Donald McKay 1855 by rwiederrich - medium clipper

[rwiederrich]

Worked on the gunwalls today and the forecastle deck beams.

[rwiederrich]

The monkey rail will be added after the the forecastle deck is laid.  The main rails and waterways went in smoothly

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Close up of foercastle  door and siding.  The gunwall and these areas will be painted white later.

 

Tomorrow I'll tackle the starboard side and decking.

 

That white hole is the fore mast seat.

 

Rob

Edited December 6, 2013 by rwiederrich

[michael mott]

Speedy and good looking work there sir.

 

Michael

[Bill Hime]

Rob,

 

Did you start with a resin hull? If so, great job interfacing two mediums. I'm very interested in watching this all come together. Nice work! I'll be following along

 

Warm Regards,

 

Bill

Edited December 6, 2013 by Bill Hime

[rwiederrich]

Speedy and good looking work there sir.

 

Michael

Thanks..I tend to be pretty fast.....I have and use lots of wood so I tend to redo stuff if it isn't correct.  I built the Glory of the Seas hull in about 2 weeks time....and since I have my techniques down...I hope it goes even faster.

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Bill...I always begin with a Revell CS hull and make the necessary mods to create the hull I need.  I prefer to use existing engineered hulls...then I make the mods to them for my own purposes......and there is ample after marked CS hulls to modify.  My Glory of the Seas and Ferreira are also modified resin hulls.

 

Check those build logs out to see what I did there.

 

Thanks for looking in. I'll get lots done tomorrow...with pics to follow.

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Spent some time on the McKay today.....I finished up the bulwarks.....painted and weathered...then moved onto the main deck house....and put a coat of paint on it too......

 

Rob

[Mahuna]

Hi Rob:

 

Interesting approach and beautiful work.  Can you answer two things:

 

1.  Can you give a brief description of your weathering technique for the bulwarks?

 

2.  The forward wall of the deckhouse looks like individual planks.  Did you create this by scoring a sheet of wood, or are they actual individual pieces?

 

Thanks,

 

Frank

[rwiederrich]

your turbulent ocean waves are excellent.  I haven't seen a sea like that modelled before.

Thanks Brian...I wanted a rich full *BIG* sea to set my clipper Donald McKay in.  I am not a master at making water as some are...but I did the best I could with a medium I'm quite familiar with.

 

Again thanks.

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Most folks build from scratch..using typical plank on frame or full solid hull construction.  I, as is my custom, try to use pre-engineered hulls and then rework them and build them up with wood.  Revell has a good hull in the Cutty Sark model and it doesn't take much to rework it into an American clipper hull....especially if the below water line is not going to be an issue(under water).

 

I use black or brown India Ink diluted in pure Isopropynal alcohol.  The I paint it on the surface I want weathered and it seeps into the cracks and when the alcohol, evaporates it leaves the staining.  It works fast and I use this method on all my builds in some level of dilution.  Then I go back over and dry brush cerium oxide powder(2 micron)(Extremely fine) over the entire surface to add highlights and additional weathering that simulates sun bleaching and wear.

 

As far as the board and lattice or board and batton work on the forecastle and deck house...I make most things. but I do have a stock of this is many scales pre-made.  It is for building scale N,HO model railroad buildings.  It can be found at most quality railroad building suppliers.  I think Micro Mark sells it as well as Model Expo.

 

Again...I will use any source for materials to build my ships.....and sometimes Model railroad supplies work best.

 

Thanks for asking and looking in on my build log.

 

Rob

Edited December 9, 2013 by rwiederrich

[gjdale]

You have a very interesting and resourceful approach Rob. I'm enjoying reading about your techniques and sources. Thank you for sharing them with us.

[Small Stuff]

Daear Rob,

 

from my work on 1/700 ships in boxes I learned the hard lesson that gypsum is going to give its water into the air for/after very long years! So this "water" of a closed bottle or showcase will show "dew" inside. And later you'll get mold or serpula fungus! But the model's wood will have "labored" long time before you can see these or other signs. This is why ships are bottled in coloured window putty. I like your sea in action and authentic colours very much. And so I want to give you my bitter know-how - before you enclose your showbox -due to the wonderful work you are doing.

 

HTH.

Edited December 9, 2013 by Small Stuff

[rwiederrich]

You have a very interesting and resourceful approach Rob. I'm enjoying reading about your techniques and sources. Thank you for sharing them with us.

I've strayed from the purist approach....and have learned from experiences that anything can be re-engineered for my purposes.  I'm after the overall appearance not the method of how I achieved it.  Some would say that the build is as important as the final product....but I gather, that since these are but models and mixing all manner of media to achieve my goals will not result in the little ship's sinking...I delve head long into it.  Plus..I'm generally lazy..so if I can utilize a method, material, technique that saves time and money....I'm all over it.  I want a fine final product and I don't care if I have to use Dental alginate in its construction.  When it's all said and done..the viewer will never  know.

 

Thanks for looking and commenting.

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Daear Rob,

 

from my work on 1/700 ships in boxes I learned the hard lesson that gypsum is going to give its water into the air for/after very long years! So this "water" of a closed bottle or showcase will show "dew" inside. And later you'll get mold or serpula fungus! But the model's wood will have "labored" long time before you can see these or other signs. This is why ships are bottled in coloured window putty. I like your sea in action and authentic colours very much. And so I want to give you my bitter know-how - before you enclose your showbox -due to the wonderful work you are doing.

 

HTH.

Thanks HTH for your fine comments and advice.  The dental stone is not in a box of wood it is sitting on top of foam and the wood is wrapped around the foam..not the dental stone.  Yes gypsum will evaporate water for a time till it is totally void of moisture.  It should not cause moisture condensation and or collection....since it will also not be encased in a glass case.

Thanks so much for your fine comments and concerns..and for looking in.

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Today I ascribed the forecastle and main house deck and installed windows....

[rwiederrich]

Got some pics of today's labors.  First I finished off the decking for the forecastle an cabin roof.

[rwiederrich]

Next I painted the newly installed windows in the cabin...and weathered the cabin.

Edited December 10, 2013 by rwiederrich

[rwiederrich]

Lastly I added the rail and monkey rail......still needs sanding and I need to add the aft monkey rail around the stren.

 

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

I'll finish off the aft rail and sand and then paint black......probably will add Howes holes first.

 

Thanks for looking in.

 

Rob

[Sailor1234567890]

I love watching these CS hulls of yours come together as something else. Still waiting for the GREAT REPUBLIC multiple hull build you mentioned.

[rwiederrich]

Thanks sailor..... I enjoy myself the builds I can make from such pre-cast hulls.  The McKay is easier then the Glory of the Seas..because I didn't have to make any below water line mods...cuz they will be hidden beneath the waves of her open ocean diorama.

 

As far as the Great Republic is concerned.....I still need to acquire the CS hulls.....but it will get built...some time after the McKay.

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Looking ahead in the build...I will be fashioning *Made* masts for the McKay.  The lower masts were varnished, Iron banded sap pine...no paint ...and all the access hatches and skylights were varnished Mahogany.  I have fine grade Mahogany veneer and the pine stock for the lower masts which will then be turned on the lathe to form the *built* masts.

 

Also the stanchions were all carved oak.

 

I have all these supplies..for making the build.

 

Now onto the final hull additions.

 

Rob

[Sailor1234567890]

Onward and upward.

[rwiederrich]

Indeed.  Since I am always thinking in those terms(as far as modeling is concerned), I hope to get the McKay hull finished up today then painted black.

 

I figure it will take 3 CS hulls to make the Great Republic(the largest clipper ship built),  I chose the clipper Donald McKay because of its magnificent features.....such as being the second largest clipper ever built and for all of its unique deck features.

 

Onward and upward.........

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Worked on the McKay today first I';ll show the images of finishing up the deck and monkey rail..note the gangway...the supports and railing will be added later.

[rwiederrich]

And the finished monkey rail...

[rwiederrich]

I worked the bowsprit and banded it and added some scrolling on the cheek plates.

[rwiederrich]

I then masked off the monkey rail and deck and painted the hull black.....here are several pics.

[michael mott]

She is really taking shape now, I am enjoying watching this come together.

 

Michael