RRS Discovery 1901 by gak1965 - 1:72 - First Scratch Build

[Lecrenb]

56 minutes ago, gak1965 said:

 

Thanks Rick. Let's just say it took more than one try and leave it at that!

 

I've been working on the stem now. I had earlier cut and bent two pieces of wood that would represent the naval hoods (?) which have the hawse holes and the scrollwork on the stem. Drilling the hawse holes was easy, I've been working on the scrollwork which is much harder. Here is the ship stuck in the ice in 1901, you can see the scrollwork (probably gilded since it is a different color than the white stripe).

 

 

Here is the ship in 2010 with (nominally) the original bow:

 

 

Here is the ship today with a replacement (nominally identical) bow (licensed CC-BY at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1901_wurde_die_RRS_Discovery_in_Dundee_vom_Stapel_gelassen._02.jpg: 

 

 

The scrollwork is, to say the least, complex. My original thought was to simplify somewhat, cut it out from 1/32" thick bass, sand the edges, paint them, and mount onto the naval hoods (or whatever the correct terminology is). However, I have found that I can't cut even a simplified version out of 1/32" bass, the things just break (repeatedly). I've tried cutting things out from polystyrene sheet. This seems more promising, but getting something that doesn't look like it was done by a child has proven complicated.

 

Any thoughts on this? I've looked at some of the carving tutorials on the site, but they seem more focused on taking pre-cut items and carving them to be more three dimensional. Are there other materials I should be thinking about? I know that I'm going to have to simplify it given the scale, but so far my best attempts have looked simplistic at best.

 

Anyway, appreciate any insights anyone might have.

 

Regards,

George

 

PS - The Union Jack is going to be made separately.

 

 

 

 

 

Well, if it was me, I know I could not replicate the scroll work with any hope of fidelity to the original. I would take a picture straight on, or manipulate one with photo shop to appear straight on, then size it to model scale.

Then I would make a negative of the picture and send it to a shop that does electronic circuit boards or brass photo etching. You will end up with accurate scrollwork in copper or brass on a substrate. 

The substrate can be painted and become part of your head timbers.

Best of luck!

Regards,

Bruce

 

[Kevin-the-lubber]

1 hour ago, gak1965 said:

Anyway, appreciate any insights anyone might have.

Have you thought of making it from card, possibly stiffening this up with diluted wood glue to reduce feathering? Just thinking that it’s much easier to cut card with a scalpel than plastic.

 

(It doesn’t really help but this would probably come out well as a resin print).

 

ps. Not just any old card - I mean the good quality, smooth surface stuff from an art supplies shop.

Edited Saturday at 10:13 PM by Kevin-the-lubber
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