HMS Surprise by captain71 - Mamoli - Scale 1:75 - British Frigate

[captain71]

First sailing vessel and first Build log. I started my ship on December 27. and have been taking pictures that I've yet to post. I have built boats before (real and model) but have never done rigging .  I'm starting with a moderate level kit before I try my first scratch built. Iv'e been getting advice from your forums since I decided to go for it.  I'm looking forward to more feedback and sharing lessons learned with this community of like interested friends. 

                                                                  

 

[Navis Factorem]

Hi Captain71,

 

Welcome to the Surprise build group.

 

I started my Surprise about a year ago. Initially I thought I would go for a kit build and the Mamoli version was one option, at 1:75 the finished product is a manageable size. Other options at 1:48 or so would have ended up pretty large.

 

In the end I decided to scratch build using the Lavery & Hunt book as the basis as it includes a version of the original plans.

 

The hull is going well and I am working on the fittings for the upper deck. (This is actually below the quarterdeck and forecastle). Working out how to fully detail this upper deck was a bit of a challenge as all the detail has to be in place before I install the top deck sections and I didn't want to end up doing dusty work with all the guns etc. in place. So I have got removable deck sections that I can complete remotely. So far so good.

 

Cheers. 

[captain71]

[captain71]

Keel looks pretty dead on. it was a little warped but I kept it straight with an adjustment strip I made on a board then glued the false deck to hold it.

[captain71]

  Decpihering the various wood types and colors was difficult but I figured it out by count of materials..

The color charts were pretty much useless.

Edited January 2, 2015 by captain71

[captain71]

Hello Navis Factorem. Thanks for the welcome. I looked over some of your build log and I am impressed.

I too have read all the O'Brien books and would really like to modify this kit to fit the ship description.

I'll be checking in on your progress for advice (with your permission Sir)

                               Thanks again,   Captain71

Edited January 2, 2015 by captain71

[SgtSki in MI]

After completing (or starting, for that matter) my first wooden ship kit, the Niagara, I plan on doing a frigate and the Surprise tops my list...so I'll be following your build with rapt attention. Looks like you're off to a good start!

[Bindy]

Hello Captain71 and a big welcome from me too!

 

Thank you for starting a build log.  I am building the same kit myself and will follow along with your every step! (And maybe steal a few ideas, tips and tricks too haha) There are only a few HMS Surprise builders here at the moment but they are all very friendly, and of course the whole community is here to help.

 

Welcome again and good luck!

[Mayohoo]

Hi. 

Am doing the Surprise from AL and it is indeed large. Have a build log and would be happy to help in any way (given that this is my first build). I am now at the rigging phase...

[captain71]

Thankyou to all "Surprises" for your warm welcome. I work away from home at 3 and 4 day stretches and therefor only have a few hours per week to work on my ship, but of course these projects are all about patients and the very slow process of fine detailing.   I'll be following your build logs as well and am looking forward to our exchanges of information and developing friendships.

[captain71]

Hey. Mayohoo. Really looking forward to following your rigging. Most exciting part for me.

[captain71]

Started gun deck planking. Tacked on a center guide to keep it straight then fan out from there.

[Mayohoo]

Hi Captain71,

I was able to keep the mast holes in the center, but the issue is that the structure is not perfectly even (at least on my kit), the deck planking is not precisely even in width and I was not precise enough in my placing and cuts to get it to be perfectly congruent on both sides. So I ended up with slightly different cuts into the sides (nibbling). The gun deck is good to practice on as it is nearly completely covered except midships. There is a specific pattern (4 or 5 butt shift?) and plank length (15-20 ft) that is most historically accurate and I added trenails (1 inch to scale or 0.20 inch diameter on the model). There are some nice planking tutorials here. http://modelshipworldforum.com/ship-model-framing-and-planking-articles.php

 

Hope this helps. This photo is from my build log.

 

[captain71]

Thanks Mayohoo, That looks great. I wished I had researched more, as I have already started the the deck at the 80 mm per the plans around 8 ft.( or is it 10)  Kinda metric stupid, bein American n all.

I did get it centered perfectly though, as it laid out exactly to the edges. This is the course I have done so far.

 

. I need to sqaure off my ends better for the upper deck. I can dress these up with a knife later.

Edited January 15, 2015 by captain71

[Waitoa]

Hi Captain71

 

Looking good and I am treating this deck as a practice as most of it will be covered. My mast holes were not exactly centred and I have used a round file to make them more aligned. I am sure that once I fix the upper deck down I am sure the file will be needed again. I am finding with this kit there are some challenges in alignment etc so am slowing down my build to spend a bit more time on the preparation. I tend to rush things a bit and then spend a longer amount of time using putty and extra detail to hide some avoidable mistakes.

 

Waitoa

[captain71]

Hey Waitoa. The hole for the foremast was off alittle but I planked over it and will file it out to align right. 1 of my bulk heads is off too so I'm gonna have to shave 1 side and add to the other. I'm learning not to trust the factory so much. Like you, I tend to plunge ahead and clean up later. I guess we're sorta kindred spirits in that department. Thanks for being my "point man" and letting me follow your lead. 

Edited January 15, 2015 by captain71

[captain71]

I saw that someone else ran into the same problem that I did with a piece of the bulkhead breaking off while trying to put on the false deck. I tried gluing it back on but there's too much stress and it kept breaking off. 

What I did was to glue first then drill a pin size hole through the broken piece at and angle into the main part of the bulkhead. I then drove a needle about an inch into it then cut and ground it off. Good and strong now.

Edited February 9, 2015 by captain71

[Waitoa]

Nice fix, think Bindy ran into the same issue. I took to mine with a hammer which was not the smartest thing to do but got away with it this time. Looking forward to seeing your progress as at this rate you will over take my build.

 

Waitoa

[captain71]

Committed to the grating size and look. Not attached yet just sitting there. Noted that the boat stands are metal not wood like the plans show. That threw me for awhile when I couldn't find the wood ones. Been over seas for awhile. Workin on my boat slowly.

Edited June 12, 2015 by captain71

[Waitoa]

Hi

 

Just checking in to see how you are getting on. I have been hit with the dreaded motivation blues on my build.

 

Waitoa

[captain71]

I'm back to work on my ship after a long stint on the beach. Laying on the first course of hull planking.I'll be adding photos to my log when I get to the gun ports.

 

 

[captain71]

Hi

 

Just checking in to see how you are getting on. I have been hit with the dreaded motivation blues on my build.

 

Waitoa

I'm back. I've been in the same state of mind. I don't know why but I was really freaked out about starting my hull planking. I kept putting it off and muttering "I gotta get back to my boat". I looked at your log and said what the hell, Waitoa went for it, so I did too. There's always putty. Right? So I back on it committed to 1 plank a day. Started level with the gun deck. 

[captain71]

Back to work. 1 or 2 hull planks a day. 

[captain71]

IMG_1559.JPGIMG_1557.JPGBack to work. 1 or 2 hull planks a day. I didn't use Balsa wood. I will regret this I know.

 

[HIPEXEC]

Looking good!

[Waitoa]

Hi, lost my access to the website and took awhile to get back in.  Looking good, getting to the end of my second planking and think I will need a bit of putty to clean some of it will post some photos soon

 

[S.Coleman]

I would even imagine me building this kit but as it is very rare now days mayby not. Your off to a good start. The metal decorations Mamoli provides are decent but do need a lot of cleaning up as lots of flashing and burrs occur. Good work.  

[captain71]

Framing in my gunports. now. Decided to go ahead with the metal. Filed off the frag seems to be fitting ok. Just sitting loose for now.