Speedwell 1752 by dvm27 (Greg Herbert) - FINISHED - Ketch Rigged Sloop

[stuglo]

Are you sure that this isn't a 3D cgd? it's SO good.

[dvm27]

So it's been on to masting and sparring while David has been working on the carvings. With the completion of the masting and sparring we will have finished Volume Two of our Speedwell series and hopefully Sea Watch can get it to press in the near future. Fulling rigging plans are to be included in Volume Two as well. The masts and spars are of boxwood with the black portions ebonized with Fiebings dye.

 

By the way, the mast tops were laser cut by Chuck (Syren Ship Models) based on our plans and I believe they came out very well. I'm sure Chuck will offer this technique for other ships or products as it greatly simplifies construction of these complex pieces.

 

Edited April 5, 2020 by dvm27

[FriedClams]

Very nice work on the masts Greg.  Beautiful clean wood cuts with nice sharp edges - and everything fits together just so.  Sweet.

 

Gary

[Chuck]

Looks great Greg....I dont how I missed this update.   Very nice.  Home stretch!!!

[the learner]

Looking great, can't wait until you start rigging

[SJSoane]

Greg, the masting looks terrific. Well done!

 

I see you used the Fiebings shoe dye for the black parts. How did you stop it from leeching into the bright work parts of the masts, where the black and the natural were all the same piece of wood?

 

Best wishes,

 

Mark

[dvm27]

Great question, Mark! The answer is that I either cut a very deep score at a transition under another fitting (for example within the mast caps) or did not dye some items like the bibs that should have been.  I found that even with deep scoring and tape some of the Fiebings dye invariably wicked up the boxwood on the other side. But those bibs and other items are now properly blackened courtesy of my writing partner (David Antscherl). The trestle trees were all dyed off the model.

 

Now I just need the US/Canadian border to reopen so I can retrieve Speedwell and get to rigging! BTW Volume Two of our Speedwell book is now at the printers and should be released soon.

[RichardG]

14 minutes ago, dvm27 said:

BTW Volume Two of our Speedwell book is now at the printers and should be released soon.

I got Volume 1 for my 63rd birthday. Now I know what I want for my 64th.

 

Richard

[JpR62]

Very good news. I am in possession of the magnificent volume 1 and I look forward to the second part.

The Speedwell is really a great project.

[archjofo]

Hi Greg,

the masts and tops look fantastically good.
An absolutely clean and precise work. 
Do you also use steel wool for the finishing ?

[dvm27]

Yes, Johann, I use 000 steel wool as a final finishing.

[the learner]

Hi Greg! The mast and tops look great, onward and upward! Do you plan on bring her to the conference next year at the VCMM?

 

I keep forgetting they changed the name when they moved the Museum, its Channel islands MM. 

[dvm27]

It's been almost a year since my last update. The reason is that Speedwell has been landlocked in Canada since last November. My very talented collaborator David Antscherl had made and applied all the carvings and I was going to pick her up to rig her just when Covid struck and the border was closed. I have all the blocks, ropes, masts and spars ready but no model. I'm hoping to get her this summer but who knows at this point. At any rate here are some photos of her sporting her wonderful carvings. 

Edited March 29, 2021 by dvm27

[Keith Black]

 Impressive to say the least, the workmanship is absolutely beautiful. 

[Dowmer]

Wow, incredible carvings Greg. Truly masterful. 

[Blue Ensign]

You and David are surely a ship modelling dream team, beautiful work Greg.

Is that a seat of ease, or a pisdale located in the bow bulwark?

 

B.E.

[Mic.fr]

Very nice, a pleasure to see .

[Hubac's Historian]

This is really wonderful work from both of you.  It is an interesting detail that the lower transom planking appears to be let into the aft-most frame, as opposed to overlaying it.

[Trussben]

She looks fantastic Greg, cannot wait to see more of her.

[Wintergreen]

Who wouldn't want a collaborator like David, just Wow! 🙂 

[dvm27]

Thanks for all the kind comments.

 

HH - the transom planking is indeed let into the aft fashion piece. The side planking is also let into the fore end of the this fashion piece. Needless to say it is a beast to make with two rebates and rolling bevels! But when done this way the end grain of the transom and side planks are both protected from seawater. Some contemporary models show it done this way and some don't but the NMM model we based this on did.

 

BE - that is indeed a pisdale which seems a bit unusual but is a feature of the contemporary model. It has a molded feature that is a continuation of the molding of the inner planking.

 

Wintergreen - I'm sure David would love to collaborate with every single member of this forum...when his plate is empty (estimate 2032).

 

Trussben - haven't rigged a model in 25 years so looking forward to that. I'm studying the work of Archjofo and hope to emulate his work.

[mtaylor]

I can't add to what's been said for example another "wow".  Beautiful work well beyond most of us mere mortals.

[RichardG]

Wonderful.

 

This is on my retirement build list (a very short list). 

 

I have the books, I have the cannons, now all I need is the skill. Fortunately, I also have the peace of mind that not reaching this level is ok.

[tlevine]

Wow!  No other words are necessary.

[BANYAN]

Lovey work, and another successful collaboration between you both.  Another very fine model in the making!

 

cheers

 

Pat

[scrubbyj427]

Wow! That’s stunning work Greg! Work of art!

 

JJ

[shipmodel]

Great work, both of you.

The workmanship of the hull is crisp and pristine, the carvings beautiful and stylish.

 

Thanks for posting again and letting us share your success.

Looking forward to the rigging journey.

 

Dan

 

[the learner]

Greg are you bringing her to the Ventura Conferance?

[Kevin]

Many Happy Returns

[giampieroricci]

wonderful!!!!!!