HMS Diana 1794 by Ray - FINISHED - Caldercraft - A 38 gun Heavy Frigate

[Ray]

Hi Gary

You can find the book at amazon but it can be quite expensive, I obtained my copy on ebay and it is a 1st early edition the later one is the same plus a set of plans, with ebay it is a matter of waiting till one comes along and how much someone will pay plus where you are in the world.

I have tried to point out the good and bad parts of the kit as I have progressed, there are issues with some of the mast/ spar drawings /sizes as mentioned in previous posts, I have planked the gun deck as in the book not as per the kit but the kit planking is as most kits are. I covered the gun port problem and the mistake I made between the two where the entery steps are. Back to rigging the main deck guns, nearly all done.

[Ensign]

Hi Ray

 

Thanks for the info. I have ordered a copy of the book from Amazon, it is second hand but apparently in pristine condition ( I hope so) the price was good $23.21 AUD but shipping to Australia was $27.80 AUD, still mustn't complain it least it was available.

 

I am following your build log with great interest, a very nice job it is too. I never knew they did deck planking in that manner, thought it was only used on the hull.

Out of curiosity, was your kit complete when you received it? I ordered mine from the local hobby shop and both my kit and that of another customer were missing some of the stripwood, it is being addressed by the hobby shop but I feel Caldercraft should do better than that.

 

Back to 18 holes of golf yet?

 

Gary

[Ray]

Hi Gary My kit did not have anything missing, my main gripe with the kit is the quality of some materials not as good as other kits I have built, but she still makes up to a very nice model, the deck planking is as in the book I would think all ships would be planked the same, kits just do not go in for quite that much detail.

I can walk 9 holes ok and play 18 if I have a ride in a buggy ( I did walk 18 two weeks ago but it was to much) I will try again in a week or so.

[Ray]

Deck Fittings

At the same time as making up the main deck guns and rigging them I also started making some of the deck fittings, hatches, bits, ladders and the stove the photos below show the progress.

 

The first hatch

 

The first hatch finished

 

Hatches and ladders

 

Hatches test fitted

 

Stove added

 

The fittings and the guns

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mobbsie]

Hi Ray,

 

Those deck fitting are a work of art my friend, very nicely done. Guns are looking great, good luck with the coils.

 

mobbsie

[Ray]

Half of the main deck guns are now fitted and the ones that can be seen are fully rigged, I used my normal method for making the rope coils, and lightly rubbed the completed gun on sand paper to give a slight flat on the bottom of the wheels to give a larger gluing area, then fix them with a generous amount of thick cyno, the last thing you want is to later  knock one loose when the top deck is on.

 

Guns being made up

carriges, barrels and wheels

Rigged ready to fit

Being fitted

Next stage

Next stage

Starting second side

First side done

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mobbsie]

Nicely done Ray, the more I see of this ship the more I'm swinging to make her my next build.

 

Keep it up mate.

 

mobbsie

[Ray]

Guns fully mounted

 

All the guns have now been fitted and the ones that can be seen have been fully rigged. Next job to finish the gun deck fittings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ensign]

Hi Ray,

 

Diana is looking great. I'm keeping notes for my build of this ship, your build log is very detailed and highly informative.

 

My second hand copy of "Anatomy of the ship Diana" has arrived and is in perfect condition, it will be my bible along with your log during the build.

 

Thanks for your efforts

 

Gary

[ZyXuz]

nice work on the cannons riggings!

[Kevin]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Frigate-Diana-Anatomy-Ship/dp/0851773567/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376896275&sr=8-1&keywords=Anatomy+of+the+ship+Diana

[lamarvalley]

Beautiful precision Ray, crisp and clean.

When I eventually do choose the Diana to be my build, your build is going to be a tough act to follow.

Great job and keep it up. This build will become my tutorial and I imagine for others as well

[rdsaplala]

Splendid work on the deck fittings and guns, Ray, Diana is growing more and more beautiful with each added detail

[Ray]

Deck fittings

 

Now that all the main deck guns are in place I finished of the rest of the gun deck fittings. The stove looks very good as do the capstan and pumps in some ways its a pity most of these items will be hidden, when the top deck goes on,all the fitting made up well, the only tricky bit is the pump handles which I made up and fitted as the other components were fitted to the deck,these and the other parts had brass pins glued into the bottom of them and a .7mm hole drilled into the deck to receive them,and finally they were fixed in place with cyno.

 

Looking down the deck

 

Looking up the deck

 

 

looking down on the deck

 

view up the deck

 

down on the deck

 

 

 

 

[mort stoll]

Hi Ray,

 

Everything looks great. Shame to cover it up.  Is there a way to leave some of it exposed by installing deck clamps and beams and partially planking the gangway and quarter deck above?

 

Mort

[mtaylor]

Looks sweet, Ray.  Very well done on the details.  Yes it's a pity they will be covered, but you and MSW will know what's there.    Keep up the great work.

[Blue Ensign]

Great deck planking job Ray, I wish had gone the extra mile on Pegasus with the top and butt.

 

B.E.

[mobbsie]

Lovely work there Ray, there's a lot of work gone into that deck mate, very well done.

 

mobbsie

[jaerschen]

Hi Ray

 

It will be a very fine model your Diana. She's looking great

[rdsaplala]

Stunning detail work as always, Ray, she's a real beauty

[Ray]

Thanks for all your comments guys, Diana now seems to rightly be on quite a few build lists .

I see were I am now as the end of a chapter, and the top decks the next one, and do far so good.

[AndrewNaylor]

Ray 

Beautiful work 

How do you make your rope coils so neatly? special jig /tool? please share

Thanks Andy

[Ray]

Hi Andy   Rope coils

 

I tape down some masking tape sticky side up, and just start the coil with a small loop, holding the rope with my finger and wind it, around it, pushing it down to keep it sticking to the tape, it takes a bit of practice and sometimes two or three goes to get started, as getting it to stick to the tape is the trick, only use the tape once, when you are happy with the coils brush them with dilute pva and leave till dry then slice of the tape. Hope this helps I have added some photos.

 

 

After pva treatment and dry

 

Edited June 8, 2014 by Ray

[realworkingsailor]

Hi Ray,

 

I've been quietly following your build. Couldn't help but noticing your rope coils. I do mine the same way.  Maybe I picked that trick up from your old Pegasus log (I can't outright remember, but if I did, a belated thanks!). One small difference, I used acrylic matte on mine as opposed to diluted PVA. Works just as well, but leaves the coils still somewhat flexible.

 

Looking forward to more progress.

 

Andy

[aliluke]

Every aspect of this build is fantastic. I decided to not go as far as you with the decking on my Fly - didn't have the confidence, but your deck sure looks good. I too used that method for my rope coils on the AVS (posted on the old MSW) - it is nearly fool proof.

 

I'll keep up with your superb work!

 

Cheers

Alistair

[Ray]

Hi guys Andy you are right I used this method on Pegasus and these photos are from that log, its a bit tricky to get them started but once you have done a few you get the feel for it.

[jim_smits]

Yes, thanks for the detail on the rope coiling. Tried rope coiling myself using a different method and just couldn't get it to work, so this is really useful!

 

Build looking fantastic and certainly picking up ideas and techniques for next build.

 

Diana possibly.....!

[Polux]

Hi Ray, how are you?

 

For what I have been reading you are doing much better since the operation. I am realy glad for you.

I got to say, you are flying through this build. I am impresed how mucho you have done in so little time

with such a large ship. I guess it is just like you said, the knee situation had an up side and you have truly

taken adentage of it. She is looking beautiful, clean, and very dataled. Once again you are makin your magic on this ship.

 

I just got back to work on my Pegasus after a 6 week pause, last monday I had removed the cast from my hand and have almost fully recovered

total range of motion. It was vey stiff. I am just glad I can go back to my built, it was a little frustrating working every day next to my ship

and not been able to do anything on it.

 

Ray you have a great week, take good care of your self and talk to you soon

 

Best regards

 

Polo

[Ray]

Hi Polo

Glad to here your hand has mended well and you can continue with your build thanks for your comments. Keep well.

Ray

[rdsaplala]

Neat looking ropecoils there, Ray, excellent work.