USS Ranger by mattsayers148 - FINISHED - Corel SM55 - 1:64 - 4th build, 2nd build log

[GLakie]

She's looking awesome Matt! Can't wait to see what you come up with for the sails.! 

[mrangus]

Matt this looks great, you've passed me! It must've taken forever to serve all those lines.... makes it look super.

[CaptainSteve]

She looks spectacular, Matt !! The "colourations" you have given her throughout make it seem like she was built a century or more ago !!

[Cathead]

I think Steve nails it with regards to the model's look; it has a beautiful patina that really stands out to me.

[mtaylor]

Very nicely done, Matt.   The aging and rigging look perfect.

[dgbot]

Looking good Matt,  If you decide on sails I think that if you furled them the effect would be perfect.

David B

[Moonbug]

Good morning Matt - concur with Mark - particularly with regard to the coloring / aging.  Very nice.

 

- Bug

[riverboat]

Outstanding!! work Matt....... really love the look!!

 

Frank

[miloman]

Matt; great build and progress. Very, very helpful! Milo

[thomaslambo]

I concur, you're a master of the aging process...superbly done    

[mattsayers148]

Thank you George, Robb, CaptainSteve, CH, Mark, David, Bug, Frank, miloman, and Boyd for your kind words of encouragement. Also thanks to all who hit the like button.

 

Finally got the re-rigging(aged ropes) finished on the 12inch smooth bore. It turned out to be quite interesting to remove and replace the ropes with the cannon affixed in place. So if anyone needs a lobotomy???

 

Any how, I picked up some muslin to begin working on the sail. Turns out it's almost exact to the kit supplied sailcloth so let the experimentations commence. I also found a blank, white handkerchief swatch in one of my vintage boxes of DMC and am trying a few coloring methods for the sails. Now I just need to get my hands on a yard of the hanky material. It's so thin you can see through it, so I'm not quite sure how it'll work out.

 

One thing I've been searching for and haven't found yet, is the order in which the sails would be set from the furled position. I'm thinking of having a sail or two opened to the wind, but not sure which one(s) that would be. So if anyone can point me in the right direction, it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Cathead]

I'm not a sail expert, but wouldn't it partly depend on the conditions and context? My limited understanding is that topsails were generally used for light maneuverability in square-rigged ships, so in theory would often be the first set from a standstill, but I'm not sure of the procedure on a schooner rig.

[GLakie]

Never been on a sailing ship myself Matt, but it would seem to make sense to set them according to how strong the wind is.  The stronger the wind, the lower on the mast to reduce stress on the mast.  Just guessing of course.

[mtaylor]

From the bits and pieces I've read, the topmost sails were set first.  The Brits knew the fleet was coming out prior to the Battle of Trafalgar because the French and Spanish were setting the top gallants and top royals.  I'm sure there's some books around that would describe this process... but darned if I know which ones.

[mattsayers148]

It would seem that you guys are all correct. As CH said, conditions would determine order of setting sail. These vids give a good idea of the workings. Thank you guys for the input. I think Robb asked about this awhile back so hopefully this helps me, Robb and others to come up with new ideas for sail set up!

 

 

[gerty]

Very nice work Matt !  --  and cool videos too.

 

Look forward to following along -

[riverboat]

Great!! videos .... thanks for posting those Matt..... the rigging on those ships is amazing!! ..... if I order some rope from  Chuck in the future

I'm going to see if he can do white , that way i can color it to get that nice grey look to it.

 

Frank

[mattsayers148]

Well I didn't want anyone to think I fell of the earth. These sails are taking quite some time to achieve, what I feel to be, satisfactory status.

 

So here's a couple of photos of the figure head for Nutz Pirate Ship. I used ebony both for color and it's a nice wood to carve. Pocket knife and dremel diamond grinding bits were used to make this mediocre representation of the human skull. Unlike other figure heads, this won't be attached to the bow, but sit atop the point of the bowsprit.

 

[GLakie]

Nice job on the skull Matt! Are you going to fly The Jolly Roger. That flag, associated with pirates, actually originated in the 13th century with the Knights Templar flying it to invoke terror. 

[CaptainSteve]

Awesome figurehead, Matt .... it looks almost as though it has been carved into a rock-face !!

 

[riverboat]

nice work Matt....

 

Frank

[mtaylor]

Mediocre representation??????  What???  I don't think so, sir.  Looks great to my eyes.

[Cathead]

That's delightful!

[Moonbug]

I agree with Mark!  If that's mediocre - please don't ever look at any of my build logs.    
 

- Bug

[mattsayers148]

Thanks George, CaptainSteve, Frank, Mark, Cathead, Bug and everyone for the encouragement and the likes.

 

Well I've slowly made progress on the sails, finally! The process to get where the sails look worn and weathered was quite the expedition. I also chose to add a mixture of full and furled sails.

 

First, every tenth thread was removed to simulate sewn together sailcloth. I did them at 18inches instead of the typical two feet because it looked more aesthetic at this scale. Then the bolt ropes and edge sewing was done. I mixed 4 parts water, 1 part white glue and 1 part natural grey Minwax and applied to the sails on both sides.

 

At the location of the removed threads, cuts were randomly made. Then the sails were worked over with a wire wheel and any frayed threads were trimmed. After the sails were rigged and attached, then they were burnt, very carefully so I wouldn't lose the whole ship.

 

There's still a few lines that will be added once the rest of the sails are installed. If things go well, I hope to have the sails done in the next couple of weeks. Then there will be some of the finer detailed items to be made up and installed.

 

[GLakie]

Outstanding work weathering those sails Matt! She absolutely looks the part of a "weather-beaten", scary pirate-ship! 

[riverboat]

That's quite a process you've done..... they really look like they've been around the horn a couple times thru some pretty bad weather...

nice work!!

 

Frank

[CaptainSteve]

Those sails look awesome, Matt. She really looks like she has been through one heck of a battle. I can only wonder what the other guy looks like after a fight like that !!

[mtaylor]

Methinks you have captured the essence of this ship with the sails, Matt.  Dark and moody.

[Canute]

Matt, your sails are so-o-o beat!   Like the Cap'n said; what's the other guy look like?   Well done!