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

[Coyote_6]

Some days things just go...  slow.

 

Having never done a chainplate, well, let's just say this has taken longer than it should have.  I had initially thought to do the chain link style, but the Smithsonian plans pretty clearly show plates, so here we are.

 

 

 

 

Much thought on blackening the plates, but this build seems to highlight natural finishes so the brass remains.  It is what it is I guess.

 

On deck, Mister Nash has hung the ship's bell and added the bell rope.  Hopefully it will be able to stay there when all the rigging is completed. 🤔

 

 

Well done Mister Nash!

 

Thanks for checking in.   Interested in any thoughts as always!

[SaltyScot]

Well, my hiatus is over and it's back to the ship world. I see your ship got some "company" Steve. Now everybody wants some too   You have certainly made some good progress while I was off doing other things, very nice she looks.

[Coyote_6]

@SaltyScot  Good to have you back Mark.  Thanks for the kind words.  I'm a little dismayed looking at that sole chainplate, but we will rectify that soon enough.  (Only 17 more to go 🤣🤣🤣.)

[SaltyScot]

On 9/7/2025 at 6:33 PM, Coyote_6 said:

Having never done a chainplate, well, let's just say this has taken longer than it should have. 

 

The next 17 will go quicker now that you have "experience", Steve 🤣🤣

[Coyote_6]

 

I have no excuse. 

 

But Mr. Nash (and the cooper?) has (have) completed all the chainplates!!

 

 

 

 

Each chainplate custom sized, bent and ground.  Each nail custom cut.  Wow.  

 

*PRO TIP*  Drill the holes in the stock first so you don't have to throw an almost finished piece away when the drill bit doesn't go where you intended. 🤣🤣🤣

 

Rough plates with holes.  Cutting to approximate length only after holes came out acceptable.

 

Bent and ground to fit through the deadeye strop. (First nail cut to length.)

 

And the final bend...

 

 

Edited October 19 by Coyote_6

[Keith Black]

 Those chainplates turned out super, Steve. 👍

[TerryPat]

That's a beautiful build !

[Chuck Seiler]

Work proceeds outstandingly.  

 

Will it be ready for the Fair? (no pressure, eh) 

[Glen McGuire]

Beautiful work, Steve.

[BritByker]

Coming along BEAUTIFULLY!

[SaltyScot]

Despite your frustrations those chain plates turned out just fine. Nicely done oh master  

[Coyote_6]

(No pics of Prince in this post.   These are all of Harvey 1847 built by another San Diego builder.)

 

A little side tracked the last 2 weeks.  A local builder was retiring and donated an Artesania Latina Harvey 1847 build to our local school's history department. 

 

 

She needed a lot of cleaning, a couple finishing touches (capstan repair, cannonballs, and some diluted glue to secure her rope coils), and a name.

 

Named her Grace and ordered an inexpensive builder's plaque with the builder's name on it...

 

I made my first flag and I think it turned out ok.  Used the inkjet printer on tissue paper approach (with Krylon Workable Fixatif) found here on MSW and it looks pretty good.  Where else can you get a 1847 US flag in an appropriate size? 🤣

I will use this technique on the Prince for sure!  I did add a block and a halyard for the ensign as well.

 

 

She cleaned up well and will go to her new home this week, so it'll be back to the Prince - it was good practice!

 

Edited October 26 by Coyote_6

[SaltyScot]

What a nice thing to do for your local school. Good for you, Steve!

[Chuck Seiler]

Nice flag.  I'm jealous.  

[Keith Black]

 Good on you, Steve. 

[Coyote_6]

And just for fun, here's the Prince de Neufchatel (1/58) and Grace (1/50) side by side undergoing work in the yard.  Something different, anyway!

 

Edited October 27 by Coyote_6

[Coyote_6]

For better or worse, the first serving of my life is completed.

 

 

I give you...

 

Ta da...

 

Fore Mast Tackle Pendants!

 

Oooooh!

Ahhhhhhh!

 

They are not pretty and are bulky around the mast.  I thought the tackle pendants were double lines all the way, but after seeing they were too bulky I redid them.

 

 

But I like the Syren Serving Machine.  I think this was a little complicated for my first serving but it worked.

 

On to the shrouds.

 

[Coyote_6]

Ok.  Not on to the shrouds.

 

I am pretty confused but I hope I am in the right direction.

 

I added the tackle rigging first.  With the exception of a double block in lieu of a fiddle block, this rigging aligns with Marquardt's Global Schooner.  Rigging to the chainwales outside the shrouds is in Rigging Period Fore and Aft Craft by Petersson.

 

Any thoughts on the tackle rigging here?  My main question is why do they lay outside the ratlines in Petersson?  Is that correct?  At first I rigged them inboard to the deck but they would have interfered with the fore gaff sail.

 

 

Edited 4 hours ago by Coyote_6

[Dr PR]

Steve,

 

Funny I never noticed that Petersson (page 72 and 73) shows the tackle outboard of the ratlines. I think this is wrong. The tackle can belay to rings on the channels from inboard with no problems.

 

The tackle must hang freely straight down from the top in order to use it to move things on deck.

 

Since the tackle hangs from the single pendant, the whole thing could be pulled around outboard and allowed to hang down on the ratlines. But this would interfere with climbing. Why would you want to do this?

 

For some reason, of all the rigging on my topsail schooner model, it was making the tackles that I enjoyed most. Don't ask me why.

 

By the way, I think Darcy Lever would approve of your tackle pendants!

Edited 10 hours ago by Dr PR

[Coyote_6]

@Dr PR  Thanks so much for the sanity check.  I must've looked through four references to figure out how those tackles should be.  If you look close Mr. Nash is all bent over banging his head on the forward fife rail because it took like 6 hours to rig two tackles.

 

I love having Lever as a reference - I think Sheet Anchor is the most approachable reference I have found from that time.  You are too kind Phil.  

 

[Chuck Seiler]

Your serving looks great.  Hopefully I can get a better look-see next week,  If you are concerned about it being too thick or bulky, use thinner line.  What are you using. 

 

I think Toni Levine recommends fly tine in here rigging project.  I looked that up once and went thru the various thread size formulas and standards to come up with an appropriate thread...then I dozed off (squirrel).  If I remember, I will bring something in next week.

[Coyote_6]

@Chuck Seiler  Thanks Chuck.  The serving thread was fine.  Like a goofball I doubled the tackle line overall and then served it all.   Where it was wrapped around the mast the tackle was as thick as two sets of shrouds!!   My remakes are closer to what you might see in Petersson's and it looks much cleaner.  I have my first shroud pair mocked up and it looks pretty clean.   I am horrified at how much Syren line each shroud pair uses.  I went to order more but they are out of stock for a bit!  Yikes!