Venetian Carrack or Cocha by woodrat - FINISHED - 1/64

[woodrat]

As a first step in my cunning plan I have made a mold from plaster of Paris, cunningly using a Frascati bottle as a shaper.

The rough mold is shaped with files and sandpaper

 

Cheers

Dick

[JesseLee]

Wow, that turned out very good so far!

 

Jesse

[druxey]

Make sure it's sealed really well!

[Louie da fly]

This cunning plan is so cunning it's as cunning as a very cunning thing . . . .

 

Steven

[woodrat]

My cunning plan is so cunning even a cunning person wouldn't think of it. It's so great...

 

Yes Druxey, I will varnish it and coat with mold release.

[woodrat]

The second cunning plan was not quite as cunning as a cunning plan could be.

Silkspan was wet and stretched on a frame the painted with dilute acrylic. Taken off the frame molded and set with medium.

the silkspan did not have enough strength when removed from the mold to hold the complex shape.

 

 

But..... nil desperandum. The third cunning plan has gone a bit better so far

I used vertical strips of calligraphy paper over the mold with white glue. Then horizontal strips of silkspan over that.

Dry and detach from mold

Seems to be holding its shape. Ready for reinforcements and boltropes.

Dick

[druxey]

Whew! Looks like you are winning now. Might I suggest using acrylic matt medium rather than white glue? Then, if necessary you can dampen areas of the sail to reshape them without anything falling apart.

[woodrat]

1 hour ago, druxey said:

 Might I suggest using acrylic matt medium rather than white glue? Then, if necessary you can dampen areas of the sail to reshape them without anything falling apart.

Druxey, I don't know what brand of medium you use but the one I bought did not hold its strength when rewet. I can keep trying and pick the best looking sail.

[druxey]

I've used different brands with no issues. Liquitex and Acrylex are two brands.

[cog]

Can't you fixate with plain ordinairy hairspray ........ like on charcoal drawings ...

[woodrat]

thanks Druxey and Carl. The problem is making the construct stiff enough to maintain its shape against gravity. Experiments continue.

Dick

[cog]

Hairspray won't do, but you might try a rattle can with glue ... after drying you can paint it if required, as it won't dissolve

[woodrat]

2 hours ago, cog said:

Hairspray won't do, but you might try a rattle can with glue ... after drying you can paint it if required, as it won't dissolve

Yes, indeed, Carl. I plan some painting and weathering of the sail.

Dick

[druxey]

How many layers of SilkSpan are you using? It should be a single layer, except for the reinforcements. That will be light enough not to sag when stiffened with acrylic medium. I'd be very cautious about using spray glue: any remaining unpainted spots will 'grow' dust fuzz.

[shipmodel]

Hi Woodrat - 

 

I have had good success, like Druxey, with acrylic matte medium.  I lay up the sail with all its details - bolt ropes, cringles, reinforcements, etc.  Then I lace it to the spar and suspend it horizontally  from the corners of the spar and the lower corners of the sail.  The matte medium is painted on and allowed to dry completely.  The simple weight of the liquid medium pulls the sail into a nice billow.  This can be encouraged with a small bag of rice.  Once dry, it hangs quite nicely, I think.  You can read more about the method, and some mistakes, in my build log of the Queen Anne's Revenge.

 

Best of success.

 

Dan

 

[woodrat]

Thanks Dan. That would work for a simple billowing sail and that is not the problem. In this carrack sail, there is a reverse curve in the centre where the centre of the sail is being pulled back by a lanyard so the sail does not rub on the mainstay. Also, the carrack mainsail in contemporary illustrations does not hang off the yard. It billows upwards and forwards.

This is why I am having difficulty. But I think I have it licked.

even the excellent R C Anderson model does not attempt this. If I can reproduce this it will be a very gratifying effect. Cheers

Dick

 

[shipmodel]

Hi Dick - 

 

Glad you have it licked.  Looking forward to seeing the results.  

 

I was just agreeing with Druxey that acrylic matte medium is a good stiffener and has worked for me.

 

Dan

 

 

[woodrat]

12 hours ago, shipmodel said:

I was just agreeing with Druxey that acrylic matte medium is a good stiffener and has worked for me.

 

Dan

 

 

I could do with a good stiffener, right now

 

Seriously though, Dan your results on the Queen Anne's Revenge are superb. I wont be able to match that. What I hope to produce is something like the true shape of a carrack mainsail cracking on in a following wind

[woodrat]

The following is the construction of the maintop (or crow's nest if you like)

 

The construction of the base. Note the access aft for the jacob's ladder to allow ingress to the top and the entry of the halliards. for ward of the mast will be the exit of the halliards.

 

The side frames for the top are made by laminating thin strips of wood and sawing them to thickness required

 

the position of the frames is located using my Emco dividing attachment (Unimat 3)

The circular rail for the top is turned on the lathe. Note the crane arching over the rail. This is for lifting objects such as ammunition etc from the deck to the maintop. It has a pulley.

The frames are strengthened by bracing timbers

Temporary positioning of the maintop on the mast

Almost ready for the mainsail and yard. Still have work to do at deck level.

Dick

 

 

 

 

[Louie da fly]

As usual, beautiful work, Dick. A pleasure to watch.

 

Steven

[JesseLee]

Looks great!

 

Jesse

[woodrat]

The crane on the maintop is wrong. It should be projecting laterally not aft so that it will access the waist not the quarterdeck. Will fix as it will bug me!

Dick

[Louie da fly]

How big are those lubber holes, Dick? Are they big enough for someone to squeeze through? They look rather small - but doubtless you've already worked that all out.

 

Steven

[woodrat]

On 17/06/2017 at 2:46 PM, Louie da fly said:

How big are those lubber holes, Dick? Are they big enough for someone to squeeze through? They look rather small - but doubtless you've already worked that all out.

 

Steven

He fitted with inches to spare. Crows nest were very large fighting platforms in those days

 

Dick

[druxey]

I guess well-built men need not apply....

[Louie da fly]

I doubt there were many "well-built" crewmen on a carrack - at least among the topmen. The cook, maybe . . .

 

By the way, Dick, I really ought to take the opportunity to say how good that ship looks, and how well she resembles the contemporary pictures. That last profile picture of her really shows up what a magnificent job you've done.

 

Steven

[woodrat]

You are most kind, Steven and I would also like to thank everyone for the 'likes'. I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Dick

[JesseLee]

I agree with Steven, I am enjoying this build very much - both the craftsmanship and the historical research!

 

Jesse

[woodrat]

I have done the best I could on the mainsail. It is an approximation of the possible appearance of sail in that era. It only remains to hoist it.

 

[Louie da fly]

That's very impressive, Dick.

 

So what did you finally use to make the sail, and is there a chance of a tutorial in the future for those of us who want to follow your lead?

 

Steven