HM Cutter Cheerful 1806 by Chuck - FINISHED - 1:48 scale - kit prototype

[Erik W]

Chuck,

 

I know what you mean. I was just thinking the other day that I like the size of the parts when working in this scale. When I have my Cheerful rigging plans open though, and see the size it will be, I do look around the house and wonder where I'll put the finished model!

 

Erik

[Mirabell61]

Chuck,

 

your rigging so far looks lovely, as well as cutter and masting

wunderbare Arbeit !!

 

Nils

[druxey]

I agree that turning in deadeyes and seizing them is a chore, Chuck. Have you tried setting things up temporarily, figuring out where on the shroud the deadeye turns in, mark it, remove the shroud and do the turning in and seizing off-model? I find it makes life much easier doing this on the bench rather than operating 'in air'.

[Chuck]

Thanks.   Yes Druxey I have tried it that way but old habits die hard.   I am just most comfortable doing it this way.  Its not too bad but just a bit finicky.  Luckily there are only eight to do.   But I am happy with how they turned out.

 

Chuck

[Chuck]

Shrouds are completed.  I also added the lower backstay on the port side.  The fiddle block is a min-kit from Syren (13/32").   You can see another one on top of the companionway which will be used for the other side.  It is built up from three laser cut layers.

 

Here is a shot of the growing shroud gang.  The aft pair as well as the lower backstay are served only along the top that goes around the mast head.  They are served down to a bit below the cheeks.

 

 

Once that is finished it will be time for the sling for the lower yard and then the main stay.

 

 

[SawdustDave]

The word "CLEAN" is just inadequate to describe your work Chuck.

[rwiederrich]

I concur with Sawdustdave.....

 

Rob

[Tigersteve]

Precision is the word you are looking for. Exciting to see this build take place.

Steve

[SawdustDave]

Precision indeed, but still short of capturing Chuck's work.
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious might come a little closer in my mind.

Edited December 3, 2016 by SawdustDave

[WackoWolf]

I remember that word LOL

[albert]

Wonderful, very fantastic work.

[MikeB4]

Chuck,

You should ask your Public Library if they'd be willing to display your work. That could inspire some younger folks that might never have seen a model ship at the level you build them.

[allanyed]

Chuck

While the model as a whole is wonderful, I especially enjoy seeing your attention to detail.  For example the eyes in the channels are not standing too proud as seen on many other models, but rather are set more deeply as they should be.   Very well done!

Allan

[SawdustDave]

So frustrating to me at my age (74 yrs young).  As I stated to Chuck once after his observation that I needed to slow down.
A person of my age struggles with the one factor beyond his control.... TIME.
Building to Chuck's standards does require lot's of that one element, which means, in my case, I might never finish the ship I've been working on for over three years now.  Or it means I might never even begin that next ship I hope to build while my health allows.
No excuses.... it's just a trade off.

 

Note:  This doesn't imply that I think I can build to Chuck's level.

[druxey]

I understand what you are saying Sawdust Dave. However, one can hedge one's bets by building a cutter rather than a 74 when one is 74!

[SawdustDave]

Excellent point Drux....no argument here.
You know me well enough by now, after a dozen ships of all sizes (including the Cutter Pilsbury built as a gift to my ear surgeon), I am personally drawn to large historic ships.  
Chuck's Winchelsea, along with the Connie definitely meets that criteria. 
Haven't decided.
 

Edited December 3, 2016 by SawdustDave

[druxey]

I applaud your optimism, Dave! If I were choosing, Winchelsea would be my hands-down favorite.

[Chuck]

Thank you for the kind words guys.

 

The lower backstays are completed so next up was to make the sling and then add the mainstay.

 

 

The sling for the lower yard is served its entire length.  I used .035 dark brown rope.  It has a thimble seized to it with a hook made of 22 gauge wire and eyes formed on each loose end.  After determining the length for the loose ends I formed the eyes and you can see how the eyes close up the sling by being inter-twined.  I originally thought it would be easier to make the sling off the model.   Which it was.  BUT there were trade-offs.  This meant that I had to unhook all of the blocks on the mast to get it in position.  That wasnt too bad BUT afterwards I discovered that the sling wasnt long enough to get around the forward spreader.

 

 

This was bad.  I either had to cut the sling off and make another one...rigging it in place.....OR, try to carefully remove the forward spreader.  I ended up removing the spreader without any damage.  BUT I wouldnt recommend this to all the Cheerful builders out there.  Best to rig it in place.

 

The main stay was rigged from .054 dark brown rope.  It was served around the masthead only down to about 1/2" below the splice.  Thats right....a splice rather than a mouse.   This was very common on cutters of the period and appears much more often on contemporary examples than the one or two found with a mouse.

 

  

 

The other end of the stay had the 5-hole deadeye turned into it.  The lanyard was rove through it as usual but the loose end was taken up around the stay once and then finally seized to the stay as shown.  I used very fine fly-tie thread for this.  It finished it off nicely.

 

 

Now that the main stay is completed I can go back to all these loose ends at the belaying points and re-tension the lines.   After that I will cut off the excess and add rope coils....

 

 

 

Next up....ratlines!!!!!

[michael mott]

Really beautiful workmanship on the rigging Chuck.

 

Michael

[druxey]

Lovely work there. That was a lucky fix with the spreader!

[albert]

Very very nice.

[archjofo]

Amazing!

[Landlocked123]

Hi Chuck,

 

I just ordered some 1.5mm thin walled brass tubing. How do you cut it without crushing it? Thanks.

 

Best,

John

[Chuck]

Insert some wire the same size as the I.D. of the tube.  Then roll an xacto blade over it.  See this video even though they didnt stick a wire into it.....thats the best way though.

 

[druxey]

If it's a short length of tube, the wire will capture it and prevent the piece from flying off into the 5th dimension.

[Landlocked123]

Thanks Chuck and Druxey. Best, J.

[Chuck]

I added the sheer pole.  It is lashed to the outside of the shrouds above the deadeyes.  I painted it black but it could have been left natural also.  It is just a 1/32" x 1/32" strip with the edges rounded off a bit.

 

Then I started the ratlines with .012 rope.  You dont want to go heavy with these. The outside shrouds are simple square knots.  But I used clove hitches on each inside shrouds.  I urge folks to use them rather than simply tie a knot on all four shrouds.  The lines hang much better.  Its easy to do.

 

 

 

I used a card with both horizontal lines and lines to show the shrouds.  Its not enough to just use horizontal lines.   Having the shrouds drawn on the card will make it easier to watch your progress.  You dont want to gradually pull the shrouds in.  That hourglass shape for shrouds on a model is the kiss of death.  This helps you keep them straight and not pull them in as you progress.  I found it better to leave the ratlines a little loose rather than pull them tight and I try to shape them after its done.  

 

 

Only some watered down white glue was applied on the knots of the outer shrouds only.   The two inner shrouds have no glue at all.  I waited until a series of rows were complete so I could adjust them before adding the glue.  You can also see that I finally cut off all the loose ends at the belaying points after re-tensioning the lines and I added rope coils to the belaying points.

 

 

Now its time to start the ratlines on the starboard side.  Yay for me.  Merry Christmas everyone!!!

 

Chuck

[Kurt Johnson]

Chuck, What sort of base do you have planned to show her off on? You have to come up with something real original.

 

Kurt

[Chuck]

I am still thinking about it....it will hit me sooner or later.

[dvm27]

Lovely work, Chuck! Clove hitches are definitely the way to go, although you should point out to beginners that the ends are square knots (which you have also done extremely tidy on your model). 

 

Best wishes for a Happy New Year and look forward (hopefully) to seeing some progress on Winchelsia in 2017.