Frigate Essex by Rafine - FINISHED - Model Shipways - Kitbashed

[Sjors]

Good excusa Bob       

 

Sjors

[rafine]

Work on the lower masts is now basically complete. The mizzen lower mast and it's top have been made and mounted. This was a simpler job than the fore and main because the mizzen does not have extended cheeks or a front fish. There are also no metal bands except at the head and only one woolding just below the bibbs. The only additional item is the rest for the driver boom which was cut from boxwood sheet with boxwood strip supports. There are some blocks which will be added to the mast head when they arrive ( i stupidly forgot to order all of the sizes I needed when I placed my first order for blocks).

 

With the completion of this work, I am starting work on the lower deadeyes and chains and then the hammock cranes and netting. It's very possible that the tedium of doing all those deadeyes and chains will cause me to go back and forth between the two .

 

Bob

[Kevin]

fantastic work

I need to re read your log

[Guest Tim I.]

Bob,

 

Wonderful!!

 

Are you using Chucks, blocks for your build? I put in an order last week for some, and was considering ordering more.

 

Thank you,

 

Tim

[rafine]

Thanks so much Kevin and Tim and the"likes".

 

Tim, all of the blocks on this build will be from Chuck. They are very nice.

 

Bob

[Martin W]

Beautiful work, Bob.  I find myself just staring -- both with admiration and to try to learn how much one can actually do.

 

Bravo!

 

Martin

[Pheasant]

Chuck has some very nice blocks, hooks, gun carriages on his site.  First site I've seen actual hooks, 2 sizes, available.

 

Struggling with stern framing.  Very fragile pieces to cut out and assemble.  Relied on Bob's pictures more than the plan and book.  Good thing two sets of windows/ I know I'll have fun inserting them w/o breaking or loosing!

 

Terry

[NMBROOK]

Great work Bob,she is looking fantastic!!!! To be frank,I am using the like button more often as I am struggling to find alternative superlatives

 

Kind Regards

 

Nigel

[rafine]

Thanks so much Martin, Terry, Nigel and the "likes". You guys are great. 

 

Bob

[Gahm]

Beautiful work! And I can't believe how fast your Essex is coming together!

 

Thomas

[rafine]

Thanks so much Thomas. Pace of building is just one of the benefits of retirement. Time for what you love to do.

 

Bob

[hamilton]

I'm glad I read the first part of this log, Bob - if I didn't know the difficulties you encountered with the kit at the outset I would be inspired by this beautiful build to go out and buy one of these myself - but unlike you, I would likely give up before getting too far! Anyway, I'll continue to let your work inspire me in my much smaller and less daunting projects! Thanks for sharing

hamilton 

[rafine]

Thanks so much Hamilton for the very kind words. After looking at your work, you have no reason whatever to sell yourself short.

 

Bob

[rafine]

A week of working on deadeyes and chains  leaves you a little cross-eyed and shaky, so please forgive any typing errors that may occur. In any event, the fore channel deadeyes and chains are done.

 

As on the bowsprit, the deadeyes are from Model Expo. The lower portion of the chains are the PE brass parts from the kit and the middle links are bent from wire around a simple 2 nail jig. I also added preventer eyebolts, shown in AOTS, between the chains. After looking at the pictures that I took, I realized that some of the chains needed some adjustment, which I made, but didn't take any further pictures (I probably should have).

 

Now it's on to the main channels.

 

Bob

[Guest Tim I.]

Bob,

 

They look great. The photo etching being included in the kit is really nice.

 

- Tim

[rafine]

Thanks so much Tim. Having the PE certainly made the work easier.

 

Bob

[mobbsie]

Nicely done Bob, those chains really do look the part.

 

Well done mate.

 

Be Good

 

mobbsie

[rafine]

Thanks so much Mobbsie and also the "likes".

[mtaylor]

Wonderful work on the chains, Bob. 

[gjdale]

The chains look great Bob - well done.

[rafine]

Thanks so much Mark and Grant and the "likes". Always appreciated.

 

Bob

[cookster]

Bob, what else can I say that hasn't already been said?  Amazing work.  I assume, and you probably stated earlier somwhere, are you using the AOTS book for your reference on masting and rigging?  I should go back and re-read so pardon my laziness....  I ask because one day I hope I'll be rigging my essex....

[Sjors]

Great job again Bob !

And just around the gun ports and not in front of it !

That's something that I still have to learn.....

And what are those eyebolts for under it ?

 

Sjors

[rafine]

Thanks so much Wes and Sjors for the kind words and Captain Steve for all of the "likes".

 

Wes, I'm using AOTS and James Lees for the masting and rigging.

 

Sjors, the eyebolts are called preventer bolts and, according to TFFM, they are used to anchor temporary shrouds in the event that the chains are lost in battle or storm.

 

Bob

[CaptainSteve]

Arr ... I was tryin' to slip in un-noticed.

[SawdustDave]

Hi Bob....Just playing catch on some of my favorite builds this quiet Sunday morning. Your Essex is incredible! Beautiful work my friend.

 

Dave

[rafine]

Thanks so much Dave for the very generous comments.

 

Captain Steve,no way that you'd get by unnoticed.    BTW, I got my first look at your Bounty launch --WOW!

 

Bob

[Pheasant]

Bob, what size planks did you use.  And, where areas were left natural, were those stained or or just polyed?

 

Thanks,

 

Terry

[rafine]

Terry, the upper exterior hull is 1/16" x 1/8" boxwood. The interior hull is 1/32" x 1/8" boxwood. The deck planking is 1/32" x 1/8" holly. All the planking was finished with only Wipe-on Poly.

 

Bob

[Pheasant]

thanks.   your pics of the planking, which is beautifully done, look to be larger than the 1/16" x 1/8" Basswood supplied with the kit.  Just wondered as I've had a tough time with the planking, shaping the bulkheads to get a reasonably fair run of the planks.  I've done better on others, lots of sanding and filler, therefore I've decided to either stain or paint.  

 

Terry