Bounty Launch by KeithW - FINISHED - Model Shipways - SMALL - kitbashed

[Keith_W]

Thanks Bob and Dan. To be honest I think that the photographs flatter the model. I can see all the mistakes, I just make sure that it doesn't show in the photos But if you look carefully, you will find them!

 

Anyway, this will be my last update for a few weeks. Tomorrow, I fly out for work I managed to get started on the rigging, but I had a rather busy evening so I only managed to complete two shrouds.

 

 

I noticed that McKay's book shows both the foremast and mainmast with sheaves, so I installed the sheaves.

 

 

This picture shows rigging thread as supplied by Model Shipways (below) and Artesania Latina (above). Note the MS thread is slightly shiny and has no fuzzies. I suspect that it is synthetic fibre, maybe nylon. In use, it is more difficult to handle than the AL cotton thread - knots want to come apart, and it doesn't form compact, tight knots as easily. But I suspect that in the long run it will look better.

 

 

The bowsprit holder has been painted and installed. McKay shows the bowsprit holder mounted on a plate running down the side of the keel, but I think that my solution looks nicer.

 

 

The bowsprit is secured at the rear end simply by tying it to the foremast.

 

 

This is my method for rigging deadeyes. Again, I have not seen it described in MSW or anywhere else. This method uses no jigs. The major advantage is that it allows you to adjust both length and tension easily and perfectly. This is how:

 

1. Prepare the deadeye thread - CA one end (to make it stiff and easy to pass through holes), and make a stop knot on the other end.

 

2. Loop the upper shroud around a deadeye and secure with an alligator clip.

 

3. Rig the thread through both deadeyes loosely.

 

 

4. When the deadeyes are fully rigged, tension the thread by pulling them one by one through the holes. When fully tensioned, check the tension of the shroud and the length of the deadeye. When checking the tension, also make sure that the rake of the mast is correct AND it has not been pulled laterally. You will come across these possible scenarios:

 

4a. IF the deadeyes are too long AND the tension of the shroud is insufficient, you need to tension the deadeyes more.

 

4b. IF the deadeyes are spaced correctly but the shrouds are insufficiently tensioned, release the crocodile clip and add more tension to the shrouds.

 

4c. IF the shrouds are correctly tensioned but the space between the deadeyes is too long, release the shroud alligator clip and feed back the exact number of mm you need to shorten the deadeyes by. The deadeyes will become slack - re-tension them and they should be the correct length.

 

4d. IF the shrouds are correctly tensioned but the space between the deadeyes is too short, release the shroud alligator clip and pull up the exact number of mm you need to lengthen the deadeyes by. Feed the thread back into the deadeyes to lengthen.

 

 

5. Once you are satisfied with both deadeye spacing and shroud tension, tie a knot under the alligator clip and secure with a dab of white glue.

 

 

6. Complete the seizing.

 

 

 

Looks pretty good doesn't it! I'm going to make this Launch so beautiful that Bligh would have preferred to sail in this thing than that breadfruit carrying ship full of mutinous ingrates!

 

And that's it for now. I have to say good-bye to my wife, my home, and my little boat for a few weeks while I fly out to remote Australia. Well, not so remote - it has a beautiful beach There are worse places to work!

 

(edit) ARGHHHH I forgot to make and install the thwart knees before I Tung Oil'ed the thwarts!!! I can still make them, but ... what glue will stick to Tung Oiled thwarts? CA? PVA? Help please!

Edited January 7, 2014 by Amfibius

[Bindy]

No, no, come back from work!  I would like to read more!

 

Not only does your model look amazing, but your descriptions, tutorials and photos are amongst the best I have seen so far.  Thank you for sharing your skills and I can't wait to see more.

[Keith_W]

Thank you Bindy! I will be back in Melbourne in slightly more than a week. I won't be home long though, because I take off for Tasmania shortly afterwards. 

[Bugra]

Happy birthday Keith!

[Keith_W]

Thank you Bugra! 

[Keith_W]

I'm back from my trip, so I have continued some work with this boat. Over the weekend, I completed the standing rigging.

 

I have seized shrouds many times in the past, but I have never been satisfied with the results. This is the theory:

 

 

So how do you do that in miniature scale on a ship model? The answer is to use crocodile clips, like this:

 

 

 

If you can't see what's happening, I have created a series of diagrams that show how the seizing is accomplished. The text and pictures are self-explanatory.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the result:

 

 

I also added an eye bolt for the mainmast stay. Mackay's plans indicate that this was present, but did not indicate where it was attached - so I took a guess.

 

 

The boat as of tonight:

 

 

 

Next I should tackle the spars and sails, but I am thinking of buying a cheap sewing machine to help me make the sails. The sails are therefore on hold until I do a bit of research and learn how to sew on spare cloth. Neither can I attempt making the oars, because I want to reserve that for when my new lathe arrives. I suppose i'll just make the toolbox and a few other little accessories while I wait.

 

It also appears that I have run out of rigging thread. Let's hope that my local hobby shop stocks the same thread used by Model Shipways.

[dcicero]

What a great tip!

 

Thanks!

 

 

Dan

[The Sailor]

Very nice work Keith.

[Senior ole salt]

Keith, very nice and ship shape.  Ole Captain Bligh would be proud.  

 

Hand made oars are not  that daunting.  After cutting the initial shape, It's easy to whittle em out . One can feel if they are round. Try it on a piece of poplar. H.Depot has this wood cheap.

 

S.os

[Bindy]

Welcome back!

 

And what an incredibly clear and helpful tutorial thank you!!!  And the results speak for themselves too.  I can't wait to try this myself!

[Keith_W]

Thanks Dan, Richard, and Bindy.

 

Senior Salt, I know how to turn round objects from square stock using my Dremel. But I want to reserve something to do with my lathe when I get it I don't mind putting my project on hold for a short while.

[Keith_W]

Thanks for all the comments and likes, everyone!

Anyway, I did some work on the carpenter's chest. I modelled it in the open position. I took inspiration from Cap'n Rat Fink's chest here: http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/849-hms-bounty-launch-by-teleman-116-bashed-completed/?p=12090 (copied the hollow lid idea), as well as Meredith's hinges here: http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/2160-hms-bounty-launch-by-meredith-modelshipways/?p=143922

 

At the time I was wondering whether I could make metalwork as fine as hers, but as it turns out ... I can't. Try as I might, I am not able to make two "F" shapes in the supplied brass strip, so I made an "I" and a "C" instead. Still, I think the result looks OK. 

 

Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure or amusement. Probably the latter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bugra]

Keith, 

I guess your fingers are oversized(!) or what ? 

Incredible work and chest looks great!

 

Bugra.

[alde]

Your launch looks fantastic. I am only just starting mine.

[timo4352]

The launch looks great! And very well done and informative build log. Thanks

Tim

[CurtisW]

I just happened to run across your build log. Great work. I was riveted and amazed. THANKS a lot for your rigging tutorial. It will help me a lot.

Curtis

[Cannon Fodder]

Holy moly nice hinges on that chest. Impressive!

[Keith_W]

Bugra, Alde, Tim, and Curtis - thank you for your kind comments! 

 

I just got home from work. On the way back, I stopped by a sewing store and picked up a brand new sewing machine, the cheapest I could find. Well, it was actually the second cheapest. THE cheapest machine was $50 less, but it was in hot pink with little white flowers on it. I didn't want to look like an overaged male playing with a little girls sewing machine (yes, get that image out of your head right now!!!). I coughed up the extra cash and bought the next model up. Please don't ask me if I plan to put Hello Kitty stickers on it. 

 

I need the machine to make the sails. Now I should be able to finish the model!

 

There will be very little work this weekend - the Admiral will be home all weekend and I dare not bring my new sewing machine out. Right now it's well hidden in the store room. 

[Bindy]

Hahahahahaha

 

I think you lost your argument (and wasted $50) about appearing not very manly by revealing you even know what Hello Kitty stickers are!

 

It's ok, I won't give you up to your Admiral though hahaha

[Keith_W]

No updates because i've been struggling with my sewing machine Darn, i'm really hopeless! After several hours of having the thread stuck to the machine, I figured out that the thread I was trying to use was too thick. Back to the shops and now i'm back with single stranded polyester thread. The machine isn't jamming any more, but now I discovered I can't sew straight. Good thing I bought a couple of meters of spare cloth (enough to make sails for two Cutty Sarks). I have been practising my sewing. The machine is quite fun to use when it's behaving properly! 

 

Bindy, I was in Chinatown yesterday. I did contemplate buying a Hello Kitty sticker for the sewing machine, just for you  

[CurtisW]

When sewing, let the machine pull the cloth. You just try to keep it straight. Hope this helps. Good luck . Cant wait to see the sails.

[Keith_W]

Thank you Geoff and Curtis.

 

I have been practising my sewing only on days when I am home alone with the wife at work. That's not very much time. After reading lots of articles and watching Youtube videos, I taught myself how to use this machine. Amazing what you can find on the net these days! Oh yes, and CurtisW - your tip to let the machine do the pulling really did the trick. I found I was trying to push the cloth into the machine. I now try to hold the cloth straight. It works.

 

Anyway, this is my machine:

 

 

I took the plans for the sails off the plans, but the two spritsails were not drawn on the plans. I looked at McKay and cut out some paper templates to test for fit on the model:

 

 

I drew out the outline on cloth using a disappearing ink pen:

 

 

... then proceeded to stitch all the sails. I now have a full set of sails, ready to be mounted:

 

 

I am not sure whether I want to show the sails furled or unfurled. At the moment I am leaning towards furled, so as not to hide all the detail I put in the boat. The problem is, I do not know what furled sails on a Launch are supposed to look like. Plenty of googling later and I am still none the wiser. Does anybody know?

Edited June 22, 2014 by KeithW

[Keith_W]

I have gone through the whole thread and resubmitted all the missing photos. Let me know if anything is still missing.

[Keith_W]

Re: furled sails, I found this, but it looks wrong:

 

 

I suspect this painting is more accurate. Note how the sails are folded like an accordion:

 

 

Can anybody help?

[CaptainSteve]

Keith,

Thanks (once again) for addressing a topic which undoubtedly will become very pertinent for myself within a few months. I went a-googling for pics which I'd hope would answer your question and came up close to empty-handed.

 

The best I could find was by our very own Chuck Passaro. Even this doesn't really answer the question you asked. But here it is, anyway:

 

 

The only other somewhat appropriate pic I could find was this next one ... which really is a much more modern type of sailboat:

 

 

Other than these, the best I can suggest would be taking a stroll down by Port Phillip Bay to see if you can spot something you like. Although, I suspect that 18th Century boats might be rather thin on the ground (or water, in this case).

 

For my own build, I was thinking of semi-furled sails - almost as though they were in the process of being raised (or lowered).

 

PS: I agree with Bindy ... your sewing machine really could do with a couple of Hello Kitty stickers.

Edited March 20, 2014 by CaptainSteve

[Keith_W]

Today was a happy day modelling. That is, until I received a phone call from my best friend's mother. He passed away from a motorbike accident - apparently he crested a hill and encountered a vehicle driven by a drunk driver travelling on the wrong side of the road: http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/claremont-man-killed-in-albany-crash-20140322-359rc.html

 

I am completely numb at the moment. After I put down the phone I continued to work but my mind was a blank.

 

Anyway, i'll just leave these here:

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think i'll continue doing work. It was strangely therapeutic.

[captainbob]

So sorry.

 

Bob

[alde]

My heart goes out to you in the loss of your friend. 

 

Al D.

[CaptainSteve]

Most saddened to hear of your news, Keith !!

[Bindy]

The very best wishes to your and your best friend's family Keith.