HMS Harpy 1796 by Blue Ensign – Vanguard Models - 1:64 scale

[TJM]

Hi B.E. 

 

Very interesting tests with the copper patina. I have heard that a water solution of 2% urea with a few drops of ammonia will make a good patina. I guess this will emulate the 'natural' approach , but is perhaps more controlled and can be tuned in terms of strength of the solution and ratio between urea and ammonia. I will try that myself when I get the chance! 

 

BR

TJM

Edited Tuesday at 02:26 PM by TJM

[SaltyScot]

IMHO, I think urine a good spot where you are, B.E., leaving it as is I mean  

[Blue Ensign]

Thank you Mark, TJM,  and Alan.

@  TJM - I was hoping to avoid the nasty stuff like Ammonia and Copper sulphate, and even the option of hard boiled eggs would require a large bag to  to hold the hull, and a fair bit of puff to inflate it.

@ Mark - I'm in no hurry to follow this up.

@ Alan -   I have kept the test samples exposed to air pinned to my plan board, I will leave them to mature.

0394

You can see the current state compared to the virgin plates for the Rudder.

 

B.E.

 

[TJM]

Hi B.E. 

 

I understand your caution - I am a chemist, so I am biased 😉.

 

I must say I actually like your results, especially the lower square example. But I would much prefer to use a few select chemicals than the all natural route to achieve the result!!

 

But your untreated hull also looks great as is - I am very much enjoying following your build!

[hollowneck]

4 hours ago, Blue Ensign said:

You can see the current state compared to the virgin plates for the Rudder.

 

Nice exposition on your copper patina trials; close - but no cigar (yet). I agree that the coppering on your Harpy looks just fine as it stands. Mother Nature will do the rest. Your chemistry trials reminded me of my own that I also abandoned. This photo taken after approximately two years after placed on her pedestals. These are the questionable "domed" copper plates from Caldercraft, circa 2012/13.

[Blue Ensign]

That's a cracking shot of your 64, Ron, and the copper colour is spot on for what I'm after.

Love the small details - lead sheathing on the stem and Tompions in the Hawse holes. 👍

 

Post 39

Thinking about the deck

As with Indy and Sphinx I want to leave as much of the lower deck open to view as is practical.

The ply sub-deck gives the basic shape to be over-planked but the area will be increased sufficiently to house the carronades.

0384

At the bow around the Fore-Mast I have cut away an area to show more detail of the forward cabins.

This necessitates adding carlings to the deck beam behind the mast to support the mast partners.

Retro fitting carlings  is a little tricky.

 

The centre line of the boat will be planked where necessary between the various fittings.

Hatchways and Companionways will be fitted before planking.

 

Chris has designed these to fit within the etched deck cut-outs, directly on the beams, so I don’t need to  make adjustments to the height of the coamings etc.

 

The first job is to make up and fit the grating sets. 

Quite time consuming the assembly and fettlin’ of these items, there is a lot of heavy char to be removed. It pays to take time, they will be prominent features of the Upper deck.

0435

For the first time on a build, I have not had to add a round-up to the head ledges of the coamings, Chris has included this feature in the parts.👍

0393

Veneers wettened and clamped around a suitable former, in my case a plan tube, are used to cover the  coamings/ head ledges.

The instruction suggest leaving them for 36 hours before use, but I blast them with the hair dryer and leave overnight.

I perceive on the gratings a sort of ribbed effect I have not noticed on previous builds. They benefit from a light sanding to reduce this.

0402

The Instructions suggest that rounding the gratings isn’t necessary; I found it of benefit, and I applied the hairdryer treatment but without dampening the grates.

0404

Main Hatch

0432

The only issue I had with assembly was with the Fore grating and stove chimney cover.

I had to add side pieces to get a good fit.

All these fittings are in their raw state at present.

 

When going off-piste with the decking it is advisable to check out all the fittings to ensure sufficient deck planking is in place.

0423

0424

Here the riding bitts and standards are dry fitted.

I will need to support the standards with decking.

0412

Additional carlings were required to support the small steam grating above the stove grate, which otherwise just sits on the etched deck.

0414

Not sure what the small cut-outs on this grating are for? They almost look like a fault.

0417

0419

0420

All the char will now be removed and the centre line fittings glued into place.

 

B.E.

19/02/2025

[Blue Ensign]

Post 40

Prelude to planking.

0449

I have spent a morning cleaning up just these five fittings. The Char proved very stubborn.

0446

I do intend to paint the coamings Black, but I prefer to keep the insides bright, which proved to be the most difficult to clean.

 The gratings will be given the w-o-p treatment.

0443

I decided I couldn’t live with the kit small steam grating set-up (on the right) so I re-made one more to my liking.

0459

Looking a lot better now.

0452

I can now proceed to planking.

0460

I think my assistant is telling me it’s time for (his) lunch.

 

B.E

20/02/2025

 

[SaltyScot]

1 hour ago, Blue Ensign said:

I think my assistant is telling me it’s time for (his) lunch.

 

Ha, I have an assistant like that too. He just lays on the guest bed in that room and just stares at me too when he wants something. This is him - meet Cooper  

 

 

 

Edited yesterday at 01:50 PM by SaltyScot
Pic added.