Frigate Essex by Rafine - FINISHED - Model Shipways - Kitbashed

[augie]

Thanks Bob.  Was just wondering if there was some "Admiralty Rule" buried in a text from 1790.  I could never really find anything on that.

[rafine]

Thanks Ken. Actually, the hull interior is also painted, to match as closely as I could, the boxwood that i used for all of the detailing.

 

Bob

[Gahm]

Beautifully done, Bob! But by now I am not expecting anything less from you . . . 

 

Thomas

[Pheasant]

a great dinghy!

 

Terry

[uss frolick]

Reminds me of the Missus. She too is a little dingy.

[Mirabell61]

I love that boat Bob,

 

That dull black color is just right, looks great...

 

Nils

[rafine]

Thanks so much Thomas, Terry, Frolick and Nils for the nice comments and also the "likes" for their continuing interest.

 

Bob

[rafine]

The longboat installation is now complete. I first added boxwood chocks to the beams. I then made up and installed brass ringbolts on the beams. Next, I made up some oars from very small dowel and boxwood strip and placed them in the boat. You will probably notice that I only added 4 oars, which is certainly too few. It just seemed a shame to cover up all of the interior detail in the boat with a larger pile of oars.

 

After gluing the boat to the chocks, I made up 2 lashings through the ringbolts to hold the boat. I'm quite pleased with the way it looks in place and am now debating with myself whether to add a second boat of some kind from the stern davits, at some point in the future.

 

Work is now underway on the hammock cranes.

 

Bob

[Martin W]

Great work, Bob.  This boat looks so good, I'm definitely in favor of seeing you add another!

 

Cheers,

 

Martin

[CaptainSteve]

I agree. A stern davit boat is most definitely in order.

(By the way, good call on just the four oars for your mid-ships boat.)

Edited November 29, 2014 by CaptainSteve

[Sjors]

I don't say a word this time.

 

I'm only drooling..........

 

Sjors

[augie]

Really a nice, clean assembly all around.  Love the oars!  And the black hull picks up the other accents.

[Blue Ensign]

Boat looks excellent Bob, she sits just right on the skids, a fine addition to your beautiful build.

 

B.E.

[rafine]

Thanks so much guys for all the very generous comments and the "likes". The boat was one of those fun things that makes some of the more tedious tasks worth doing.

 

Bob

[gjdale]

The boat looks terrific Bob. And you should definitely make another to fit the stern davits, if for no other reason than I'd like to see you scratch build a POF boat! I know it would be awesome and as you have observed already, making boats is an enjoyable and interesting diversion from some of the more tedious tasks. No pressure, of course

[rafine]

Thanks so much Grant and John and the "likes".

 

Grant, even if I do another boat, no promise that it will be POF -- but who knows. 

 

Bob

[Gahm]

There is not much I can add that was not already said. Your Essex is just a fantastic sight!

 

Thomas

[jwvolz]

Nicely done with the combination of materials, and using the basswood boat effectively Bob. Looking good. 

[Mirabell61]

Bob,

 

next to your excellent HMS Essex, that  boat lashed to the supports Looks so great and admirable, it realy is inspiring for me to do hopefuly alike for my HMS Pegasus, at least I left an adequate space in hight for it under the main stay sail. Your boat has all it takes to look like a propper work- and traffic boat, no fancies, but Color, Wood tones, Fitting out and the general apeal are just wonderful

 

Nils

Edited December 2, 2014 by Mirabell61

[rafine]

Thanks so much Thomas, Joe and Nils for the very kind thoughts and also the "likes".

 

Bob

[Kevin]

just caught up with your log Bob, she looks fantastic, the ships boat looks great - well done

[rafine]

Thanks so much Kevin for your continuing interest and generous comments. 

 

Bob

[rafine]

A quick update. The hammock cranes have been installed. This work went surprisingly quickly and easily. I used the kit photo etched brass parts which are nicely done. These were glued into holes drilled into the rails. Rather than using rigging line for the guidelines at the top of the cranes, I use wire to provide added strength and stability. After the wire was glued in place, the assembly is remarkably strong.

 

Now for the fun part  -- fitting and attaching the netting in the cranes.

 

Bob

[Guest Tim I.]

The wire looks good. It probably puts a lot less torsion on the photo-etch as line would. Superb as always!

 

- Tim

[augie]

Wire was the way to go.  Should help out setting up the nets.  Nicely done, Bob.

[Sjors]

Very nice Bob !

Are there any nettings on it or do you keep it open ?

 

Sjors

[mobbsie]

Nicely done Bob, I also used wire for the Agamemnon and it works very well, it also makes it a lot easier to attach the netting.

 

Good luck with that mate.

 

Be Good

[rafine]

Thanks so much Tim, Augie, Sjors and Mobbsie and also the"likes". I've used the wire before and it works much better for me.

 

The netting is going in now Sjors.

 

Bob

[rafine]

The hammock netting has now been installed in the hammock cranes. The netting is the veil material from the kit. After cutting into oversize strips, I steamed it with an iron to remove the kinks and soften it. The strips were then glued to the crane bottoms and the wire at the top on each side, using medium viscosity CA. Final trimming was done using a small scissor and a razor blade.

 

With completion of this item, work on the hull is now finished for the time being. The remaining hull work ( head, lantern, anchors, stern boat ), will be done during, or at the completion of, the rigging. I am about to begin the standing rigging.

 

Bob

 

 

[Rustyj]

Hi Bob,

 

Great job on those finicky hammock cranes and netting and I never thought to iron the netting.

 

Gotta remember that one.