HMS Bellona by Nearshore - Corel - 1:100

[Nearshore]

Hello All,

I have another small update on Bellona progress. The upper canon ports have been looking pretty rough up to this point. The 3 layers of planking have different color contrasts, and they really have not flowed with the rest of the ports. I decided that I would go ahead and paint them red to match the port post on the false gun ports. This was a fairly easy task to complete, and the results are very satisfying and pleasing to the eye. There are a few of the ports that are going to require some filler to smooth them out. The camera has a way of enhancing the flaws that otherwise look ok in person. I will circle back on this later. Well, I think it’s time to start working on some of the armament. I am planning on preparing the 18 pound shot canons that will be on the upper gun deck. The rigging supply that came with the kit is not of the highest quality in my humble opinion. I have researched quite a bit on making scaled rope over the past couple years and decided that I was going to give it a go and try and make my own rope for the Bellona. I purchased an infinite rope walk a year or so ago and have been practicing for a bit now. I do not have much room in my workshop, so this tool seemed to make sense to me if I were to make my own rope. I am starting with making the breeching and gun tackle for the canons. I have included some pictures of the kit supplied rope and the rope that I made with the rope walk. I think the rope walk did a pretty good job, but it did take quite a bit of trial and error, mostly error, before I started getting good results. I have included some pictures, and a short video of the rope walk in action in case anyone has an interest. Well, I don’t have anything else to add for this post and will provide another update when I make some progress on the armament. As always, your comments and guidance are always welcome.

Cheers

Nearshore

 

[chris watton]

You are doing a very good job of this model!

[Nearshore]

Hello All,

I have a small update on Bellona. I know that I am a long way off before Bellona is ready to be placed on her display stand, but I couldn’t resist putting together the stand that I plan to use when the Bellona is completed. The stand that was supplied with the kit is somewhat boring and after all this time and effort I am putting into this model, I wanted something that was going to be subtle but also stand out. I was able to locate a plank of Black Walnut with a live edge for the base. I purchased 4 figures of Hercules that I will use to support the ship. I sanded and applied a finish to the Black Walnut plank and blackened the figurines using rub-n-buff black wax. The grains of the plank and the antiquing of the figurines flow nicely with the walnut hull of the ship. She is a long way off before she is placed in the stand for the last time, but for now, it will be a nice berth for her to be placed on in between sessions of assembly.  Well, that’s all I have for now. Enjoy the pictures and as always, your comments and guidance are always welcome.

Cheers

Nearshore

[Nearshore]

57 minutes ago, chris watton said:

You are doing a very good job of this model!

Thank you Chris. Your compliment means a lot. I hope to be able to build one of your quality kits in the future. 

Nearshore

Edited February 3 by Nearshore
spelling

[Michael Mash]

Gorgeous hull.

Excellent photos.

Mike

[Nearshore]

30 minutes ago, Michael Mash said:

Gorgeous hull.

Excellent photos.

Mike

Thank you.

 

Nearshore

[Javelin]

That's a brilliant stand! Never seen this before, so quite original and beautifully executed. (the ship as well) 

[harlequin]

takes me back to my Corel Bellona build........it is a great looking model.

[Fritzlindsay]

Just tuned in to your build.  Lots to compliment on your work but one thing that jumped out to me is that you correctly tapered the thickness of the wales at the rabbet at the stem which is more often than not ignored  in the builds that we see.  Great job!

Fritz

[SaltyScot]

I work with black walnut A LOT, it is a beautiful wood and also smells fantastic when you sand or cut it. It never fails to amaze me how the grain pops once you put any kind of finish on it. The live edge piece you have there is beautiful and, as you so rightly said, perfectly compliments the wood tones of that spectacular model you are building. I will follow along as a (beginner) model ship builder but also as a very interested long time woodworker. 

[Nearshore]

17 hours ago, Javelin said:

That's a brilliant stand! Never seen this before, so quite original and beautifully executed. (the ship as well) 

Hi Javelin,

Thank you for the compliment.

 

Nearshore

 

[Nearshore]

14 hours ago, harlequin said:

takes me back to my Corel Bellona build........it is a great looking model.

Hi Harlequin,

 

I have studied your build log, and your log has helped me a great deal with the challenges that come with building this model. You did a great job building this ship. I still go back quite often and study the pictures you provided during your build. 

 

Nearshore

[Nearshore]

14 hours ago, Fritzlindsay said:

Just tuned in to your build.  Lots to compliment on your work but one thing that jumped out to me is that you correctly tapered the thickness of the wales at the rabbet at the stem which is more often than not ignored  in the builds that we see.  Great job!

Fritz

Hi Fritz,

 

The diminishing of the wales at the stem was brought to my attention early on in my build. There is a forum dedicated to the subject on MSW. It is very informative. Thanks for the compliment!!

 

Nearshore

[Nearshore]

9 hours ago, SaltyScot said:

I work with black walnut A LOT, it is a beautiful wood and also smells fantastic when you sand or cut it. It never fails to amaze me how the grain pops once you put any kind of finish on it. The live edge piece you have there is beautiful and, as you so rightly said, perfectly compliments the wood tones of that spectacular model you are building. I will follow along as a (beginner) model ship builder but also as a very interested long time woodworker. 

Hi Saltyscot,

 

Thank you for the compliment. 

 

Nearshore

[harlequin]

6 hours ago, Nearshore said:

Hi Harlequin,

 

I have studied your build log, and your log has helped me a great deal with the challenges that come with building this model. You did a great job building this ship. I still go back quite often and study the pictures you provided during your build. 

 

Nearshore

thanks for the compliment......I very nearly gave up on the build for a variety of reasons and there are numerous bits that are not very good but I persisted with it. The use of the metal gun ports was a deciding moment in that do I take off all the planking I had done and probably ruin all the frames underneath or do i use the ports. In the end i used the metal gun ports and TBH, I think it turned out ok.