Charles W Morgan by Brucealanevans - FINISHED - Model Shipways

[Brucealanevans]

At a bit of a standstill waiting for replacement mast dowels (don't ask how I could mistake rounded for squared from the plans). I realized if I wanted to have furled sails on the model, I'd need to figure out the jibs prior to rigging the forestays.

So I started researching on this site and experimenting.

Made (cut down) jibs from two thicknesses of silkspan painted with white glue/a bit of ochre paint/water after drawing the seams on one of the inside surfaces of the sandwich. The seams don't show well in the pictures, but they're appropriately understated but visible if you look. If I decide to have some of the sails only partially furled they should look good

 

 

Then after drying, turned a small seam with thread inside drawn out a the corners for attachment. Added rings  (there are 10 of them) made from black coated copper wire and mounted the whole on a block with a copper rod thru the rings to keep things aligned while I re-wetted and folded the sail.

I'm reasonably pleased with this - the package should be smaller once it's bound down. Probably about half the diameter it is at present.  I'll finish the other and mount them when I do the forestays. I think just the two.

Suspect the spanker/gaff at the mizzen might be more of a challenge.

 

 

I've made a decision to go with sails (furled) so I guess I also will be acquiring yet another display case. We're going to run out of room to put ships if I'm not careful, but given the speed with which I'm working not likely to be a problem.

Edited November 24, 2015 by Bruce Evans

[texxn5]

Very nice Bruce, she should be interesting with furled sails.  I considered that early into the build, but then decided not to include sails.  Keep up the good work.

John

[docidle]

Bruce,

 

I just found your log and your work is superb. I'm bookmarking this!

 

Steve

[Brucealanevans]

I'm semi-retired (50% for a few months) and got diverted to other (non-model) projects for a while, while I pondered what to do about the masts.

I'm putting furled sails on the Morgan, but the mizzen posed a problem because the jackstay runs along the mast, and I didn't think I'd be able to mount the sail once the mast was in place, to say nothing of the shrouds.

 

At any rate, I've added the sail which necessitated making the gaff boom for the hoops, and (temporarily) hoisting it up. The sail is meant to be retracted but not tightly furled. I'll still work on the sail a bit to get more natural folds.

So here's the current state.

Not sure if I'm going to start on the lower shrouds now or build the masts up first.

Edited February 24, 2016 by Bruce Evans

[texxn5]

Happy Birthday Bruce.....many, many more!

[rwiederrich]

I just purchased a  completed version of this model at a second hand store for 100 bucks.  It needed some desperate repair to rigging and broken top gallent yards...plus several boat davits were broken and missing...not to mention some oddly placed rigging...that needs repairing.  Not with standing, the model was part of a larger collection that sold separately for nearly $600 a model.  This one was damaged enough...I got it for a song.  The builder who is now deceased actually did a fairly good job...not requiring too many changes, and the errors are not that noticeable.  He coppered the entire hull...very nicely too.

 

I'll post images when I get home.

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Here are some of my Morgan......

[rwiederrich]

OH..and of course my mancave........the Library, where all the magic happens.

 

Rob(Kinda like an eye spy room)Lots to see.

Edited March 22, 2016 by rwiederrich

[Brucealanevans]

I've reached a milestone, with the masts completed. I haven't glued the sections together but all the construction is done and the platforms/crosstrees attached.

I did remember to put the parrels on the fore and main topmast before fastening the crosstrees - thanks for the heads up on that John - I would have missed it too!

Scratched my head for quite a while about how to do the lookout rings and have them robust enough in the attachment to the very small diameter mast section to survive the coming months of construction.

I made rings of copper wire by wrapping around a mandrel and cutting at the overlap. I glued the opposing ends into a very small piece of wood - thin side to side and several mm high - drilled thru to accept the ends, and used accelerator on the CA glue.

Then I milled a slot into the mast side to side - John, the proxxon x-y table and drill press can do almost anything - and by fussing with sandpaper and file convinced the piece of wood to enter firmly into the slot, one on each side, with liberal dab of Tightbond inside. A bit of card on either side to give the appearance of a band. I used an enamel for metal on the copper rings. As long as what you are painting is either black or white and you don't mind waiting 24 hours for it to be really dry, it works much better than the water-soluble paints. Quite durable once its dry and no rubbing off.

I'm pleased with the appearance, and the attachment is very firm and should stand up to having lines attached.

 

Now it's time to contemplate the shrouds.

Edited March 25, 2016 by Bruce Evans

[rwiederrich]

Looking great.......

[homer]

Very nice job Bruce! I set the ship aside for a little while as I have been building cabinets for the garage. I'm just about done if I don't build any more! Then, back to the Morgan. 

[md1400cs]

Bruce,

 

So nice indeed. I am also enjoying following along. Very nicely detailed work !.

 

Michael

[Brucealanevans]

So I've been working on the shrouds for the lower level masts. Serving those lines was a real patience-practice, and after serving they were stiff and a bit of a pain to work with.

For the "full size" deadeyes for the fore and main mast shrouds, I made a couple simple jigs from a piece of scrap wood and four fine metal wire pieces to hold the two deadeyes the correct distance apart while I determined the length of the end without a deadeye attached. This worked pretty well. For the mizzen and its smaller deadeyes, I just eyeballed it with acceptable results.

I think next, as per John's advice on his website, I'll make and mount the various bits of cutting in tackle, before I continue with the standing rigging.

As always, my eyes always go immediately to what I could have done better!

Here's what it looks like now:

Edited April 30, 2016 by Bruce Evans

[texxn5]

Hello Bruce, just getting caught up on your log. I wasn't aware that you were back working on her again. Somehow I didn't get any notices that I usually get. Your Morgan is really shaping up. I'm glad you could benefit from my mistakes shown on my website. I agree that the Proxxon Drill Press w/xy table is invaluable. Wait till you start making sheaves in the spars. Keep it up my friend, looking good.

John

[Brucealanevans]

Thanks.. Your experience has been a great boon.

Modelshipways ahould consider adding your site contents as a supplement instruction book!

[Brucealanevans]

Several days of work to produce the bits of the blubber tackle and mount/rig it all.

Anyone building this model is strongly advised to get high quality blocks for this bit, especially the two large double blocks that hold the hooks. It's front and center when you look at her, so it should look its best. I used Syren Shipyard block sets from Chuck - they look great!

Thanks for the "likes"

(I know the anchor chains and the blubber tackle lines shouldn't both be hooked up to the windlass at the same time, but I took the liberty for visual effect anyway!)

Edited May 8, 2016 by Bruce Evans

[texxn5]

Wow Bruce, looks terrific. I'm really glad you bought Chucks large blocks, it makes all the difference in the world. That was one of the best decisions I made on building my Morgan. The remaining blocks should be replaced as well, again the details. Great looking model, glad I could help. MS told me they didn't need anything since they had an instruction Manual.

John

Edited May 8, 2016 by texxn5

[Brucealanevans]

Ha!

I hate to think of building this without your blog.

[jwvolz]

That's looking really fantastic Bruce. Great work. 

[texxn5]

Thanks Bruce, that's why I created it. Glad it is helpful. Your Morgan is looking terrific.

John

[homer]

Looking great Bruce! I also bought Syren blocks for the ship but haven't rigged the blubber tackle yet. I've been moving rather slowly on the ship the last few months. Take care. Ron

[Mirabell61]

Bruce,

 

your  CWM  is a wonderful build of a whaler working ship. Excellent handcraft work and a pleasure to explore the details...  

 

Nils

[Brucealanevans]

I just finished the ratboards for the first level of the masts. Dozens of boards and hundreds of knots. A tedious job I had to break up to an hour or so a day, so took a long time. I also inexplicably installed the main shroud ratboards on one side with the "free" shroud aft rather than forward - of course I didn't notice until I was putting the LAST on one. After some bad words, I had a long job picking off the securely knotted and glued ratboards without ruining the shrouds which would have been VERY difficult to replace.

At any rate finally done. Looks OK but looking at the close up picture below a bit untidy. Still looking way up at perfection! Never pays to look too close.

Thanks for the likes and kind words.

After a few days break will start on the next level of masting. Back to another tedious job - serving the lines for shrouds.

Edited June 14, 2016 by Bruce Evans

[homer]

Bruce, nice work! I too am working on the rat board knots and about 3/4 done. I'll upload my pics when I finish the task. But wanted to compliment you.Take care. Ron 

[homer]

Dang it! After looking at your beautiful work I just realized that I installed the long rat board on the Main Mast the same spacing as on the Foremast. Not sure how I missed that. It's been such a tedious process that I may end up leaving them alone. Darn-it!!  

[Brucealanevans]

One thing I continuously learn is that despite our best intentions our eyes are constantly drawn to the things that can (should) have been done better. Note the most aft shroud/deadeye on the mainmast above that was too close to the forward "roof" support to line up without twisting, as just one example. Also a hurried and to my current standard not acceptable job of mounting the rudder and its hinges and supports.

I just hope with each subsequent build, if I'm around long enough, to build to a higher and higher standard - I'm comfortable just competing with myself rather that some of the true craftsmen on this forum!

The Confederacy is waiting on my "to build" shelf just waiting for my expertise to justify it. Will probably do the gunboat Philadelphia first when I finish the Morgan.

Fully retire in 2 weeks (!) one of which is vacation, so plan on spending a few hours nearly every morning in the shipyard, so hope to finish the Morgan this year.

[DocBlake]

Excellent job on this model.  Really first rate.  I'll be visiting the "Morgan" during the Wooden Boat Show in Mystic, CT next week.  The kit is on my shelf, also.  I plan to take hundreds of pictures to use when I begin my build.

[homer]

17 more months for me Bruce, then I will also retire! 

[alde]

Congratulations on your upcoming retirement. My last day after 36 years 4 months is July 1st.

 

Judging by your Morgan build you should have no trouble jumping right in on the Confederacy.

Edited June 21, 2016 by alde

[Brucealanevans]

Thanks

If I finish the Morgan by the end of the year I think I will take on the Confederacy.

It's calling to me from its box, pointing out that it won't need a huge (as in high) case like the table-case on its way here for the Morgan.