Niagara by patrickmil - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1/64th

[patrickmil]

Sjors and Robert, thanks for stopping by. I think I have tied my last clove hitch for some time... Phew, ratlines are done!!! Now I've got some back stays to rig and then it will be on to the tan lines. 

 

         

[JPett]

Ahoy Patrick

 

It has been a while since you have posted a pic of her in all her glory. Are you saving this, teasing us till the very end. LOL

 

Beautiful work, thanks for posting. It must be a quite a feeling to be at this stage and have done such a great job. Congratz

[augie]

Hey, congrats are you finishing your ratlines today as well!  We are now free men.

[patrickmil]

JP, I will get some more pictures up tomorrow. I'd like to post one of the entire ship with only the standing rigging installed. Augie, I was going to be committed if I had to do any more ratlines. They never look like a big deal until you start tying that first one, and then it comes as close to monotonous as when you are driving across country and your kids won't stop asking you "Are we there yet?" 

[augie]

I hear ya.  But they do look cool when they're done!

Edited March 1, 2013 by Augie

[mobbsie]

Veeeeeeeery nice Patrick, Rigging is looking 1st class.

 

Looking forward to more updates.

 

Mobbsie

Edited March 1, 2013 by mobbsie

[mtaylor]

Patrick,

Getting the ratlines done is a milestone, though it feels like a millstone when you're in the middle of them..   I'm looking forward to see the full ship pictures.

[patrickmil]

Gentlemen, thanks as always for looking in. The royal stays took a little longer than expected to get rigged. I also got some more reading material in the mail.

 

Here are some pictures of the whole Niagara minus running rigging. I still have a few items on my standing rigging list as well which include the footropes (that run between the shrouds on the main mast) and the catharpins for the main mast. I still also have to shape the boom and gaff and get them into place. I decided to hold off on these until I had completed the main mast and it's respective rigging. I understand that this will most likely make them a little tougher to get secured but remember when I was building my AL Bluenose 2 they kept getting in the way. I won't be including any sails for my rendition of the Niagara either. The plans for the running rigging will take a little studying to get things right without having the sails. 

 

Any thoughts or criticism is always welcome, so please don't hesitate to speak up.

[Gyber]

Hi Patrick:  looking good, and you are almost done!   Are the main backstays too tight?  It looks like they are pulling the topgallant back more than necessary.

 

Regards,  Robert

[patrickmil]

Robert, thanks for looking in. Regrettably the topgallants are tilting back a bit much but not because of the backstays. The issue is because they were constructed this way (not on purpose though) and I never really noticed until too late. It's funny how you might never see these things when you are up close and personal with your ship, but as soon as you get everything secured and start taking photos they jump out at you. One day I might get the gumption to take things apart and redo them but until then, I will tell people (that aren't members on MSW) that it's supposed to be like that. 

[Gyber]

Sorry about that!  We have all been in this situation.  What type of glue did you use?  R

[patrickmil]

Robert, I've been primarily using a mix of thin and medium CA. It'll be a pain to undo rigging with that glue but I can always use a knife and sandpaper for the wooden bits. I hadn't really considered using anything else until I came across MSW 1.0 some time ago and saw so many different suggestions. If I ever do a refit I'll most likely be ordering better blocks as well. I just chock it all up to learning with experience. My next build, the Constitution, will definitely be incorporating many of the different techniques and materials that I've since learned about.

[augie]

If it's any comfort, Patrick, I empathize with your situation.  You get so focused on what you're doing today that you can miss the big picture.  Or, even worse, you can see that as well and you're stuck.  I could list any number of things on my build that fall in that category.  It is definitely part of the learning experience.

 

I mentioned way back in MSW 1.0 that, when we build a really big deal, first class scale model airplane, many of us build a prototype to check things out.  Does everything fit, is the integrity there and does it fly?????  We don't worry about that here (ships have lousy aerodynamics).  Then we tweak the design and have a go at 'the real one'. 

 

It would be insane to build the same ship twice.  Or would it ............???  Different woods, different finishes.  Endless opportunities.  But most of us, including myself, aren't wired that way.

 

Back to reality.  Your Niagara looks great.  You've got a lot of work in her and she is impressive.  I don't believe there are any among us who can't look back on a model and think we couldn't improve it.  In fact, if I ever build the PERFECT model, I'll know it's time to quit and do something else.  Take pride in what you have created.  You deserve it.

[patrickmil]

Thanks for the encouragement Augie. I suppose you're right with building the perfect model ship. The whole reason I switched to this branch of modeling was that building armor and airplanes was getting monotonous. With plastic kits like those there are only so many directions and methods you can try before it starts to get old. I don't think model ships are going to get tiring though.

[Sjors]

Wow Patrick,

 

That looks awesome!

Really great pictures.

And the rigging looks perfect to me.

You really do a great job my friend.

 

Sjors

[patrickmil]

Sjors, thanks for looking in. One of these days I'm going to step up my game to one of the big Ship's of the Line like you are working on. I'd like to find a manufacturer that offers something that large in 1/64th scale though so I can try to keep ship size in perspective. I'm just not sure I'd have room in my home to display such a beast though.

[Sjors]

Patrick,

 

That's great news 

I think that you can find something on the Internet.

Let me know witch one it is and I will make a reservation for a seat.

I want to sit on the front row with a small table in front of me where I can put on my popcorn and beverage…..

 

Sjors

[patrickmil]

I'll supply the beverages. Hopefully you drink ales? My next build is going to be the Constitution by Model Shipways. Practically every other day I am opening the box lid and having a look at it. I just don't have the room to start another build while I got one going. The admiral would clap me in irons for sure!

[Sjors]

I'll drink everything…….Sub lieutenant 

You have the kit all ready?

I know what you mean by space…..I'm glad that I have enough space.

I shall ask Anja to hide those irons for you.

 

Sjors

[JPett]

Ahoy Patrick

 

I agree with your statment regarding other kits. I also like the fact with shipbuilding it seems anything can be corrected. With plastics you can not just go out and shape another piece of wood. I found myself buying two or three kits which can be expensive.

 

I do like you fix though. Will have to remember that one 

[JPett]

PS

 

Congratz too; I would be very proud to display that build in my home and can only hope anything that comes from my shipyard looks half as nice.

[patrickmil]

JP, thanks for the kind words. I still have a bit to go though, so there are plenty of chances for me to royally screw things up! 

[augie]

That MS Constitution is 5/32 isn't it.  You're a lot like me as I think my next is the new MS Essex, also 5/32.  Oh well, bigger magnifier and smaller tweezers!

 

Perhaps, when we go to the hereafter, there will be a 1:48 Agamemnon waiting for us -----  and a house to hold it!!!!!

[patrickmil]

Augie, I've always wanted to build a wood Connie and the 1/76th scale kit is the largest I know of at this time. One of these days when I have constructed my ultimate "man cave" I've got plans for a 1/48th scale Nimitz section, and a 1/48th scale Yorktown section. I've got some model airplanes that'd I'd like to display in their proper environments. I feel that's it's always a better viewing experience for everyone when you try to keep things in the same scale so they can get a perspective of actual size. I'd also like to eventually try my hands at a scratch build of the USS Ohio, 74 gun ship of the line. We'll see...

[augie]

Hey, you've got 30 years more then I have to build them all      .

 

Here's a photo of a 1:48 USS North Carolina, also a 74, to inspire you.

 

[JPett]

When did you build that Augie

 

I missed the log "LOL"
 

[augie]

Just a little something I cranked out in my spare time    (yeah, RIGHT)!

[patrickmil]

JP, maybe Augie is hustling us! 

[JPett]

Augie, Never

 

Did you not see the pic LOL

[j21896]

Nice work Patrick!  The rigging looks great.  And she certainly is a tall old gal isn't she!

 

What size case will you need to put her on display?

 

Robert