Syren Ship Model Company News, Updates and Info.....(part 2)

[Chuck]

Tried them already and they look beautiful....

 

But they just arent strong enough in 1/4" scale and below.  I may use them on Speedwell however.

 

[Tossedman]

On 8/21/2024 at 8:42 PM, thibaultron said:

Yep, blew that one. I also forgot the lower rear boss. Sorry! I've fixed the drawing.

 

Here are the corrected files.

 

Cannonade 9 Pounder with Trunnions Full Size_002_1174_62mm.stl 1.78 MB · 13 downloads

 

 

 

 

I've had some of Ron's 9 pounder carronades resin printed. Found a local guy here to print them as my FDM printer is not up to snuff for such fine detail. Here's one with a coat of primer. I think it looks great. Thanks again Ron for sharing your STL files of these cannons. Next steps are some black paint and weathering and then off to the laser cutter to cut a carriage.

 

Cheers,

 

Todd

 

[Chuck]

Looks very good but yes a resin printer would be so much better.

[Tossedman]

On 9/2/2024 at 12:56 PM, Chuck said:

Tried them already and they look beautiful....

 

But they just arent strong enough in 1/4" scale and below.  I may use them on Speedwell however.

 

These look great Chuck. I don't know much about resin printing but is there stronger resin that would allow for 1/4 scale?

[Chuck]

Not that I have tried yet...and I have tried many.  The extra strong stuff is not rigid.  It bends too much and is way too flexible.  It doesnt break but not what we need.  I am sure there may be stuff out there but I just havent found it yet.   Since I have so much to 3D print already those are on the backburner for the future after everything else gets done.

[Tossedman]

Thanks Chuck.

[Chuck]

Darker 3D printed "Swiss Pear"  Deadeyes are now coming online and in stock.  Trying to print one or two sizes every day.  Pictured below are 3mm deadeyes.  Really tiny but they look great.

 

 

I am also now fully stocked with "Swiss Pear single, double and triple rigging blocks.

 

 

AND YES....they are just $5 a pack.  Many sizes are even cheaper.  For example....2mm single, double and triple blocks are just $3.99 for a package of 25.  This is not a fire sale price.  This will be the normal every day pricing for these.  Give em a try.

 

[hollowneck]

Chuck's new 3/D blocks rock. Thank you for all the work you've put into this effort.

I recently ordered some "Swiss Pear" and "English" (boxwood color) 5/32" (3.8mm) ones and they look fine. As you can see in his photos, there is a very slight reflective "shine" since they are made from synthetic polymers. I touched-up a couple with colored markers to see if I could reduce this effect; it worked reasonably well, and they now faithfully resemble wood with little additional effort.

These "3/D-ers" are faithful reproductions and the price is right.😊

[druxey]

Having seen prototypes, I can confirm the amazing quality of the smallest sizes. 

[Chuck]

29 minutes ago, hollowneck said:

As you can see in his photos, there is a very slight reflective "shine" since they are made from synthetic polymers

Ron...the blocks are actually completely Matte in appearance when they come off the printer.  I use a very expensive matte dental resin for my blocks.  That very slight satin sheen is a result of each batch being polished and finished before packaging.   

 

I prefer a slight satin finish to my blocks and models vs. a completely flat matte finish.   An easier and less tedious way if you do prefer a matte finish would be to just place them on a paper towel and spray them with some dull coat or matte fixative from about 18 inches away.   But I will continue to polish them for initial sale.  Its just part of the process.

[James H]

I have triple blocks here in 2mm. They are insane!

 

[hollowneck]

6 hours ago, Chuck said:

I prefer a slight satin finish to my blocks and models vs. a completely flat matte finish.   An easier and less tedious way if you do prefer a matte finish would be to just place them on a paper towel and spray them with some dull coat or mat

As the English say: "Horses For Courses" - I prefer matte, non-polished surfaces for the majority of my wood components, especially rigging. Thanks for the suggestion on using dull cote for your excellent blocks. I'll give that a try, hoping it doesn't plug or gum-up the tiny holes.

[Ronald-V]

Those pear colour ones would be a nice upgrade for my Sphinx blocks! Will keep them in mind when I need them  

[druxey]

To prevent the holes clogging when matte spraying, try threading the blocks on wires first.

[Jack12477]

Better dust off your skis, Chuck, High Point NJ got 20 inches of snow today.  I'm sure Vernon got some also

[Chuck]

FYI…

 

As of today the US Postal service will not ship to Canada during the strike of Canadian postal workers..  I have a few orders to ship and will simply hold them until after the strike.  But if you wish to cancel the order please contact me.  
 

In the meantime,  I will stop accepting orders to Canada until after the strike.  Sorry but this is completely out of my hands.  Fed Ex and UPS will soon follow suit.  
 

 

[Chuck]

USPS is now shipping to Canada again.   So I have enabled Canada in my online store and have started accepting orders again.   I have no idea how long it will take to get there but at least you can place orders again if you live in Canada.

 

Chuck

 

Also.....FYI....The last day for any orders before my move is January 17th.   I will be closing the entire store down in order to pack up my shop for the move.   We are physically moving the first week of February 10th and it might take a week after that to set up the shop again.   So I expect to reopen the store as soon as I can after Feb. 10th.

 

Thank you for your patience!!!  I am so excited about enjoying the new view from my workshop. 

 

 

[Nirvana]

Chuck, now that is a very nice view from your new shop. Good luck with closing and packing everything with the reversed at your new location.

[Chuck]

Its going to be a very big adjustment....My current view just six miles out of NYC.   From my upstairs bedroom.   Its a very different vibe.

 

I am gonna feel like Oliver and Eva gabor, LOL

 

 

[amateur]

Isn't that a very distracting view ? 

Man, I would love to have something like that in front of of my window..... (or anywhere near home.....)

Good luck in your new home (and shop)!

 

Jan

 

 

Edited January 8 by amateur

[GGibson]

Hope your move goes well, Chuck!  That is definitely a view you are not used to... but will enjoy the difference probably very quickly! Congrats on the transition.

 

We shall visit sometime after February! 👍

[Chuck]

Well I am officially moved in to my new place.  Everything is going well but not as quickly as I would like.  Having said this,  the shop is pretty much all set

up.  I have a few things left to do but plan on opening the store for orders on Tuesday morning.  
 

Thanks to all of my customers for your patience.  I can honestly say that I will never move again.  Moving sucks.  But once the dust settles it will have been worth it.

[vossiewulf]

Congrats Chuck!

[GGibson]

Great to hear, Chuck!  Bet it's nice to get settled again... and as you say, FOR THE LAST TIME! 

 

When I start my Constitution, I'll be in touch!   

[knightyo]

On 2/16/2025 at 2:29 PM, Chuck said:

 I can honestly say that I will never move again.  

I think I made this declaration about 2 moves ago.  

 

Alan

[bear]

Ahoy Chuck I have been a Loyal Customer of yours since the first year. I relied upon your advie when I statrted building the Gun Boat Philladelphia, tried out your minature rope and have been hooked ver since. The only down paoint was when you had to go to blened rope instead of 100% cotton.

 

All my builds have been award winners thanks to your rope,blocks and other fittings. 

May you be in bussiness another 20 years. I am 72 now,so that should supply my building until I pass on to the Shipyard in the sky.

 

Thanks my Freind.

 

Keith from Troutdale.

[Chuck]

What a nice model Keith and thank you.  She is a beauty.  I had reopened on Tuesday afternoon.  But in these last four days I have completely sold out of rope with only four packages left.  Crazy stuff.

 

Thanks to my customers.  I really appreciate that.  Probably 70% of the blocks have sold as well.  I am so happy folks like them.  
 

The bad news…It will take a while to make more.  I wasnt expecting such a rush.  Hundreds of packages sold in just a few days.  
 

Chuck

[Chuck]

Just an FYI....

 

 

Prompted by a huge demand, I now have in stock even smaller laser cut door hinges.   These are just 3/32" tall.  You get 40 hinges of each type.  Shown above are the larger variety.  These are much much smaller.

 

Chuck

[bear]

Hi Chuck  Thanks, the Mary Rose  is my favorite build. Your rope has always been the first thing 90% of people  coment on when looking at me ships. Along with your blocks. I could not have    had the success at shows without all of your advice and products. That is why you always sell out. And is why I keep a well stocked warehouse of your rope,blocks and other detail supplies.

 

Thanks my dear freind.

 

Keitha nd Boris

[Chuck]

Stropping blocks….

 

As part of the Speedwell project I am putting together a small tutorial on how I strop blocks.  Nothing fancy like some folks do when rigging their models but these methods work for me.  No real splicing or crazy stuff.  I dont have patience for that or the skills.  
 

I will be doing a demo at my club meeting this Saturday but will put together a PDF for folks building and…yes…rigging the Speedwell.

 

These are my darker “Swiss Pear” colored 3d printed blocks and my Syren Rope of course.  Should be done during the week.  
 

Doing a little at a time while …you guessed it…while making more rope and blocks.  I use the same

technique on large blocks and very tiny ones…2mm even.  But I am using larger blocks for demo.  If there is some interst.

 

When rigging I mostly

just try to keep things neat and simple so the rigging and blocks hang nicely.  I avoid anything that makes the line too stiff at the seized strop of a block…Keep it simple.