Gothenborg by Popeye the sailor - Billing Boats - 1:100 scale

[popeye the sailor]

thanks for the good word Frank.  I have a feeling that this string won't take stain.......I should try it though,  to be sure of it.  it would be a bit too late to do it now though......no matter,  I will keep it in mind though for future builds.  I have more than enough to experiment with

[mobbsie]

Nice tidy bit of work there Popeye, I wonna see more.

 

Your rhetoric on this hobby is spot on and it shows through a superb build. Well done.

 

mobbsie

[popeye the sailor]

thanks Mobbsie........the only sad part of this hobby,  are the ones that are never finished.   I'll see what I can do about keeping you and Sjors in pictures     such a wonderful   'place to be'   that we have become!

[themadchemist]

I think one of the key things about the Goth build which is also a concern for me with the SF as I prepare for it is the scale. The SF is 1:90 and the Goth is even worse at 1:100 scale. My whole life I've lived with better then 20/20 vision and I find the reduction in my vision makes me wary of the small stuff. I'm not too worried on the DSotM as its fairly basic in its rigging, thats one of the reasons I chose it before the more complex stuff. Plus its 1:50 scale. Actually rigging the wheel to the tiller is probably going to be one of the toughest parts.

 

I took a break this week and spent a few days making a silver ring out of a 1/2 dollar for Tam, she's been waiting a while for it so I figured it would be nice since we just celebrated 28 years. That's a fun project if you've never made one.

 

If pictures make Sjors happy he must have been ecstatic over the barrage of pic's you layed down. I think we all like pictures though, I know I do.

[popeye the sailor]

I fell the same way Keith......it is too bad that the Gothenborg is 1:100 scale.   this is a good subject ship for a larger scale.   I'm beginning to lose the sight I used to have.......I use reading glasses now to do some of the tiny stuff.  I have magnifiers and and an optivisor {Tom sent it to me as a gift}......but it sits in the closet, still in the box.   I have to get used to having something on my head.  it has different magnifying glass attachments for it.

 

 

 

I also have a hand magnifier...I have used it a few times.  it has lights that show things up quite well, where ever you point it

 

 

 

I know it looks like one bulb is out......it's actually a second selection.   this bulb is a littlle higher in intensity, in the event you only need a singular beam of light.

 

 

even with this though,  I'm not going to put the details in as much as I want to.......there are so many cool things I see in the pictures.   I hope that in the future,  I can do what I want to......what I found out recently....I think it is quite doable.  I'm not an expert at scaling up a build,  but I would like to take another go at this ship......but at a larger scale.

 

I have a CD with another set of plans.   I have a few parts for this model,  and I really hate to see them go to waste,  so I checked out the possibilities at a local Staples.   I was told that they can produce them as large as I want..........I'm thinking in the back of my mind  "oh, don't tell me that"      but this might be a possibility for you..........of course,  scaling up means that ALL parts are scaled up.

 

rigging is another factor with scaling up.   there are some lines that will be hard pressed to get in there........clew lines,  sheet lines,  bunt and leech lines.......not to mention the smaller blocks to rig them with.   the unknown reason why dead eyes were used instead of hearts in the stay rigging......but lots more thought is put in by the builder,  after research and study....it was good that I was able to make them.   that is one of the problems with a smaller scale kit.......coming into a site like this,  and seeing all the added detail that would normally be found on these ships........you look at the kit and say to yourself,   it not in here.   to do some of the added detail,  you find that the parts are so small,  that they are next to impossible to manipulate {I don't know how some of you folks do it}.   .........and I slowly wander off the subject of your comment

 

yes,  it's hard........I'm sure that the S.F. kit will make into a very nice kit......just as this one would have,  if I did it out of the box.  the only advice I could give,  would be to make use of magnifiers,  and just take your time.  if in looking at some of the other builds here,  you want to do a little extra on it,  it will be icing on the cake.   I think you'll do well with the rigging......you won't know how well,  until you get into it.

 

you'll have more than enough folks {friends},  will to help along the way      <afterthought>  the problem you lament, doesn't show on the DSotM.......some of the carvings are really good

 

 

[Sjors]

You are getting old Popeye when you need that             

But, I understand why you bought it.

Mobbsie wants me also to get it   

 

[Jim Lad]

Popeye,

 

When you start to use that magnifier doing the rigging, watch out that you don't get too close and hit the model with it.  I'm serious!  Until you get used to it, it's very easy to forget that you've got that thing sticking out from the front of your face.

 

John

[popeye the sailor]

yep,  that's one of the reasons why I'm not that keen on it......looks nice though   we have a discount store here that you can buy discontinued stuff and things stores no longer carry.......you can buy eye glasses out a huge bin.   I use 1.25 for my reading glasses,  but I have a couple of other pairs.....of different strengths.   the strongest I have is 2.00.......I can't wear them for too long though.....gives me a headache! 

[lamarvalley]

Wow, wait a few days to read and find yourself 3 pages back...

 

Your rigging looks great Popeye and I love the weird but cool idea of imagining you're the little guy pulling the rope and how would it need to be for 'real' use. Oddly, that opens of a thought process that helps.

I too have the vision of an eagle... well, I mean I did... now I use cheaters for small stuff like reading and modeling and I too don't like a 'helmet' on my head to magnify this tiny world I seem to find enjoyable. Instead I use a magnifying lamp on a long articulating arm. It lights up and makes everything a tad bigger but took a while to get used to working around. I might try the head thing again since it is nice not to have to move the lamp around so often. I'm sure I can get used to it.... eventually...

[Mr10Dans]

Popeye,

 

When you start to use that magnifier doing the rigging, watch out that you don't get too close and hit the model with it.  I'm serious!  Until you get used to it, it's very easy to forget that you've got that thing sticking out from the front of your face.

 

John

I use some clip on magnifiers that fit over my regular glasses. They fit low on the lens and act similar to bifocals, and I can look over the top of them to see with normal vision. They do not protrude more than 1/2" from my glasses and they flip up out of the way when not needed. They are called Magni Clips and come in 2x,3x,4x and 5x. For most rigging work I use the 3x with my glasses I use for computer work. For more detailed the 4x is great. The 5x puts the focal point too close to my eyes and only one eye is used causing a loss of depth perception. The 2x is pretty weak. I'm not affiliated with the manufacturer just a happy user!

Tom

[popeye the sailor]

hello Tom.......welcome to the log.   I have heard of those......thankfully,  I don't need to wear glasses all the time.    I don't need them to drive yet......if I put them on,  everything's out of focus.   the glasses I speak of are really cheap........about $2.50 a pair.   they do come higher than 2.00......but I don't need stuff to be in my face........hee....hee   so, to me, it's just as cost effective to buy the glasses.   I label them so I can tell what strength they are.   all I can say is   "what a drag it is getting old" 

[augie]

I'm with Tom on this.  I have 2 pair of those 'flip ups' I got in the fly tying shop.  Wear the 2.0s mostly but the 4.0's do come in handy now and then.  Think they were about $10 each.  With pretty good shop lighting and an auxiliary free-standing high intensity light I'm in fairly good shape.

 

Of course there's always the old 'hold the mini-Maglite in your teeth' routine   

[Ferit]

You had got the spinach... 

[popeye the sailor]

I have more updating to do here........I was dying to try out my idea of attaching the yards to the masts.

 

 

I decided to assemble the spanker gaff { I hope that's what it's called} before I did the shrouds on the mizzen.   there is a lower yard that is to be attached here as well.......I'll get to that later.   the gaff was rigged with the blocks needed for the task.   there is another thread coming out of it......I had drilled holes through the gaff.   this thread will be strung with perrils and then threaded through the gaff,  fastening it to the mast.   I did have one problem though......the block under the top,  is threaded through a hole I drilled and cemented in place.   while I was threading the block,  it pulled out.......thus creating a repair

 

 

but.....soon the repair was done and the gaf was raised into position.

 

 

the pulley assemblies on the fore end of the gaff was done......

 

 

then the perrils were added, and the thread was run through the hole I had drilled.

 

 

 

more adjustments were made to the height of the gaff.........I have to leave room for the lower yard.  the lift assembly was also added.

 

 

 

the vangs were added at this point.....more adjustments were done to counter the bowing of the gaff.

 

 

 

now the thread that was run through the hole in the gaff,  had cement on it.  it should be dry by now,  so I can start wrapping it around the gaff and hide that entry point.   all points here were tied off and cemented.

[popeye the sailor]

with this completed,  it is time to do the shrouds.   those pesky stray lines bugged me all through the gaff assembly..........time to put them in their places.

 

 

after the dead eyes were tied and painted,  the first pair of lanyards were done.   both sides.

 

 

 

 

the second pair was done,  making sure that they didn't cross the first pair.

 

 

 

 

I like these shots...........

 

[captainbob]

Looking good, Popeye.

[realworkingsailor]

Nice job, you're just motoring through the rigging!

 

Andy

[Sjors]

Yippie,

 

Popeye is on the shrouds and soon at the ratlines !

 

Nice work my friend and welcome to the rigging company       

 

[augie]

Wow ...... you're moving along at warp speed, Popeye.  Looks great !!!!

[Anja]

Hello Popeye,

 

It's not only looking good or great, but also very neat and tidy.

Nice job.

 

Anja

[riverboat]

It'll be nice to see this one finished up, it's such a great looking ship and you're doing a real nice job on her....... I hear you on those dangling ropes, that's what I'm looking at too !! I forgot where half of them go

Frank

[Stockholm tar]

Popeye,

 

Nice job on the lateen yard – Gothenburg was of an age when ships still had them, and which of course was eventually to develop into the gaff.

 

She's certainly looking good, and can't wait to see more yards!

[popeye the sailor]

sorry about that Kester.......I keep call it a spanker.   I was looking through Colin Riches  "ship modeling from kits"  book,  and I stumbled across that very term......OK.....I'm a little smarter now.....      thanks for the good word! 

 

I don't have too many hanging vines Frank......don't need to be confused,  any more than I already am     the only ones I have are the crosstree futtocks and the lower yard lifts.   is that how you did your yards?  thanks as well for the good word

 

thanks Anja and Augie......everything has it's own time...it's nice to going in the forward motion though    thanks for the good words.

 

one more pair Sjors.........I swear!   while I'm doing the lower ratlines,  I can be shrouding the upper part   thanks for the good word!

 

thanks Capt. Andy.........has a nice ring to it.....don't it      it's nothing compared to the work your doing....fantastic!

 

thanks Bob...........appreciate the good word!

 

thanks to those who hit the like button as well.   I did leave the main shrouds for a reason.......there are a few cosmedic aspects that need to be done.   these are things I wanted to do.....tabling her didn't help the matter.   I will add them in for the next update.  again,  thanks to all for your kind comments......I feel like I accomplished something 

[Jim Lad]

Looking good, Popeye!  Nice job on the lateen spanker yard gaff thingy (otherwise known as 'the stick across the other stick')!

 

John

[popeye the sailor]

oh John..........you kidder you!   tee-hee-hee     I wish someone had told me that earlier.   I was looking for the name of the lines that hold the shrouds together at the futtocks,  when I saw it.   I learned my word for the day ! thanks for the good word 

[mobbsie]

Hi Popeye,   Wow really great progress my friend. She's looking absolutely great, rightly it's what we have come to expect from all your builds.  

 

I think I prefer your termination mate " Latreen Spanker " sounds like a fetish to me.   :D  ( this is to go no further )

 

mobbsie

[realworkingsailor]

 ( this is to go no further )

 

mobbsie

 

 

Bl**** He** I hope so....

 

 

 

But then again, I think Popeye's the only one whose's log has not yet been...um.... shall we say "flushed" down the..... uh.... hrm........

[augie]

But wait.....I thought those were up in the head on a ship of this rate?

[realworkingsailor]

When a ship is sinking, does it really matter which end goes first? She's going down....get the ******* off!

[augie]

Coming from our resident expert (real) sailor, I shall heed this advice.

 

Look out below