San Martin by MikkiC - Dusek - 1:72

[MikkiC]

San Martin Dusek

Edited August 1 by MikkiC

[MikkiC]

Well, I've been browsing, learning, snooping, and admiring here for several years. I think I had a build log a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away for the first ship I built. Anyway....an incomplete Dusek San Martin kit fell in my lap a few years back, and I decided to construct it and a build log since my search yielded no results. Furthermore, I alway appreciate help which people here readily and kindly give.

 

For me, the kit has the important items: the frame and plans. My reasoning was I have a lot of parts and wood from my past builds, and I have enough experience to build what is missing (or buy if need be). I can see by looking at the plans and the parts, that the premade decking isn't there. I wouldn't have used it anyway as I prefer to plank the deck one plank at a time. Many other missing items are of the same insignificance to me. 

 

The kit is a single PoB, but despite all of my research, I found no rule that states "after building 5 double PoB's, you must attempt a single." : ) Can I do it correctly and well? Maybe? I don't feel confident enough yet, so I'll be doing two layers. I have the wood for the first layer, but I need to wait for AoS to restock walnut strips for the second. 

 

The instructions are clear enough, but if you're a beginner, they may present a problem if you choose this kit for your first build. I would advise having some experience and/or do a lot of research before attempting. My favorite part thus far is: plank the entire hull. This is a seemingly simple instruction, but the process can be complex and take quite some time (depending how long and often you are able to work on your project). I work FT, so the hull may take me a month or two - probably longer depending on what house projects need attention.

 

I will add pics as soon as I send them from my phone to my Surface. So far I only have the frame built and am currently bending wood by soaking in water and clothespinning to a mason jar lid. The bend is tight, but it's easier to unbend than bend more. Hmmm....the latter half of that sentence could be a book title. I tried a plank bender once. I prefer the soak and clothespin method. 

Edited August 1 by MikkiC

[MikkiC]

Now that I have the title correctly edited, I'm going to attempt to post a few pics. This is the very early stages. I used the corner brackers to help fair the frame. I used wood as well, but that's all since been removed. I also removed the brackets to make life a little easier. I'm slightly proud of myself for remembering to paint inside the ports for the false guns before I got to the second layer of planking. 

 

I do like this frame. It gives me some ideas for future projects. I know most of the top will be cut away, but for now, it keeps things tight and square. 

[MikkiC]

Here's my makeshift shaping.......

[MikkiC]

Clearly the bulkheads need sanded yet, but I have alway done that step a few planks at a time. I'm not experienced enough to see the shape and sand all the frames before planking. 

 

I also noticed that the pic on the box and different websites has some parts painted. I am thrilled that NO paper parts exist for the colour. I've built Mamoli's Golden Hinde as well as Occre's Revenge, and both kits had paper decorations they expected me to glue on. I prefer to paint the parts myself. Thin black markers help clean up lines and crsipen things up. A small paint brush and magnifying lamp also help the long, arduous process.

 

 

 

Edited August 1 by MikkiC

[Paul Le Wol]

Hi Mikki, you are off to a great start. I thought I was the only person to have ever owned a Surface 😀

[MikkiC]

Hi Paul. I love my Surface. Bought it when my classes were moved online during Covid. It was the best device for a lefty prof to grade papers and write on the whiteboard. Other brands were challenging for this lefty.

[Seventynet]

Hi MikkiC,

 

I’m pulling up a chair for this. I got this PoB kit years ago when Dusek was having a sale and I’ve been eyeballing it ever since but it will have to wait until I’ve finished my current build. I look forward to learning from you.

 

Ian

[Paul Le Wol]

Good luck with your San Martin! 

[MikkiC]

Progressed a little. My thought is finish this layer, sand forever, cut out cannon ports, sand some more, put on second layer of planks, and move to bulkhead supports, cutting out old supports, and planking the decks. Thankfully I'm flexible because as we all know, plans can, and often do, change. 🙂

[MikkiC]

[MikkiC]

[MikkiC]

[MikkiC]

Oh, and I should probably do something about the divot? Small abnormality? In the bow

[MikkiC]

Just a quick post. I'm still working on the hull, but am painting a little while things dry. I made this from inside scrap pieces from one if the bulkheads. Many pics of the ship show the red/yellow colour scheme. This ship was built by Portuguese, so I'm adding a few salutes to them. The painted version needs cleaned up a little.

[Knocklouder]

Good luck on your journey,  nice work!!   

Bob M.

[MikkiC]

Thanks for the "likes." 

[MikkiC]

Well a little more work on the hull, but I'm just about out of limewood. I was waiting to order when the walnut was back in stock to save on shipping. Alas, I bit the bullet. I had a few low spots I filled in. I see people planking a hull with prebending wood. I cannot figure out how they do it. The wood breaks/cracks on me if I don't bend it first.

 

I still need to cut out a few more gun ports. I guess I'll work on some cannons 'til the wood arrives.

[MikkiC]

Well I need some doors. I love the toothpick hack. It's fun.

[Seventynet]

Lookin good, Mikki!

[Pfälzer]

You see, I struggled with strips twice as thick and sanded them down to half the size.
The idea of using toothpicks is not at all unwise.
Great thinking

[MikkiC]

Thank you for the likes and confidence boosters.

Pfalzer, I cannot take credit for the toothpick hack. I wish I could remember who I learned it from so as to give him credit!

 

Dreaded windows: like many others, I prefer not to use photo etched kit brass if I don't have to. The windows for galleons, however, are tough to make. That arch is hard....well for me it is. This is what I have thus far. Any suggestions are surely welcome:

I took 2 x 5 limewood and ripped in half with an Xacto. I traced a window from the plan and transferred onto some painter's tape. My "kit" is a partial, so it doesn't have any brass parts. Anyway, I glued the strips in the shape of the form. I glued three strips at arch. Once dry, I traced the pattern, used an Xacto to cut the arch, filed, and sanded.

 

I'm still going to stain. I use those Minwax marker like stain pen things for small parts like the doors, windows, etc... As for grating....not sure. Paint twistie tie wire black? For glass....still not sure....cigarette pack cellophane?

 

 

Edited August 22 by MikkiC

[MikkiC]

Whoopsie!!!!!

I was impatient (always a disaster 🙂) waiting for wood, so I pieced together some of the planking with what pieces I had. What was I thinking? I ripped off about 5 planks on each side. The curve was all kinds of wrong. Now that I have a better layout, I have to fix a few. It's definitely fixable but annoying. Thankfully this is getting 2 layers, but I need to get this layer solid and sound. Lesson learned.

[MikkiC]

Well the mortgage company requires I pay them so my dogs have a roof over their heads and a yard to run in, so I had to put off the fix and go to work. 🙂

 

The fix is underway. I still have the other side, but this is much better. I tore out more than I originally thought I would. Eh, no biggie. 

[Slowhand]

That’s much better, you can edge bend 5 x 2 mm lime by heating with hair tongs as well as bending normally using an Amati bender

[MikkiC]

Feeling a little more normal now. Wow. My brain sometimes confounds me. Hahaha. Nonetheless, I can proceed.

[MikkiC]

Thoughts????

I'm looking ahead a little, and I still have to attach the transom. This doesn't look right to me, but if I'm wrong, please tell me. 

The plans kinda have it slapped on the back like so:

 

[MikkiC]

I want to smooth out that awkward looking bungle so that the transom doesn't hang below its supports thus creating a nice, cleaner line.

 

[ccoyle]

I don't doubt that the plans are correct on that point. Remember that a profile only shows how the piece looks from the side, and not necessarily as the joint looks along its whole length. Transoms did often overlap the aft edges of the hull, especially on these older ships.

[Baker]

This option is the most logical.
I will send you a pm with a drawing