Wasa by md1400cs - FINISHED - Corel - 1:75

[md1400cs]

Frank,

 

Yes it appears as if many of us have had breakage, replaced parts, and cost overruns along the way.

I think that I will apply for a US Govt contract to continue with this ship, I won't have to worry about parts breaking, parts not working, added budget costs, not completing on time - sounds perfect ha ha......

 

Ok I'm on the phone to the Pentagon. They love buying, paying for, and still receiving applications for obsolete projects (:-)

 

Michael

[fmodajr]

Michael,

 

Too funny!

Glad to see you still have a great sense of humor after the accident!

 

Frank

[Ferit]

I think if there had not been the accident you would find a way to rebuild some parts of the ship, some comeback as always... perfectionism...

[NMBROOK]

So sorry to hear of your drama Michael,but glad to see you are already on the way with the repairs,as they say 'what doesn't break us,only makes us stronger'

 

Kind Regards

 

Nigel

[md1400cs]

Hi Mates,

 

Thanks for your thoughts regarding this damage.

 

Igorsr - Thanks so much for your interest in following this build log. Very kind of you, 

 

Update on the crashed platform;

 

Decided to (this time [hindsight]) use my Proxxon Vice to complete the fix.

 

FYI – This is the second time this ship has fallen sideways. The first time was – way back when – so no damage. BUT the ship was attached to the Proxxon Vice with suction pad. The vacuum was from the table to the vice. That did NOT work out. Vacuum suction escaped and ship with vice attached fell sideways about ten minutes later. Hmmmm.

 

Purchased a piece of glass. NOW when I suction lock the vice, I first clean the glass, then clean the rubber bottom of the vice,  then rotate the suction lever. The vice has NOT lost its suction since.

PS: 2 Great addition to my tools! (vice)

----------------------------------

Still today I got so paranoid used a pillow in case ha ha,

 

In any case damage worse than I thought. Turns out the ring had two broken bits, not just one.

 

Managed to remove the platform using a flat rectangular Exacto blade twisting sideways between the platform and its lower braces.

 

Now I will correctly, and much more peacefully, rebuild the broken bits as well as replacing the tiny wrap around rings. 

 

I was hoping to move forward and start work on the main mast that I hope to articulate as closely as I can to the original. I have enjoyed thinking about this segway into a new area. Wood and I are better friends (;-) So a slight delay.

 

Again Mates thanks for dropping by the shipyard, always a pleasure to have you as guests.

 

Regards,

 

Michael

 

 

 

 

 

 

[GLakie]

Glad you got it sorted out Michael! I ended up just getting the screw-clamp Proxxon Vise for just that reason. Suction-cups usually work best with a glass-smooth surface, and work-benches normally aren't that smooth. 

[EJ_L]

Michael, sorry to see that the damage was worse off than you originally thought. Great idea to use the glass piece under the suction cups. I may have to do a similar setup in the near future. I've already sent the Couronne sliding across my table a couple times while planking the bottom of the hull. This card table has a much slicker surface than my old wood door table that I used to have. Fortunately, no damage has been sustained but I do not have many easily breakable thing on her yet. However, that will be changing before long. Better to learn from this and heed the warnings than cry later. 

 

Again, sorry to see the damage to your amazing ship. I know you'll get her back together and we will be enjoying forward progress again soon.

[Ferit]

You had built how strong the keel, it can really resist on a single rotation point even under so much tension...

[J T Lombard]

Michael:

 

Take a look at this foam cradle......... http://www.micromark.com/triple-duty-foam-cradle-for-model-ships,11051.html

 

regards

 

J

[md1400cs]

Mates,

 

Thanks for your thoughts. It does appear as if many of us have had table-top shipwrecks. Ouch !.

 

J - brilliant idea, thanks. I will follow through with this idea. There is a foam store nearby, I will fashion fit a large piece that will fit this project. Thanks for the post- I would have never thought of this type of cradle concept.

 

Cheers

 

Michael

[md1400cs]

Hi Mates,

 

Thanks for your thoughts and "clicks".

So it is "repaired" - Not B. Hills plastic surgery results (;-(. There are scars), but much cheaper ha ha.What did I learn?

 

Not to install parts prematurely. Big learning lesson for me. Platform (crowsnest) will stay in the tray for a while. Now, happily, on to the mainmast.

 

Again thanks so much Mates for your support, and encouraging posts.

 

 

Michael

Edited April 16, 2016 by md1400cs

[md1400cs]

Mates,

 

Thanks for all of your kind "clicks". It's been a bit of a learning experience for me to move forward - at a "slow boat to china" progress. As I mentioned - now for mainmast construction. This bit will be new, but looking forward to the challenge. I will post my interpretations.

 

PS: igorsr you are also so kind (:-)

 

Cheers,

 

Michael

[md1400cs]

Hi Mates,

 

Thanks for the Likes, comments, and/or just dropping by.

 

==================

 

Starting preliminary work on building the mainmast. Using Landström as primary reference. According to Fred Hocker these line drawings are correct. Page 251 of Vasa I also have line drawings of main that look just about the same.

 

 

SO here goes. I was not sure about cutting lower portion to approximately the correct size. So instead decided to focus on the upper proportions. I can truncate the assembled extra length later.

 

 

After sourcing proper extra wood bits. (Lucky to have a Blick’s Art Supply store just a few blocks from the condo) First step was to thin both sides of the primary dowel.

 

 

Then cut the needed side filler bits

 

 

Next step will be to glue these two side fillers to the newly thinned out main dowel. I will use Nigel’s Brilliant idea of powdering a watercolor pencil and mixing it to the glue. After sanding  (possibly lathing) to round the mast, the dark glue should simulate any tar caulking that would have been added during original assembly of these parts.

 

PS: The actual mast is actually made up of a center core and has FOUR filler side bits. Overkill – I happy with just two side fillers.

 

 

I will then need to reduce the combined parts to the diameter that original dowel. Not sure yet how to get this right. TBD

 

 

Last pic – planning ahead for the upper top section of the lower mainmast.

 

 

To be continued,

 

Michael

 

 

 

 

[md1400cs]

Lawrence,

 

Thanks for your comments. Yes my hired help with the crow's nest were excellent....mast may just be a bit of overkill, but I'm enjoying the learning challenge. If it does not workout I still have a lot of leftover dowel, add a bit of stain and throw it into the hole (;-)

 

Mates, thanks for the "clicks" always much appreciated.

 

Michael

[md1400cs]

HI Mates,

 

Quick back-to-back update; used the “Nigel Method” to simulate the tarring of the main mast pieces.

 

Very happy with how it is coming out. Big thanks Nigel. I was going to use black paper or something. The pencil and glue idea is perfect.

 

Still a work in progress, mast is dusty from sanding. I also plan to use a light stain to darken it a bit. That dowel is too white. OK now for the top part bits. And cap.

 

Regards,

 

Michael

 

 

I think that the Museum used filler pieces that were probably missing after recovery. 

 

 

 

[NMBROOK]

Great work Michael and glad the pencil worked out for you

 

Kind Regards

 

Nigel

[md1400cs]

Continuing with the mainmast;

 

Needed to approximate the length for the laterally mounted sidepieces that will include the two pulleys.

 

That done, penciled in where mast cutout areas should be.

 

Photos are self-explanatory so  keeping this update brief.  So far so good - Glad that I did not have to start all over again

 

Nice to get back to wood (as I keep repeating J)

 

Now onto the side pieces. This will most likely be a bit more complicated..

 

 

 

 

 

[Blue Ensign]

Just catching up on your beautiful build Michael, sorry to read about your mishap, must have been a heart stopping  moment.

 

Glad things are getting back on track.

 

B.E.

[fmodajr]

Hello Nigel and Michael,

 

Thanks for sharing the pencil process.

I am taking notes and hope to apply the process in my next build if possible.

 

Michael, fantastic mast work!

 

 

Frank

[md1400cs]

B.E. Thanks for still dropping by - always a pleasure hearing from you & thanks for your kind words.

 

Frank, Yes Nigel is very astute indeed. Glad that this idea may also be useful for you as well. Appreciate you comments about the mast.

 

This morning it occurred to me that almost all of this extra detailing will be hidden below the crowsnest large platform, and the sail yard ha ha ....

still enjoying the process.

 

We all need to balance our builds. I have not read one positive comment on any build log regarding installing ratlines and their many hundreds of knots (:-)

 

MIchael

[md1400cs]

Next incremental steps for the mainmast;

 

Again pics. are self explanatory.

 

===================

 

Next steps will be to continue shaping the first two side bits, and need to cut grooves for the crow’s-nest cross-braces.

 

Then onto the last two wood bits which will become the outer halves of the pulley framing.

 

PS: These clamps are so excellent – Super strong secure grip. Perfect in this instance  (Amazon)

 

Regards,

 

Michael

 

[Ferit]

Impeccable...

[md1400cs]

Ferit, - Thanks (:-)

Woodo, Thanks so much for choosing to follow along. Very kind of you - welcome aboard.

 

Updated progress on mainmast;

 

Slid-in that middle sleeve filler at upper part of joined mast halves.

 

Cut the end bits which will house the pulleys

 

Measured the needed angle so that the crow’s nest will remain horizontal given the rake of the mainmast.

 

X’d out where I needed to cut the indentation groove to fit the two side half pulley bits.

 

Measured where I should glue the first piece allowing room for the platform cross braces.

 

Glued the first one.

 

PS: I think that my measurements were a bit off at the mast part that will be above the platform base. Looks too short? I will have to be creative when I add the mast cap and the metal sleeve that will wrap around the mast just under the cap. Hmmm L

 

====================

 

Next update will be sometime AFTER tonight’s most important worldwide event. GØT Season 6 Premiere. - John better show up !!

 

Cheers,

 

 

Michael

 

 

 

[fmodajr]

Wow Michael!

The most detailed masts I've seen!

Looks great.

 

Frank

 

P.s. I can't watch GOT tonight, so I will have to go off the grid until tomorrow night!

John has to show up!

[md1400cs]

Frank - so nice thanks so much so appreciated.

 

Hi mates,

 

So all of the bits are finally, cut, glued, and assembled.

 

Segway to pic after detailing, sanding, and adding a bit of stain.

 

Starting some of the finishing detail work;

 

Adding the first of three sets of rope wraps. Looking at the 1/10^th, and the museum’s it appears as though they cleated the rope ends to the mast as opposed to a Y-Binding.  So model-railroad bits to the rescue (same cleats that I used on the hull)

 

Also for the metal straps Ferrari parts have come to the rescue. Vinyl self-adhesive strips that are leftover from an F40 that my son and I built from a 1/12^th kit. We had fun. I will use that as well as those small cleats at the wrap ends.

 

==================

 

But today came the “acid Test” milling the two pulley grooves. This made me a bit edgy because failure here and a lot of previous work would need to be redone.

 

My main concern was how would the milled holes look on the bottom part of the mast, when flipped over for a look, would they also be correctly centered, and grooved??

 

I remember my first attempts at milling knighthead grooves. Hmmm.

 

But it turned out ok on both sides.

 

PS: I had pre-built a second top platform the same size as the one for the foremast (forward thinking !) 

 

Turns out that the main mast lower platform needs to be a bit larger, and the platform planks are diff. shapes Oh well…see last pic (Corel – of course – has fore and mains the same size parts)

 

Thanks mates for dropping by – I won’t post again until mast it totally completed. 

 

 

 

 

[Baker]

looks great.

beautiful model you are building.

 

greetings from Belgium.

[md1400cs]

Backer,

 

Thank you for your very much appreciated post. 

 

PS Love Belgium - I was born in France, we were neighbors (:-) 

 

Michael 

[md1400cs]

Hi mates,

 

So lower mainmast is now completed. Here are some updated pics.

 

Now onto re-building a lower top for the main – need to order some rope from Chuck so shrouds pending.

 

Again – as always - thanks for the comments, the Likes and/or just dropping in for a visit.

 

PS: Nigel your pencil suggestion made such a great diff. Thanks again.

 

Cheers,

 

Michael

 

Edited April 27, 2016 by md1400cs

[fmodajr]

Beautiful Michael!

 

Frank

 

P.S. What is that black Ferrari sheet you show in one of the photos?

[GLakie]

Looks truly authentic to me Michael! Nice work!