Rattlesnake by KenW - FINISHED - Model Shipways - Scale 1:64 - American Privateer

[russ]

Very neat work on a small scale. Nicely done.

 

Russ

[KenW]

The mizzen ‘spanker’ has been bent and the gaff crossed after many mistakes.  But with some perseverance the task was completed.  The ‘spanker’ was brailed which required a total of six lines that needed to be tied off.  I previously added a small pin rack holding 4 belaying pins on each side and used three per side for the brails.  The remaining one will be used later. I actually have a rigging plan that will use the MSW kit’s plans, with expansions to account for the ‘extra’ lines I need to show the furled sails.  Anyway, it’s on to the dreaded crowsfeet.

 

 

[russ]

Ken:

The spanker rigging looks good. The brailed sail has a nice effect.

 

Russ

[EJ_L]

Well done! She looks like that with just a few tugs on some rope the sail sill be set and she will be under way. Must mean you did it right!

[DocBlake]

Very nice work, Ken. I love the sails!

Edited February 21, 2017 by DocBlake

[JSGerson]

Very nicely done. If my experience with the Rattlesnake's crowsfeet are anyway typical, I don't think you should have any problem with them. Neither Mamoli nor MS's plan indicate the use of crossfeet but I added them anyway. I just followed the reference books and it worked.

 

Jon

[KenW]

Thanks Russ, E.J., Dave and Jon; and the 'likes'.

I'm including crowsfeet because they are on Harold Hahn's plans. 

As usual, I'm following Antscherl's method as described in his, "The Fully Framed Model", volume 4.

Edited February 22, 2017 by KenW

[Tallsails2]

Ken,

 

You do amazing work. It's a joy to follow your build logs. It gives me a goal to achieve and wealth of information.

 

I'm about to start my 3rd build, after building the "Swift" and MS Benjamin W Latham, which will be Model Shipways Fair American. So I will be using your build log for both the Fair American and Rattlesnake as a guide. If you have any tips to pass along about the Fair American, please let me know.

 

Again, congratulations on a great build of both ships. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of your Rattlesnake build.

 

Eddie

 

 

[KenW]

I'll follow your build, but I don't think I do anything special.  I just plod along like everyone else.

I really like going to meetings of my local club.  Hopefully you have one near by.

Cheers.

[KenW]

The crowsfeet weren’t as hard as I thought.  The hardest part was making the euphroes.  I don’t have a power drill, other than my Dremel.  I made the euphroes with my hand held drill.  I used a 1/8 x 1/16 strip and used my xacto to make a score down the middle of the 1/8 side.  The score helped keep the holes lined up, and just used my awl to mark where the holes should be.  After the holes were drilled, I used a sanding stick to get the width and thickness down to where it should be.  The crowsfeet line I used was that recommended by Antscherl.  The line was fly fishing line with a weight of 6/0, and it’s very thin.  It was hard to capture on camera.

 

              

 

              

[russ]

Very nicely done. The fly tying thread was a good choice. It gives that very light feel that is necessary at this scale. Excellent work.

 

Russ

[EJ_L]

Nice work on those crows feet. I have several sets of those to rig myself and I am going to have to remember the fly fishing line trick. The euphroe blocks are a bit tricky to make and I actually think my first attempt ended up being to big but yours look great!

[KenW]

Thanks Russ and E.J.  I was leery of the fly fishing line myself, but am pleased with the way it turned out.  The line isn't that easy to work with, however - very thin.

[JSGerson]

I also made my Rattlesnake's euphroe with a Dremel clone rotary drill. I had the advantage of a Dremel drill press stand for their drill plus an X-Y table which allowed me to measure the exact fine spacing between the holes by the number of turns on the crank. The drill press rig ensured that the holes were all perpendicular. From what I can see, you did a very nice job.

 

Jon

[KenW]

Thanks Jon.  I should look into the press stand.  Did the X-Y table come with the drill press stand?

Cheers.

[JSGerson]

No, I bought the table separately from Proxxon. The tricky part is getting orientated perfectly on the press. I use clamps but should have some bolts.

[KenW]

The mizzen mast is fully rigged.  It involved adding the topsail yard and sail.  All the lines had to be tied down while not interfering with the lines going to the small pin rail that I added for the spanker brails.  Everything looks good at this point.  There are still a couple of ‘empty’ pins, but they will be used later for various braces. I learned on my last build that braces are best left to last.  So now it is on to the main mast. 

       

[DocBlake]

Beautiful job, Ken!  That is a great looking model.

[russ]

Ken:

The mizzen rigging and the sails look really good. You are doing a great job.

 

Russ

 

 

[EJ_L]

Fantastic! Your mizzen mast looks great and the rigging is very sharp. Well done!

[donrobinson]

I can't say much more than what the rest have said, nice work!

[rafine]

That is really terrific work Ken. I'm not usually a fan of sails, but those furled sails of yours look great.

 

Bob

[TomShipModel]

Good morning all.  I've seen this model up close.  Very well done as others have said.

 

Tom

[JSGerson]

That's one handsome looking model! 

[KenW]

Thanks for the kind words Dave, Russ, E.J., Don, Bob, Jon and Tom; as well as to all the 'likes'.

Cheers.

[Eddie]

Hey howya goin Ken, wow what a lovely ship you build there congratz on it mate

[scott larkins]

Coming along great.  Been a while since I checked in.  I always like the furled sail.  Makes a ship look alive I think.

[Martin W]

Hi Ken -- I will always have a soft place in my heart for the Rattlesnake, just because she's a fine looking vessel.  And your build has in every way done justice to her good looks.  Well done!

 

Martin

[BenD]

Well it looks like the Rattlesnake is going on my wish-list. Amazing work so far!

[KenW]

I’ve added the main topmast and main topsail yard with its sail.  The area of this sail is really large, even larger than the main course on my model.  I’m starting to wonder if I should be making the sails to be full size.  I thought that the sails on my last model, which were half size, were too small; now I’m thinking these may be too big.  No turning back now, however.  My sail plan is a cross between David Anscherl’s and the kit’s plan drawn up by George Campbell based on Harold Hahn’s plans.  My decisions are based on what I feel looks and/or seems right.  Most of the lines are still not tied off.  I’m waiting until the top gallant lines are all in place.  Now I’m off on a 12 day vacation, so the shipyard will be quiet for a while.