USF Confederacy 1778 By KennyH78 - Model Shipways - 1:64

[KennyH78]

Better late than never, I guess; but here is my build log for the USF Confederacy.  There are many like it, but this one is mine, lol.  I started this build over 5 year ago.  Then it got put on hold in Jan of 2018 due to my retirement from active duty Air Force, move from Texas to Georgia and starting a new job.  Before I knew it, 5 years have past and I was looking at the MDF box the model was placed into for the move on the shelf in my closet.  I decided to pull it down and open up the box.  Then I decided it was time to start work on it again.  I don't have any pictures of my progress up to this point, but I have a pictures of the current state of the build.  I am currently in the process of fairing the sweep ports.

[Ronald-V]

Looking forward to see your progress on this one.  

[wernerweiss]

Hello Kenny,

Congratulations to your decision from another Confederacy model builder

 

Greetings

 

 

Werner

 

https://modelshipworld.com/topic/31187-usf-confederacy-1778-by-wernerweiss-model-shipways-164/#comment-884281

 

Edited December 18, 2023 by wernerweiss
additional text

[KennyH78]

Werner,

 

Thank you and I will check out and follow your build log.

[KennyH78]

Continued with the fairing of the sweep ports.  I'm about 1/4 of the way done.  It is slow going since I am fairing them by hand.  While I was steadily sanding away, I noticed that the false deck has a very noticeable dip at bulkheads A and 0.  I know that I need to fix this and am thinking that i will just unglue them and attempt to add a spacer  in between the bulkhead and false deck to get the false deck to the proper height.  Not sure if that is the best way to go about it; I'm all ears if anyone has any better/easier options.

[wernerweiss]

Hello Kenny,

imo there is no alternative to unglue the false deck from the bulkheads and add some spacers.....is it the same on the starboard side?  I have had the same problem with some bulkheads, and the opportunity to fix the problem is now, later on no way.....makes the deck planking much easier.

 

Werner

 

[KennyH78]

1 hour ago, wernerweiss said:

Hello Kenny,

imo there is no alternative to unglue the false deck from the bulkheads and add some spacers.....is it the same on the starboard side?  I have had the same problem with some bulkheads, and the opportunity to fix the problem is now, later on no way.....makes the deck planking much easier.

 

Werner

 

That was my thinking as well, just not something I’m looking forward to.  I have the isopropyl and syringe out now.  Hoping everything works out good

[wernerweiss]

49 minutes ago, KennyH78 said:

That was my thinking as well, just not something I’m looking forward to.  I have the isopropyl and syringe out now.  Hoping everything works out good

I´m convinced it will, take your time .....

[KennyH78]

Got the forward part of the false deck removed and added some shims.  I ended up having to add shims to 5 bulkheads.  The last pic shows the false deck back in place.  I haven't glued it down yet; but can already tell that shims is what it needed.  Next up is to fix the sheer between hances.  I sure am glad that the kit has extra pieces for the hances in it.

[3DShipWright]

Hey Kenny,

 

As yet another Confederacy modeler here at MSW, welcome to the club. I'm excited to follow your progress.

 

In answer to your question about the dip in the false deck, I think the fundamental problem is that Model Shipways either didn't account for, or tried to oversimplify the arc of the gun deck and its relative position to:

 

a. the beakhead platform

and/or

b. the outer run of the planking

 

Per official admiralty deck plans done by the British after her capture, confederacy's deck structure should look something like this:

 

By arcing the deck more, the transition to the beakhead becomes smoother. It's a logical adaptation for a wooden model that makes construction easier, but it does mean there will be more of a dip in the middle to account for.

 

Anyway, keep the screenshots coming. She's got beautiful lines, and there's a lot you can do with her creatively when the time comes.

 

Best,

-Nate

 

[KennyH78]

I haven't gotten any work done on Confederacy today, but I was able to get her dry dock built.  The Professional Build Slip from Hobby Zone should help out greatly.  I will get her transferred over to her new dock tomorrow sometime.

[KennyH78]

I got the dip in the fwd part of the false deck and the sheer line straightened out.  Took a couple of shims to get it right, but it looks a lot better now.  I then proceeded with finishing the fairing on the sweep ports and installing the extra framing pieces needed to install the hull sheaves.  Getting very close to having her ready for planking.  That will be a huge milestone for me.

[KennyH78]

Huge milestone achieved today.  I finished up the simulated hull sheaves and that means that it is now on to Chapter 5; planking the hull.  I started by running a batten on both the port and starboard sides at the reference marks to establish a smooth run for the top of the wales.  Tomorrow I plan to get the gun ports painted red and start planking the lower counter.

I do have to admit that I love the lines on here.  She is a very majestic looking ship in my opinion.

[Vladimir_Wairoa]

Very nice preplanking preparation Kenny. 

I intend to "steal" some tricks for my future working :)). good luck with planking. 

milestone indeed. 

[KennyH78]

Hull planking above the wales has begun!  I have completed the lower counter and have completed 4 strakes on the port side.  I started with the top strake of the wales, then added the black strake above it and have also gotten 2 more strakes completed above the black strake.  All of this work was completed in about 8-10 hours total over 2-3 days.  I am taking my time and checking the plans frequently for each strake.

[KennyH78]

Hull planking above the wales is in full swing.  I have the port side completed through the channel wales.  I did have to redo the bow on the port side about 3 times before I was happy with it.  The starboard side is about halfway done to the point of the port side.  Once I get it there, I will continue to plank up to the sheer line on both sides.  Progress is slow, but I'm learning a lot and having fun.

[KennyH78]

So the more I look at the planking so far, the more unhappy I am with it.  Plus the sweep ports do not have a nice flow to them on the port side.  So I have decided that I am going to rip off all of the planking and start again.  I have already requested extra planking strips and sheet 5 of the plans for the templates from Model Expo.  My plan is the rip off all of the planks currently on the model, lightly sand to get the bulkheads smooth again and then redo the port sweep locations and restart the planking process.  

 

In the meantime, I will practice planking a hull with the NRG's half hull planking kit that I purchased.  I am trying to figure out the best way to get the nice smooth curve for the planks at the bow.  I may even decide to use a different type of wood other than the supplied basswood.  I have a couple of billets of roasted maple, a nice big billet of maple and some cherry that I can mill down into planks for the hull.  Any and all comments and suggestions are welcomed and encouraged.

[KennyH78]

Still waiting on the replacement timbers from Model Expo; boy are they slow.  I did get them to email me the templates needed for the sweep ports.  I got those printed out and cut out and marked the hull with the locations of the sweep ports.  Then I commenced to planking once again starting with the first layer of the top strake of the wales and black strake.  Then it was 5 strakes of planking above that followed by 3 strakes of the first layer of the channel wales.  Next step is to give all of these strakes a rough sanding before continuing on with the planking above the wales.  So far I am much happier with the planking the second time around.  Only time will tell if I will be painting or staining the hull.  

Got the idea of using a piece of 4 in PVC tube to bend the planking material from another member's build log.  I must say that it worked out great.

[KennyH78]

Had about an hour's worth of shipyard time today, so I decided to do a rough sanding on the planks that I already installed on her.  I am very happy with how it turned out.  I also cut some replacement  5/32 x 1/16 strips from some sheets that I picked up from Hobby Lobby (got tired of waiting on Model Expo to mail out the replacements I requested over a week ago).

As always, thank you for all the likes and all comments and critiques are always welcome.

[KennyH78]

Finished up the planking above the wales on the port side.  It just needs sanding to smooth it all out before adding the second layer for the channel wales and molding and sweep port covers.  I'll sand it after I finish up the starboard side.

To get the rabbet consistent on the gun ports, I used my guitar string set up rule since it provides measurements down to 1/64 of an inch.  I have also decided that I will be painting the hull the above the wales instead of staining it.  I like the look of the painted hull better.

[ERS Rich]

A beauty!

[KennyH78]

Starboard side is now planked up the sheer.  The port sweep and ballast port lids have also been installed.  

 

The port side sweep ports and ballast port lids have also been installed.

 

Next task is to do a rough sanding on the planks, install the remaining 3 blanks for the main wales on both side and then install the second layer on the main wales, channel wales and black strake.