HM Mortar Vessel Convulsion by jonny.amy - FINISHED - Caldercraft

[jonny.amy]

Ahhhh Jason I think you're right..... I've finished off the starboard main mast at the 1cm spacings, there's enough space to tie them at 5mm, but I think I'll have to compromise between having enough cord to continue, and being completely accurate.

 

None of the local model shops sell cord in the diameters used on the model. I'll have to order new stuff online.

[jonny.amy]

Hi All,

 

Things have been a bit quiet in the shipyard over the last couple of days, it's been busy at work, and I've started an interim scratch built project whilst doing the ratlines on Convulsion. I'm putting together a small Edwin Monk designed Sloop for my dear old mother! She wants something to put on her mantle piece, so I thought I'd knock up the 19 footer Vagabond for her, as it is of simple design and construction, and can be rigged with relative ease. Fingers crossed, it will be a joint effort from the Admiral as well, as I am terrible at sewing by hand! And I think the sailmakers sewing machine in my Dad's garage is probably too big for this model.

 

More updates on Convulsion will be coming soon!

 

Cheers,

Jonny

[egkb]

Hey There Bud.. don't forget to pop a few photos of the new build in here, would love to see it !

 

Eamonn

[jonny.amy]

I will do mate, I've started a quick log in the Scratch Build area....

 

I was meant to get some photo's last night, but we went out for dinner in town and didn't get back til late, so I'll post a few photo's up later when I'm home from work.

 

I'm not far off finishing the rat lines on Convulsion, I've got a few bits to tidy up after that, so I've taken on this build to break up the mind numbing process of rat line tying!

 

Cheers

Jonny

[jonny.amy]

Here are a few teaser photo's of Convulsion..... I'll post more tonight.

 

Lieutenant

 

 

Marine Captain & Drummer

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheers,

Jonny

 

 

 

[jonny.amy]

Afternoon Everyone,

 

I've taken a few photo's of the rat lines I've tied so far. I've got the lower main mast complete now, so it's a case of moving on up, and completing the rest over this long weekend.

 

 

 

 

Hopefully you like the job I've done so far.... I've taken Jason's comments about rat line spacing in to consideration, and I've decided for now, I'll stick to the 10mm spacings until I know I have enough spare material to continue the rat lines at 5mm spacings.

 

 

Cheers,

Jonny

 

[Canute]

Looking good, Jonny! Well done.

[jonny.amy]

Hi guys,

 

Sorry for the radio silence over the last few days, I've spent most of my long easter weekend seeing family, and doing general maintainence around the house, and before I knew it, it was back to work on Tuesday. Work isn't exactly a pleasure at the moment either, our client has decided to sack off 150 people off the project (mostly contractors), but it means I'm doing the work of 3 people now and it's just me and my boss as the 2 other designers on our team didn't make the cut...... So busy times ahead for me!

 

I need time with Convulsion, I need to de-stress with some ratline tying! Hahaha

 

Cheers

Jonny

[jonny.amy]

Morning Everyone,

 

Again, apologies for the extended radio silence, it's been very busy at work! I've been pulling 15 hour shifts to pick up the slack after the redundancies were made a few weeks back. And today is my first day off in ages, and guess where I am!! That's right at work, waiting for my car to pass its MOT and then it's back to it catching up on work!

 

Tonight I plan to finish off the rat lines, but it depends what time I get out of here today!

 

Cheers

Jobny

[egkb]

No Worries Mate.. We'll all be here when you get back to building.

 

E

[jonny.amy]

Hi guys,

 

I finally got back to my build yesterday, and tied the final rat lines on Convulsion. I feel like the overall model is finished, pretty much, although I'm waiting on payday to buy some more crew figures from CMB to act as sailors on board rather than just having the Marines currently.

 

I will post Pictures tomorrow after I've taken a few artistic shots tonight!!

 

I've thought about certain things I can bring forward on to my Sherbourne build. My lessons learnt from Convulsion are as follows:

 

1 - Stick to a Plan of Action - do not deviate from the POA

 

2 - Avoid breakages - invest in a keel clamp or use modellers vice to hold model (no swan diving off the dining room table)

 

3 - Tie the rat lines prior to running all the running rigging.

 

4 - Avoid paint fiascos by masking up properly. Invest in airbrush set for better painting.

 

5 - Don't get bogged down in the finer details, come back to those later.

 

6 - Don't procrastinate when decking, and only use CA or superglue when 100% happy with result.

 

7 - Cut a deeper rabbet line. Makes the planking run smoother. Not so much of an issue on Convulsion, but due to the hull shape on Sherbourne, it's a must.

 

8 - build a framing -jig, nothing fancy, just a jig to keep the frames 100% square whilst the glue dries. This is very important!!

 

As I say, I'll take some nice photos tonight, and post them first thing in the morning.

 

Cheers

Jonny

[jonny.amy]

E - I'll be getting ready to start Sherbourne soon, when are you starting?

[egkb]

Hey There Bud.. Ballahoo is over the worst (the repainting of the White below the waterline caused by pretty much mixing my own colour then running out of it.. and having to fix some blemishes !! requiring me to re-mask and re-paint the bottom AHHHHH anyhoo it all want swimmingly, the rudder is complete and the rudder chains are drying having been painted, and the deck fittings are pretty much ready to glue in position) Soooo to answer your question       the end is in sight but still around 2 months off (if that makes sense) get your bitz-n-bobz ready for her (any upgraded timber, guns, rope etc.. examine some of the Sherbourne builds out there to avoid any surprises and we can kick off before Summer !)

Perhaps we (Yourself, David and yours truly) can even begin the Sherbourne assembly before our Ballahoo's are fully complete ! (but we are still talking 5 - 6 weeks or so)

 

All The Best Bud

 

Eamonn

[jonny.amy]

Ok, that sounds good to me. I've got bits and bobs out of the packaging and I've checked the kit over and cut the rabbet line on the keel. I won't go any further with the model! Although I have looked into edge bending some new basswood I found at Hobbycraft, and I'll be using that as edge planks/waterways for the decking.

 

I've also built a new building frame, so my framing will be straight and true!

 

I'll post new photos of Convulsion tomorrow!

 

Cheers

Jonny

[egkb]

Good Stuff Mate.. Wow you found Basswood on this side of the pond !! Any chance of popping a link up? I'd say David would be interested in this too, especially if it is pre-cut into e.g. 4mm x 1mm strips etc (I understand it is brilliant to work with)  If you get a chance take a look at Chucks video demonstration of planking a hull (inc edge bending, it is available on MSW here someplace)

 

E

[jonny.amy]

I found my lot of Bass wood in the Bargain Bin at Hobbycraft, but it is available online.

 

The Admiral had some money burning a hole in her pocket from her birthday a feww weekends back, so she suggested we take a drive to Woking and have a look around the new Hobbycraft store they opened up recently. All I wanted from there was a set of French Curves, and I ended walking out with £25 worth of Basswood in various sizes, French Curves and a bottle of clear varnish suitable for Airbrushes!

 

http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/basswood-01-x-05-cm-5-pack/569080-1000

 

http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/basswood-03-x-07-cm-5-pack/569081-1000

 

http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/advancedsearchresults.aspx?query=basswood&resultsPerPage=100

 

I'll have a look at Chuck's video, because the edge bending I've done so far needs so tidying up, especially round the bow. I started off soaking the basswood strips in hot water (the Admirals bath whilst she was faffing about with a face mask and lighting candles - so romantic) for about 5 minutes. Then I used a strip of old Balsa as my forming board, drew round the outside edges of the false deck and pinned the basswood to the balsa board. I had to resoak the Starboard side plank as it dried out very quickly. I left them pinned down for 24 hours, and they've retained their shape, but they have rippled in various places due to the grain of the timber not being impregnanted with enough water.

 

I've got another 3 lengths of the basswood that I'll try different bending techniques with, but I spoke with my Dad last night, and he suggested making a steambox out of copper pipe, and a compression fitting on one end. I'm looking in to that as that will make the basswood really supple and easy to bend.

 

Now that've found the Basswood online in pre-cut lengths and widths, I'll look in to replacing the whole deck with basswood.

 

I'll be posting photo's of Convulsion later on, I just need to do some final editing.

 

Cheers

Jonny

[jonny.amy]

Photo Update on Convulsion!

 

The model is mostly complete now - just slight changes and additions I will make over time now.

 

I noticed on Saturday that the model had surcome to some sun damage (it's pretty much in the sunlight all day as our living/dining room is South facing), so I bought a beginners airbrushing set and clear varnish capable of going through the airbrush. I sprayed the model with the varnish on Sunday and left to dry over night.

 

The following series of photo's are as of Monday night, when the crew figures were glued in place.

 

I hope you enjoy.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think for now I will keep the build log open on HM Mortar Vessel Convulsion until such a time when I am completely finished. You never know what the future will bring....

 

Cheers

Jonny

[egkb]

Very Cool !!  Must be a great feeling to finish off a build ..

 

By the way when you see Chuck's edge bending with no water used you may want to give it a try !

 

Have to Dash Bud

 

Eamonn 

[Ian B]

I love the display stand it really does show the ship in a great fashion. 

[jonny.amy]

E - I'll dig out the video tonight, I'm intrigued to see how he's edge bending without soaking the wood first! And yes, it's a great feeling to finish a model off like this!! Like I said earlier, I have a few little bit's I want to finish off (like putting in all the belaying pins, and adding a few sailors to the model), but it feels great to be over the biggest hurdle, which has been the rigging. I now have a greater understanding of it, and I'll be buying some new reading material for Sherbourne.

 

Ian - Thanks for the kind words! I thought it was a novel way of displaying the model without spending silly amounts of money on a display case. Even building my own case was in excess of £150!!!

 

Cheers

Jonny

[egkb]

You'll get a kick out of how simple it is.. though you will probably have to hit the Miss's Hair Hardware !!      unless you have a flowing locks of your own of course..     Silky Smooth (to quote The Zohan)

 

E

[jonny.amy]

Hahaha Eamonn my days of long flowing locks are gone! I had long beautiful straight hair just past my shoulders until halfway through Secondary School (I played in a heavy rock band) and thought it was a good look, until some punk (and I use that word instead of another 4 letter word of choice) decided to cut a big chunk of my hair off with a Stanley knife in the middle of the classroom!

No exaggeration, he left a patch about the size of a £2 coin less an inch away from my scalp.... unfortunately at that age, having long hair made myself a target for the b*stards in life! He left the english classroom with a black eye and fat lip, and I left with a clump of hair. He later got arrested for having a knife on his person in school.

 

I've cut it short even since then! So I'll utilise the Miss's equipment to give it ago!

[jonny.amy]

Now that I've got a while to wait before the Sherbourne Group Build, can anyone suggest a good kit to build in the mean time?

 

Requirements are that it should be sub £60.00 ($100.00), and a quick build? I quite fancy doing a waterline model? Any suggestions?

 

Cheers

Jonny

[egkb]

Have you seen the boats Dee_Dee builds on here? they are beautiful wee things and could fill the gap nicely Mate !

 

Eamonn

[jonny.amy]

I have seen Dee_Dee's stuff on here, and I think it's great, but I fancy a bit of a challenge....

 

I'm thinking about building the English Pinnace desgined by Chuck and produced by Model Shipways, as it would be a plank on frame kit, and would be fairly interesting, but with this discovery of Basswood available at Hobbycraft I might take the plunge and build my own POF sratch build of a similar vessel?

 

http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/acatalog/model-shipways-english-pinnace-MS1458.html

 

Let me know what you guys think....

 

Cheers

Jonny

[Canute]

Build the pinnace. Excellent planking tutorial by our own Chuck Passaro. Read the build logs on this site.

Edited April 28, 2015 by Canute

[jonny.amy]

So it's my day off today, and I've spent the day building sails for Convulsion.

 

So far I have one headsail "hanked" on and furled on to the Bowsprit. I've cut and glued the main top, main sail, main gaff, and jib fabric to the right sizes, and I'm just waiting on them to dry before furling and tying on to the yards and spars.

 

Cheers

Jonny

[Canute]

Sounds really good, Jonny. Please take some pictures of your handiwork.

[jonny.amy]

Morning all,

 

I'll get some photo's of the sails tonight and post them on here! The Admiral decided that she wants Sherbourne to go on the mantlepiece once it's started (bled on, sworn at, and eventually finished), so I bought a flat pack cabinet and assembled that to house Convulsion. I had a dig around in my box of tricks, and managed to find a pair of Glasing Hinges, so at some point I'll finish off the model with a glass door on the front of cabinet!

 

I'll make a spare sail tonight to show you simple process of building them.

 

Cheers

Jonny

[jonny.amy]

Hi Guys,

 

Photo update time for sail making!!!

 

So my original thoughts during the "conception" of the sails were along the lines of building "proper" sails, with all reeflines, bolt ropes and panels sewn together like the real sails would have been. I've done my fair share of sail making in the past (lots of blown out spinnakers whilst sailing, my father is an ex-sailmaker so it's been a skill past on to me), but.... I've never hand stitched a sail (apart from sacraficial stitches to hold patches together) so I was a bit dubious of the qaulity of the sails if I ventured down this route.

 

So my decision to glue the sails together was an easy one to make. The next decision came on which material to use.... light canvas, cotton or a heavy linen? Talking to the sweing guru (the Admiral) she suggested I use Curtain Backing for the sails as it is a fairly coarse weave cotton material that has little stretch! And she was bang on the money! I went to my local haberdashery and found curtain liner/backing for £4.00 per metre, and a big pot of fabric glue!

 

Once I got back home I did my usual half-ar$ed job of tidying up the flat (as I was requested by the Admiral) and then set about making sails.

 

My process:

1. Measure the spar lengths and distances between them.
2. Draw out the shape of the sail with a black biro pen, making sure the lines are straight and at least 5mm has been left all the way around the  sail. This will give the effect of Bolt Ropes etc. inside the sail.
3. Apply a bead glue around the perimeter of the sail.
4. Fold over the 5mm flap all the way around the sail. Smooth the folded seam down with your finger, and apply more glue to the overlap of fabrics.
5. Leave on radiator to dry for 3 hours.
6. Trim the corners of the sails to be as cleen as possible.
7. Leave for another 2 or 3 hours for glue to completely harden.
8. Stitch on to spars using spare natural coloured thread.
9. Using spare natural coloured thread push a needle through the bottom two corners of the sail to act as buntlines (add more bunt lines if you want, but makes the furling process a bit fiddly).

 

 

 

 

 

The following photos are of all the sails in place on the model!

Hope you enjoy....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheers

Jonny