Friesland 1663 by mrcc - Mamoli MV24 - 1:75

[mrcc]

Thanks Ronald for your reply...

 

Yes, these creations really start to come alive with the deck fittings. 

[mrcc]

Some work to report on the gun port lids.

 

Mamoli has them precut and then you just add the exterior planking and hinges.

There are two sizes of gun port lids, one slightly larger than the other for the lowest row of guns, the dummy guns... which will be added later.

I know other Mamoli Friesland builders have referenced their kits having abnormally long dummy guns... unfortunately my old vintage has the dummy guns that are too long.

 

I will figure out that problem at a later date.

[mrcc]

Did some fiddling with the stern ornaments... mostly painting.

I did not find them bad with regards to cleanup of edges and margins.

 

Lots of fiddling though getting the corners to fit and to have smooth transitions to the ornaments. Not always an easy task!

Edited November 3, 2025 by mrcc

[Knocklouder]

Very nice Julian, lots of details 

  Bob  M.

                                                       

[Baker]

Very nicely done

[Ronald-V]

That's a beautiful looking stern!

[mrcc]

Thanks everyone for the replies!

[mrcc]

Starting some work on the channels, chainplates, and deadeyes.

 

I added a 2x2 mm backing on the channels in order to get a better gluing surface to the hull.

 

Also, the chainplates included in the kit are unfortunately short by 3 in number and they are definitively too long (per the plans) as I believe they should affix to the black strake immediately below the channel and not the hull.

 

Noticed some variation of their attachments on both the dutch websites as well on MSW. I think it looks cleaner attaching to the black strake.

 

Anyone have some suggestions?

[Baker]

13 hours ago, mrcc said:

Anyone have some suggestions?

this is how it should be done in theory.

On a model in the Amsterdam museum.

[Baker]

Also a nice one (Amsterdam exhibition)

 

 

[mrcc]

Thanks Patrick… I appreciate the images. 
 

I will be following the way depicted in the first set of pictures you listed from the museum. Yes, I believe, the most historically accurate. 

[mrcc]

Update: Not happy with the space between the stern stem and the rudder.  The space seems very excessive per the plans...

 

I took off the rudder and put a fill piece in. Ideally I should have put it on the rudder side but the rudder margin length is convex and the stern stem is flat thus better accommodating the fill piece.

 

Looks OK from up close but from 1 foot away, the fill piece completely blends in and is not noticeable. 

I think it looks better...

Edited December 18, 2025 by mrcc

[mrcc]

Some work on the chainplates;  some bending, some twisting, some manufacturing (the kit was short 3 chainplates) from brass wire, and some cutting.

[mrcc]

Last post today: did some blackening - the pins were copper alloy, rings and eyelets were brass alloys, the chain was super tarnished brass, and the new chainplates that I made being brass wire.

 

My technique was the same for all - swished around in isopropyl alcohol for 5 minutes occasionally brushing with an old toothbrush, then rinse in distilled water, then transferred to household vinegar for 2 minutes, and then rinsed in distilled water, and then transferred into a 1:3 solution of 1 part Birchwood Casey blackening solution with 3 parts warmed distilled water, with a final rinse with distilled water and drying.

 

The process was really quick - just 5-10 seconds in the blackening solution with the results shown below. Very happy with the results!

Edited January 6 by mrcc

[mrcc]

Finished the chainplates... not a fun job as once I cut back the extra chainplate length (in order to anchor on the wale), the ends kept wanting to separate (given no more solder keeping them together). I should have taken the time to resolder the ends but that is a new skill to me and I did not want to bother with that... next time!

 

Bit of a CA glue mess on the two chainplate ends in the second picture. I will touch that up with dull black paint.

[mrcc]

Started working on the gun port doors and getting them attached to the hull... also not a fun job.

 

From the first picture (the two protrusion or ends of the hinge) were fitted in two small holes that I drilled just above each gun port (not pictured), gluing in with CA glue and and was able to achieve a solid attachment as a result.

 

The instructions referenced to keep the port doors at a further angle upwards, but not sure how that would be possible and would not feel comfortable in getting a tight bond with the port and hinges to the hull.

 

The last picture references my collection of gun port doors that are of a larger size and attach to the bottom row of the two on each side of the hull

Edited January 6 by mrcc

[mrcc]

Finally some work done on the 4 anchors.

 

I left them the natural color which I quite like and added 2mm Tamiya tape (that I first colored with black permanent marker) in order to simulate the iron bands. I had to do 3 passes with the black marker to get a full coloring.

Edited January 6 by mrcc