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

[Coyote_6]

As much as the starboard crew is having a rough time in the yard, the port crew continues with progress.

 

Here we see supplemental framing for the damaged starboard section.  Damage was removed bulkhead to bulkhead.

 

While the starboard crew loses time on repairs, the port crew has stained and installed the guardrails to the faired hull.

 

Progress continues.

 

[Azzoun]

Well, any updates going forward, try to start on the starboard side, you're bound to do it better by the time you get to the port side.     Port side looks great!

 

 

[Coyote_6]

It's been a rough month for progress, but not due to a lack of trying.  

 

The starboard damage has been replaced and is relatively fair.  Color variation due to a lack of spare material options - but when finished I hope it will look fine.

 

 

 

I have spent 4 weeks trying to bend walnut and mansonia to curve as the gallant rails atop the bulworks, but to no avail.  Steam, soaking, nothing.  I have abandoned the idea and will resort to a 3/32" x 3" x 24" piece of walnut for the port and starboard curved portions, and will match and finish the rails with 2mm x 6mm x 500mm walnut strips.  Very good color match if I decide to leave them natural.  The other option would be black stain like the guardrails on the port side above.

 

 

Finally, I have been working on a build board to facilitate transport to club meetings and as a stable base to support rigging when it comes to that.

 

 

So we are still at it.  

Edited December 14, 2023 by Coyote_6

[Coyote_6]

So we saw the new "build board" in the previous post, which I probably should have been using since the beginning of the build.

 

 

11 3/4" x 36" melamine shelf

L-shaped brackets from an on-line retailer

Pine trim strip 

Stainless screws as required.

 

The melamine shelf increased the weight of the hull by like 20x, which should add stability for transport to club meetings and rigging.

 

 

Adjustable L brackets allow added stability and nest with the guardrails.

 

And a little flair.

 

Edited January 14 by Coyote_6

[Coyote_6]

And of course the starboard crew has caught up with the port team - hull is faired and guardrails (wales) stained and installed.

 

 

Hopefully that repair will disappear further when the hull gets its finish and darkens.

 

 

Everyone is now turning to on the rails, and as we all know I can't edge bend walnut to save my life.  So we cut out the forward rails from walnut sheet.

 

 

Decent fit below.  Will have to develop some fancy joinery to connect all the rails professionally.

 

 

Thanks for looking, and as always all comments and ideas welcome!

 

Edited February 2 by Coyote_6

[Coyote_6]

Here's a question for the professionals out there - does anyone know if the following (looking down on top of the cap rail) profile is an appropriate joint shape for connecting two lengths of rail end to end in around 1813, or just in shipbuilding in general?

 

Other options?

 

 

[Coyote_6]

So the latest work seemed like such a challenge to make happen, but it doesn't look like much when you see it implemented on the ship.

 

The rails are installed atop the bulkheads!

 

 

First attempt at incorporating a simple scarf joint.

 

 

The bow has been opened up for the bowsprit.  Lots of slow and careful filing here.

 

 

The addition of the anchor rake reinforements, port and starboard.  (These actually weren't much work but could use some more sanding.)

 

 

Next steps will include finishing hull details and thinking about applying the finish to the hull portion and deck (tung oil and wipe-on poly).  Then on to deck furniture.

 

Thanks for looking!

Edited February 2 by Coyote_6

[Coyote_6]

Some work on the stem.  Added the coamings.  Drilled and filed the slot for the rope to help secure the bowsprit.  Added the gallant rail knightsheads at the bow.

 

Edited February 9 by Coyote_6

[Chuck Seiler]

On 2/1/2024 at 8:19 PM, Coyote_6 said:

So the latest work seemed like such a challenge to make happen, but it doesn't look like much when you see it implemented on the ship.

'Tis a common tale.  Sometime very small details take alot of time and effort.  You wonder if it is worth the time/effort, but later realize it is.  A poor detail distracts from a good model.

[Coyote_6]

@Chuck Seiler  Always appreciate the support sir!

Edited February 9 by Coyote_6

[Chuck Seiler]

[threebs]

Going to be a good looking model.  I used her as a reference during my build of the Dolphin.

[Coyote_6]

@threebs Ooooo. That Dolphin looks niiiiice!!  

 

I love all your detail on the two projects I've seen of yours - especially the ship's boats.  Very realistic overall!

 

Thanks - I hope she looks convincing when she's done.

Edited February 24 by Coyote_6

[Coyote_6]

Can't believe it's been 5 weeks since my last progress report!  The yard has been busy but the results are not overwhelming.

 

First up, the wardroom.  The camera shows every flaw!  Yikes!

 

 

 

 

Next up, installed the chainrails and pinrails and I think I learned to drill the pinrails before attaching them to the hull going forward...

 

 

 

 

Between the Shopsmith dedicated drill press and the sturdiness of the build board I think they turned out ok. 

 

 

 

So for now we'll call the mizzenmast pinrails complete.  And we'll be drilling the foremast pinrails off of the ship.

 

Stressfully, I am not super-confident in the kit instructions as far as pin locations and gunports.  We'll see how it works out.  The model plans are close to Chapelle's rigging plans but not exactly the same.  It would be sad to be finishing rigging only to find the pinrails not correctly drilled.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 17 by Coyote_6

[Coyote_6]

One thing I am toying with is staining the inner bulkheads a Continental Green.  Not sure if I want to stay all natural wood or add a bit or flair.  But I am pretty sure I don't want paint, hence the stain idea.  Open to any thoughts out there.  It may not be possible to stain as I keep adding things to the inner bulkheads.

 

Overall state of the ship tonight.

 

 

Thanks for checking things out.

[Dr PR]

Steve,

 

You are making good progress. I have been working on the rigging and belaying plan of my topsail schooner model for some time, and routing the lines without any fouling is tricky!

 

Chapelle's The Search for Speed Under Sail (W. W. Norton & Company, New York & London, 1967) has a two page drawing of the Prince de Neufchatel sail plan, including a belaying plan, between pages 229-230. It is pretty small print but I can read it clearly with a magnifier.

 

This is very rare! Most sail plans just show lines going down to deck somewhere. Few plans actually show where the lines belay.

 

He shows nine pins forward and five aft (9-5) of the gun on the aft pin rail, and 4-8-3 (fore to aft) on the forward pin rail.

[Coyote_6]

@Dr PR Thanks for the info!!  So I have been pondering the plans vs Chapelle, and I am not sure there will be clarity until I am done.

 

Aft Pin Rail

Chapelle: 9 pins fore, 5 aft.

Plans:  10 pins fore, 7 aft.

 

Fore Pin Rail

Chapelle: 4 fore, 8 mid, 3 aft.

Plans: 7 fore, 8 mid, 9 aft.

 

Bow Pin Rail

Chapelle:  9 pins.

Plans:  15 pins.

 

So at least the plans have sufficient pin holes.  But the two issues here:

 

1.  The plans call for more pins than Chapelle but use almost every hole in their rigging plans. 

 

2.  Chapelle plants this little nugget on the above referenced PLATE IV:

 

 

 

So what's a shipwright to do???

 

Also, regarding pinrails in general:

 

It seems like I am making custom pinrails for a specific rig.  Wouldn't more generic pinrails be more appropriate (i.e. 10 linear feet of pin holes) as rigs can change over time?  Or are pinrails generally custom to a rig?  (Asking for a friend who is going to run out of pinrail wood and the specie is hard to get.)

 

And don't get me started on Constructo's gun placement on the plans not being correct on the plan view, leading to gun/running rigging interference.  Sheesh.

 

Edited March 19 by Coyote_6

[Gregory]

Have you looked at DrPR’s stuff? Could there be cleats in the shrouds?

Edited March 19 by Gregory

[Coyote_6]

@Gregory Good call.  I am reading Phil's entire build log now.  So many lessons there (but soooo much to read!).   I will get back to you guys...

[GrandpaPhil]

I used the diagrams out of Search for Speed Under Sail for the rigging/belaying of my Prince de Neufchatel.

[Coyote_6]

@GrandpaPhil That's good to know!  Was it pretty straight forward or were there issues that arose?  Your PdN is stunning, particularly for a card model.  It was from scratch as well if I recall.  Glad all you guys are following and helping me along!

 

Here's a pic of the guns and the aft pinrail.  I feel the spaces with no pins should have been above the gun barrels but even if the plans had been correct on gun barrel location spaces wouldn't have been far enough apart.  This is where I am tempted to just drill all the pinholes including the spaces without pins and then set the pins where I need them.

 

[Dr PR]

Steve,

 

1. More belaying points is better than not enough!

 

2. I think you are correct that the spaces between pins should be over the gun ports. When the cannons recoil you don't want them hitting belaying pins.

 

3. Take what I have said in my build with a grain (or spoonful) of salt. It is a hypothetical build, so I can do whatever I can imagine. I am building that schooner to learn about schooners, and not to build a correct replica of any particular vessel.

 

4. With very few exceptions, we are never going to know exactly how any particular historical vessel was rigged, especially from times before photography and modern engineering practices. My philosophy is to put myself in the bosun's shoes - how do I make this work so the Captain doesn't chew my posterior?

 

****

 

I wasn't around centuries ago, but I did my time on ships in the mid 20th century. Whenever the ship's bosun decided he needed a new belaying point - a cleat or bollard - he talked to the chiefs in engineering and soon a new fixture appeared. Sometimes he took a five pound can of coffee from ship's stores over to a friend in the shipyard and came back with what he wanted. And for something really big a canned ham would usually do the trick. Official blueprints weren't needed. Where there was a will there was a way!

[GrandpaPhil]

Thank you very much!

 

The plans in Search for Speed Under Sail were pretty straightforward.

 

I ended up researching what most of the lines did to figure out routing and some of the installation.

 

It is important to note that one must make allowances for some rigging routing if you want to install studding sails.

[Coyote_6]

@Gregory  Best advice yet!  I availed myself of @Dr PR 's thread and resolved about 3 other problems with the PdN that I had been grappling with.

 

@GrandpaPhil. It does look impressive with the studding sails, but I'm not sure my house is big enough - it makes for a much wider presentation!

 

@Dr PR Phil - your Albatros research and build are phenominal!  I learned so much, and I still need to look at your schooner rigging thread.

 

So I removed my aft pin rails.  The problem is...  Constructo's plans, specifically the gun spacing.  Constructo pushed all the gunports aft (but maintained a uniform spacing) relative to the Admiralty and Chapelle plans.  But what really messed things up is that Constructo's plans have the gun spacing wrong in the plan view, which messes up the pin holes relative to the guns.

 

I had to shift the pin holes for the slightly more aft guns.  I tried to keep the pinrails in the same locations to facilitate line alignment.

 

 

 

At least we have nice pin symmetry on the fore pinrails.

 

 

On 3/19/2024 at 8:23 PM, Dr PR said:

1. More belaying points is better than not enough!

To expedite things I have decided to go with the pin numbers on Constructo's plans (not confidence inspiring I admit), as indeed Constructo offers several more belaying points than Chapelle.

 

Sorting this stuff had fatigued my shop assistant.

 

I will redo the aft pinrails this weekend.  Thanks all for the guidance and education!

Edited March 22 by Coyote_6

[Coyote_6]

Taking @Dr PR 's advice, we have sorted the pin rails as pretty as you please.  Captain's choice, as it were, with more than enough pins in the correct general location to rig her.

 

Fore:

 

 

 

Aft:

 

 

Thank you all for the assist gentlemen!

 

[Coyote_6]

Hatches and cannonball racks are complete and installed.  Treated with a couple coats of Watco Danish Oil.  I intend to finish them with Wipe On Poly after the hull and deck layout are closer to completed.

 

 

 

 

[Coyote_6]

Also, I prototyped my carronade styling.

 

Unfinished:

 

 

 

Finished in "Colonial" Green enamel, polished brass gun, and gold paint for the elevation nut.

 

 

And test fit aboard...

 

 

[Coyote_6]

A show of hands please - do you folks glue the masts and bowsprit in place or do you use wedges and let the rigging hold them in place?

 

[Chuck Seiler]

Both.  On my crappier builds, glue will do.  In a model as well made as yours, wedges and rigging.

[Coyote_6]

@Chuck Seiler Wedges and rigging it will be then!  (Thanks for the kind words!)

 

As far as the rigging goes the "ayes" have it @Dr PR @GrandpaPhil - Chapelle and "The Search for Speed Under Sail" are the plans to follow going forward.  Appreciate the assists as always!!