HM Mortar Vessel Convulsion by Monarch - Caldercraft - 1:64 - First Build

[Monarch]

I have finally plucked up the courage to post pictures of my 'Convulsion' which I have been working on since early in the year but took a break in the summer due to work, gardening and DIY. I have virtually finished the hull and deck fittings with only the anchors, pumps (which will be fitted post rigging, and bowsprit to complete. 

 

I would like to thank all those contributors to MSW both 1 & 2 who provided the inspiration for the hobby and also the tips & techniques to enable me to get as far as I have.

 

My first problem was that the false keel was twisted but this was overcome by wetting the wood and clamping it to a solid piece of flat oak for a week to straighten it out. It took a while to be brave enough to properly fair the bulkheads but once planking was started the need was readily understood. Overall I was pleased with the planking but too much filler led to the decision to paint the hull white and then the rest of the wood with walnut paint.

 

For the deck caulking I used a permanent marker on one edge of each plank, I think the effect is okay. The trickiest issue were the deadeyes and chainplates because I had got the wales too low. I will make my own chainplates and deadeye strops in future. Started off trying to paint the brass fittings but now use brass black again not a bad result but find most of the blackening comes off on my hands. I was too reliant on CA but more latterly have got to grips with pining and using titebond which provides much wore strength. 

 

Some of my work particularly at the start has been clumsy but the more I do the more I understand the value of reading other modeller's build logs. I wish I had drilled the holes for the deck rings earlier and taken more time to drill the hawser holes which are a bit of a mess.

 

The biggest problem is working out how to take decent and focussed pictures - not sure they  are that good but hopefully show her off so far. Tried as advised not to use a flash so the pitctures are a bit dark - as I wiork all day I can only take them at night and lighting in the shipyard is not the best for photography and is surrounded by dark furniture and the Admiral's shoes (I think she must be related to Imelda Marcos)

 

Best tools I purchased are the dremel multi tool, and a magnifying light - even used it to thread the Admiral's needles this evening so a tick in the box for me.

 

Happy to receive any constructive feedback.

 

Glyn

 

 

[normanh]

Looking very good, shes a pleasure to build - was my first kit, just the right size.

 

Norman

[Monarch]

Hi Norman

 

Thanks, your lost build log was my inspiration.

 

Best wishes

 

Glyn

[Monarch]

I have now completed the deck fittings but as previously advised I will not fit the pumps until the rigging is finished. Have started on the bowsprit but got too carried away with tapering on the lathe, I have a Proxxon, so had to go and buy more dowel. I constructed the whole bow sprite but am stuck as the plans show some fixings but there is no reference to what they are so am having to research same. I have sent Normanh a PM and hoping he can assist me. Will now start on the masts.

 

Regards

 

Glyn

[Monarch]

Hi Just finished tapering masts, spars and jib booms. used many methods including proxxon lathe but found using a David plane and hand sanding to round the easiest for me. disappointed with the quality of the birch dowel some of which tore badly and as a result have had to raid my Bounty kit for additional dowel which I will replace later.

 

Now i have to start the hard part of attaching blocks and deadeyes after painting and assembling the masts but all enjoyable.

 

Sorry about the quality of the pictures

Edited January 3, 2014 by Monarch

[Monarch]

Oh forgot to mention had a visit by the admiral who complimented me on the tidiness and cleanliness of the shipyard and commented that I looked a bit cramped to which I suggested she removed her racks of shoes to give me more space. The reply is unprintable as was mine when she noticed the David plane and suggested she could use it to sharpen her eye liners. What she doesn't know is I have taken the Dyson hand held from the caravanand am using that to clean up the mess I make!!!! I'm sure a flogging will be ordered when she finds out.

 

Regards

 

Glyn

[normanh]

Masts starting to shape up well Glyn

 

Norman

[Monarch]

Thanks for looking in Norman, your comments give me confidence to carry on.

 

Regards

 

Glyn

[egkb]

Hi Glyn,

 

Have only just spotted your build and am looking forward to 'Following' it as I too have a Convulsion (still in the box though, but soon to be unleashed )

Have you any 'do's or don'ts' for when I eventually kick in? (or are the Plans/Instructions perfectly adequate)

 

Keep up the great work

 

Eamonn

[Monarch]

Hi Eamonn

 

Being my first build She is a very forgiving ship and the only issue I had with her was the false keel being warped so had to clamp it to a piece of straight oak to straighten it out. All the other issues I found we caused by me and my lack of knowledge and experience and perhaps not looking as closely at the drawings as I should have done. I put the wales too low which caused issues with the deadeyes and chain plates and too much reliance on CA.

 

I would recommend you pin all the deck fittings but make sure that they are square to centre, a couple of mine are slightly off.

 

If this is your first build, unless you are an experienced modeller or craftsman which I am not and have another kit in the locker get some spare dowels, gratings & belaying pins so that you can more easily recover from any mistakes rather than have to wait for spare bits to arrive. My biggest tip is to measure at least twice preferably three times before cutting once - hence my need for spare dowels which I borrowed from my Bounty which is waiting patiently for me.

 

Doubtless like me you will be your biggest critic and all errors will be blown out of proportion but despite what I think, everyone who sees my Convulsion goes 'Wow, you did that'.

 

I just enjoy building her and look to this site as your reference book because even though I think mine is the only Convulsion log, all other builds require the same work but with varying degrees of complexity and tasks -just imagine making 100 gun port lids and mounting them! the Convulsion is very kind in this regard but still attention to detail is still required.

 

If I can ever be of any assistance please ask although you might be better talking to Normanh whose Convulsion shown in MSW1 was my inspiration.

 

Regards

 

Glyn

[egkb]

Thanks for that Glyn, I have a Convulsion, Sherbourne and hopefully soon a Ballahoo waiting in the wings (will begin logs for all 3 shortly, as soon as Ballahoo is paid for and arrives, next few weeks with luck!  )

 

You may be sorry you offered assistance.. :)

 

All The Best

 

Eamonn

[Monarch]

Eamonn you're not going to build all three at the same time surely? If yes then you are one brave man.

 

Regards

 

Glyn

[egkb]

Hi Glyn,

 

Yup, am strongly thinking about it.. same manufacturer, same scale, same small vessels and you don't have to relearn skills from one to the next (what works for one will no doubt work on the others, instead of waiting maybe a year between them when you forget the 'knack' of doing something, planking for example ) lets see if I am still so optimistic in a few months when I've aged about 20 years and am curled up in the corner of my build room sobbing to myself about rabbets and fake splices

 

Eamonn

 

Ye all might be in for a laugh if nothing else .....  

[Monarch]

Eamonn

 

I like your thinking and look forward to your build logs, 1 or 3? Be careful not to mix the bits up though, you could end up with the wrong mast on of of the boats.

 

Good luck

 

Glyn

[egkb]

As I mentioned Glyn, ye could be in for a laugh or two  

 

Eamonn

[Monarch]

Have finally attached the bowsprit which I had to paint in walnut because I could not source birch dowel and the hardwood I used ended up being a bit too grainy just to dye. I am pleased with the latter blocks and deadeyes I attached as I used diluted PVA and not CA like the earlier ones which are really too rigid for my liking. Horrifies to find I somehow dripped CA onto the side of the mortar housing so might have to partially close the roof to hide it as there is no way I can remove the drip without causing too much damage.

 

Sorry about the quality of the photographs - must get better lighting.

 

On with the masts now.

[Monarch]

I have not had a lot of time to spend in the shipyard for the last week or two because of work commitments which is frustrating

But he who pay the piper! I did however get to experiment with silver soldering which was very successful unfortunately

I oversized the seizing on the block so I have to do it all again which required fresh supplies of copper eyelets which I have now sourced. Hopefully will get some hours this week so I can finish the masts and move on.

 

Regards

 

Glyn

[Monarch]

Hoorah have actually spent time this evening in the shipyard but only to the extent of stropping blocks to the mast which is a bit time consuming. Very annoyed that having visited a model shop to buy .25mm black rigging thread they gave me .5mm which I already have. In future I will buy my supplies on line as retailers seem to always fulfill orders. The seizing on blocks using .5mm thread is too chunky for my liking but cannot change it all now. Have been using diluted PVA to keep thread in place which is much neater than CA but sometimes CA is unavoidable where thread needs to be secured but with a smaller syringe needle I can control the flow better.

 

Looking forward it finally finishing the masts.

 

Regards

 

Glyn