HMS Mars by j21896 - Caldercraft - 1:64 - modified kit

[Pygothian]

I love the Swiss pear. Why did you source it from?

 

I want to put it on my Syren, but wouldn't know where to even begin finding this wood, let alone cut to the thickness required as I have no fancy power tools (and all my fingers)

 

Wife has drawn the line on power tools!

[gjdale]

I love the Swiss pear. Why did you source it from?

I want to put it on my Syren, but wouldn't know where to even begin finding this wood, let alone cut to the thickness required as I have no fancy power tools (and all my fingers)

Wife has drawn the line on power tools!

Pygothian,

 

You can order timber (including Swiss Pear) from Hobbymill in the US (link on the MSW home page). Send an email to Jeff Hayes and he will sort you out - milled to your exact requirements. He provides quality timber, beautifully milled, and at a very reasonable cost. No connection, just one of many very satisfied customers.

 

Now, about those power tools..........

 

Robert,

 

Sorry to hijack your log. Your gun carriages look superb - well done!

[j21896]

Thanks very much folks!  

 

I used a lot of timber suppliers out there until I found Jeff at HobbyMill -- the "gold standard".  In my opinion he is the ONLY option when it comes to scale lumber!

 

Cheers,

Robert

[Martin W]

Hi Robert -- Those are good looking gun carriages.  Your "mass producing" strategy is paying off in spades!

 

Cheers,

 

Martin

[Beef Wellington]

Take my hat off to you Robert, those looks amazing.  Using paint it does provide an easier way out (I say rather sheepishly), you really are going the extra mile scratching many items in solid wood and the results speak for themselves.  Can't wait to see one completed with barrels.

[Landlubber Mike]

Looks great Robert.  Not sure if you had this issue with your kit, but the carriages and trucks on my Badger were of very poor quality walnut that splintered just by looking at it - Caldercraft kits are great, but the walnut is a big disappointment.   It's probably a bit tedious to scratch the components, but the results look to be well worth it!

[j21896]

Thanks Jason -- I can't wait to see something completed on this never ending build!   I remember your old post about why first builds "break down", and then I watch with envy your impressive progress on Snake, with her immaculate paint job -- she's gorgeous!  I may have bitten off a bit more than I can chew.

 

And yes Mike, the walnut provided with the kit was very splintered.  I was also disappointed to find the kit carriages -- as well as many other parts -- were actually walnut plywood.  That pretty much forced my hand to scratch building, since I wanted to build her with a natural wood finish.  I can't complain though, as I'm having a lot of fun "scratching".

 

Cheers,

Robert

[gjdale]

 

And yes Mike, the walnut provided with the kit was very splintered.  I was also disappointed to find the kit carriages -- as well as many other parts -- were actually walnut plywood.  That pretty much forced my hand to scratch building, since I wanted to build her with a natural wood finish.  I can't complain though, as I'm having a lot of fun "scratching".

And your efforts have paid off in spades Robert - you can be very proud of the results you are achieving. Absolutely top notch.

[j21896]

Just a brief update, barely worth posting, as progress has been extremely slow with all the various carriage components...

 

Transoms and carriage beds are ready:

 

 

 

 

Drilling the axles for their pins, and rounding them to accept the trucks:

 

 

 

 

Robert

 

 

 

 

 

[cookster]

Robert, I read through your build log.  Very impressive!  Love your scratch built cannon carriages, your using the same methods I plan to when i get to mine. I  Will be following along!

[j21896]

Gun Carriages (scratch-built) - continued

 

Assembly of the carriages is underway.  Placement of the brackets on the axles is aided by a typical jig on a copy of the plans.

 

 

 

 

 

Though not really visible, I used copper wire blackened with liver of sulphur instead of brass (taking a cue from Ed Tosti), for the rods that support the carriage beds.  I also plan to use copper and LOS for the carriage bolts, eyebolts, and rings.

 

 

 

 

Trucks are being added.  Axle pins are Swiss pear drawn through the smallest hole on the Byrnes draw plate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are proving to be very time consuming items to make – fortunately there are only eighteen!  The process continues …

 

Robert

Edited November 23, 2013 by j21896

[augie]

Sorry Robert.  This is time more than well spent.  Spectacular.

[Beef Wellington]

The axle pin detail says it all Robert, those look great!  BTW, I'm glad you gave me to tip to glue items together to shape multiple items at the same time and then separate, I can see that coming in very handy for a few items!  Looking forward to seeing the barrels installed.

[gjdale]

Fantastic Robert! Those gun carriages look just superb. I've experimented with copper and LOS as well and found as you did, that it's much easier to work with than brass and selenium solutions. We all have EdT to thank for that I think.

[rafine]

I'm blown away by those carriages, Robert . Great.

 

Bob

[j21896]

Thank you very much guys!  I REALLY appreciate your encouragement!

 

Robert

[Blue Ensign]

Beautiful job on those carriages Robert, they are magnificent.

 

B.E.

[ASAT]

Robert, your build is impressive, I can't believe the success you are having with your first build. Your carriages are outstanding, as good as I have seen on any build. Lots of great info on your techniques as well. I will continue to look in on your build and use your ideas as a reference for improving my ability's. 

 

Lou

[j21896]

Cannons (replacement parts)

 

All of the wooden parts for the carriages have been completed; they’ve been assembled, and given a coat of tung oil which needs some time to dry.  I’m starting now to address the related ironwork – the most significant being the guns themselves.

 

As previously mentioned, I didn’t care for the look of the kit-provided guns, as they seem out of scale – much too bulky and heavy – so I turned to Chuck’s Syren Ship Model Company for replacements.

 

Side-by-side comparison with Kit-Provided on left and Syren Ship Model Co's on right.

 

 

 

 

 

Needless to say, I’m very pleased with these replacements!

 

On to the blackening process…

 

Robert

Edited July 25, 2014 by j21896

[texxn5]

Those cannons are so superior to the kit's it's incredible.  I will be using Chuck's cannons for the Niagra when I get finished with my Morgan.  There's no comparison for quality.  Your ship is looking fantastic......thanks for the pictures

Edited December 11, 2013 by texxn5

[Sailor1234567890]

Much better detail on those guns. Good choice.

[augie]

You can't possibly go wrong with Chuck's guns.  It's almost a shame to blacken them!!!  Great choice.

[gjdale]

Great choice Robert. Aren't we lucky that Chuck decided to start the Syren company? I sincerely hope he goes from strength to strength with it, for what he has done for the modelling community he deserves every success with it.

 

These will look fabulous on your superb build.

[j21896]

Cannons – Blackening

 

Using the process outlined in many places on MSW, I chemically blackened the guns.

 

Maybe some minor variations from what others use for mixture ratios or the duration of each step in the process, but pretty much the same drill:

1. Silver solder trunnions in place
2. Acetone bath for grease removal (15 – 20 Minutes)
3. Muriatic acid bath for surface etching (15 – 20 Minutes)
4. Thorough rinsing with cold water
5. Blackening bath, 5 parts Birchwood Casey Brass Black, 1 part distilled water (approx. 2 – 4 minutes)
6. Thorough rinsing in cold water
7. Following a few minutes of air drying, buff with a soft cloth

The end result, depending on the lighting, looks like a pretty attractive deep, gun metal gray.

 

While I think they look kind of nice as is, the shine is a bit overwhelming for 1:64 scale.  Therefore, the final step will be to seal them with a coat of clear, matte lacquer.

 

The result of the matte finish treatment can be seen on the gun at the far right.  With the reduced light reflection, it now looks more black.

 

Onward to making some carriage bolts, eyebolts, and ringbolts...

 

Robert

Edited July 4, 2014 by j21896

[rlb]

"Great guns", Robert, you're doing a fine job!

 

Ron

Edited December 15, 2013 by rlb

[gjdale]

Excellent work on the guns Robert.

[augie]

Beautiful job.  And fear not ----  I have the finishing sequence duly recorded on a paper towel wrapped around my guns for if and when I ever get that far.

[ZyXuz]

well done on the carriages and blackening!

fantastic work

[j21896]

Thanks folks!  Your encouragement and support is greatly appreciated!!

 

Robert

[texxn5]

That's a great finish, Thanks for the formula.  I'll be using that when I get to that stage on my next build ....the Niagra.  Chuck's guns finish up so well that they look real.....especially with the carriages you built.....very nice and thanks for the photo's and info....