Prince de Neufchatel by Coyote_6 – Constructo – 1/58 scale - American privateer

[Coyote_6]

Jibboom guy pendants - 0.018" Syren ULTRA brown.   (Chapelle plans and Smithsonian PdN Masting and Rigging Tables.)

 

The falls (lanyard).  Port and starboard, 0.012" Syren ULTRA tan.  Placed my port block on the pendant 1/8" too far forward, but alas.  Not gonna burn a foot and a half of line to redo that.  Blocks are Syren 3d printed 5/32", 2 doubles and 2 singles).

 

Brought the fall/lanyard inboard.  Tied off on the bollard, and I'll let 3 scale foot drop down to the deck against the bulkhead.  Enough for the sailors to work with if need be.

(Found this in a post from clloyd on these forums -

"From Steel

GUY-PENDENTS are put over the jib-boom, the same as the horses, and the inner ends reeve through a thimble, on the quarters of the spritsail-yard, and turn into the strap of a double block, with a throat and round seizings, which is connected, by its fall, to a single block, that hooks to an eye-bolt, near the cat-head, and leads in upon the fore-castle.")

 

Jibboom Martingale line was next (Syren 0.018"). 

 

Then installed the Flying Jibboom with a homemade brass wire guide fore and a 0.012" line heel lashing aft.

 

 

 

 

Next came the Flying Jibboom footropes from 0.012" line (slightly smaller diameter than the jibboom footropes).  Here I have rubbed them with dilute 50/50 Elmer's School glue and "training" them with the little copper clips.

 

Finally the Flying Jibboom martingale from 0.012" line (also slightly smaller diameter than the jibboom martingale).

 

 

Next up will be the flying jibboom guy pendants.  I realize I will have a challenge installing travellers on the jibboom and flying jibboom - I am hoping to fabricate in place.  (🤪)

 

Any advice or corrections are welcome and appreciated.

 

Edited July 25 by Coyote_6

[BritByker]

Inspiring work!  I am building the PDN as well.  You are far enough ahead of me (I sail in the Summer, model in the Winter) that you are answering question for me before I realized I had them...  Keith

[Coyote_6]

@BritByker Nice work Keith!  Your Prince is looking very good!!

[Coyote_6]

On to new things.  Shaped the fore mast.  "Turned" it with a cordless drill and some sandpaper.  

 

It is expedient to put together kit supplied parts instead of making from scratch.

 

Stained from just below the hounds up.  Still need to set it up for the cap, so well have to get out the black stain again.  But at least you get the idea with the below mockup.

 

Hope everyone is having a great weekend.  Gonna need to learn the serving machine soon.

 

[BritByker]

There is some great information here about the mast rakes.  How did you establish the rake of the Bowsprit?

[Coyote_6]

@BritByker  Not from the Constructo kit plans.  I actually took physical angles from the numerous Howard Chapelle works (which were not entirely consistant but approximate) and settled in at around 12 degrees.

  The kit design was incorrect showing like 7 degrees - fortunately a keen-eyed member of my shipbuilding guild suggested I research that a little more. (Chapelle's books were more like 13 degrees.)

 

https://modelshipworld.com/topic/33099-prince-de-neufchatel-by-coyote_6-–-constructo-–-158-scale-american-privateer/page/4/#findComment-1050413

Edited July 27 by Coyote_6

[Coyote_6]

So this came today (from a river in South America).  Apparently not for outdoor use as the ink fades to nothing based on some of  the reviews.  But since it's probably not a good idea to expose our models to extensive sunlight maybe it'll be ok indoors.  For $11 delivered it is worth a try.

 

 

 

Needless to say I will now be committed to finishing by June next year for display at the San Diego County Fair.  

Edited July 30 by Coyote_6

[Chuck Seiler]

    It needs to be done by mid May for entry into the Fair.  Photos are submitted by April, but your PdN is far enough along that current pics are good.    Delivery to the Fair is in mid May, I believe.  Model must be completed by then...although the glue doesn't need to be completely dried.  

[Coyote_6]

@Chuck Seiler  Our course is set Chuck!

 

(Thanks!!)

Edited July 30 by Coyote_6

[Jolly Jo]

So best of luck for being done in time. Deadlines sometimes help...

[SaltyScot]

The detail on this rigging (particularly the bowsprit) is a great help, Steve. I am working on getting the masts and spars sanded down today!

[Coyote_6]

@SaltyScot  It is an exciting time, transitioning from the hull structure to the spars.   Good luck Mark!  Looks like we'll be going through this together.

Edited July 31 by Coyote_6

[SaltyScot]

4 hours ago, Coyote_6 said:

@SaltyScot  It is an exciting time, transitioning from the hull structure to the spars.   Good luck Mark!  Looks like we'll be going through this together.

 

To be honest with you, Steve, I am taking a break from the hull structure for a while. I still have the deck to plank and other minor fittings to finish. Doing the booms and spars was a nice respite  

[TBlack]

On 7/29/2025 at 9:24 PM, Coyote_6 said:

So this came today (from a river in South America).  For $11 delivered it is worth a try.

Steve, I love your attempt to save money, but I find that if you go to a shop in CA that deals in trophies, you will find that they can engrave a wonderful plaque for your model for not too much money.

Tom

[Coyote_6]

@TBlack  Thanks Tom.  I will give this a try with the one I got but if it fails to look good over time the local trophy maker will be my next stop!  Appreciate the tip!

[Coyote_6]

Some random progress over the last week or so.

 

There has been much gnashing of teeth on bowsprit rigging (particularly as it relates to the travellers), and still there are questions.

 

Detail of the jib boom traveller:

 

And the flying jib boom and jib boom travellers together.

 

  @Dr PR provided invaluable insight on martingale spar(s), martingale lines, and traveller rigging.   As I type this I believe we will have it sorted - jib boom traveller inhaul, port and starboard, through the staysail yard rings to the catheads.   Flying jib boom traveller inhaul running the centerline via a block at the traveller.  So many lines - yikes!!

 

Some work on the foremast - top-o'-the top. (Should probably be all black but natural wood looks nice - can always stain or paint it later?)

 

Bottom-o'-the top.

 

Random deck rings for rigging and some mast cleats, all per Chappelle/Smithsonian plans.

 

I am hoping for a productive weekend.   Wishing you all the same!!

Edited Friday at 04:55 PM by Coyote_6

[Glen McGuire]

1 hour ago, Coyote_6 said:

Should probably be all black but natural wood looks nice - can always stain or paint it later?

Not sure if it's historically accurate or not, but I agree with you that the natural wood does look nice.  In particular, the darker leading edge around the mast top o' the top is a pleasing effect. 

[Coyote_6]

Good progress today.  Have all the lines through the eyes in the staysail yard:

Outboard:  0.012" line for the flying jibboom guys.  0.012" lanyards. (Chapelle plans.)

Inboard:  0.012" line for the jibboom traveller inhauls port and starboard.  0.012" lanyards (Lever, fig 215, "travelling guys").

Middle: 0.018" line for jibboom guys.  0.012" lanyards.  (Heavier line for heavier spar, Chapelle plans/Smithsonian Rigging Tables).

 

 

Below shows port traveller guy/inhaul rigging.  Identical guy starboard, overhand knot with superglue.  (Forward line in traveller shackle is temporary for placement/tension.)

 

I have two holes left in the dolphin striker and I hope the correct lines become apparent 🤣:

 

Beauty shot to close out the day.  Thanks for checking things out!

 

 

Edited Friday at 09:12 PM by Coyote_6

[Coyote_6]

Belayed some lines at the bow, with plenty of excess line to the bitter end.

 

 

Right now, as it stands, everything is more or less "functional", except for a little diluted white glue to ward off @Dr PR's Murphy.

 

Before I started rigging I figured every pin would have a coil of line hanging from it, but now I wonder.  Lines like the martingale stays don't need a lot of excess once belayed taught - Maybe enough to bend to if need be?   Thoughts?  Or am I taking this too far (having realistically scaled lines belayed and coiled)?

 

Coiling actual excess might be a challenge with this line in tight spaces.

Edited Sunday at 03:15 AM by Coyote_6

[Dr PR]

Some lines will not have large coils at the belaying point, especially if that they haul on is let all the way out. For example, if a foresail is reefed the halliard will be let out all the way with little left to coil.

 

On the other hand, if the sail is hauled all the way up there will be a lot of extra halliard line to coil at the belaying point.

 

As you say, the stays on the jib boom and flying jib boom do not have to be adjusted much, so there never will be a large coil of line at the belaying point.

[Coyote_6]

What did we learn today?

 

We're gonna need a bigger backdrop.

 

 

(Maybe a bigger house 🤔🤪🤣)

 

Pay no attention to the mast angles, the stays will correct that.  And yes, that foremast has another vertical spar to go yet!

 

Hope everyone had a fun and productive weekend. 

Edited 1 hour ago by Coyote_6

[Jolly Jo]

Your Prince really is coming along beautifully! The way you are building your ship the natural wood of the top-o'-the top looks just right, better than all black.

[SaltyScot]

I like the nail work on the cheeks Steve, it just looks good!! That bowsprit and accompanying tackle looks impressive there mate, well worth the gnashing I would say  I hope mine looks half as good once I am done.