Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned)         

         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

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Thanks to you all for the support and the "likes". The box at the top right says there are 27 folks looking over my shoulder. I don't want to disappoint. I have always maintained that there are 2 kinds of logs: those that show what the builder did, and those that show what the builder did and how it was done, sorta like what Keith Aug does for us. I think this log has fallen into the former category, and in an attempt to up-grade let me describe my method for building ladders:

I use my mill (equipped with a DRO) and that the ladder will be the hypotenuse of a 30-60-90 triangle. I set the vice at 60 degrees to the X axis (such that the vice is pointed NE/SW) and, using a 1/32" end mill set to cut 1 mm deep inscribe (in this case) 4 channels in the stile held in the vice, moving the work along the X axis 4.33 mm each time. Flip the vice around so it's now pointing NW/SE and repeat the 4 cuts again at 4.33 mm separation. Turns out that the pear used to plank the hull is just the right size for the treads.

I'm onto balusters now. I have no dowels small enough to suit so I take what I have and make it smaller. Again using the mill and a rotary table:

baluster.jpg.3131358e89b573c820bbdbe3a27ad59c.jpg

center the rotary table under the spindle. The offset the table by the desired radius and turn the crank. That's the easy part straight round dowels are boring so to add a some feature  I put the dowel in the lathe and tried filing in some profile:

balusters2.jpg.f0705809661cdf37ea31c1ecb10919f8.jpg

They are close in appearance. Maybe I'll make twice the required amount and pick the best. Any suggestions?

Tom

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 Tom, a profile shaper?

Current Builds:  1870's Sternwheeler, Lula

                             Wood Hull Screw Frigate USS Tennessee

                             Decorative Carrack Warship Restoration, the Amelia

 

Completed: 1880s Floating Steam Donkey Pile Driver                       

                       Early Swift 1805 Model Restoration

 

 

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1 minute ago, TBlack said:

Keith,

I tried that approach with a razor blade attached to the tool post of my unimat lathe. The height is wrong and the blade flexes too much. Got any suggestions?

Do you have an old metal rule that's rusty/beat up and seldom if ever used and is sleeping in the botom of your toolbox?   

 

The razor could be sandwiched between two pieces of wood with just the cutting edge exposed.  How to mount it is the question.  I don't think holding it pliers in your hand will be steady enough.

Mark
"The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me

Current Build:                                                                                             
Past Builds:
 La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD           Triton Cross-Section   

 NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit                                                                            HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64               

 

Non-Ship Model:                                                                                         On hold, maybe forever:           

CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed                                                   Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned)         

         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

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1 hour ago, TBlack said:

Got any suggestions?

 Tom, due to the size and the required repetitive profile I would order the rail stanchions. I bought mine (brass) from Cornwall Model Boats in the UK but they have a $50.00 order min. I searched around to see what else was available on this side of the pond. I bet if you go through our approved vendor list and check for rail stanchions you'll find ample availability. 

 

 What is the length you need? 

 

https://www.castyouranchorhobby.com/Category/stanchions_c

 

https://www.historicships.com/product/walnut-stanchions-6mm/

Current Builds:  1870's Sternwheeler, Lula

                             Wood Hull Screw Frigate USS Tennessee

                             Decorative Carrack Warship Restoration, the Amelia

 

Completed: 1880s Floating Steam Donkey Pile Driver                       

                       Early Swift 1805 Model Restoration

 

 

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You're more than welcome brother Tom, anytime. 

Current Builds:  1870's Sternwheeler, Lula

                             Wood Hull Screw Frigate USS Tennessee

                             Decorative Carrack Warship Restoration, the Amelia

 

Completed: 1880s Floating Steam Donkey Pile Driver                       

                       Early Swift 1805 Model Restoration

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

I've gotten the balusters installed:

balusters3.jpg.8f0eb91af15ebf064daa22d3d1b8ca35.jpg

Before I put the rail on them I thought i would install the cap rail. I can't use the ones provided in the kit, because they are not the right shape. I need sheet stock 1/32" thick - not in my inventory. Which to buy pear or cherry. Pear is $12.50 per sheet and cherry is $5.00. I'll let you guess which one I've bought. While waiting for its arrival, I started working on deck furniture, specifically gratings. The metal etched gratings provided in the kit have openings that are 3"+ which I thought rather large, so I made my own:

gratings.jpg.4736e57e8c1ad1a2ea28ecd8e6f999e0.jpg

My openings are 2" which is more to my liking.

Tom

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 Tom, the balusters look good but if I may make a suggestion. The balusters closest to the companionway door pinch the ladder access just a tad. If you cut  /split a baluster in half and placed the smooth side on the companionway side it would do away with that pinched look. Just a thought from your well meaning little brother.  

 

 ps.. your grated hatch cover looks much much better than the PE cover provided.  

Edited by Keith Black

Current Builds:  1870's Sternwheeler, Lula

                             Wood Hull Screw Frigate USS Tennessee

                             Decorative Carrack Warship Restoration, the Amelia

 

Completed: 1880s Floating Steam Donkey Pile Driver                       

                       Early Swift 1805 Model Restoration

 

 

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 Yes, the baluster at the top. I didn't see the baluster at the bottom, dah. Now that I DO see it, it pinches the door opening a bit. You could do away with the bottom baluster and run a rope handrail like they did in the Tennessee photo.

 

mjCoWkl.jpg.820d8b0803e5fe5371b2375bc82e6b03.jpg

Edited by Keith Black

Current Builds:  1870's Sternwheeler, Lula

                             Wood Hull Screw Frigate USS Tennessee

                             Decorative Carrack Warship Restoration, the Amelia

 

Completed: 1880s Floating Steam Donkey Pile Driver                       

                       Early Swift 1805 Model Restoration

 

 

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 The rope attaches to an eye at the bottom of the ladder stringer. 

 

 Another photo of the same ladder.

image.jpeg.9584898923f791c7ca2b178c1ff76558.jpeg

Edited by Keith Black

Current Builds:  1870's Sternwheeler, Lula

                             Wood Hull Screw Frigate USS Tennessee

                             Decorative Carrack Warship Restoration, the Amelia

 

Completed: 1880s Floating Steam Donkey Pile Driver                       

                       Early Swift 1805 Model Restoration

 

 

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  • 1 month later...

Keith,

I decided to use your idea on the rope lanyards for the ladders:

qtrdeckandapproach.JPG.dea1fc3dc67e2ef07896cb0e7d71fba5.JPG

You'll also notice that I have installed the cap rail, the top rail on the transom and the gratings. The overall photo:

at4-8-23.JPG.bb01af5481ab61310962e12111ad5b36.JPG

At this point I need to install the aft davits. Then the rest of the construct is pretty much the same as the kit with the exception of an elm tree pump in the bow (I have no idea why, but it's in the book.) The book also mentions royals which I am not going to include, having decided that O'Brian made a mistake.

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 Tom, I think ladder 2.0 is much improved as access doesn't look pinched. The Sophie is gaining momentum and looking fantastic. Are the cabin walls either side of the ladders going to remain as they are now?  

Current Builds:  1870's Sternwheeler, Lula

                             Wood Hull Screw Frigate USS Tennessee

                             Decorative Carrack Warship Restoration, the Amelia

 

Completed: 1880s Floating Steam Donkey Pile Driver                       

                       Early Swift 1805 Model Restoration

 

 

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