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Le Saint Philippe 1693 after Jean-Claude Lemineur (Ancre) in scale 1:48

dockattner said:
And to you as well, Jim. Be blessed this holiday season! I'm so happy that you were able to spend this special time away with your family!
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Here you go, from ours to yours!

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Ryan (7), Iliasha (5), Tavi (6), and Maya (7). Ryan and Maya - twins.
 
Hello Friends,

Over the past week or so I have been installing the gudgeons to the stern post. This has been fiddly and frustrating because the tolerances are quite small. Indeed, mounting the rudder by aligning everything perfectly has not been easy. Anyway...mission accomplished even if it hasn't been my cleanest work. I think that by the time everything has been spruced up and a finish is applied all will be forgiven.

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I have now removed the rudder, and the ship has been returned to the building board.

Thanks for visiting!
 
On a more personal note...

Those who have been following my work for a while may recall that about two years ago I had an issue with my left eye (the simplest way to describe it is to say that I had a retinal bleed caused by the vitreous body inside my eye pulling away from the retina). When I asked the retina specialist how this could have happened (or avoided) he said: die before you turn 60 ROTF.

Anyway, right after the incident my vision was really bad and over the next 6 months or so it slowly improved but never got all the way back to normal. Basically, looking through my left eye feels like I am looking through wax paper. Over the past several months my vision has deteriorated so I returned to the retina specialist for another check and during that appointment he diagnosed a significant tear in the retinal wall and insisted I have emergency laser surgery that day (it only took five minutes, but it was the longest five minutes of my life :(). He also diagnosed two other issues that are less treatable unless I want to be entering into more risky surgical territory.

All this to say that looking through my left eye no longer produces the desired result if the goal is to see something clearly. The combo-platter of issues apparently cannot be corrected with eyeglasses though my internet research suggests my vision could be improved with corrective lenses. Strangely, I must be able to see well enough that I have not lost any of my depth perception. The brain is a wonderous thing!

I'm sure this is all affecting my modeling but the good news is I can't see my work with my former visual acuity, so I remain happy and content :). My wife assures me everything still looks good to her though she can't see that great either. We make a fine pair...she thinks I still have hair, and I think she's still skinny ROTF.

I'm not trolling for sympathy notes. This has been going on for a while now and I have hardly mentioned it. But the recent turn of events seemed like something I could share as long as you don't tell any of my patients Speechless.

Onward we go!
 
dockattner said:
On a more personal note...

Those who have been following my work for a while may recall that about two years ago I had an issue with my left eye (the simplest way to describe it is to say that I had a retinal bleed caused by the vitreous body inside my eye pulling away from the retina). When I asked the retina specialist how this could have happened (or avoided) he said: die before you turn 60 ROTF.

Anyway, right after the incident my vision was really bad and over the next 6 months or so it slowly improved but never got all the way back to normal. Basically, looking through my left eye feels like I am looking through wax paper. Over the past several months my vision has deteriorated so I returned to the retina specialist for another check and during that appointment he diagnosed a significant tear in the retinal wall and insisted I have emergency laser surgery that day (it only took five minutes, but it was the longest five minutes of my life :(). He also diagnosed two other issues that are less treatable unless I want to be entering into more risky surgical territory.

All this to say that looking through my left eye no longer produces the desired result if the goal is to see something clearly. The combo-platter of issues apparently cannot be corrected with eyeglasses though my internet research suggests my vision could be improved with corrective lenses. Strangely, I must be able to see well enough that I have not lost any of my depth perception. The brain is a wonderous thing!

I'm sure this is all affecting my modeling but the good news is I can't see my work with my former visual acuity, so I remain happy and content :). My wife assures me everything still looks good to her though she can't see that great either. We make a fine pair...she thinks I still have hair, and I think she's still skinny ROTF.

I'm not trolling for sympathy notes. This has been going on for a while now and I have hardly mentioned it. But the recent turn of events seemed like something I could share as long as you don't tell any of my patients Speechless.

Onward we go!
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First, I wanted to say I enjoyed the family pics, everyone has beautiful families and grandchildren!
Paul, as far as your vision goes. I am glad to hear you were able to get the medical attention needed and my prayers are with you that you will continue to enjoy good vision for many years to come.
I worry about my vision too because my mom and grandmother both had macular degeneration. That doesn’t mean I will get it, however I get checked for it every year.
As I near the age of 64 this coming March, I ponder the future of my hand skills and eye sight and wonder what old age has in store for me. So I build my models with a new purpose and appreciation! ;)
I hope we all have many more years of good modeling ahead!
 
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Dean62 said:
I hope we all have many more years of good modeling ahead!
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Yup. I discovered this hobby too late in life to have an accumulated book of work, so my prospects are all forward looking. Making models requires some intellectual 'puzzling out' and then the hand skills to create what we envision. I find it a worthwhile diversion now that more athletic past-times are in my past. Here's to many more years!

I enjoyed your granddaughter's piano recital picture. My youngest daughter is a classical pianist (and a worship leader), and she gives lessons and hosts recitals herself. She is also hosting my fourth grandchild right now so she is retiring from her job as a music teacher, but the piano lessons will continue.
 
dockattner said:
On a more personal note...

Those who have been following my work for a while may recall that about two years ago I had an issue with my left eye (the simplest way to describe it is to say that I had a retinal bleed caused by the vitreous body inside my eye pulling away from the retina). When I asked the retina specialist how this could have happened (or avoided) he said: die before you turn 60 ROTF.

Anyway, right after the incident my vision was really bad and over the next 6 months or so it slowly improved but never got all the way back to normal. Basically, looking through my left eye feels like I am looking through wax paper. Over the past several months my vision has deteriorated so I returned to the retina specialist for another check and during that appointment he diagnosed a significant tear in the retinal wall and insisted I have emergency laser surgery that day (it only took five minutes, but it was the longest five minutes of my life :(). He also diagnosed two other issues that are less treatable unless I want to be entering into more risky surgical territory.

All this to say that looking through my left eye no longer produces the desired result if the goal is to see something clearly. The combo-platter of issues apparently cannot be corrected with eyeglasses though my internet research suggests my vision could be improved with corrective lenses. Strangely, I must be able to see well enough that I have not lost any of my depth perception. The brain is a wonderous thing!

I'm sure this is all affecting my modeling but the good news is I can't see my work with my former visual acuity, so I remain happy and content :). My wife assures me everything still looks good to her though she can't see that great either. We make a fine pair...she thinks I still have hair, and I think she's still skinny ROTF.

I'm not trolling for sympathy notes. This has been going on for a while now and I have hardly mentioned it. But the recent turn of events seemed like something I could share as long as you don't tell any of my patients Speechless.

Onward we go!
Click to expand...
Onward indeed Paul. Your last images of the rudder work shows such precision I had to read your post about your eye twice to be sure you are doing this with the sight of only one eye. But yes, the brain is an amazing organ and I have carried a lazy eye my whole 80 + years without too much trouble. But lately I have been diagnosed with potential lifting of my good retina and I am starting to notice blurring when I am on the computer. My Optometrist says it is still okay and I use drops daily for dry eye but I hope, if the worst comes to the worst, my lazy right eye will kick in and do some work. The sight in the right eye is good when tested on its own but won't focus when given the option of leaving it all up to the left. Time will tell...

All my best wishes and I won't tell your clients if I come across any in Queensland Australia!
 
Masters Mate said:
Onward indeed Paul. Your last images of the rudder work shows such precision I had to read your post about your eye twice to be sure you are doing this with the sight of only one eye. But yes, the brain is an amazing organ and I have carried a lazy eye my whole 80 + years without too much trouble. But lately I have been diagnosed with potential lifting of my good retina and I am starting to notice blurring when I am on the computer. My Optometrist says it is still okay and I use drops daily for dry eye but I hope, if the worst comes to the worst, my lazy right eye will kick in and do some work. The sight in the right eye is good when tested on its own but won't focus when given the option of leaving it all up to the left. Time will tell...

All my best wishes and I won't tell your clients if I come across any in Queensland Australia!
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Thanks, Ian. I am sure those of us with eye problems are in the majority on the forum. It seems it is just a part of the aging process.

My hinges turned out better on the Kingfisher - but I think these will be fine once I do a bit more clean-up. I may try some Renaissance Wax on them to knock down the shine...
 
dockattner said:
I enjoyed your granddaughter's piano recital picture. My youngest daughter is a classical pianist (and a worship leader), and she gives lessons and hosts recitals herself. She is also hosting my fourth grandchild right now so she is retiring from her job as a music teacher, but the piano lessons will continue.
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That’s great! My granddaughter is in her first year of piano lessons at age 8. She played Ode To Joy by Beethoven at the recital.
 
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