Pinas by rcweir - Kolderstok - Scale 1:50 - Cross-Section - Dutch 17th Century ship

[rcweir]

I made some progress this past weekend:  first I finished cleaning laser char off of the parts that will be installed in the hold.   Not the most fun job, but most of that had already been done, so it didn't take me long to finish up.

 

I intend to build framing and support for the decks that's more accurate to actual practices than the kit calls for.  The first step down this path is to cut dados on the beams to hold the carlings.  These are not necessary for the model because the kit beams have laser-cut holes that pass all the way through: a great way to ensure the model's carlings are perfectly aligned and well-supported.  But, visually, I think the dados add a lot.   And if they're going to be done then they have to be done now, before the deck beams  are installed.

 

 

Once the dados were cut, I started fitting and installing knees.    The instructions call for them to be installed along with the lower deck beams.   But I'm not gluing the deck beams in yet:  leaving them out now allows for much better access when fitting the knees (a fiddly process), and will make it easier for me to install the mast supports, install the bolts and other hardware, and apply the stain in that area.   

 

And that's it.    I still have to install the forwardmost pair of knees (I'm working from inside out).   After that I can install the mast support timbers.

 

Thanks for looking!

 

 

[rcweir]

This is a short addendum to the last report:  last night before dinner I made the time to install the last pair of knees in this first go-round.   Now I'm all set for the next step, which is to install the mast support timbers that you can see sitting in place (and not yet fitted) in the second pic. 

I'm happy to move forward, even if it's just a short distance.   With a little bit of luck I will get in some work on the 4th,  but otherwise I'll be away for the long weekend.

 

Thanks for looking!

 

 

 

[Chuck Seiler]

This is really looking great!!!!  Love the barrels.

[rcweir]

Yesterday was the only full model day I'll have over the long weekend.   I'm still working on the hold, trying to get it ready for staining.  The first task was to install the (toothpick) treenails on the starboard side. 

Next, I installed 1.4mm 3d printed round bolts on the keelson.   Both of those steps went smoothly.  I'm proud (and surprised) to be able to announce that not one of those 12 little dots disappeared into the ether. I need, though, to improve the uniformity of exposed heights when I install these things - the appearance is not quite as uniform as I'd like.   

I have to be very selective where I use the bolt heads - each $11.00 set includes about 4 dozen bolt heads in 5 different sizes, both round and hex. That sounds like a lot, but I can probably only use the two smallest sizes of round heads, which works out that they're costing me about 10¢ each.    Therefore, I also need a lower tech, lower cost solution for the high volume bolts, like those on knees.  What I'm going to do there is to use 20 gauge copper wire, which you can see in the photo I've used for the bolts in the bilge stringer.  The wire is slightly smaller in diameter than the treenails (.8mm vs .9mm), but it protrudes up, and that dimensionality makes them more prominent.  I'll use the same wire bolts for the knees, too.   I do have to blacken them, which I believe I've got figured out, but haven't done on the model yet.

 

After bolts, the next task yesterday was to install the bilge and floor riders that help brace the mainmast.  The bilge riders (the four heavy knees in the pictures below) needed some work to fit properly in their assigned position - the inevitable adjustment that's necessary for pieces like this.

 

Those very heavy timbers will get 3d printed bolt heads - probably the next size down (1.2mm) from what I used on the keelson.   When they're all done, I think it will be time to put a coat of WOP and stain on the hold.   

 

After that there are a few straggler tasks necessary before I can install the lower deck beams:  I have to fit (but not yet install) some composite knee-like fixtures that the kit describes as trusses.   There are four of them, and they look like combined hanging knees from the upper deck down into the hold.   In reality, each truss is probably serving the role of two separate knees on the real ship.   But what matters to me right now is that I make sure I've got a reasonable fit on their lower portions  while the hold is still easily accessed.   

 

Another task in the hold is to load some cargo - I've got several barrels that will need to be secured down there.  I'm still trying to figure out the stain.   These are all resin barrels from Syren; the two with painted bands are demos that Chuck kindly included in my order.   The others are a result of my own various, unfinished experiments with stains.