Mayflower by SawdustDave - Finished

[popeye the sailor]

very unique on using a plug.......I'll have to try that the next time I make 'em

[sbrewer]

This is just incredible.  I have been through your log this morning.  I'm currently building a Mayflower kit from AL.  Your build makes mine look like I picked it up off the shelf at Wal-Mart.  This is inspiring.  Thanks for sharing this amazing log.  

[SawdustDave]

Shaping the bottom fitting requires a bit of fiddling in order to get a snug fit.  Note the indexing mark and piece of tape (obvious reason).  Cutting the shape staying about 1mm outside the marks, then beveling the bottom edge inward to match up to the beveled sides. 

 

Not a bad fit here (both sides)

 

Finally, using the crosstree assembly, marked the opening and cut the hole. 

Final note, you can see that I have greatly reduced the size of the knees compared to the foremast top. 

Yea....Gonna have loads of fun trying to rip those puppies out and re-doing without tearing anything up. 

My original thought was to make them fat enough to treenail them.... another foolish thought on my part. 

Edited October 9, 2014 by SawdustDave

[captainbob]

A lot of delicate work that is well done.  Fitting that bottom is no easy task.  The knees look good.

 

Bob

[EdT]

Interesting process for making the tops, Dave. I assume tou cut the angled ends on the side pieces to get sufficient glue surface? Nice job. Those knees should really strengthen the assembly.

 

Ed

[popeye the sailor]

nice!!! 

[SawdustDave]

Ed...you are exactly right regarding the glue surface, also the pattern works like an interlocking joint once the cavities are loaded with CA. You would be surprised just how sturdy the assembly is after the core is removed.

 

Joe....no hot tub. It's a poker table.... And I'm putting you ALL IN mate.

 

Stu....welcome to the build. Please ignore Joe.

 

Thanks for the visit Bob and Popeye.

Edited October 9, 2014 by SawdustDave

[Piet]

Good thinking on your part Dave in making the top.  Are you an airplane guy perhaps?  They are cleaver people you know    Seriously though, your top looks very nice.  Just wondering why the angled planks.

Very clear tutorial, thanks for sharing it.

 

Cheers,

[SawdustDave]

Hi Piet. Never have tried an airplane because I figured I would get carried away and put a lot of sweat into something only to make a hole in the ground with it. My brother did exactly that.

As for the angle cuts on the planks, I refer you to the answer given to Ed, who had the same question. The interlocking pattern is much stronger than straight joints would be.

PS....It's beginning to look a little more like you might need to plan that trip to NC next spring.

Thanks for the visit as always.

[SawdustDave]

Here's a posting I just placed on the "Discussion" thread for a spring get-together in NC.....

 

UPDATE....

The event is now officially registered and approved as a Wounded Warrior Project fund raising event. Tentative date is set for April 4th.

Also, I have agreed to offer my Mayflower (1:76th scale) for public auction at the event.

Raises the next question.... Do any of you have any models you would like to offer for auction?

All receipts going to WWP of course.

 

Here is the approval notification I just received....

"We are pleased to inform you that your event application has been approved by Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP). As an approved Proud Supporter, you will have access to a myriad of tools through the WWP Proud Supporter Community. Please click here to access our secure online network for you and other Proud Supporters! "

 

Comments....suggestions....

Edited October 10, 2014 by SawdustDave

[mtaylor]

Hi all,

 

For anymore discussion of the upcoming event.. please use this topic: http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/8275-spring-msw-member-show-and-tell-meeting-discussion/    This way Dave can have his build log back.

[SawdustDave]

Got in some real good shop time since last update.....

Finished up the tops, including ripping out the oversized knees and replacing them with smaller scale.

Created main and mizzen masts, fitting and staining them and stepping all three masts.....

She is now tall....I do like shots from high above....

Close in on one of the completed tops....note that I widened the rails on each side where the deadeyes will be fitted (builders choice).

Shot of the fitted main mast....

Edited October 14, 2014 by SawdustDave

[jburchfield1@wowway.com]

Looking great Dave!  

 

You definitely have the "touch".

[Piet]

WOWEDEWOW-WOW Dave.  That really looks fantastic.  Love them tops!

[SawdustDave]

Thanks Pops / Piet....

Poker night.... Wish me luck.

ALL IN!

[popeye the sailor]

really like the deck shot..........the nests came out very good!

[Omega1234]

Hi Dave. Hope your poker night was profitable. I love the deck planking and gratings, as well as the tops. This is going to be one beautiful model when finished.

 

All the best.

[SawdustDave]

Poker night last night.... managed to hang in to the 9:00 chip count.  Means I made the pot cut (always good). 

Sixth year of this weekly group of ten very skilled liars.... no knives or guns allowed.  

[SawdustDave]

The mast dowels are oak, and the caps and rails are maple....everything else (cleats, planks, and crosstrees) are bamboo.  The mast coats are white vinyl painted black.

[SawdustDave]

ANNOUNCING !  

 

I just announced the launching of an exciting spin-off project every modeler might be interested in.
Like the April show we will be hosting here in Lumberton, NC, this new spin-off project is now a registered Wounded Warrior Project event.

 

The project name is "Lifeboats For Warriors" and you can learn all about by visiting this link....
.. http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/8275-spring-msw-member-show-and-tell-meeting-discussion/page-8

Edited October 18, 2014 by SawdustDave

[SawdustDave]

Looks like my progress on the Mayflower is going to suffer for a while as I am having to focus every moment in the shop on the development of instruction sheets for the Life Boats For Warriors kit. 

How much fun is one old man entitled to have?

[Omega1234]

How much fun? Never enough. It's a great gesture that you're undertaking, which makes you one of the heroes too.

[popeye the sailor]

fun.........all you get get........and more! 

[NenadM]

All fun in the world as you can put it in your days

[SkerryAmp]

Well, it is for a good cause so the time away is well spent... besides,  gives me a slight chance to catch up on mine - make up for my lost time being sick!!

[SawdustDave]

OK friends, time to dust off my Mayflower builds. They've sat there gathering dust since mid October and I need a break from the lifeboat project.

So, after an hour of thorough cleaning, I added the gammoning to the bowsprit. Added chesstrees and catheads, and began working on the standing rigging.

No pics yet. Think I'll wait til standing rigging is done.

Cheers

Edited November 28, 2014 by SawdustDave

[Mahuna]

Hi Dave - hope you had a great Thanksgiving.  I'd like to see the way you did the gammoning if you get a chance.  The gammoning slot in the stem knee looks like it's really hard to get to once the beak head is built out, and I'm interested in how you approached it.  I've made removable gratings that (hopefully) will enable me to get to the gammoning slot when the time comes.  The rest of the decking in the beak head are slats, trying to simulate the way open spaces were decked over in the 1500-1600 timeframe.

 

I've tried to design my own beak head, since I wasn't happy with the way the plans had us doing it.  My next step is to finish planking the walls of the beak head and to install the stanchions in the beak head.  Rigging will likely start in a few weeks.

 

Frank

 

 

[SawdustDave]

I'll try to take a shot of the gammoning tomorrow Frank, but I don't think it will help much in terms of "how". And you're right about it being kinda tuff to get to. Just apply a little CA to about an inch of your rope to stiffen it....and begin by pulling more than enough length through on the lead end to complete the job. I had to work with the ship laying in my lap most of the time.

[Piet]

Hi Dave, glad to see you back at the Mayflower.  She's really looking good!

 

Cheers,

[SawdustDave]

Glad to finally find the time to dust her off Piet. Had a real fun day.