Charles W Morgan by Gerald Spargo - Model Shipways

[Ryland Craze]

I feel as if I am looking at the actual ship.  I was aboard the Morgan at the end of April when she was docked at Mystic Seaport and several other times since 2010 during her restoration.  You have made an excellent reproduction of the actual ship.  I hope that I can achieve your level of craftsmanship.

[petervisser]

Hi Gerald,

 

Thanks for resurrecting your build log of the Charles W. Morgan. I remember poring over you original build log. A real masterpiece.

 

Wish you well with the rest of your model.

 

Peter

[Gerald Spargo]

Thanks Russ, Ryland, and Peter.  

 

Some of the things I like to do, as far as weathering, and finishing, is go with some of the more obvious things. Like rust, there is always going to be rust,(iron, and water doesn't mix well). Nonperfect wood, these ships are old, so the wood is alittle softer, and more brittle than it was when the ship was first build, again...wood, and water doesn't mix well either. That's why I leave the small chips, and nicks in parts of my build, like the cathead in the last few pictures that I put up. That happened when I was putting the chain through the hole. I liked it, so I left it, and I'm glad I did. It helps to give it life. I think the wood should have rounded edges, rather than sharp ones. Plus when painting, I try to keep the wood grain showing. Moisture makes the grain in the wood swell, and since it spends its life in the water, it would just seem like a natural effect. Also you will notice that around the edges of structures, and other items on the deck are darker, simulating dirt.

 

Many of the things you can do to a model to help give it some life, are things you see everyday, but yet never take notice of.

[Landlubber Mike]

Hi Gerald, thanks again for posting this log.  I have the Morgan on my shelf that I plan on building alongside the Unicorn.  I'm also thinking of weathering the ship, so your log is a real inspiration!

[Guest Tim I.]

Gerald,

 

This is quickly becoming one of my favorite build logs to follow. The authenticity that you take care to represent, really shines in your work and build.

 

- Tim

[Captain Slog]

Glad to see this log being redone.

 

The Charles W. Morgan went on my to do list after seeing this build back on MSW1.

 

Cheers

Slog

[JerseyCity Frankie]

With the real Morgan seaworthy and underway again I expect to see a lot more people building her. But I can't imagine many people doing a better job than you have done! You have et the bar very high.

[Gerald Spargo]

Well guys, I hope to see you working on your Morgans at some point, and I do hope to see more modelers building this kit.

 

Here are some pics of the foremast.

 

[Gerald Spargo]

Here are some pictures of the rigging.

 

 

I serve my rigging with 80wt thread.

 

[Gerald Spargo]

More pictures of some rigging.

 

[Guest Tim I.]

Gerald,

 

What paint / paint color did you use for your bulwark ceilings and deck fittings?

 

Thank you,

 

Tim

[Gerald Spargo]

Tim, I want to say it is thinned down yellow ochre from Model Shipways, but I think it is more than just that. I have an old computer that I am going see if it will run long enough to get some info off of it tonight after work, it should have other info about the Morgan that I need to. I will get back to you on this.

[Guest Tim I.]

OK, thank you. It looks a lot like the color I need for my current Niagara project, and also has applicability for when I start my Morgan.

 

I appreciate is. As I mentioned above, I am really enjoying seeing your updates and your craftsmanship!

 

- Tim

[Elia]

Hey Gerald,

 

I'm very glad to see you back at Model Ship World, and very happy that you're continuing this super fine build.

 

Cheers,

 

Elia

[Gerald Spargo]

Thank you John, and Elia. Tim, I found some stuff on that computer, but not the paint mixture, sorry. I did find the 2 bottles that I have mixed though.

I also found the info on how I built the skylight, windlass, and how I coppered the bottom, along with a weathering guide that I made.

[jwvolz]

Such beautiful, clean work. Very well done Gerald. I'm looking forward to seeing more. 

[Gerald Spargo]

Thank you Joe.

 

The Cutting Tackle.

 

The kit supplies blocks for the cutting tackle, but they look nothing like real ones on the ship. So I used the small reddish colored piece of wood from the kit (cherry I think), and made blocks for this. The hooks required some cleaning, and smoothing before I could use them. Once I had these made, I put the whole works in Black-in It, blocks, too. After the black-in it did its job, I used weathering powder to simulate the rust, and to get the weathered look on the blocks.

 

 

[Mirabell61]

beautiful work Gerald,

 

you have a talent for authentic Details in model....

 

Nils

[Guest Tim I.]

Very nice! 

[Gerald Spargo]

Thank Nils, and Tim, those were fun to make.

 

Here is the rigging of the cutting tackle.

 

[Gerald Spargo]

A few more post, and I will be caught up to date.

 

Here some pictures of whaleboat #1. This is made from the supplied bread-n-butter boats. I found it was easier,(for me anyway) to build up the hull with these, then cut them in half length ways. Shape the inside with my dremel, and glue the halves back together again.

 

[Gerald Spargo]

This is where I am at on my build. I am working on the ratlines, and lower shroud battens.

 

[Gerald Spargo]

Lashing The Lower Shroud Battens

The Morgan had wooden battens instead of rope ratlines on the lower shrouds. Instructions will show that they are tied on with a diagonal lashing, they where actually tied on with a square lashing. The battens are spaced the same as regular rope ratlines are spaced. On this model that would be right around a 1/4'', so that is the spacing I use. This is how I found it easiest to tie the battens onto the shrouds without actually gluing them to the shrouds.

 

LETS GET STARTED: (Done in gray-scale for clarity.)

Material I am using is 2 strands of DMC dark brown embroidery floss (waxed), and 1/32''x 1/32'' basswood strips.

Step 1: To get the first batten in place, I measure up from the deadeye channel the same distance as on the plans. After this first measurement, I didn't find the plans to be of much help for spacing. The thickness of the battens are 1/32'', and all the plans show are single thickness lines. So after the first measurement from the deadeye channel, I space each succeeding batten a 1/4'' from the last one I did. At that measurement, I tie the end of a 6'' length of floss to each shroud, using a clove hitch knot.

Step 2: I dab a little diluted white glue to the knots.

Step 3 & 4: Cut off the small tails of the floss.

Step 5: I cut each batten at least 1 mm longer than the width of the shroud. A little longer wouldn't hurt, as it give you more room for lashing. I hold in place, right at the top of the knots, and wrap the floss around it. I start with a shroud in the middle so the batten won't twist away while lashing it.

Step 6: The first wrap pulls the batten, and shroud together.

Step 7: The second wrap tightens, and holds the first wrap.

Step 8: I finish off with a half hitch under the batten, pulling it tight.

Step 9: I now apply a dab of the diluted glue onto the half hitch knot under the batten, and just barely touching the batten with the glue as I do this to prevent the batten from sliding out of the lashings. Important thing, is not to get glue on the battens, that will show up later.

Step 10: Cut the remaining floss, and there is enough to do another batten.

Step 11: To put a finish on the battens, and floss, I applied a coat of Micro-Mark age-it easy brown, and 2 coats of Micro-Mark railroad tie and bridge stain. These worked well for me, as this is the same solutions I use to color my rigging. The battens could be finished before rigging them. I find it easier to do it afterwords.

 

[Guest Tim I.]

Will you be positioning that whaleboat alongside your Morgan once you finish the model?

 

- Tim

[Gerald Spargo]

Actually Tim, there will be 7 of these on the Morgan.

[Guest Tim I.]

It looks great!

 

- Tim

[Gerald Spargo]

Thank you Tim. Now to get the dust off the Morgan, and get setup to continue on with it.

[Guest Tim I.]

Eagerly awaiting the updates. If I did not already have four projects in process I would consider starting my Morgan. I opened my kit when I bought it several months ago, and was very impressed with the detail. When Model Shipways had the large 1:24 scale whaleboat on special, I also purchased that for a future project. Looking forward to seeing more!

 

- Tim

[Gerald Spargo]

Thanks John, definitely a model, I would have loved to have see the actual Morgan before its restoration.

 

Now as far as the real ship, here is something I tried to duplicate, but decided not to go ahead with. Could be a challenge to someone else to try though. In these pictures, you can see how the old rigging was parceled around the mast. I simulated this with masking tape, and a little bit of serving like it is in the picture. With a little weathering, it looked really cool. But, since masking tape tends to dry out really bad, and fall apart, I figured I probably shouldn't risk the potential fix later on. I couldn't find anything else that would work at this scale, so I abandoned the idea.

 

 

[Guest Tim I.]

Gerald,

 

The pictures you have from the Morgan. Would you be willing to share your source, or are these photographs you have taken?

 

Thank you,

 

Tim