HM Colonial Cutter Mermaid by olliechristo - FINISHED - Modellers ShipYard -

[Auvergne]

You work quite well in miniature Ollie! Outstanding !!! Keep up the fine craftsmanship.

[Jim Lad]

Just a thought, Ollie - with the skills that you're showing with this build, have you ever thought of having a go at making your own boats for the Mermaid?

 

John

[olliechristo]

That is a good idea John, Will see how i go.. I am going to make oars thats for sure... 

 

Thanks for your compliments..   If i use these plastic hulls, i plan to embellish them a fair bit.. Thanks for the idea mate, i hadn't thought of it.. .  It would certainly add another few hours.. But would also do it much justice i'm sure... Regards Oliver

Edited November 7, 2013 by olliechristo

[olliechristo]

How do you think would be best to construct them? Frames then planks?

 

Perhaps i could cut the supplied boats into frames and plank them.. hmmm

 

I found some nice pictures of a few row boats, do you think any of these would suit the ship and era?  Im thinkng the last one suits best..

Edited November 7, 2013 by olliechristo

[Jim Lad]

Ollie,

 

The easiest way to build small wooden open boats (in my opinion) is to make a 'plug' to the correct shape and then to bend the frames over the plug and plank.

 

The pictures below might help with the basic idea.  These are the boats for my model of the 'Nareau' under construction - they're roughly 40mm long.

 

John

 

[olliechristo]

They are beautiful.. True craftsmanship. Thanks for sharing, Im inspired to have a go... Regards Ollie

[olliechristo]

Hi again, spent another few hours on interior work, want to get that done.. I must admit i am struggling a bit with how to finish it off. How to depict thoroughfare through to main hold etc.. At the moment i am trying just having a rectangular opening with framing perhaps and black background..(pic 3) Its a bit narrow in companion too. Nothings fixed in yet.

 

Very tempted to cut further into hull (main hold) just for peeking in.. but don't want to compromise too much strength or anything..

 

I tried making some scrolled maps, not sure this appropriate and they need to be smaller i think...(it is amazing how taking photos shows up imperfections and scale issues). Will be glad when my interior is done and move along..

 

Please feel free to share any ideas of how to finish the interior walls. Obviously this is not easy as the plans i have are quite two dimensional.. And basically i just have to do what i can with where im at now and have to accept i can never make it totally authentic inside.. ..  Regards Ollie

[Auvergne]

I see both of you men as true craftsmen! I hope you two do not mind I have followed both and learned a great deal. Thank you kindly for the valuable lessons!

 

John E

[Rowan]

G'day Ollie. I have also bought "Mermaid" and will starting in a month or so. You are a hard act to follow Ollie. Lovely work mate . G'day Jim Lad, nothing less will do. I shall have to try my hand at those ship boats you showed. Stunning.

Both of you keep up the great work. Great thread.

 

Rowan

 

[Jim Lad]

Ollie,

 

The interior would have been very plain - even Spartan - this wasn't a cruise ship!

 

Planked bulkheads possibly painted with a white wash to try and give a bit more reflected light, but certainly nothing fancy.

 

Charts would probably have been in a chest in the captain's cabin - they were very private.

 

John

[olliechristo]

Great, i'm learning heaps... Any ideas for what to put in cupboard i have.. Someone said "ready stores" what would they be?   Ollie

[Jim Lad]

Why not just put some nondescript looking boxes in there, Ollie - then they could be anything.  Oh, and put some lips along the edges of the shelves to stop things from sliding out!

 

John

[olliechristo]

I was thinking boxes!! and i thought lips... no joke.. But just not that confident in the ideas.. I'm off to the shed.. Many thanks..

Edited November 8, 2013 by olliechristo

[olliechristo]

Hi all, i have spent about another 10 hours since last post..

 

I have spent some of that time with the thinking cap on and came up with some solutions to fulfill my desire to open up interior further without compromising hull strength..

 

I cut out the middle as to still leave original plywood in a shape of a "L" and filled in the gap to make a square column, i then sanded with a rough thin belt followed by a piece of quality 240 grit cut to height of post.. Carefully moving arond from different angles ( notice the laser cut number still showing on column..). It could be a bit smaller at vase but prefer to keep the strength. Very happy with the result.. It all looks to make more sense and might even have room to cut some holes for skylight.. more stores will go at stern..

 

I have re-planked the deck with the same planks as weather deck and will buy some more planks (silver ash) from the same supplier.. I realised the originals i made they were too thick for accurate scale.... ( i have gripped the scale element now and is very simple once you think about it...)

 

I am also thinking of buying teak (0.5mm) planks for exterior of hull on the show side... mahogony (0.6) is supplied.  What do you guys think about that? Other side is painted..

 

if anyone has any ideas as to fill last area on right of cupboard please comment.. I am thinking it is part of the galley cooking or washing perhaps..? (refer to earlier diagram Page 2) .

 

Thanks for looking.. Happy crafting all.   Ollie

Edited November 11, 2013 by olliechristo

[olliechristo]

Ahh I just realised some things... I thought it said office's and something else at top... But it says officers pantry,,, feeling silly... but thankful that i noticed.. also worked out that there is quite possibly two hatches to below deck and one is right where i put it at bottom of stairs.. pretty happy with that..

 

At the bottom i think it says "ice chest for stores". but not too  sure and doesnt matter too much.. .. Ollie

[Jim Lad]

Ollie,

 

Whatever that label says, it wouldn't be 'ice chest'!  

 

I think you might find the teak a bit too grainy for the scale you're working at, but if you could see before buying to assess the grain, it would be fun to use.

 

John

[olliechristo]

Hi all, progress has been a bit slow, I have many other things that need to be done, would spend a lot more time if the boss alllowed it,... .. I have worked towards getting my interior madness finished and onto the planking and the plan... doing reading and research on planking.. think i have sorted in my head..

 

I have made some brass handles and planked one of the walls.. Made a few items for the cupboard and just enjoying it really... Will let the pictures do the rest of the talking.. Happy crafting all.. Ollie

[Jim Lad]

She's coming along nicely, Ollie!

 

John

[ringbolt2013]

Sweet!!!

[Auvergne]

Ollie, you are doing a wonderful job! It is evident you are quite passionate about your craft! Best wishes and keep us posted...your work is phenomenal.

 

 

John E

[Pygothian]

You are doing a fantastic job...are you sure this is your 1st build ?

 

It's making me feel very inferior when I finally get around to starting my build - work is chaos at the moment catching up after a few days off sick

[olliechristo]

Thanks guys, your mateship (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mateship)%C2'> is helping me to maintain momentum  Cheers... 

 

John E. I am indeed passionate, this vessel surveyed waters just off the coast where I was born and live (The Great Barrier Reef) She was weecked in 1829 and lies as a heritage listed site just off the coast on the same waters she opened up... Discovered in 1999..

 

Pygothian, thanks mate,, it is my first wooden ship, but probably did my first ship model at about age 12 (first plastic kit), now 32. have done numerous plastic kits like Revelll and tamiya.. Planes, cars helicopters, a aircraft carrier.. And a few remote control boats.. Have had a few years break though... Have also done a fair amount of general carpentry and general building of all sorts.. have always wanted to build a wooden ship and .. This is her... .

 

Have made some more small steps and interior is very close to done.. Planking here we come!!! 

 

Thanks all. You are all inspiring..  Regards Ollie

[ringbolt2013]

You talked about officers stores and what they are. I have done considerable research on what was stored onboard ships of that era. You wouldn't believe all the stuff they could pack in a ship that small. Besides the crew that is. Officers stores were not of the normal "working" stores like salt horse, flower, raisins, salt and that sort. The officer or officers usually had an occasion to use their own funds to enhance their diet and comfort. Like live chickens on deck for eggs and fresh meat. Down below they could bring jams, seasonings, special cheeses, almost any dry or easily preserved sweet things they might want during their time at sea away from the shore. This is not talking about the wines and booze

also packed. Remember that water did not last long in the barrels and a little rum in the water killed off the creepy crawlies and the taste. So it's kind of think about what you would like ad figure out how it could be packaged in those days, usually paper and string or boxes also cases...tea and coffee...bottles etc. Does that help???

 

Tom

[olliechristo]

Thanks so much for that Tom, it really got my imagination going... And i did not know about the rum in water... or any of that really... You can imagine it would be a crazy place to work and live..

 

So i have decided to make the stern post out of solid timber instead of supplied ply as it will have some parts showing and it seemed like the original was a bit narrow in regards to deck and bulkheads.. for some reason... Please tell me if this is not a good idea if you think so..  I think it is..

 

I cut some fine grain hardwood down to 5x5 mm lengths and glued with wood glue...

 

 

 

 

 

[olliechristo]

I have been building one of the final items for interior... Drinking vessel (cask) you tell me what it's called..

 

Made a tap out of brass but think i will redo it in the style in picture.. only took 10 mins.. Attatched a picture of them in the Endeavour replica...

 

Thanks all. and happy crafting. Ollie

[ZyXuz]

wow! it's really some fantastic work on all the miniatures! and cabin

well done!

[olliechristo]

Thanks ZyXuz..    I get lazy and use my phone to take photos when i should get out the 16mp Canon, which i did just now.. Detail cant hide then

 

So I thought i would share this technique i just came up with to make a bucket.. (I really dont like the look of those churned out by the thousand ones..)

 

So i found a nice size tapered lid off a epoxy tube and screwed the base to that and waited till everything was in position with bands to hold it tight, then I "spot weld" with CA and it popped out no worries after a few minures., just dont over do glue at this stage... Then i sanded inside round and mixed Araldite 24Hr super strength to coat the inside.. Tomorrow it will under go trimming and sanding down to a much thinner thickness..

 

Also a close up of water cask.. This time i cut the bands from aluminium cans in about 2mm strips and sprayed matt black before glueing on, then satin clear coated the lot...     Cheers again all commenting and helping .. Ollie

[Pygothian]

That is an awesome idea, I love it. Will definitely try this technique out

 

Cheers

Rowan

[ringbolt2013]

Gad zooks you are soooo good with the small detail. I was never that good at my prime and now I got the shakes. But God do I love to see this kind of work!

[ZyXuz]

thanks for sharing it it's simple, yet effective