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

[jhearl]

Let me say right off the bat that I have no idea what places you may have tried and I know nothing about Southampton. However, I did find a place called Hobby Craft - http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/southampton that lists 3mm dowling. Whether or not your local store has it, of course, I can't say. We have big craft stores like this in the US and they often carry a limited selection of basswood for various types of crafts like dollhouse makers. You might look for other types of craft shops in your area. My apologies if you've already thought of this. Also, you might try what we call hardware stores (maybe you call them iron mongers?) for dowling. Even if you didn't find a dowel quite thin enough, you could likely sand it down without any great difficulty.

 

Shaping a round spar from square stock doesn't require a lathe - espcially in a small size like this. Just use a file to knock off the corners, then sandpaper to smooth it to a round shape. It's really not difficult at all. Of course, if you don't have a source of square stock or any scraps, then it would be pretty difficult.

 

All of that said, if you're content to wait for Jotika to send you a piece, then by all means, save your petrol!

 

Cheers -

John

[jonny.amy]

Hi John, I've not updated my location on here since I've moved house. I now live about 50 miles from Southampton, so I'm a lot closer to work (reduced distance from 52.4 miles to 0.8 miles door to door).

My local hobby shops are small indepedant stores that carry limitied stock. I looked in my local DIY shop last on my home, and the smallest stock of doweling is 8mm Diameter, and the smallest square stock is 12mm SQR.

 

Here in the UK, all the small Ironmongers / local DIY stores have all but gone. In my (new) town, the indepenant DIY store couldn't compete with the large DIY Megastore, and has now been turned in to an internet cafe. The local shops are being forced to close or reduce their hours due to the lack of trade compared to the DIY megastores, purely because of price. At B&Q, Wickes, or Homebase, you can buy a set of 20 Stanly Blades for say £2.99, but these items are bought in a bulk load, often millions of items at a time, and the indepedant store which will sell the same product, is buying limited stock, thus selling it at a higher price and still loosing money because their profit margin is so slim. So these stores simply shut down after time. I live and work in the town centre and all I can see if I step outside is Megastore conglomerites, and the occasional struggling indepedant store.

 

I will give Jokita until tonight to reply to my email, and if they don't get back to me, I'll head to Hobby Craft. I know where it is, and I will be visiting Southampton and Portsmouth on Monday (going to the Historic Dockyards for the day), so I can pop in for that. Maybe Lucy will get herself a new Cross Stitch from there too?

 

Thanks for the advice on shaping the square stock. I've built full length masts for various dinghy projects my Dad and I have worked on in the past, but he's always had the stock rounded off at the local riggers yard, so I've never seen it done, or done it myself!

[jhearl]

Big box stores have pretty much taken over the Mom & Pop hardware stores here too although I'm lucky enough that there are still two in my area. Many years ago, I worked in a small hardware store. One day a guy came in looking for a particular size screw or some such thing. Our price was higher, of course, and he complained that he could buy the same thing at the big box store for half the price. I asked him why he didn't buy it there then and he said they were out of them. To which I replied, "Oh - when we're out of them, we sell them for half the price as well!" That pretty well ended the conversation.   

 

Good luck on getting your spare bowsprit.

[Beef Wellington]

Jonny, I'd recommend checking out www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk.  They'll have pretty much anything you need, I've had great service from them even shipping to the US.  Postage will be cheaper for you and probably all around it would save the cost of petrol and risk of disappointment. 

[jonny.amy]

Jason - I was waiting til payday (friday) before I spent money with Cornwall Model Boats!!!!!! I bought my kit from them and they are fantastic at sending things through in one piece! I've got an order saved on their website at the moment (waiting until I can justify the cost), so I'll just say sod it! and place the order and add 3mm dowel on top! It's only money!! Hahaha

 

John - it's very much the same here, with our stores, it just kills off the local community. Unfortunately, proper "model making" is very much a dying art, and kids and young people don't do it anymore (I say that, I'm 22 years old and I'm hooked on it). Unless you grew up making models, and didn't have your brained turned to mush by TV and videos games, young people these days will loose these skills (I sound like an old man now)! I spent my childhood building boats with my Dad, I spent weekends either sailing, rowing, or just being on the water, and playing guitar and bass guitar. It means I have a skill set that allows me to build models like this with relative accruacy, and it keeps my mind ticking over. I love to sit down with a beer, cut away at some wood, sand and shape something that I can be proud of. Not many young people my age can say they've built something that they're proud of. The ethos might be different out in the States, but certainly here, these traditions are being lost!

 

Sorry for the mini rant!

 

Jonny

[jonny.amy]

Hi All, Sorry if I put across the wrong impression with the mini rant, I am very greatful with all your help and suggestions.

 

I've just placed an order with Cornwall Model Boats, for 3mm Dowel, 6mm lime square stock, swivel guns, eight ships boat, two carronades, and a white ensign. So I have plenty of stuff coming through the post in the 24, to 48 hours! Wooo!!

 

There will be no work on Convulsion tonight, as I'm having two new sofa's delivered, so I've got lots of furniture to hump about! Apart from fixing the bowsprit, the only remaining jobs are to finish off rigging the spars and yards, and tying the ratlines.

 

Does anybody know of a good way of tying the ratlines so they are all even? Also, when gluing them in place, is it better to use fast drying CA, or using watered down PVA?

 

I'll update you all on progress when it happens!

Cheers

[Canute]

Jon, careful with your repaired back, mate.

A technique I read about, but haven't tried yet, is to draw up the ratline diagram on some white paper/card stock and place it under the shrouds. Tie the lines with your preferred knots. I favor white glue, since it dries clear. The CA may discolor with aging.

[jhearl]

I agree with Ken on all points. Here's a pic of me doing it on one of my models:

 

 

I use thinned white glue (PVA) (about 50/50 with water) to paint the knots after they're tied. The problem with CA is that it can turn the line brittle and it could break.

[Beef Wellington]

Looks like my post crossed with Jhearl's 

 

Jonny, I've seen some people draw lines on a piece of card to assist in the alignment which they place behind the shrouds.  Here another approach which I used, basically use a couple of spare strips to help get the ratlines with equal spacement.  The other advantage of this is that the strips together with some pegs hold the shrouds in place - otherwise the tendency is for the ratlines to pull the shrouds together, even so, this needs constant attention.

 

http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/509-hms-snake-by-beef-wellington-caldercraft-scale-1-64-first-wooden-ship-build/page-36#entry168714

 

I think its fair to say that the ratlines seem to be few peoples favourite steps as it can be quite tedious, I found I didn't mind it, but I'd definitely recommend not trying to rush it.  Use clove hitches as these can be adjusted if things go awry, and don't be afraid of re-dos.  I found a glue call G-S Hypo Cement to be very effective on rigging, it remains somewhat flexible once dry and is clear.  I personally don't like using CA glue on the rigging as it spreads unpredictably and seems to result in hard sections that look unnatural, in addition to changing the colour of the line.  I've used watered down PVA glue on the rigging once complete to secure any other knots/hitches - its also has the benefit of helping get rid of any 'fuzzies'.

Edited March 5, 2015 by Beef Wellington

[jonny.amy]

Ken, I'll look after my back, I've got a sack truck I'll be using to shift the sofa's on, and Lucy has asked her uncle to help as extra muscle! He also has a big van we can chuck them in!

 

Thanks for the advice guys, I'll definitely try the card method for spacings. Clove hitches are second nature to me (having a knowledge of sailing and boat building has really helped me), but I'll have to practice getting them really neat and tidy at this scale.

 

As for the glue, my intention was to use the PVA/water mixture as I tried tying ratlines on President before and found the CA glue made the thread very brittle.

 

Jason, I love your idea!! That was very smart thinking!!

 

FYI - I'm going to Portsmouth Dockyards on Monday for the day, going to get aboard Victory and maybe Warrior if we get time.

In my school days I spent two weeks in Technical Drawing Office at the Naval Dockyard, and got to go on Victory for a private tour (access to all the roped off areas), including Nelson's Day Cabin, and had a poke around in his Cabin. It was an incredible guided tour by the Curator at the time, and myself and the Designer I was working with measured up the QM's cabin for a ring-main installation! Really cool stuff! I've not been back since, so it will be great to walk around knowing I've been "behind the guilded ropes"! I'll be taking along my camera, so if anyone wants any pictures, just let me know!

 

Cheers

Jonny

[Canute]

I'll second Jason's recommendation for the Hypo glue. It's watch crystal cement. I've attached clear styrene window glazing to wood and plastic without any crazing. Beats the CA, which causes the clear styrene to fog up from the fumes.

[egkb]

Enjoy Victory Bud.. she is on my 'to do list' with Mary Rose, Warrior, Cutty Sark & Chatham.. I plan on doing them all in one shot (have already done Greenwich a few times inc twice before it was changed) 

 

Eamonn

[jonny.amy]

Hi guys,

 

No progress on the model today so far, as I've been doing trips to refuge centers to dump sofas, tidying up, laundry, organising flowers/flower delivery for Lucyon Monday (a lot harder then it sounds), and trying to pack 7 days of ladies clothes in to my sailing bag, 45 litre bag (like most women its at least 14 days worth of clothes) so I can save nearly £200 on flight tickets for our holiday in July.

 

So I spoke with Cornwall Model Boats today, and they told me that postage of my package has been delayed until Monday because the White ensign wasn't in stock! Damn it! Any way, I'll get going soon on the model!

 

Cheers

Jonny

[Canute]

Ah, the joys of domesticity! This from the guy about to take his Admiral out for her birthday dinner.

[jonny.amy]

Yes, I was lumping furniture round at 7am yesterday morning, but the Admiral was pleased with my efforts. Although she said the clothes I tried packing to prove my point about carry on luggage for our flight were deemed inadequate for a weeks holiday in the sun! Too many skimpy dresses apparently!

 

Monday is our anniversary, so I'm taking her shopping and then off to the dockyards for me! Win win!!

[jonny.amy]

Morning Chaps,

 

Today is the day is the day the Admiral and I celebrate our happy little life together, and all I can say is that the Admiral has spoilt me rotten! I am now the prod owner of a little Cutter called Sherbourne!!!!!!

 

I've been one hell of a year, and I couldn't be happier, but the Admiral has told me that the build of Sherbourne has to wait until Convulsion has left the dry dock!

 

I'll post a picture shortly!

[jonny.amy]

I forgot to mention the 1.5 litre bottle of my favourite social lubricant!

 

 

[Canute]

Congratulations to you and the Admiral on your anniversary. 

 

 Arr, matey! Spiced rum. A personality enhancer if ever there was one. Enjoy it.

 

And outstanding on your latest, HMCutter Sherbourne.  That's a beauty.

[egkb]

Great Stuff Mate.. Myself and David M will be doing a 'Group' (just the 2 of us  )  Sherbourne build as soon as we finish our Ballahoos.. but I suspect you will have your Sherry nearly done by that time 

 

Now crack open the Captain and have a great evening !

 

All The Very Best to ye Both

 

Eamonn

[jonny.amy]

Eamonn, I'll be interested in joining in with you guys on that! But first I may be taking on a small scratch build of a 12 metre long (40 foot) Oyster Smack?

 

I've been asked to build this particular boat by a friend. I have a load of Balsa sat around at home, and have about 1500mm of square cut pine that I can use for the keel. I'm thinking about ease of the build and I'll building it POB, making the bulkheads from the balsa? It's just a thought at the moment, but I've got the materials lying around, so why not use them? At a scale 1:48, that makes the hull just under 270mm in length or at 1:32, it would be just under 400mm.

 

I have still lots to think about on this one, but might be a side line project until I'm ready to start Sherbourne!

 

Oh, and the bottle of Captain will be opened on the day Convulsion is christened!

 

Cheers

[egkb]

I'm probably 2 month's or so (yea right!!) away from finishing Ballier (David is flying along though).. pretty much everything i need is now either assembled or just about ready to go  (no more waiting for the Postman hopefully)

 

Balsa for the Bulkheads Hmmmm might be a tad soft bud.. think about MDF or marine ply, there would be lots of better advice of that nature on here somewhere mind you.. but I've seen folks get great use out of the mdf (some found the ply distorts too easily.. even though they bought dead flat sheets, something about storage I think.. moisture or lack of.. etc but it can easily 'ish' be flattened)

Dee_Dee on here is almost finished building a cracking good French working boat (sloop) which may give you some ideas! Just looked at her build and it is in fact an Oyster Smack.. so bit of a result there I say!

http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/6802-sloup-by-dee-dee-corel-125-sloup-coquillier-shell-fish-sloop-shepherdess-from-domr%C3%A9my-glacial-boatworks/

 

 

Don't forget to link us to the new Oyster Smack build by the way, should love to follow that along!

 

E

Edited March 10, 2015 by egkb

[Canute]

I agree with Eamon about the balsa bulkheads. May work easy, but it's weak. Another wood may be basswood; it comes in sheets.

 

And yes, Dee_Dee's French sloop looks very good. Check it out!

[egkb]

Ken is spot on with Basswood, though I think for some unknown reason it is weirdly hard to locate over our side of the pond   and don't get me started on Holly.. probably be easier to go and cut down a tree then whittle it to the sizes you need!!  I'm sure it is out there somewhere though.

 

BTW I refer to our pre sized timber, not stuff you need to Mill and Thickness Sand etc.

 

All The Best

 

Eamonn

[jonny.amy]

I agree with you guys, MDF or Basswood would be more suitable, but I'll probably do it on a limited budget (probably no more than £75.00). I have looked at Cornwall Model Boats, and I've seen a kit, sub £75.00 that I'll probably buy. My friend doesn't really know much about ships and ship building, so has requested a model that "looks pretty, but doesn't have the gun's and gubbins on it"!!!

 

I was thinking about making it as an interesting Scratch build for myself, but if I used MDF or Basswood, I would need to buy a jigsaw, and I'm a bit skint after buying Lucy's anniverary gifts... This month is going to be a quiet one! I might have to reconsider the scratch build?

 

http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/acatalog/soclaine-le-rigel.html

 

In other news, Jokita have got back to me, and they're sending a new 3mm dowl! And CMB are sending my parcel (including a replacement 3mm dowl) tomorrow after the 1801-1864 White Ensign turns up! So looks like I'll have a fun filled weekend!

 

Cheers,

Jonny

Edited March 11, 2015 by jonny.amy

[egkb]

That little boat in CMB looks perfect Mate..

 

E

[jonny.amy]

Yeah I think so too, there's no need to over complicate it!

 

Anyway, I've got one more yard to fit to Convulsion tonight, and all my new kit will be added this weekend! I should have the kit finished in 2 to 4 weeks time!

[Canute]

Neat looking little fishing boat there. Will be fun.

[jonny.amy]

Well today has been interesting, my replacement bowsprit/jibboom Rowling came through the post today from Jokita!

 

So I've done Convulsion justice again, and I've given her a bit of a face lift! I've cut out that temporary fix to the jibboom, cut out the existing block on the sprit, drilled out a socket for the new jibboom using the last few ounces of power from the drill (completely forgot to charge the damn thing), and then superglued the new jibboom in place! Finally I tied off the Forestay block and glued that bad boy in place, tensioning the forestay correctly!

 

Job done, and she looks sweet!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheers,

Jonny

[egkb]

Now we're talking Mate..  great work !

 

E

 

Cracking open the 'Captain' is getting closer eh!  

[Canute]

Looks good. And you'll feel better, too.