Sovereign of The Seas by SawdustDave - FINISHED

[SawdustDave]

"Huzzah"..... Had to look that one up Mark.  In Carolina's we say Yahooooo! 

[SawdustDave]

Finally, after three days of REVERSE construction, I can begin moving forward again.

Moving twenty four gun ports down after they had been nicely finished and planked in is really quite a messy task.

So I decided this train wreck really needs to be documented at this point. 

Should make an interesting "before / after" posting.....

 

 

[GLakie]

Wow! Sorry Dave.  Didn't realize they were that far off.  Good to know you've got a handle on it though. 

[NenadM]

Hudge amount of little beasts

[Omega1234]

Finally, after three days of REVERSE construction, I can begin moving forward again.

Moving twenty four gun ports down after they had been nicely finished and planked in is really quite a messy task.

So I decided this train wreck really needs to be documented at this point. 

Should make an interesting "before / after" posting.....

repair.JPG

...a fair bit of effort, Dave, but, it'll be worth it once done.

 

Cheers

 

Patrick

[SawdustDave]

Some of my mistakes, I can live with. This one was a real doozie.....

The result of being in too much of a hurry....not checking and double checking key points. Lesson learned.

It's really not so bad, since it gives me an opportunity to improve the most important starboard side ("display" side) using what I have learned from doing the port side.

Kinda like starting a new model when you think about it.

Edited May 23, 2015 by SawdustDave

[mtaylor]

Well done, Dave.  Everyday is a new model and a new experience, right?  I guess I should add "and from my experience it's also a new day to feed the scrap bin". 

[SawdustDave]

Progress report.... (kinda?)

Where shall I begin?

 

The good news first.... Finally managed to get the mess I created with the starboard side gun ports cleaned up....

 

More good news....

Finally finished the second planking of the hull.... Which leads to the bad news.

I concluded that the second planking of the hull below the gun wales has got to be the worst job of planking I have ever done.  So bad, in fact, I shall not show it here on MSW.  REALLY BAD!

My biggest mistake was in thinking that, since the entire area was to be painted, I didn't need to be all that careful.  A little filler and white paint would completely cover my sins.  NOT!

So, as usual, I will now set about fixing the problem.... just another day in the old shipyard.... Right mates?

 

More bad news to report.... personal.

Developed a very serious inner ear infection several weeks ago, which led to severe vertigo issues along with periods of double vision.  So, pretty much every thing I have done in the shop over the last month has been rather challenging. 

 

Then the good news.... Lot's of really powerful meds have cleaned up the infection to the point I am able to function pretty normal again. 

 

And finally.... We found a surgeon in Chapel Hill who is confident he can repair the large hole in my left ear drum that has been the cause of the recurring infections. 

Surgery is scheduled in five weeks.

[NMBROOK]

Sorry to hear of your redos Dave and your ear problems.

I can share my personal experience of ear problems with you to put your mind at rest.I was continually plagued with ear infections since birth and had gromits fitted many times.When I was 18 I approached a specialist to see what could be done.The infections had destroyed my left ear drum almost entirely and I am nearly stone deaf in my left ear.However,I was referred to a surgeon,he grafted skin from above my ear and reconstructed my ear drum.It hasn't cured the deafness,that is attributed to damage much further inside,but,touch wood,I haven't had an ear infection worth mentioning in twenty five years!!

Still no good at swimming though,that was the ones games activity I always had to be excused from as a kid!

 

Kind Regards

 

Nigel

[GLakie]

Likewise, I'm sorry to hear about these problems Dave. Our ships can be fixed relatively easy, but fixing our health problems is usually more complicated.  

Hoping the best for your surgery.

[dgbot]

I am happy you have recovered from your health problems and as for your hull, take a deep breath and look it over carefully.  Maybe by reomoving a few planks will get you what you need.

David B

[JesseLee]

Glad they cleared up the infections Dave. Hope your surgery goes well. I'm know with patience & your building skills you can  re-do the planking & all will be fine!

[SawdustDave]

The hull problem..... Guess I should explain.

Overall, the shape of the hull turned out fine. After a little filling here and there, and two coats of white acrylic, she looks great from five feet. Closer inspection, not so good.

I did so much sanding and filling in the bow area, the finish turned out to be much too smooth.... to the point that it looks more like the hull of a solid plastic ship instead of a wooden planked ship.

Even when painted, the hull should appear to be painted planks.

Working on a solution..... very thin third layer.

Edited June 24, 2015 by SawdustDave

[mtaylor]

I'm loving your ship and not loving your being sick.  Hopefully no infections between now and surgery.

[GLakie]

Maybe a paint with a flatter sheen, or a quick wipe with a thinner? 

[NMBROOK]

I will have to agree to disagree with you on that one Dave   Personally I use a preposterous number of coats of paint with flatting in between to achieve the glass like finish you are trying to avoid Shiny not good but smooth yes is my preference.

 

Kind Regards

 

Nigel

[NenadM]

So, resolving days, my friend? Model and ear, both. Keep on, be strong and not nervous. All the best for you!

 

PS, don't replank ear, and send model to surgery

Edited June 24, 2015 by Nenad

[SawdustDave]

"PS, don't replank ear, and send model to surgery  "

Got to love that one Nenad.

 

Ear thing's going to be just fine.  Powerful anti-biotic drops every day until surgery.... keep moisture out.... no sweat (literally).

 

As for re-planking the hull.... got to be done. 

I simply believe the planking strakes of a 15th century war ship, even though painted, should be seen.

The SOS may be my last major project, and because she's a pretty special ship, I just feel like I've got to get her as "right" as I can.

[Omega1234]

Hi,Dave

 

It's weird, because I was actually thinking about you last night...wondering why I hadn't seen any updates regarding your SOS lately. I guess I reckon you've got a pretty good excuse for laying low whilst you're recovering.

 

Take care and good luck with your surgery!

 

Cheers

 

Patrick

[Canute]

All the best with your recoveries. (Is that a word?)

 

I feel that with the skills needed to make planks back when SOS was built, the planking would be coarse enough to be seen, even though it was painted. So, I'm with you on this one, Dave.

[SawdustDave]

Thanks Patrick.  Not posting, but quietly sitting in the corner for a while.

Ken.... You got it mate. 

Thanks all.

[Piet]

Hey Dave, greetings from sunny Amsterdam, well at least today it was.

Sorry to hear about your ear problem but it looks like that things will work out okay.  Your planking is another story but you'll figure that one out too.  All the best with both "situations."

 

Cheers,

[SawdustDave]

Good suggestion Nigel. I've got a little experiment going.... thus far, looks promising. Keep your fingers and toes crossed.

[SawdustDave]

Finished re-planking port side hull below the main gun wale.

I used strips of 140 lb. water color paper.... Sprayed with gray primer and brushed three coats of white acrylic.... light sanding between each coat.

That's much more better....

Edited July 5, 2015 by SawdustDave

[mtaylor]

I like the way you fixed it, Dave.  Looks super nice.

[GLakie]

Very nice Dave! You'd never guess it was paper there. Hope everything went well with the Doc!

 

Cheers and Happy 4th!  Kind of noisy here right now.

[Omega1234]

Hi Dave

 

That's a great solution and it looks very convincing.

 

Nice!

 

Cheers

 

Patrick

[SawdustDave]

Thanks guys.  Fairly pleased with the fix.  I hope the starboard side goes a little smoother. 

The only real difficulty with using the paper stock is that, the shape of each strake has to be custom fitted around the bow and stern.... used a lot of stealers to avoid sharp "daggers".

I'll probably go back to creating the ornamentation for the starboard side for a while just to take a break from hull planking.

[SawdustDave]

Change of plans....

I decided to press on with completing the re-planking of the starboard side and be done with it.

 

Also decided to pass on this technique I'm using to cut the shape of the bow planks.

I found that the use of tracing paper to mark the shape proved to be very tricky because the paper tends to move around and doesn't like to lay flat for marking the edge.

 

This wide painters masking tape works great!

Note the markings on the hull indicating the measured width of the planks at several points along the strake.

Mid hull markings indicate the full width of each plank for the twenty strakes.

 

The marked masking tape is carefully trimmed along the traced line and then transferred to the paper planking material.

The marked planking strip is carefully trimmed along the traced edge (top)....

Then, after marking the exact width points, use a curve template to create the smooth contour of the outside edge (bottom).

Finally, cut the plank along the outside edge marking.

Perfect fit....

Edited July 9, 2015 by SawdustDave

[NenadM]