Happy birthday, Salamander! Looking great, Brad. Lots of work goes into a one-year scratch build!
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Bomb Ketch Salamandre 1:48
Metal or Wood Treenails???
My original intent was to emulate the beautiful method Tobias used on his "Le Rochefort" (metal above the waterline & wood/metal below).
Fact: The French used metal fasteners above the waterline and a combination of wood/metal below.
Most models of La Salamandre follow this convention.
I may deviate and use wooden treenails above the waterline.
WHY?
1. I believe in actual practice, metal bolts were countersunk and covered with a wood plugs/bungs to prevent corrosion and gouging of piers or ships alongside. This would make them almost invisible on a model.
2. I like how subtle the wood plugs look. The pictures below show the various metal treenails versus the wood plugs in various lighting.
a. Taken in the photo box with extremely uniform light. I think the wood (top) treenails are more aesthetically pleasing/less distracting.
b. Taken "perpendicular", in the spot where I plan to display the model.
c. Taken from the side, in the display location. I think the shine of the metal is overwhelming/distracting???
I know Chris is struggling with this issue on his (Le Renommee) and is considering not using ANY treenails.
Any feedback or thoughts are appreciated. Plenty of time, since I won't add treenails until all the external planking is complete.
My original intent was to emulate the beautiful method Tobias used on his "Le Rochefort" (metal above the waterline & wood/metal below).
Fact: The French used metal fasteners above the waterline and a combination of wood/metal below.
Most models of La Salamandre follow this convention.
I may deviate and use wooden treenails above the waterline.
WHY?
1. I believe in actual practice, metal bolts were countersunk and covered with a wood plugs/bungs to prevent corrosion and gouging of piers or ships alongside. This would make them almost invisible on a model.
2. I like how subtle the wood plugs look. The pictures below show the various metal treenails versus the wood plugs in various lighting.
a. Taken in the photo box with extremely uniform light. I think the wood (top) treenails are more aesthetically pleasing/less distracting.
b. Taken "perpendicular", in the spot where I plan to display the model.
c. Taken from the side, in the display location. I think the shine of the metal is overwhelming/distracting???
I know Chris is struggling with this issue on his (Le Renommee) and is considering not using ANY treenails.
Any feedback or thoughts are appreciated. Plenty of time, since I won't add treenails until all the external planking is complete.
Kurt Konrath
Kurt Konrath
Very nice but shinny, might look better if toned down a touch in the dark wood.
Don't know if you could treat just the ends of nails when installed, or hit with a fine tip marker.
Don't know if you could treat just the ends of nails when installed, or hit with a fine tip marker.
Always nice to see another ‘over-the-year’ project, Brad.1-YEAR Photo Montage!!!
That is looking very nicely aligned!
Regards, Petrr
Good morning Brad. Lovely work and plenty patience on display with 3 layers of ebony to make the wales work _ respect. I dislike shiny metal treenails however tarnished or “slightly corroded “ metal looks awesome IMHO. I have no idea how to achieve this look tho
.
From an aesthetic point of view the treenails definitely look better….again IMHO.
.
Cheers Grant
.From an aesthetic point of view the treenails definitely look better….again IMHO.
.Cheers Grant
I can tell you that when the nails are shiny they look terrible (on my SP). As they tarnish (mine are copper) they start to look better.
Another week on the wales (SLOW and Steady)!
Workers widened the mortise for the second layer. Careful work with tiny chisels and they fit tight.
The stern tuck turned out nice. EBONY DUST (yuck)! Some 400 grit will clean it up nicely.
Subdued 1mm wood treenails that Brutis tested and the shipyard superintendent approved.
Unforgiving photo booth lights:
Display shelf lighting
Workshop lighting against the first layer of wales.
No glare or shine like the many different metal ones the shipyard tested. At certain angles, they almost disappear, like I believe they would.
PS: Tomorrow My old "Navy Rugby" team plays CAL for the national championship!! GO NAYV, you're making an OLD Inside Center proud!!!
Workers widened the mortise for the second layer. Careful work with tiny chisels and they fit tight.
The stern tuck turned out nice. EBONY DUST (yuck)! Some 400 grit will clean it up nicely.
Subdued 1mm wood treenails that Brutis tested and the shipyard superintendent approved.
Unforgiving photo booth lights:
Display shelf lighting
Workshop lighting against the first layer of wales.
No glare or shine like the many different metal ones the shipyard tested. At certain angles, they almost disappear, like I believe they would.
PS: Tomorrow My old "Navy Rugby" team plays CAL for the national championship!! GO NAYV, you're making an OLD Inside Center proud!!!
Way to go, Brad! The wale looks perfect.
Good afternoon Brad. Immaculate work. Kudos with the stern tuck with ebony. Ahh one of the few US gentleman who know rugby - nice. Enjoy the game today. Cheers Grant
Thanks Chris, Paul and Grant!
BTW, Epic Battle on the pitch but Navy lost to CAL 22-34. Congrats to both sides.
#2 in the nation made an old Navy rugger proud!
Best wished to all the wonderful Mothers out there!!
Weekly update between Church and Mother's Day dinner:
1. Received some "boxwood" blanks (used by most, for turning pens).
Milled it fairly thin and tried carving the bow decoration on Salamandre. A few pictures of the work in progress:
A few more hours "delicatizing" and it should be satisfactory. Not the same pattern Boudroit shows on his drawings, which I felt were beyond my ability to create.
2. The ebony wales are installed and sanded nicely.
Shipyard established the nailing pattern (bottom two wale boards).
Then I used WATCO Dark Walnut on a piece of ebony, with two treenail plugs (top test plank).
Goal:
-See how subtle the wale treenails plugs could become.
-Photos demonstrate the result.
Left: Barely visible with the correct light angle.
Right: Disappear at other angles, leaving the wales appear beautifully smooth and unblemished.
Finally, guide-lines for the first four planks above the wales were established. Two planks have been laid at the bow. These will vary in width from 0.177" (8.5 inches) at the bow to just .203" (9.75 inches) at the stern. I plan to use metal treenails on these planks like the stern planks (second picture), which are somehow very subtle.
Thanks for stopping by!
Weekly update between Church and Mother's Day dinner:
1. Received some "boxwood" blanks (used by most, for turning pens).
Milled it fairly thin and tried carving the bow decoration on Salamandre. A few pictures of the work in progress:
A few more hours "delicatizing" and it should be satisfactory. Not the same pattern Boudroit shows on his drawings, which I felt were beyond my ability to create.
2. The ebony wales are installed and sanded nicely.
Shipyard established the nailing pattern (bottom two wale boards).
Then I used WATCO Dark Walnut on a piece of ebony, with two treenail plugs (top test plank).
Goal:
-See how subtle the wale treenails plugs could become.
-Photos demonstrate the result.
Left: Barely visible with the correct light angle.
Right: Disappear at other angles, leaving the wales appear beautifully smooth and unblemished.
Finally, guide-lines for the first four planks above the wales were established. Two planks have been laid at the bow. These will vary in width from 0.177" (8.5 inches) at the bow to just .203" (9.75 inches) at the stern. I plan to use metal treenails on these planks like the stern planks (second picture), which are somehow very subtle.
Thanks for stopping by!
Lovely work on the carving, Brad. Very delicate 
.
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Good morning Brad. Kudos with that delicate carving however your ebony wales just “take the cake”. Fabulous. Cheers Grant