HMS Beagle by vvvjames - OcCre - 1:60 - Second Build

[vvvjames]

Ahoy all, 

It's good to finally be at least starting this build log, I had to contend with a lot of shipping problems getting this kit from OcCre (the blame lies fully on FedEx). On its way to me, the package unfortunately took some damage, which I will go over in a bit!

 

So, for my second build I wanted to ramp things up a bit, choosing a larger scale and a very famous ship! The HMS Beagle! 

I have been doing some research on the history of the boat, going through build logs, and looking through a recently obtained copy of the AOTS book by Karl Heinz Marquardt.

I have some exciting ideas for modifying this kit!

Firstly, I made a ropewalk! And will attempt to use only made-by-me rope for the entire build, I'm excited to start using it, but it'll be a while. Here's some rope I've made so far:

Everything will be right hand lay from now on I promise. 

If you want to see a breakdown of the ropewalk itself, I made a post about it here:

 

 

SO onto the build!

I was excited to apply all the lessons I learned from the Albatros, especially the lesson on how-to-not-break-your-bulwark, but the "damage" that Fed Ex referred to was exactly 1 snapped bulwark. 

No big deal I hope, but it does feel like I'm developing a relationship with bulwarks akin to @Knocklouder with bowsprit. 

Glue is drying as I type this, and I have high hopes. 

I won't show off any pictures of the kit, as there are plenty of those on this forum, but everything else is undamaged and in good order! I plan on replacing as much of the kit with homemade or upgraded stuff as possible, I thoroughly enjoyed the few scratch built items on the Albatros, and want to expand that as much as possible with the Beagle. 

 

With that said, I am leaving for Chicago to visit friends (2 whole weeks), and will not be able to work on the boat until I am back:'(

If I get anything substantial done before then, I'll update the log, otherwise I hope you all have a fantastic holiday and new year, I appreciate all your talent and input and will be following along many builds while I'm away from my own. 

Best, 

James

Edited December 17 by vvvjames

[Knocklouder]

If you only break it once, it happens 

. Lol. When you get up to six times you brake it, it does make you laugh 😃. 

Best of luck on your adventure with this kit

Bob  M.

[Ronald-V]

Great looking rope! I'm probably going to attempt to make it myself also...but that's in the future.

 

I wish you all the fun with this build, good luck!  

[Geordie Tyne]

I am looking forward to watching this build come together. As @Ronald-Vsays, that is some great looking rope!
 

Regards

[vvvjames]

Yo ho all,

I wanted to share a quick progress update before leaving for Chicago tomorrow! 

The planking is done! I have to admit this Beagle model is much smaller than I thought it'd be. 

Just joking, but the planking on one of the ships boats is done!

It's good to get some practice in, It started so well then got a bit messy towards the garboard strake. Lessons learned!

 

As for the ship itself, I did install the deck planks, cutting 60mm strips and gluing individually instead of imitating planks with pencil on full length strips. I rubbed a pencil on the edges before installing each piece for the calking. 

I liked this at first, but I was misled by the OcCre videos on the butting pattern, also the scale is too big. I have ordered 3mm wide cherry veneer strips to use instead of the 5mm wide kit strips. I will just put these on top of the current planking. 

I also want to imitate the pattern from the anatomy of a ship book as much as possible for this second layer. 

Since I can't do much more on the boat until I'm back in town, I wanted to try making the doors as well. 

Just experimenting for now. I think the two on the left are my favorites so far! 

Anyway, I'm off to the Windy City, and will hopefully be able to visit the Chicago Maritime Museum while I'm there. Happy holidays and I look forward to seeing your builds progress!

Best,

James

 

 

Edited Sunday at 03:03 AM by vvvjames

[Geordie Tyne]

The doors on the left look great!
 

Happy holidays to you as well.

 

Regards.

[Snug Harbor Johnny]

  Your ropewalk is setup with a 'top' (juggernaut) that runs itself up to the geared end as the rope is made - similar to a full-size rope walk, but constrained by the side line guides.  A large version I used to use at craft demos had a swivel on the far end to relieve excess counter-twist, while other versions use a crank.  Whatever way, the product comes out about the same.

  After using Chuck's Rope Rocket (judging the amount of twist by 'feel' and distance each end moves on the two-step process), the scale rope length is 'whipped' by hand to normalize any twist imbalance (that removes any kinks), then I'll step on one end and pull out the rope in sections to stretch it out ... this 'sets' the rope pretty good.  I use poly thread for permanency, so it is heat treated on a cookie sheet  for 5 minutes in a 320 degree F oven.

  Cotton doesn't need this if stretched with moistened fingers.  Old models rigged in just plain cotton thread can have deterioration, but laid scale rope of cotton should last longer ... but many (like me) are betting on poly for the long run.  Linen rigging - like the old fly fishing line used by old timers - holds up very well, just as fine linen sails have done.