Flying Fish by Rick310 - Model Shipways - 1/96

Rick310 · October 21

Thanks Rob! I am followed your advice to work from the mizzen, forward.

I‘be learned a lot from your experience, also from George and Jared!

Rick

Rick310 · 2024-12-19T03:02:24Z

Well, September was quite a month. Finally retired after 40 years as an Endodontist (root canal specialist) and 45 years as a dentist!

The admiral and I celebrated by taking a Viking Meditation cruise in between clearing out the office and our daughter’s wedding in Ohio.

The fore and main tops still needed to be painted, planked and fitted out. Both the main and fore topmast were made prior to the cross trees to insure accurate spacing.

The topgallant masts were also made as described by EdT in the YA books.

Finally got the tops planked and fitted out.

The topgallant tops were made same as the lower tops. The spreaders are 1/32 inches brass. I found it extremely difficult to cut .030 inches thick brass on the table saw and ended up filling them to a rough shape. Fortunately after painting, the inconsistencies are not very noticeable. I made the mistake of using copper for the cross bar. This was much too soft and didn’t hold the shape of the spreaders. I ended up desoldering them and replaced them with 24 gauge brass wire that I filled flat on 2 opposing sides. This worked great and was easy to do and I will use brass wire again if I ever need to make spreaders in the future.

Both sets of caps were made and banded with thin ,005 thick brass strips.

Finally, items such as bolsters, fid plates chapping battens, blocks and sheaves were added. I used 26 gauge copper wire for the futtock shrouds which were glued to the futtock band with cyano.

Shackles were made with 26 gauge copper wire. Eyebolts for the shackles were made with either 26or 28 gauge copper wire depending on the location. I’m trying to avoid using 28 gauge copper wire as I have had problems with it breaking, especially when it is manipulated. The eyebolts, once twisted up seem strong enough. Shackles were made per EdT, at approximately 1/16 inche . All eyebolts that have lines attached, have shackles.

Finally, the ball shaped trucks were turned on the lathe, painted gold and I will use either straight pins or brass rod for the spires.

I think this completes the masts.

I added some of the rigging lines such as the toping lifts and mizzen course brace lines at this time as they will be difficult to access later.