HM Gun Brig Adder 1797 by DB789 - Vanguard Models - 1:64

[DB789]

Top of the bulwarks painted black.

Then channels and upper rails fitted.

Gunwales painted black and glued. Eyebolts added to the inner bulwarks.

The gunwale across the stern needed to pre-formed to get the correct curve. I soaked it and let it dry for 24 hours.

On the stern the outer stern board was added followed by the rudder post cheeks. Then the aft gunwale and the black trim on the stern. 
I need to try a different white pain to touch up that matches the spray can white better. 

 

 

Edited April 28 by DB789

[DB789]

Started fitting Adder out. I’d already made some of the fittings. She has very nice lines for a gun brig. 

Parts 173 go below the hawseholes on each side and are not mentioned in the instructions but are clearly on the plans - easy to miss if you just work from the instructions. 

The carronades still need PE parts 17 and 18 added. I’ve also left the sprue to the lower elevating arm for each carronades in place for now and will remove this at the last moment as I broke a couple of these on Grecian and they proved nigh on impossible to glue back on. 

I’m not fully rigging the guns but will certainly add breach ropes to the 24 pounders. I may add breach ropes to the carronades but I struggled to make these lie naturally on Grecian. 

The plans show six side steps on each side with the lower two on the main wale. Chris’s prototype in the instructions photos omits the lower two. I suspect that the plans are more accurate as the bottom of the four steps would be quite a reach from a small boat, but I’ve copied the prototype as it’s more aesthetically pleasing. The parts are there for six steps each side if anyone wants to add them. 

The deck and inboard fittings were treated with Danish oil and they came up very nicely. 
 

I’m not sure what to do on the exposed wood on the outer bulwarks and stern. I’ve scraped PVA glue off the bulwarks in places and I know from experience that Danish oil won’t be absorbed where the glue has been and would give me a blotchy finish. I guess I’ll try some poly varnish or make another attempt at mixing some wipe-on poly. I’ll put Danish oil on the channels to be consistent with wood fittings inboard. 

 

Edited April 30 by DB789

[chris watton]

That looks really good! Those 3d printed wheels on the carronade carriages look a lot better than the old PE versions.

[Chuck]

Nicely done.  That does look sweet!!

[mugje]

Lovely pictures also!

[DB789]

Thanks Chris, Chuck, mugje, really appreciated. 
 

Fitting out of Adder’s hull nearing completion. 

I decided to risk blotches and apply Danish oil to the outer bulwarks and it worked! The engraved pear looks amazing with Danish oil. 
I’ve done a somewhat amateurish job of fitting breech ropes to the cannons and carronades. 
The cannonballs were added using ultra matt poly varnish to hold them and take some of the shine off them. 

Fitting the parts is pretty straightforward. The fiddliest parts are the rope for the wheel and also for the drop keels. I have taken the drop keels off again whilst I manhandle the hull and fit deadeyes and chainplates. 

 

I’m leaving the anchors off until rigging is complete. I’m not sure when best to fit the hammock cranes and the cord between them as they’ll likely be in the way to for tying off rigging, then again I’ll need access to fit them which may be hard post-rigging.
 

Still to add the deadeyes, chainplates and drop keels. 
 

Thanks for looking! 

 

 

[Glenn-UK]

8 hours ago, DB789 said:

I’m not sure when best to fit the hammock cranes and the cord between them as they’ll likely be in the way to for tying off rigging, then again I’ll need access to fit them which may be hard post-rigging.

With my Indy build I had left off fitting the hammock cranes with the intention of fitting them once the rigging was complete. However as the rigging progresses I realised access was going to be an issue, especially after I had fitted the shrouds and back stays so I ended up fitting them.

[DB789]

Thanks Glenn, I’ll follow you advice and add the hammock cranes once the deadeyes and chainplates are fitted. 

[Thukydides]

You could also try a middle road and wait till after the lower shrouds and ratlines are on. They are are the main reason why you would want unimpeded access to the area. Also they are pretty strong so if you bang them a bit there is not as much risk you will cause damage unlike single lines that are going everywhere later in the build. Though I would fit the PE associated with them before doing the shrouds.

 

Just another option

Edited May 7 by Thukydides

[DB789]

Thanks Thukydides - I was planning to follow your excellent advice. I installed the PE for the hammock cranes, then put a line through to check alignment, this proved surprisingly fiddly, so I fully rigged the hammock cranes as I’d probably find it difficult to do so once the shrouds were fitted. 
 

Adder’s hull is now complete except for the anchors so onto masts, yards and rigging… 

 

Photos of the finished hull below: 

With Alert. Perspective is deceptive, Alert and Adder’s hulls are almost identical in length.