Frigate Essex by Rafine - FINISHED - Model Shipways - Kitbashed

[Rustyj]

Hi Bob,

 

Oh the things that end up inside our models while building them! That was a great

recovery though and a really good idea on doubling the frames. Thanks.  

[augie]

Really terrific work on those windows Bob.  Now don't forget to label your display case 'Rattle OK' so you don't panic if you move her around the house 12 years down the road!!!!

[cookster]

Nice work on the windows Bob.  I know you and Sam both said those windows are a critical fit, glad to see you got through it.  

[rafine]

Many thanks to all for the generous comments and likes.

 

Augie, it's buried so deep that it doesn't even make a sound.

 

Bob

[gjdale]

Great work and nice recovery Bob. It would quite an interesting exercise at some point down the road (long after we're all gone) to open up our ships and view the collective contents of our holds!

[Trussben]

As others have said, very nice stern lights! I had a lot of fun with mine on the Confederacy getting the fit just right.

 

Ben

[rafine]

Thanks Grant and Ben. 

 

Bob

[riverboat]

 Bob.... It's a credit to you on over coming the obstacles  and producing a superb build!!

Frank                                 

[rafine]

Thanks so much Frank for the kind words and all the likes.

 

Bob

[Remcohe]

Hi Bob,

 

I completely missed that you started your Essex. It looks great and it has your style signature all over it (that's a compliment  )

 

Remco

[rafine]

Thanks, Remco. Glad to have you aboard.

 

Bob

[rafine]

A couple of small pieces of progress. First, I planked around the outer side of the stern windows and painted that planking black. Secondly, I began the cabinetry in the Great Cabin. The planking followed my practice of using boxwood and was straight forward and quick.

 

The cabinetry is to be done following drawings in the Essex AOTS by Portia Takakjian. It will consist of an enclosure under the windows and two cushioned benches and a doored cabinet in front of that enclosure. I made the enclosure from boxwood sheet and strip to fit the space and finished it with Wipe-on Poly. I won't do the other items until after the deck planking has been done. 

 

I'm now working on the margin planks for the deck planking and will follow that with the remainder of that planking.

 

Bob

Edited March 29, 2014 by rafine

[ChrisLBren]

Nice work Bob !  I know how tricky building those lights can be from my experience on Confederacy.  Really well done 

[rafine]

Thanks, Chris and the likes.

 

Bob

[klimi]

I like your work, keep build.

 

Pavel

[rafine]

Thanks Pavel.

 

Bob

[rafine]

Planking of the gun deck is underway. This work began with the drilling of holes to mount the masts. After that, I drew lines on the false deck to represent the location of the deck beams. This will determine the placement of the plank joints.

 

The deck planking is holly. The first items to be done were the margin planks. The curved portions at the bow were cut from sheet stock, using the kit's laser cut parts as rough templates, and then sanding to fit the actual contours. The remaining portions were made from strip. The deck planking itself is holly strip, with pencil on one side and one end to represent caulking.

 

I must be sick in the head, but I find deck planking to be addictive. Once I get started, I find it hard to stop. I had intended to initially do only the center part of the planking (see first three photos), but before I knew it, I had just continued outward (see last two photos). There probably will be some pause now, as I have a houseful of family for the holidays, beginning today.

 

Bob

Edited March 29, 2014 by rafine

[gjdale]

Very nice Bob. That Holly sure does go well for deck planking. When the visitors start getting to be too much, just sneak back off to the shipyard and lay "just a few more" planks.

[BareHook]

Nice deck planking!

I'm interested to see how you do the outer deck planks where you may need to create notches or such for nibbing the planks, to avoid a sharp thin tapering plank. On my AVS kit I did the margin plank last and cut it to fit around the completed planking.

There have been a lot of descriptions for planking both ways, margin first or last and I'm still undecided whether or not it makes much of a difference.

 

Ken

[augie]

Never thought of making lines on the false deck (duh!).  Nice butt shift, great looking wood.

 

Best of the Holidays to yours and yours, Bob.

[Chenequa]

I'm new to these forums, and finding them very helpful.  Hopefully improving my own modeling after many years.  What's your next build?

 

Terry

Edited December 20, 2013 by Chenequa

[Chenequa]

Oh, BTW, anyone try to contact the Lumberyard lately?  I've e mailed and called; no answer or response.

 

Merry Christmas,

 

Terry

[j21896]

Hi Bob,

 

You do some really nice stuff with a little bit of boxwood and holly!  I especially love that first overall shot -- really shows her off beautifully.  And that cabinetry below the stern windows is fantastic.

 

I look forward to seeing more, but understanding you're busy for "The Season", I'll say it now -- Merry Christmas to you and your family.

 

Cheers,

Robert

[rafine]

Many thanks to all for your continuing interest. I'll take this opportunity to wish the happiest of holiday seasons to the MSW community. 

 

Grant, really I like your idea of some "sneak backs". I just might do that.

 

Ken, you raise an interesting question. There appear to be few nibbed planks on Essex, so I'm hopeful that my choice to notch them out in place will work. We'll see.

 

Bob

[Rustyj]

Very nice work Bob!

 

I agree that planking the deck can be addictive. I find it a lot of fun and if you’re not

careful you could spend the whole day doing it. Hmmm that doesn’t sound so bad

does it?  Also I don’t think you will have any problems nibbing those planks

when the time comes.

 

Have a Merry Christmas and enjoy the family and any sneak a ways you can get.  

[rafine]

Thanks Rusty and the same to you and yours.

 

Bob

[rafine]

A very happy and healthy New Year to all. 

 

Somehow, I did manage to find enough "sneak away" time from my houseful of visiting family to complete the deck planking. The limited nibbing at the bow was pretty easily done using small chisels. It is amazing to me that I had never used chisels until I did the Triton cross section, but now I can't imagine working without them. The diminishing planks moving toward the stern were done with scarphed planks, although I'm not really certain whether that is correct. 

 

As a final step, I added a waterway from boxwood strip. While not prototypically accurate construction, I believe that at this scale it provides the correct appearance.

 

Next up is the treenailing of the deck, which I have just begun. A lot of holes to drill and fill.

 

Bob

Edited March 29, 2014 by rafine

[augie]

Beautifully neat!

 

Best of the New Year to you and yours!

[gjdale]

Looks great Bob. Best wishes for the New Year.

[rafine]

Thanks so much Augie and Grant and the "likes" as well.

 

Bob