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

[JPAM]

wow, you're killing it. looks awesome. 

[Tigersteve]

Ken,

It's looking great. 

Steve

[KenW]

Thanks Dave, JPAM and Steve; and for the 'likes'.

And Jim, I'm flabbergasted.  Thanks for the kind words.  Keep in mind that the Redheart gets more 'orange' or rust color as it ages.

[EJ_L]

Truly is an awesome build Ken!

 

I've found many of those extra bits of thread that didn't get cut off when reviewing the pictures. That magnification and focused view help spotting some of those easier.

[KenW]

All lines on the forecastle are in place, tied off and coils are added.  Attached is a better photo taken from the same angle as the shot with all the spaghetti. The photo was taken at sundown.

 

 

The lines on the quarter deck are also tied off and coiled.  I like to think that I’m a ‘good’ captain considerate of his crew.  So I added various railings to protect the sailors from unnecessary injuries.  For example, I added a rope railing to prevent officers on the quarter deck from falling down the stairs going below.

 

 

I also added railings to the aft of the tops.

 

 

And, finally, a railing so a crew member has something to hold onto while using the head.  (That one is kind of hard to see.)

 

Edited August 14, 2017 by KenW

[russ]

Very nice work rigging, especially in that confined area near the bow. The rope coils look very good.

 

Russ

[rafine]

Great work Ken.

 

Bob

[EJ_L]

Very nice Ken. Regardless of if your crew appreciates the railings or not, they are another excellent detail that adds a little something more. Well done!

[JSGerson]

You should be very pleased

 

Jon

[KenW]

Thanks Russ, Bob and Bob, E.J. and Jon.  And thanks to the 'likes'.

[BenD]

Ken, This is bloody fantastic!  I think you sold me on chucks Rigging line and blocks, definitely going to look into that.  Also I'm going to try furled sails like that on my HMS Snake for sure.

 

I could only hope to build like this one day.

[alde]

She sure is a beauty Ken.

[KenW]

Thanks Al and Duncbe.  I do recommend Syren's blocks and line.  Clearly superior to any that I've seen supplied by a kit.  I also use his gun barrels and carriages.

Cheers.

[KenW]

I have good news and bad news.  I’ve finally done enough rigging so I’m ready to lash the spare mast and yard to the gallows and tie down the ship’s boat to the spares.  My wife says it looks like the boat has had a baby. 

I also added extended fixed gangways.  I made brackets to support the end of each gangway out of wood which can’t be seen.  I also added ladders up to each gangway.  I based my design on a drawing in a book by Howard Chapelle entitled, “The History of American Sailing Ships", published in 1935.  The drawing is on page 136.  I’m pleased the way it turned out.

The Chapelle drawing:

And now for the bad news.  Way back last year, while planking the aft bulwarks, I added sheaves for the main sheets and braces.  However, I placed them wrong.  As can be seen in the photo, the sheet will foul the mizzen back stays and shrouds.  The only way I can think of fixing the problem is to remove three planks from each side of the hull and replace them with the sheaves in their proper place.  Fortunately, I still have walnut planks he same width and thickness.  But it will take some very careful work.

[Tigersteve]

Looks great. I agree to your solution of removing the planks. 

Steve

[JSGerson]

Don't forget, you have to replace the bulwarks planks on the inner walls as well. I don't envy the work ahead for you. Good luck.

 

Jon

[Martin W]

Hi Ken -- I commiserate with you on those sheaves:  I went through almost the same experience on my Fly.  And I corrected the error in the same way you're planning to do.  In the end, it wasn't that hard to do, there was just the emotional aspect of having to undo work.

 

Best of luck!

 

Martin

[KenW]

I’ve corrected the location of the sheaves in the side of the hull which are used for the main lower sheets and braces.  I think the repairs came out pretty well. You can see where the new walnut planks join the old, but the join is behind the mizzen shrouds and not very noticeable.  As for the bulwarks, I mixed paint to match the faded color of the redheart planks and I’m satisfied with the results.  I just hope that the unpainted planks don’t fade too much further.

The rigging is complete.  So all that is left to do is make and mount the anchors and the ensign.  So, the completion date is not far off.

[donrobinson]

She looks great Ken, good job on relocating the sheaves

[russ]

Ken:

I would not have noticed the rework if you had not pointed it out. Very nicely done.

 

Russ

 

 

[MEDDO]

Looks very good.  Unless you are specifically looking for it I do not think you would notice the repairs.

[zappto]

I love the way she looks, all job is top quality as i see, enjoy it!

[EJ_L]

A lot of what I wanted to say has already been said. Excellent repairs! She sure is beautiful! You are on the home stretch now.

[JSGerson]

Very nice. If you hadn't brought the problem to our attention, we would never had know a repair was made. Good job.

 

Jon

[john_wilmer]

The furled sails really add another dimension to visual effect of the rigging.  You have really elevated this model far above kit form.  Cant wait to see it.

 

-John

[KenW]

Thanks for all the comments; and the 'likes'.  I will not be pointing out the repairs from now on, although I may tell my club guys. 

The end is near.

Cheers.

[Pete Jaquith]

Ken,

 

Nice looking model.  I agree that the furled sails add a new dimension to the model.

 

Regards,

Pete

[Tigersteve]

Looks great, Ken!

Steve

[KenW]

 

My next task is to make the anchors and mount them on the ship.  The problem was that I couldn’t find the anchors that came with the kit.  I’ve been following Chuck Passaro’s log for the kit he is building of the HMS Cheerful.  As part of his design, he created a mini- kit for anchors made of boxwood.  So I asked him if he could make a kit a little smaller to support a boat at 1:64 scale.  He did and I followed his instructions to make anchors out of wood which so that they really look like they were metal.  I’m pleased with the result and I mounted them based on a photo and text in John Harland’s book on page 269.  I attach a copy of the photo and some photos of the current state of the boat.  It is finished except I need to make an ensign.

[alde]

She's absolutely beautiful Ken.