HMS Bellerophon 1786 by AON – scale 1:64 – 74-gun 3rd Rate Man of War - Arrogant-Class

[AON]

Here we are with summer a happy memory and fall deep in my bones (damp and getting colder).

A good summer for fishing, relaxing, and just basically enjoying the outdoors and the sun.

 

Now I find myself back down in the playroom for a few hours in the early afternoon with all my toys.

Starting remaking and attaching my forward cant frames earlier this week, so I'll be crawling along on this for a couple weeks.

Also stumbled upon some nice bamboo skewers to use as treenails as the others I started making from old bamboo stakes are not so good

 

I also cut out two blank castello blocks for my figurehead carving.  I've yet to transpose the sketch widths to the front and rear but I will have enough to keep me from getting bored

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 17, 2019 by AON
resized photos

[cog]

Good , you are back. I nearly started missing you 'round here. What size/width do you make your treenails?

[AON]

Thank you Carl.  It feels nice to be almost missed... but I always come back.

 

The contract reads the frames were bolted to the deadwood with 1-1/2 inch (3.8 cm) diameter bolts.  This would be 0.023 inch (0.58 mm or less than 1/32") at 1:64 scale.  I need to draw down to the hole size identified as number 23.  These seem quite small and as I am looking for additional strength in the glued joint to the keel I may make them a wee bit larger diameter, especially since there is no #23 on the draw plate.   There are Nos. 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 45, 47, etc.  I might try .047 (1.193 mm or 3/64")  or 3" dia. to scale.  Still thinking about it.

Alan

[druxey]

Welcome back, Alan!

[AON]

For those interested in the Bellerophon

I have been collecting information for years and have compiled the first half (attached PDF) - HMS Bellerophon, Part 1: A Service History for your enjoyment

 

The second half (Part 2) will be transcriptions of newspaper postings and letters from the 1700's and 1800's

I have collected 948 newspaper articles, many are duplicate events in different publications.

It will be some time to manage these... but then so will my build!

 

 

HMS Bellerophon - Part 1 - A Service History.pdf

Edited October 21, 2019 by AON
corrected some typos in the attached PDF

[bruce d]

13 minutes ago, AON said:

I have been collecting information for years...

Looks like you put the information to good use. I had a quick look at the Service History and think I will make a cup of coffee and read it properly.

Nice touch. Thanks.

Bruce

[Canute]

Quite the gallant ship. Thanks for organizing the history. 👍

[AON]

Thank you for the favourable comments and likes.

As with all works I thought I "had it" but upon yet another review (surely my tenth or more)  I discovered some typos and minor corrections.

These have been dealt with and the document switched out.

So if you see this before you start your review please grab the newer copy above.

(and let me know what you think, comments/corrections, etc. by PM if you please)

[Tony Hunt]

Wonderful model Alan. I'm enjoying reading David Cordingly's book "The Billy Ruffian" right now (about halfway through) so it adds an extra dimension to the whole thing.

[mtaylor]

Thanks for the download, Alan.  I'm looking forward to reading it as I'm a "fan" of the Billy Ruffian.

[AON]

Down in the shop this afternoon for about 3 hours readying three more frames as I struggle with frame T2 on the starboard side.

The port side went in quite nicely but it's mate was giving me grief for the last few days.

 

I always need to adjust the taper on the foot to pull the top in or out a wee bit but this one just refused to align.

In frustration I put it down on top of the template once more, ready to walk away and then I spotted it.

 

The lowest or first futtock had shifted up and inwards during glue up.

It would never align to the adjacent forward frame properly.

 

I took it apart, cleaned it up and now the glued joint is drying once again.

Edited October 24, 2019 by AON

[druxey]

All hail, isopropanol!

[AON]

And the fellow that introduced me to it.

[AON]

Had an accident today.  My rolling stool ran away as I was going to sit at the scroll saw.  Sprained my wrist and my bottom side.  Both are quite sore but nothing broken.  Difficult to make and pick up my evening tea.  Might need to take a few days to recover.

Edited October 23, 2019 by AON

[mtaylor]

I'm liking that as "acknowledgement" only.   I'm glad that it wasn't worse and I hope you have a speedy recovery.

[cog]

Always nasty those self moving chairs. You never know when they take off. Glad it's mainly your pride which has been hurt.

[Canute]

Hope your wrist recovers quickly. We do need serviceable mitts to do what we do.

[SJSoane]

Alan,

 

I just read your account of the Bellerophon. A fascinating read! Kudos to you for accomplishing this great piece of research!

 

Mark

[AON]

It has been over 24 hours and my wrist and hand are much better  but not 100% as yet, possibly one more days rest is called for.

However my butt reminds me of the fall every time I take a seat.  

 

Thank you Mark and all others for thinking so much of my favourite ship to have downloaded and reviewed my Part 1.

The attached PDF is a preview of Part 2.

It has a lot more to go so don't expect to see the finished product any time soon.

Take care.

Alan

HMS Bellerophon - Part 2 - Newspaper Articles and Letters - 24 Oct 2019.pdf

[Canute]

Alan, nice outline of your "Billy Ruffian" newspaper items.

[AON]

Canute

I am glad you appreciate the old reports.

They are definitely written on behalf of the victors.

 

My favourite newspaper post to date is the announcement of the auction of the prize of a ship and the goods on board.

 

It reminds me of the prize my grandfather lost out on in WWI.  We had found a record of it.  I was surprised they were still doing that then... at such a late date.

 

I believe the practice of selling prizes and distributing the money is not done any more.  As a kid I thought this was only done by pirates.

 

I never found history as exciting in school.  I suppose it is like a fine wine... gets better with ageing.  It is likely why the younger generation repeat the mistakes of the past... they are not old enough to appreciate the lessons offered with the temperment if time.

 

Am I old?

 

Edited October 25, 2019 by AON

[mtaylor]

Ah..history..  part of it's aging, but the other part is when we look into something that interests us like a model that we're building.  

 

Nah, none of us are old,Alan.  We just have a different amount of years experience.  

 

I haven't read PT. 1 yet... I'm planning to take some time this weekend to kick back with it.   

[AON]

It is annoying how we learn to look at things more critically as we get comfortable.... I mean experienced.

 

Yesterday I popped off one set of forward cant frames to tilt the tops inboard a tiny smidgen (that is a technical term). These are back on today.

Today I popped off three of the most forward cant frames on the starboard size to do the same.  Tomorrow I will get the mates on the port side off.  It is looking so much better with these minor adjustments.

I have 2-1/2 sets are R frames to go before I start the installation of the P station cant frames.  These have very small angles to them but I find the shaping of the timbers to take the chocks does not get easier.  For a moment I was going to forego the bevel on these in the R and P station frames because the angle didn't seem like much, but I find it does still make a difference... so we carry on.  Hope to be finished the cant frames next week as I can only manage to install one set a day and can make three sets ahead with the table space available as I prefer not to stack them.  It's an CDO (or OCD) thing.

Now I've just realized I have a problem with the method of clamping my keel to the work table  Once I get all my square frames installed I won't have access to the screw heads to lift the model out.  I need to loosen the screws to remove one side somehow.  It was suggested I replace the screws with dowel pins so I can pry it up to remove it.  I thought I might just replace the screws with bolts through from below and nuts on top.  Seems simpler.  Anyone have a better suggestion?

And I need to make final adjustments to my presentation for this Sunday afternoon at the local club meeting (Model Shipwrights of Niagara) on Digitally Photographing Scale Models

If interested, you will be able to download a PDF of the presentation from our website later next week. You can find a link to the website in the signature line below... go to the Blog page.

 

And finally... yes, my derriere is all better now.  There was some wicked deep bruising.  They should invent a softer concrete for workshop flooring.

 

Edited November 5, 2019 by AON

[cog]

I'm glad you can justify refitting the cant frames for tilting, even for a smidgen, for I can't see why something which seems to be perfect should be imperfect ... at least I couldn't spot it

 

I would suggest thicker padding of your pant's seat. Your own suggestion would make the chance of falling bigger and might cause different injuries altogether, which in turn would keep you from your build, and would greatly disappoint yourself, not to mention us

Edited November 5, 2019 by cog

[druxey]

Sorry to read of your tumble, Alan (I'm just catching up on your previous posts). Hope all is well now.

 

If you can manage a pair of cant frames in a day, that's pretty good progress. For fixation to the building board, I use captive nuts in the keel/rising wood and bolts from below. These eventually end up securing the model to the pedestals on the display board.

[Tony Hunt]

I agree with Druxey, captive nuts are the way to go. Useful for a whole range of reasons later on.

[SJSoane]

Looking nice, Alan!

I agree, captive nuts work well if you can get to the bolt heads (or nuts on threaded rod) from below. I also keep a small wrench of the right size next to my model, so if we suddenly have to leave the house in an emergency I can get the cat, wife and ship model all out together in short order! Hate to lose a ship model for want of a wrench to release it...🙂

 

Mark

[AON]

Cog

I suppose I can staple my knee pads to my butt.🤕

 

Mark

First the cat?🤐

 

Druxey

I best haul out volume 1 of TFFM again.🤔

 

Thanks all😆

[Dowmer]

59 minutes ago, AON said:

Cog

Mark

First the cat?🤐

 

 

LOL, I was thinking the same thing......was that in a particular order?

 

as afar as the mounting suggestion, I’ll throw my hat into the same ring on captive bolts with threaded rod for mounting.  Looking nice Alan.

 

cheers

[AON]

I use a square to set the outside edge of my frame to the layout on the table top and also I mark the height on the frame onto the square with a piece of painters tape.  Can't forget to check that the top or head of the frame aligns with the layout.    All the R, T and W frames needed the heels sanded to match the inboard to outboard varying thickness change in the stem keel/apron/deadwood assembly as it is thicker inboard (top) than outboard (bottom).  Now at stations P everything is practically flat which is making it a bit easier. 

I installed the last R frame to the starboard side late yesterday, and worked on frames P4, P3 and P2 yesterday and today.  Frames P4 and P3 will be ready to install tomorrow but I will actually only get the two halves of P4 installed tomorrow.  P2 will be ready Monday.  We have our local club meeting Sunday so the ship won't get anything done on it that day.  I am debating if I should take a chance and bring it to the meeting or not.  Last time I did some of the frames were knocked off. 

 

Hmmmm... what to do?