Erycina by Bowline - Vanguard Models - 1:64 - Plymouth Ketch-Rigged Trawler

[Glenn-UK]

19 minutes ago, Bowline said:

more photos:

Nice work. Looking at the deadeyes I assume they are free to rotate so they are correctly aligned when adding the lanyards.

[Glenn-UK]

13 minutes ago, Bowline said:

I bought some sails - thought I'd have a go at that especially since all the hard work has been done. Also my Vanguard HMS Alert arrived - it looks like a big step up.

You certainly have the skills to build the Alert 

[Bowline]

re dead eyes: - yes they are free to rotate in V form, so they will rig properly. Be a while before I get there as pairing the masts etc. down will be done by hand as I don't have a lathe.  

[Bowline]

Eventually got round to attaching the hinges. See some comments below. Completed the masts gaffs and booms etc. Tapering the dowels turned out to be perfectly achievable just by hand with sandpaper and files.

 

Here are some comments on the build so far in no particular order.

1. To attach  the steam valve to the steam box rather than do a butt join I drilled a hole, elongated the hole with a knife blade - the brass is soft.

2. The plans are not to 1:1 scale (sorry for the obvious) so don't rush ahead and cut to dowels to the plans - I nearly fell into this.

3. I attached  the rudder hinges with shortened bass pins - this was a mistake and looked horrible - I can't correct it now

4. I wouldn't use the spray Varathane satin varnish again it just doesn't have the silky finish I wanted - the quest continues (recommendations? for Alert?). 

5. The bowsprit was installed not fully resting on the woodwork - I probably will not go back and fix this.

6. Probably should have stained the main mast 

 

So I'm trying a 75:25 mix of oak brown and scarlet mix (RIT) for the staining of the sails - the end is in sight

 

Edited October 3, 2022 by Bowline

[Glenn-UK]

I use a 50 / 50 mix of white spirit and ronseal clear poly matt varnish. This is wiped on with a cotton cloth. 

 

You've done a great job on the mast and yards, etc.

[Craigie65]

13 hours ago, Bowline said:

(sorry for the obvious)

Good warning - I used the plans for one mast and could not understand why it looked wrong when attaching all the cleats, eyelets etc.   There was also bit of discussion on this when it came to the sails. @AJohnson was making his own.  Turns out plans were reduced by about 15%.

 

Anyway your build is looking great - the mast look very neat.  Mine has stalled just shy of starting the masts.  Tempted to leave it, but I do have the wonderful sails and it would be a shame not to use them.

[Bowline]

Thanks glennard for the suggestion I will definitely try that. I thought the mast etc. production pretty relaxing - its easy to redo stuff if you're not satisfied, just cut the blocks off and start again - so a great and fast learning process. Listening to Brian Eno on Spotify also helps!! I did consider (as a fast build) cutting and joining two sizes of dowels for the main mast build especially as the rigging stay would cover the join, but masking off the transition line with tape and using a flat file worked fine and gave a uniform colour.

[Bowline]

Plowing on - sails dyed - I would love to have experimented a little more (but the HMS Alert awaits) - this was 75% Cocoa Brown and 25% Scarlet for 10 mins. Would have been interesting to add a couple of drops of blue, but without going purple!!. I'm using a mast cut off piece for alignment. If I had been making my own sails I definitely would have fallen into the trap of thinking the plan was 1:1 scale. The scissors are a builder"s recommendation from a fly tying supply site.

[Glenn-UK]

I have just started my Erycina build today. I will refer to your build log as I progress.

[Bowline]

2 hours ago, glennard2523 said:

I have just started my Erycina build today. I will refer to your build log as I progress.

And I will be looking at your Alert - think I will definitely get the better deal.

[Bowline]

It's just an itty bitty side bar, will focus back soon

[AJohnson]

2 hours ago, Bowline said:

It's just an itty bitty side bar, will focus back soon

 Don't do it!  I said that months ago with my "Nisha" 🤐 

Your Erycina is looking very smart, would be a shame for you to abandon her at just the same stage I did.... (I will be back to it next month I think)

[Bowline]

1 hour ago, AJohnson said:

 Don't do it!  I said that months ago with my "Nisha" 🤐 

Your Erycina is looking very smart, would be a shame for you to abandon her at just the same stage I did.... (I will be back to it next month I think)

Don't worry - it would take something pretty drastic to stop at this stage - I mean get the "Finished" badge from the moderators - I owe it to Vanguard Models really

[Bowline]

Mainsail attached to the mast and gaff

[Bowline]

Step 233 of 240 in the manual!! - so closing in. The masts aren't glued in place yet - they need trued up etc. I will do that -  let it dry - then it's the standing rigging with dead eyes rat lines etc. So could be a wait for the next post

 

 

[Bowline]

Slower progress as I learn how to do rigging. In the end I opted to do the seizing of the standard rigging (black) with a contrasting tan colour. I tried black in the beginning with black on black but I couldn't really tell what was going on and ended up with a sort of amorphous blob. So I scrapped those and will  plan on continued tan on black use. So then I will paint the end result black (bow example in one photo below), hopefully that will get a neater result while I learn this art.

[Bowline]

Very busy section here --- seizing to be touched in black later

Edited October 21, 2022 by Bowline

[Bowline]

Bought Quad Hands to finish - so things should speed up - thanks all for the recommendations - definitely worth the investment.

 

Will rotate the dead eye 180 when finished

Edited November 8, 2022 by Bowline

[Glenn-UK]

I could not imagine rigging without using my quad hands. Your deadeye seizing looks very neat and tidy.

Edited November 8, 2022 by glennard2523

[BobG]

I just came across your build log and your work is beautiful. These working boats that Chris has designed are wonderful.

[Bowline]

31 minutes ago, BobG said:

I just came across your build log and your work is beautiful. These working boats that Chris has designed are wonderful.

Thank you - indeed the Vanguard Models are excellent and I have Alert lined up, but after I finish Erycina I have a car project to complete before I can start the Alert. btw I live in EDH 

[BobG]

1 minute ago, Bowline said:

btw I live in EDH 

I'm in the Land Park neighborhood and it's finally raining!

[Bowline]

Mizzen close to being finished up  - all needs tying off on the deck after final adjustments. I did  a little tidying up before I start on the main 

[Bowline]

btw here is a bow closeup, - and learning moments. Using a CA glue that was too thin wicked between the planking, looks like cracks but they are in fact flush. Missed a chance to have a really crisp finish.  

[Craigie65]

It’s a difficult one. At this scale would you see the individual planks?  Perhaps not, but at the same time I want people to see that it is planked and not just a preformed hull.  Marco photography is ever the harshest critic. For me your hull is perfect.  You are seriously tempting me to finish mine!

[Bowline]

I don't think I would attempt sails on anything but these Vanguard fishing boats - so the experience is unique although my progress is very slow. We need more finished fishing boats - and there is always Talisker to keep you company !!!

[Bowline]

Although I have been distracted !!

[Bowline]

Just a quick update because I've never used the Micro Sol and Micro Set that is recommended in the instructions for the decals. I thought the result was much better with those 

[Glenn-UK]

Looking good.