Mayflower by SawdustDave - Finished

[SawdustDave]

This is exactly what I was afraid of.  The 5/32 scale (1:77) simply will not allow me the detail I feel like I should be looking at.

Just finished installing the shrouds to the fore mast top..... used 3.5mm dead eyes and the scale doesn't work to my eye.

 

Been wrestling with this from the beginning....now, as much as I hate it, I know what I must do.

[russ]

Dave:

Is it that the deadeyes are a bit crowded? Maybe stepping down to a smaller diameter deadeye will do the trick. Otherwise it looks very neatly done.

 

Russ

[SawdustDave]

Good question Russ.

Considered smaller dead eyes for the fore top mast .... Still leaves the fact that this ship's dead eyes should be heart shaped, which cannot be found at this scale.

The top for the main mast is larger, and the scale is much better there. I just see this as just the beginning of things to come.

Being honest, I'm just not real happy with too many of the details I achieved throughout this build.....mostly comes from taking two years off and loosing much of the "feel". It seems to be slowly coming back somewhat.

Finally, I should have re-scaled the plan sheets to at least 1/60th from the beginning.

So I'm seriously considering a total re-start.

[russ]

Dave:

A total restart? Wow. I do not see anything that tells me you should scrap the model. You can make the heart shaped deadeyes. With a little thought and practice, it would come together. Please do not make any hasty decisions. It is a great looking model so far. Consider staying with it.

 

Russ

[SawdustDave]

Sounds a little nuts - huh Russ? I'm not THAT crazy my friend. Visit my blog site and compare the two La Couronne's.

I'm leaning toward building a second Mayflower.....even while proceeding with the current build.

[russ]

Okay. That sounds like a better idea.

 

Russ

[SawdustDave]

Think of it as a "Mulligan".

Two La Couronne's ; two Pirate ships; two Vic's ....see a pattern here.

Edited June 3, 2014 by SawdustDave

[russ]

mulligan.

[mtaylor]

Dave,

 

I'm happy to hear that you're not trashing the current build.   I thought I was only one crazy enough to trash a build, so you're sane.    She's fine looking build from where I sit.

[pete48]

Hello Dave, Sweet looking build , Nice work she looks Great

 

Best Regards,

Pete

[popeye the sailor]

finally caught up to one of your builds..........such a fine looking vessel!  considering what I've seen of your work in the past {I have your site bookmarked}.....sounds like a very good idea      it would be a shame to see this one laid to waste!     beautiful work!

[SawdustDave]

Thanks all. The two year layoff was good. Now it's good to be back in the shop. Cheers all.

[SawdustDave]

My first posting of my Mayflower #2.... 1/60th scale.

Decking progress, as seen here, is moving along fairly well.  Tree-nailing for two days now.  The only thing more repetitive would be tying clove hitches....right?

The stern view....I wanted to get a little flavor of working at the larger scale.

As for my continued progress on the smaller scale Mayflower #1.... will take a shot at tying in some ratlines to the top shrouds tonight.  Should be interesting since I haven't tied a clove-hitch in over two years.  Looking at some of my old builds, I kinda like the white line on black shrouds.  To me, the contrast really pops.

[russ]

The planking looks good. Treenails came out very well. Good work.

 

Russ

[popeye the sailor]

very nice work Dave.......so clean and well done!

[SawdustDave]

Holy SH..T!!!

Left the door to my shop open this morning while doing yard work. Came in to cool off and found a visitor....adult mocking bird flying around trying to find a way out.

So he perched on the light fixture above my poker table and proceeds to express what he thinks of my ship building. Look how close he came to hitting the ship.... even worse, the poker table fabric! OMG!

And what the heck has he been eating!?

Edited June 16, 2014 by SawdustDave

[pete48]

Your build looks Sweet Dave, nicely done ( wow a bird in the shop bet that was fun )

 

Best Regards,

Pete

Edited June 16, 2014 by pete48

[_SalD_]

Dave, at least he went on the paper.  Isn't that suppose to be good luck or something?

[SawdustDave]

Thanks guys....close call huh!

Set MAyflower#2 aside today and returned to MF#1.....

Tied the first clove hitches in over two years. Like riding a bicycle,,,,you don't forget how.

[riverboat]

Really nice! work Dave,........ just visited your blog, very impressive collection you have there. Tried leaving a comment.. with no success.

That's  a great idea with the blog to keep your kids and grand kids in touch. They must be very impressed!!

Frank

[SawdustDave]

Thanks RB.....my kids and grand kids seem to get a kick out of Papa's little ships....especially the three boys. They each have staked their "claim" on their favorite. I am wisely leaving it up to my son and daughter as to who gets what after I eventually sail off into the sunset.... Not getting into that little debate....hahahaha

Edited June 17, 2014 by SawdustDave

[SawdustDave]

Progress update on Mayflower #1.... 1:76th scale

The masts are sitting loosley at this point, thus the Mizzen preventor stay is temporarily tied off to the railing.

In the process of creating shrouds for the main and fore masts.... plan to install channels for these tomorrow.

 

[SawdustDave]

Progress report on Mayflower #2.... 1:60th scale

I've been spending much more time on the larger build just trying to get it to begin taking shape.  All decks are now planked and tree nailed and a first finish has been applied.  All bulkheads are also complete and light finish applied.

 

[russ]

They both look really good. The deck planking on Number 2 came out really well. Great work.

 

Russ

[pete48]

Hi Dave they both look fantastic , beautiful craftsmanship , the Mayflower is one of my favorite ships , and you have done an Amazing job on both of them

 

Best Regards,

Pete

[HIPEXEC]

Very nice woodworking!

[SawdustDave]

Speaking of "re-do's"..... We all have experienced this. You take out the camera and snap a few photos for posting, and the camera's eye discovers something you had not previously noticed....or, if you had noticed, you may have thought maybe no one else would. One photo I did not post above was taken of the forward bulkhead below the forecastle, because I could see a noticeable flaw in the height of the bulkhead from port to starboard. After careful re-measurement, I found the port side corner to be 2mm higher than the starboard side corner. It showed up in the photo as the forecastle deck had a noticeable slope toward the starboard side. NOT GOOD.
So I spent the last two days ripping off the forecastle decking and squaring it up, and re-planking entirely.  This is the best I could come up with....it will just have to do.
Sometimes I feel like a newbie! Might just be an age thing.

Edited July 3, 2014 by SawdustDave

[SawdustDave]

Dagnabit!

Now I'm thinking I have to take that one darker shaded plank out!

Son of a......gun!

[hlipplaa]

Personally i like when some planks are a different shade, seems realistic too. Your model looks great in my opinion.

[SawdustDave]

Thanks hlipplaa....still thinking bout that plank....not decided yet.

Joe....the plank caulking technique is a new experiment that looks like it turned out not bad. Never been a big fan of pencil marking due to lead smearing....or, I'm just not very good at that method.

Using very thin black vinyl which I took from a cheap vinyl notebook, I simply edge-glued one edge of my deck planks, then razor trimmed the vinyl flush....then finish sanded the edges before placing the plank.

Once all planks are glued in place, and tree nailed, the entire surface was sanded flush....then finish sanded....then scraped to a perfect finish.

Edited July 3, 2014 by SawdustDave