Vasa - 1:65 DeAgostini [COMPLETED BUILD]

Hello Friends,

I'm pleased to share that I was able to complete my prototype for the 'tops' today. First, let's take a look at the kit version from the official build (there are several sizes of tops on the Vasa - the sample shown next is one of the larger ones):

View attachment 225216

Here is the goal from the mother ship (again, these are the larger version). I believe the one on the right must be a reconstruction - I can't imagine that surviving intact after 330 years at the bottom of Stockholm Harbor:

View attachment 225217 View attachment 225218

For the prototype I chose to make one of the smaller tops - specifically the one that sits at the end of bowsprit - it is about half the size of what I have been showing.

First, I cut out the base, shaped it, planked it, and repurposed the railing from the kit (I borrowed the scroll saw from my dad's house - an old Sears Craftsman model - vibrates like crazy even when it is bolted down). The spindle sander is a new acquisition...

View attachment 225221 View attachment 225222

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Next, I needed to fabricate supports for the main railing:

View attachment 225219 View attachment 225220

View attachment 225226 View attachment 225225

Next up was creating the upper railings (the cup is the size of an espresso cup):

View attachment 225227 View attachment 225238

I then fabricated the upper railing supports and attached the new railings to them:

View attachment 225229 View attachment 225230

View attachment 225231 View attachment 225232

View attachment 225233

Next, reenergized by a healthy lunch, I added some additional support bits:

View attachment 225234

Finally, I cleaned up the glue residue (breaking my new construction several times along the way - it's quite fragile). And then dressed her up with linseed oil:

View attachment 225237

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View attachment 225235

I hope you don't mind the play by play. I normally don't do that but this was quite a challenge for me. Perhaps someone will be inspired by this tutorial to upgrade the tops on their ship one day... I now need to make three more smaller ones and two larger ones.

I have been reluctant to make a claim for kit-bashing - so I need a ruling from the forum. Can I now add that to my credentials?

As always, I am humbled by your attention and kindness extended toward me...

Oh, one more thing, Easter blessings to you if that's the side of the plate you swing from!
In my opinion you are definitely a kit basher this is the best kit based Vasa I have seen. The standard tops looked OK to me the homemade ones are excellent well worth the effort. BTY on the rails are the nails real or simulated.
 
Hello Friends,

I'm pleased to share that I was able to complete my prototype for the 'tops' today. First, let's take a look at the kit version from the official build (there are several sizes of tops on the Vasa - the sample shown next is one of the larger ones):

View attachment 225216

Here is the goal from the mother ship (again, these are the larger version). I believe the one on the right must be a reconstruction - I can't imagine that surviving intact after 330 years at the bottom of Stockholm Harbor:

View attachment 225217 View attachment 225218

For the prototype I chose to make one of the smaller tops - specifically the one that sits at the end of bowsprit - it is about half the size of what I have been showing.

First, I cut out the base, shaped it, planked it, and repurposed the railing from the kit (I borrowed the scroll saw from my dad's house - an old Sears Craftsman model - vibrates like crazy even when it is bolted down). The spindle sander is a new acquisition...

View attachment 225221 View attachment 225222

View attachment 225223 View attachment 225224

Next, I needed to fabricate supports for the main railing:

View attachment 225219 View attachment 225220

View attachment 225226 View attachment 225225

Next up was creating the upper railings (the cup is the size of an espresso cup):

View attachment 225227 View attachment 225238

I then fabricated the upper railing supports and attached the new railings to them:

View attachment 225229 View attachment 225230

View attachment 225231 View attachment 225232

View attachment 225233

Next, reenergized by a healthy lunch, I added some additional support bits:

View attachment 225234

Finally, I cleaned up the glue residue (breaking my new construction several times along the way - it's quite fragile). And then dressed her up with linseed oil:

View attachment 225237

View attachment 225236

View attachment 225235

I hope you don't mind the play by play. I normally don't do that but this was quite a challenge for me. Perhaps someone will be inspired by this tutorial to upgrade the tops on their ship one day... I now need to make three more smaller ones and two larger ones.

I have been reluctant to make a claim for kit-bashing - so I need a ruling from the forum. Can I now add that to my credentials?

As always, I am humbled by your attention and kindness extended toward me...

Oh, one more thing, Easter blessings to you if that's the side of the plate you swing from!
Wow, Paul, you underestimate/assess your own talents. Very nice, clean work. I like your ladders, love the top. It's very clean work, symmetrical and I appreciate the esthetics of three tones of wood you use. Very pleasing to my eye. Very nice end product!

And the play by play is very much appreciated as well as we can see how you do think outside the box. Imagination and creativity seen in other's works are the seeds we plant and hope to later sow from our own work. Thanks!

Ken
 
Pulling my RIP van winkle trick and appearing after an absence that I spent preparing my international students for their IELTS examinations, I had to do some proper reading to keep up! Great work and progress Paul. I hate the term kit "basher", because there is absolutely nothing that is "bashed" here. So let's officially call you a part-scratch builder!
 
Paul,

Leave this section "open" with slats - that was - as you know - from where the seamen's head with the tiller in hand was shouted instructions

Hmm. You are asking me to remember something for a long time John. The instructions call for that area to be closed off. But, of course, you are correct:

1536898041042.jpg

Open it shall be. Thanks!
 
Hello Friends,

I'm pleased to share that I was able to complete my prototype for the 'tops' today. First, let's take a look at the kit version from the official build (there are several sizes of tops on the Vasa - the sample shown next is one of the larger ones):

View attachment 225216

Here is the goal from the mother ship (again, these are the larger version). I believe the one on the right must be a reconstruction - I can't imagine that surviving intact after 330 years at the bottom of Stockholm Harbor:

View attachment 225217 View attachment 225218

For the prototype I chose to make one of the smaller tops - specifically the one that sits at the end of bowsprit - it is about half the size of what I have been showing.

First, I cut out the base, shaped it, planked it, and repurposed the railing from the kit (I borrowed the scroll saw from my dad's house - an old Sears Craftsman model - vibrates like crazy even when it is bolted down). The spindle sander is a new acquisition...

View attachment 225221 View attachment 225222

View attachment 225223 View attachment 225224

Next, I needed to fabricate supports for the main railing:

View attachment 225219 View attachment 225220

View attachment 225226 View attachment 225225

Next up was creating the upper railings (the cup is the size of an espresso cup):

View attachment 225227 View attachment 225238

I then fabricated the upper railing supports and attached the new railings to them:

View attachment 225229 View attachment 225230

View attachment 225231 View attachment 225232

View attachment 225233

Next, reenergized by a healthy lunch, I added some additional support bits:

View attachment 225234

Finally, I cleaned up the glue residue (breaking my new construction several times along the way - it's quite fragile). And then dressed her up with linseed oil:

View attachment 225237

View attachment 225236

View attachment 225235

I hope you don't mind the play by play. I normally don't do that but this was quite a challenge for me. Perhaps someone will be inspired by this tutorial to upgrade the tops on their ship one day... I now need to make three more smaller ones and two larger ones.

I have been reluctant to make a claim for kit-bashing - so I need a ruling from the forum. Can I now add that to my credentials?

As always, I am humbled by your attention and kindness extended toward me...

Oh, one more thing, Easter blessings to you if that's the side of the plate you swing from!
That’s crazy, Paul! I don’t think I’ll attempt this on my Soleil.
 
That’s crazy, Paul! I don’t think I’ll attempt this on my Soleil.
HA! Now I have to make five more - and two of them require 2x the number of little bits. Too clever for my own good... They are slow-going so its going to take a while. Hope you are having a great time in Omaha with family!
 
Hey Paul... I was looking at your log today and suddenly I was reminded of the time, not long ago, when you were intimidated by the thought of planking the hull of your ship. Now look at you...lol! You really have come a long way, and I am proud of you! I’m sure I am not the only one either. Anyone who has watched you grow through out this build, must recognize the same as me. You have determination, drive, your resourceful, and failure is not in your vocabulary. Your skills improve with every task. I am predicting this is going to be one of the premier Vasa builds, that people will refer to, when it’s all said and done. I bet you never imagined that at the onset of this log!
Looking forward to your next update. ;)
 
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Hey Paul... I was looking at your log today and suddenly I was reminded of the time, not long ago, when you were intimidated by the thought of planking the hull of your ship. Now look at you...lol! You really have come a long way, and I am proud of you! I’m sure I am not the only one either. Anyone who has watched you grow through out this build, must recognize the same as me. You have determination, drive, your resourceful, and failure is not in your vocabulary. Your skills improve with every task. I am predicting this is going to be one of the premier Vasa builds, that people will refer to, when it’s all said and done. I bet you never imagined that at the onset of this log!
Looking forward to your next update. ;)
Amen!
 
Hi Dean,

I am simply blown away by your kind and generous words. I am out of my league among the many fantastic builders on this forum and have been helped along the way over and over again. What I lack in experience and knowledge (ship knowledge and ship model knowledge) has embedded many errors in my build - some of which I have been able to walk back and fix - others that will remain forever. But what I do bring to the task is good hands and a willingness to try to do my best work.

One of the things I have observed in others (and am learning myself) is to take joy in the process of building rather than in the finishing. For example, the kit provided tops (there are six) could have been pieced together in about an hour and I could have moved on to the next step. Instead, I am scratch-building my own tops - the smaller ones have 48 individual pieces and the larger two have 91 each. Most of those pieces have to be made by hand. That seems massively stupid because I have turned a one hour project into one that will probably take me a month - except for the fact that I'm enjoying the process. Of course this means my log has gone silent despite the fact that I have been working at my typical (glacial) pace...

Again, thank you for your kindness extended toward me - and to everyone who has been so gentle with my beginner's efforts. You're all a fine bunch.

Taking my wife on a date vacation this coming week and I’m not going to bring along any Vasa kit parts - but I do have stashed away a book on rigging period ships. Those long vertical things are called masts, right? :D

Onward!
 
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Hi Dean,

I am simply blown away by your kind and generous words. I am out of my league among the many fantastic builders on this forum and have been helped along the way over and over again. What I lack in experience and knowledge (ship knowledge and ship model knowledge) has embedded many errors in my build - some of which I have been able to walk back and fix - others that will remain forever. But what I do bring to the task is good hands and a willingness to try to do my best work.

One of the things I have observed in others (and am learning myself) is to take joy in the process of building rather than in the finishing. For example, the kit provided tops (there are six) could have been pieced together in about an hour and I could have moved on to the next step. Instead, I am scratch-building my own tops - the smaller ones have 48 individual pieces and the larger two have 91 each. Most of those pieces have to be made by hand. That seems massively stupid because I have turned a one hour project into one that will probably take me a month - except for the fact that I'm enjoying the process. Of course this means my log has gone silent despite the fact that I have been working at my typical (glacial) pace...

Again, thank you for your kindness extended toward me - and to everyone who has been so gentle with my beginner's efforts. You're all a fine bunch.

Taking my wife on a date vacation this coming week and I promised to not bring along Vasa kit parts - but I do have stashed away a book on rigging period ships. Those long vertical things are called masts, right? :D

Onward!
Paul, when you start deciding to go above and beyond what the kit provides, and instructs you to do, then you will start building first-rate ships! You are there! So don’t worry about time added, and stay focused on a good end result, which you are already doing. So keep up the good work and enjoy your vacation! Don’t get caught reading your book! ;)
 
Well, it was back to placing hull planks today. I am getting better at shaping the strakes but there is still some flaw in my approach that leads to small to midsized gaps between wood strips - especially in areas of convex curves. Wood putty will be my friend...

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Things I have learned:
  • Embrace the process - progress is slow and perfection is a vapor that cannot be captured.
  • Back-bevel the lath strips (thanks, Kurt) so they fit more snuggly along their length.
  • When adjusting planks adjust only one side (I'm using the top side since I am presently working from top down). Doing this preserves a virgin edge for the next plank to align to. I figured this out a little too late...
  • Don't only glue the plank to the frames - also glue it to the adjacent plank.
  • Get better clamps - or use pins/nails the next time...
  • A long soak in water helps - but lath strips break anyways.
  • The strip that breaks is always the one you have invested the most time in. Always.
  • It is not your spouse's fault when the strip breaks - don't take it out on her/him when she/he asks how things are going.
  • There is something oddly satisfying about seeing the hull take shape under your own hands.
What else should I have learned?
Well, it was back to placing hull planks today. I am getting better at shaping the strakes but there is still some flaw in my approach that leads to small to midsized gaps between wood strips - especially in areas of convex curves. Wood putty will be my friend...

View attachment 179953

View attachment 179954

View attachment 179955

Things I have learned:
  • Embrace the process - progress is slow and perfection is a vapor that cannot be captured.
  • Back-bevel the lath strips (thanks, Kurt) so they fit more snuggly along their length.
  • When adjusting planks adjust only one side (I'm using the top side since I am presently working from top down). Doing this preserves a virgin edge for the next plank to align to. I figured this out a little too late...
  • Don't only glue the plank to the frames - also glue it to the adjacent plank.
  • Get better clamps - or use pins/nails the next time...
  • A long soak in water helps - but lath strips break anyways.
  • The strip that breaks is always the one you have invested the most time in. Always.
  • It is not your spouse's fault when the strip breaks - don't take it out on her/him when she/he asks how things are going.
  • There is something oddly satisfying about seeing the hull take shape under your own hands.
What else should I have learned?
Paul,
I'm enjoying reading your build. of the Vasa. I copied your "Things I have learned" on planking....it will be well worth remembering your points when I start planking my Pearl. Just finished reading Page 4 of your build. This is one helluva ship to build. Remarkable how good you are doing. Great work. You inspire me to take my time and be patient. It can be done.
Rick
 
Paul,
I'm enjoying reading your build. of the Vasa. I copied your "Things I have learned" on planking....it will be well worth remembering your points when I start planking my Pearl. Just finished reading Page 4 of your build. This is one helluva ship to build. Remarkable how good you are doing. Great work. You inspire me to take my time and be patient. It can be done.
Rick
Welcome aboard Rick. I welcome your suggestions for improvement. You’re doing a great job on your BP and write an entertaining log.
 
Paul,
I happened to see this from the Artesinia Website - and thought of you regarding painting all of the figurines superb information- have fun - great info
PS: they have all 400 pages of instructions that can be downloaded. I spent 5 years building a Vasa - done with that lol
That kit looks to be awesome - though why they painted the entire hull with brown paint is beyond me.

Scroll to bottom of page for access to instructions - you may have already been there

 
Paul,
I happened to see this from the Artesinia Website - and thought of you regarding painting all of the figurines superb information- have fun - great info
PS: they have all 400 pages of instructions that can be downloaded. I spent 5 years building a Vasa - done with that lol
That kit looks to be awesome - though why they painted the entire hull with brown paint is beyond me.

Scroll to bottom of page for access to instructions - you may have already been there

Thank you, John. Wonderful. I was a little troubled by the fact that I had to go to the "Ships - Elite" page to find the instructions you were directing me to. I was reminded that "elite' hardly describes my status/qualifications as a ship builder but in my naiveté this is where I landed... I think the painting guide, in particular the RAL match-ups, will be helpful to me. Do you think it would be a good idea to now paint my hull brown??? If so, I'm going to "un-friend" you! :p
 
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