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Rattlesnake by Dave_E - Model Shipways - 1:64


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Good Evening Everyone,

 

I know most of you and hope you will continue with me on my building journey, this time, the Rattlesnake…American Privateer. After getting my feet wet with the Lady Nelson, I do plan to slow down on this one and really try to do it as perfect as my skills will allow and be as accurate as I can at the same time. I suspect this build will also fall into the “kit bash” category because there are just to many components that I am disappointed to find in the box (for instance, all the blocks are from Amati).

 

I am in good company on this build with javajohn and OldSalt1950 building the same kit and Gregory building the kit in 1:48.

 

The journey begins with an inventory and a wish list for replacement parts and components.

 

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Dave

 

Current builds: Rattlesnake

Completed builds: Lady Nelson

On the shelf: NRG Half Hull Project, Various metal, plastic and paper models

 

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Go over every piece carefully and double check your replacement part list Dave. It will be a long one. Be sure and make templates for the bow and stern blocks and try to keep the knockouts in frames A-C and I-L you will be breaking off the cross pieces otherwise. You already know about the mainframe issue so make that shim piece and reenforce it when you glue it in to obtain the matching length. Also make sure the rabbet is at the depth specified in the plans (trust me on this). Before you start building determine if you are going to put cannons in all the ports it will affect how a lot of the build goes. Read and re-read the instructions and the build logs , depending on how you like to build you will find there are many steps you will take out of sequence. Plan carefully for the removeable bulkhead at frame L .  Best of luck on your new build, the adventure begins.

 

Jim

Current Build: Fair American - Model Shipways

Awaiting Parts - Rattlesnake

On the Shelf - English Pinnace

                        18Th Century Longboat

 

I stand firmly against piracy!

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Dave, I’m glad to see that you have started your Rattlesnake. I shall take a seat, not right at the back, maybe half way to the back.🙂

Regards……..Paul 

 

Completed Builds   Glad Tidings Model Shipways. -   Nordland Boat. Billings Boats . -  HM Cutter Cheerful-1806  Syren Model Ship Company. 

 

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Good Afternoon All,

 

Must be a thing, I did the same thing on the Lady… build the anchors while you think about how to get started. 😆 First thing I did notice while opening things up is no cradle. The Lady was a bit smaller. Do I need to get a building slip or something for this size ship? Recommendation, discussion? If I were to “bash” the anchors, what’s the recommendation for wood?

 

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Edited by Dave_E

Dave

 

Current builds: Rattlesnake

Completed builds: Lady Nelson

On the shelf: NRG Half Hull Project, Various metal, plastic and paper models

 

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15 minutes ago, Dave_E said:

If I were to “bash” the anchors, what’s the recommendation for wood?

The basswood that comes in the kit should work..  There should be  a little extra square stock. or use scrap  sheet stock from the laser sheets.

You might experiment with some dye or stain to get it looking the way you want.

Luck is just another word for good preparation.

—MICHAEL ROSE

Current builds:    Rattlesnake (Scratch From MS Plans 

On Hold:  HMS Resolution ( AKA Ferrett )

In the Gallery: Yacht Mary,  Gretel, French Cannon

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The kit bass wood will work fine for the cross arms of the anchors. Some form of building board or a good panning vise would come in handy for setting up the bulkheads on the frame. Once the bulkheads are squared up and glued in place you really only need something soft to place the assembled skeleton on.

Current Build: Fair American - Model Shipways

Awaiting Parts - Rattlesnake

On the Shelf - English Pinnace

                        18Th Century Longboat

 

I stand firmly against piracy!

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Hi Dave,

I agree with both comments above; a piece of basswood will work just fine for the anchor stocks and I have never used a build board. I glue the bulkheads in one at a time. It's a slow process but works just fine. Then when it's down to planking and sanding, the hull seems to spend as much time on my lap as it does on the bench.

 

I'm looking forward to following your progress. I've built the Mamoli Rattlesnake, which my grandson now has, but I'd like to build it again, this time the MS version. I have a real soft spot for this one. I credit it as the reason I got into building model ships. I've told the story on the forum before, but it was a quite a while ago now. When I was a kid my best friend's dad built model ships and I was mesmerized by them. I've forgotten the names of most of them, but what little kid could forget the name Rattlesnake. My friend still has it. This model would be about 60 years old now. I don't know if it's a kit or from scratch, but the way he handled the stern makes me think this might be a scratch build.

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Look at the unusual colour he used for the bulwarks. I believe the MS instructions suggest that the bulwarks should be gray. I guess that's what he was going for, but this is almost a pale blue. Also look at the flag. I don't know much (let's be honest - I know nothing) about flags, but I'm pretty sure this can only be a British ensign. My friend's dad was a real history buff and serious anglophile, so he must have opted to display the model after it was captured by the British. From what I've read, I understand that it was first re-named Cormorant by the British and then later changed the name back to Rattlesnake.

 

Sorry, I hope I haven't hijacked your build log too seriously with this digression.

David


Current Build - St. Roch, Billing Boats; HMS Agamemnon, Caldercraft (on hold)

Previous Builds - Armed Virginia Sloop, Model Shipways; Constitution, Model Shipways; Rattlesnake, Mamoli; Virginia Privateer, Marine Model Co, restoration; Prince de Neufchatel, Model Shipways; Charles W. Morgan, Model Shipways; Pride of Baltimore II, Model Shipways, Bluenose, Model Shipways (x2); Niagara, Model Shipways; Mayfower, Model Shipways; Shamrock V, Amati; HMS Pegasus, Victory/Amati

 

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Hi Dave,

 

You most certainly did not hijack anything! This is all about the Rattlesnake, the history, the building, the kit, the “bashing”… anything Rattlesnake, and you brought some good stuff to the table! Thank you. Ok, I’ll use some Lego blocks and squares and build one bulkhead at a time and won’t bother with a building slip. I kept all the scrap wood from the Lady and have some walnut that I will use for the anchor stocks. Pretty pumped about this “bashing” thing. Glad to have you looking over my shoulder (especially on a ship you know a lot about)! 👍😀

Edited by Dave_E

Dave

 

Current builds: Rattlesnake

Completed builds: Lady Nelson

On the shelf: NRG Half Hull Project, Various metal, plastic and paper models

 

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Good Evening All,
 

After unwrapping the anchor parts and seeing the cast stocks… I decided I’d try my hand at a scratch build (which I have never done). So I drew up a plan and built them. I probably went way overboard… I used two pieces of wood glued together, artist tape and real nails. After I was complete and looking at them under the glass, I really couldn’t see the 2 halves or the nails. I suppose I could have used a thicker piece of wood and painted black dots for the nails. Anyway, the anchors are getting painted, a ring made and then will even try to wrap the ring with rope. 😳

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PS After dinking with a card model airplane for a week… this was easy.  😁

Dave

 

Current builds: Rattlesnake

Completed builds: Lady Nelson

On the shelf: NRG Half Hull Project, Various metal, plastic and paper models

 

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Dave, look at the cross member again. Where did you put the hole for the anchor shaft?

Current Build: Fair American - Model Shipways

Awaiting Parts - Rattlesnake

On the Shelf - English Pinnace

                        18Th Century Longboat

 

I stand firmly against piracy!

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Hey Dave, at the risk of raining on your parade:

 

image.png.e83a4b58584aa21bd02a9161498c2ac6.png

This simplified drawing from Mondfeld shows a basic anchor design for the 18th-19th century.

Note the two halves of the stock have a gap when viewed from above.  This design seems to be prevalent

in multiple sources that I have.

 

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Here is a drawing from 1797 found in Lavery's Arming and Fitting of English Ships of War

Luck is just another word for good preparation.

—MICHAEL ROSE

Current builds:    Rattlesnake (Scratch From MS Plans 

On Hold:  HMS Resolution ( AKA Ferrett )

In the Gallery: Yacht Mary,  Gretel, French Cannon

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😖 Further comments to my  post #11 need not be published. My bad for looking at the KIT SUPPLIED PARTS.

image.thumb.jpg.6d1ac29ccc83b0a5083ffebe572b134f.jpg

Wonder how many have been built using the cast parts? Looking at anchor pictures I see it. Sucker is going to be quite thick. Parade has been called off. Thanks for catching it.

Dave

 

Current builds: Rattlesnake

Completed builds: Lady Nelson

On the shelf: NRG Half Hull Project, Various metal, plastic and paper models

 

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Many a good model has been built with just the kit parts.  No one, me included, didn't know any better.

Use the kit parts as a starting place and refine what you can..

 

Please don't cancel the parade.  The rain was just a pop-up thunderstorm..

Luck is just another word for good preparation.

—MICHAEL ROSE

Current builds:    Rattlesnake (Scratch From MS Plans 

On Hold:  HMS Resolution ( AKA Ferrett )

In the Gallery: Yacht Mary,  Gretel, French Cannon

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Thanks Greg,

 

Was telling the Admiral about this and said I could use them and only someone from a group such as this with the knowledge base would have caught it (mine or the kit supplied parts). Lesson ... start with the kit supplied parts, THEN go do some research! Thanks for the pictures. 👍

Dave

 

Current builds: Rattlesnake

Completed builds: Lady Nelson

On the shelf: NRG Half Hull Project, Various metal, plastic and paper models

 

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Hi All,

 

I think I’ve got them correct this time. I went so far as to build them like they did back when, (bending stock around the shank). I used wire through both halves of the stock (simulating fastening hardware). I see many models with the ring wrapped in rope. Was this a friction thing? Was it on all period anchors? My rings are brass blackened, but it buffs off and it’s not “black” and I think I should wrap them.

 

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Amazing how real they look when done correctly… the kit supplied parts were…. 😝.

image.jpg

Edited by Dave_E

Dave

 

Current builds: Rattlesnake

Completed builds: Lady Nelson

On the shelf: NRG Half Hull Project, Various metal, plastic and paper models

 

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Here we go. Now that I have the parts separated, it’s time to go review build logs. I recall, Jim, John and Gregory had things to say about the kit at this stage.

DD7E6E62-5837-453B-9574-6A43E223F31B.thumb.jpeg.a29c20dc04bef9a6ef42afd54c7226b2.jpeg

Dave

 

Current builds: Rattlesnake

Completed builds: Lady Nelson

On the shelf: NRG Half Hull Project, Various metal, plastic and paper models

 

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On 7/7/2022 at 9:32 PM, Dave_E said:

Thanks Kirby, glad your on board. How’s your Lady doing?

I boxed her up for the summer. Remodeling a bathroom and lots of family time and traveling while the kids are on summer break. Hoping to pick things back up this fall. Going to live through others builds for now. 😉

~Kirby

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5 minutes ago, KirbysLunchBox said:

I boxed her up for the summer. Remodeling a bathroom and lots of family time and traveling while the kids are on summer break. Hoping to pick things back up this fall. Going to live through others builds for now. 😉

Hey man, family first! Good on you Brother, have fun, stay safe! Check in once and awhile and say hi, let us know what’s up. 👍😎

Dave

 

Current builds: Rattlesnake

Completed builds: Lady Nelson

On the shelf: NRG Half Hull Project, Various metal, plastic and paper models

 

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7 hours ago, Dave_E said:

Here we go

That answers a question I had about the material of the skeleton.  It appears to be basswood.

  It would be a bit of a  pain but maybe worth it to double or triple those bulwark extensions before going very far in the build.

 

image.png.f5bcef113325d4f294cc9f84d815ec1f.png

 

Particularly the bulkheads for the quarterdeck, I-M.. 

If you do any reinforcing for the midship bulkheads you have to take into account where some of the gun and oar ports  will be.

Luck is just another word for good preparation.

—MICHAEL ROSE

Current builds:    Rattlesnake (Scratch From MS Plans 

On Hold:  HMS Resolution ( AKA Ferrett )

In the Gallery: Yacht Mary,  Gretel, French Cannon

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Be sure and lay the frame on the plans . You will need to make a small shim for the center connection. After that reenforce it

 

Current Build: Fair American - Model Shipways

Awaiting Parts - Rattlesnake

On the Shelf - English Pinnace

                        18Th Century Longboat

 

I stand firmly against piracy!

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