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Endurance (- Occre 1:70) Build Log

Looks like an interesting build Keith. Coming along very nicely. I am building my 1st build on the HMB Endeavour. Also added a lot more detail than the kit provides. Even did the great cabin which came out surprisingly good for my attempts. Lots of historical digging.
Endeavour was my 2nd build after a basic ship. It was quite a build particularly all the rigging, so many knots to tie. Endurance in comparison has been a simpler build but I have made most challenging and interesting by trying to make the model more historically accurate using the photos of Frank Hurley. Good luck with your Endeavour build.
 
Thanks Allan for the link. I may buy this as there are other chains in the rigging so might be useful to replace what I have already done.
I actually found that these chains were too large when I purchased them to modify my steering system. The chain would not feed through the blocks that I had purchased. They said 2mm but they way they measured it was strange and they don’t have any that I could find that goes any smaller. The only way that I can find it that small is to buy hobby chain unfortunately because it is so very much more expensive!!! I still think this chain is usable for other areas on the Endurance as it is still to scale and they make it in many different colors.
 
I actually found that these chains were too large when I purchased them to modify my steering system. The chain would not feed through the blocks that I had purchased. They said 2mm but they way they measured it was strange and they don’t have any that I could find that goes any smaller. The only way that I can find it that small is to buy hobby chain unfortunately because it is so very much more expensive!!! I still think this chain is usable for other areas on the Endurance as it is still to scale and they make it in many different colors.
I used this one (see SOS link with images and Amazon link)


Cheers
Daniel
 
With the days shortening and the garden tidied away for the winter, time to get back into the shipyard and progress my build.

Modification 13: The stern steering on the supplied kit is enclosed and is very different to the historical pictures.
View attachment 548666
I recently started woodturning as a new hobby and used a somewhat oversized lathe to turn a "Donut" to fit round the top of the rudder post and used left overs from other kits to recreate the open steering gear.
View attachment 548671View attachment 548670View attachment 548673

Modification 14: The top rail on the stern is wooden rather than wire.
View attachment 548672
I purchased replacement stantions as the supplied flat brass ones were poor. Using 0.5mm jewellery wire produced a more pleasing finish than using thread. The top rail was replaced with a wooden one to reflect the historic ship. This was the original rail provided with the kit; I had previously fashioned a duplicate pair to attach to the hull into which stantions were inserted. Also note that in images from the recent discovery of Endurance there is a gap between the end of the rail and the forward part of the hull.

View attachment 548669 View attachment 548667

Modification 15: Finally I purchased a 2 blade propellor to replace the supplied 3 blade version.
View attachment 548668
With the days shortening and the garden tidied away for the winter, time to get back into the shipyard and progress my build.

Modification 13: The stern steering on the supplied kit is enclosed and is very different to the historical pictures.
View attachment 548666
I recently started woodturning as a new hobby and used a somewhat oversized lathe to turn a "Donut" to fit round the top of the rudder post and used left overs from other kits to recreate the open steering gear.
View attachment 548671View attachment 548670View attachment 548673

Modification 14: The top rail on the stern is wooden rather than wire.
View attachment 548672
I purchased replacement stantions as the supplied flat brass ones were poor. Using 0.5mm jewellery wire produced a more pleasing finish than using thread. The top rail was replaced with a wooden one to reflect the historic ship. This was the original rail provided with the kit; I had previously fashioned a duplicate pair to attach to the hull into which stantions were inserted. Also note that in images from the recent discovery of Endurance there is a gap between the end of the rail and the forward part of the hull.

View attachment 548669 View attachment 548667

Modification 15: Finally I purchased a 2 blade propellor to replace the supplied 3 blade version.
View attachment 548668
Hey Keith, how did you go about fashioning the stern railing out of wood? I am also replacing the stanchions and would like to do the same but am not really versed in how to get that perfect curved cut. Do you mind lending me some guidance? Thank you good sir!
 
So many fine details you've added, all wonderfully done!
Thanks Bill, it made the whole build more interesting and challenging than just following the out of the box model. Nice to actually have historic photos to follow. Now that winter is approaching I need to carve out time to progress the rigging and complete the build.
 
Hey Keith, how did you go about fashioning the stern railing out of wood? I am also replacing the stanchions and would like to do the same but am not really versed in how to get that perfect curved cut. Do you mind lending me some guidance? Thank you good sir!
Hi, I bought a sheet/panel of wood to the same thickness as used in the model. I used the curves provided in the kit and drew round them as a template and then used a fret saw to remove the larger areas to be removed and then trimmed with a scalpel. This was easy on the outside of the curve as you could nibble away whereas the inside of the curve was a bit trickier. I then sanded to round off the new curves and finesse the shape. My homemade railing was then attached to the edge of the ship and I used the kit provided railing on the top of the stanchions as although my railing were pretty good, the kit railings being laser cut were better. Hope that helps.
 
That does really help, although I have already attached the provided kit part to the bottom rail as I was not planning to do this much detail when I started. This is my first model and I was just planning on following the instructions but as I researched and saw how inaccurate it really is and my confidence grew, so did my build list and plans… ! Thank you for the advice. I’m just going to have to stencil the kit piece while attached to the model and use scroll saw to get as close of a cut as I can out of it. I will then do as you said and sand to shape it mercy the rest of the way. It definitely won’t be as nice as the original I’m sure but it will have to work. Where did you source the sheet wood from? Did you order it and what species of wood did you use for the task? Thanks again for the insight!

Much appreciated!
 
I used this one (see SOS link with images and Amazon link)


Cheers
Daniel
 
Thanks Daniel,

Do you happen to still have the source for the blocks that you used? I think that the ones that I have maybe a little undersized for for this application. I did find chains that would work with them at a true 1mm but they are tight and the chain looks the same size as the block and not nearly as industrial as yours. I will have to do some heavy weathering/paint it outright. Thanks for the insight.
 
That does really help, although I have already attached the provided kit part to the bottom rail as I was not planning to do this much detail when I started. This is my first model and I was just planning on following the instructions but as I researched and saw how inaccurate it really is and my confidence grew, so did my build list and plans… ! Thank you for the advice. I’m just going to have to stencil the kit piece while attached to the model and use scroll saw to get as close of a cut as I can out of it. I will then do as you said and sand to shape it mercy the rest of the way. It definitely won’t be as nice as the original I’m sure but it will have to work. Where did you source the sheet wood from? Did you order it and what species of wood did you use for the task? Thanks again for the insight!

Much appreciated!
If you have already glued the kit piece do you still have the original sheet that it came from so you could use that to create the outline. I am not sure what wood I got, but just picked up from a local model shop. Good that you are trying to pimp beyond the kit model … does make it more interesting than just following the kit. I had previously built the Endeavour which was a more complicated build hence why I wanted to stretch myself and skills to improve the Endurance model.
 
Thanks Daniel,

Do you happen to still have the source for the blocks that you used? I think that the ones that I have maybe a little undersized for for this application. I did find chains that would work with them at a true 1mm but they are tight and the chain looks the same size as the block and not nearly as industrial as yours. I will have to do some heavy weathering/paint it outright. Thanks for the insight.
I used kit blocks and drilled the holes to accommodate the smallest chain that came with the kit.
 
Thanks Daniel,

Do you happen to still have the source for the blocks that you used? I think that the ones that I have maybe a little undersized for for this application. I did find chains that would work with them at a true 1mm but they are tight and the chain looks the same size as the block and not nearly as industrial as yours. I will have to do some heavy weathering/paint it outright. Thanks for the insight.
See my answer about the blocks here :


Best !
Daniel
 
Work continued to complete the bow section. This included adding bollards, and ladders and drilling holes to install the stantions.
View attachment 548768View attachment 548767View attachment 548766
Modification 15: Additional purchased stantions to replace the Occre flat brass stantions and wire were added throughout the rest of the model.
I used historic photos an attempt to replicate the railings on Endurance. The Occre instructions have continuous railings as would be expected nowadays. However health & safety was not as it is now and there are areas where the railings do not appear on the actual Endurance.
View attachment 548774View attachment 548775
View attachment 548776View attachment 548778
Note that the left hand gangway has no handrails as per a historic image. I have also only dry fitted in this image and will not glue in place until I have installed the main mast as it would allow access to tie any running rigging.

One benefit of making wooden stairs meant I could easily create hand rails.
View attachment 548777View attachment 548779
Did the left gangway not having handrails end up making sense when the build was done? Was there a design reason when they left them off?
Work continued to complete the bow section. This included adding bollards, and ladders and drilling holes to install the stantions.
View attachment 548768View attachment 548767View attachment 548766
Modification 15: Additional purchased stantions to replace the Occre flat brass stantions and wire were added throughout the rest of the model.
I used historic photos an attempt to replicate the railings on Endurance. The Occre instructions have continuous railings as would be expected nowadays. However health & safety was not as it is now and there are areas where the railings do not appear on the actual Endurance.
View attachment 548774View attachment 548775
View attachment 548776View attachment 548778
Note that the left hand gangway has no handrails as per a historic image. I have also only dry fitted in this image and will not glue in place until I have installed the main mast as it would allow access to tie any running rigging.

One benefit of making wooden stairs meant I could easily create hand rails.
View attachment 548777View attachment 548779Did you notice any design reasoning for leaving of the left gangway handrails by the historical builders? I know that is historically correct, but it would look more symmetrical if they were added. I’m almost tempted to just add them anyway. Like you though I am trying to keep it as close as possible to the photos as I can. I have also replaced most of the fittings with aftermarket parts. I am debating on weather I should use rigging line up on the bow stanchions like in the photos instead of the brass wire I am using everywhere else. I noticed you used the wire… are you happy with that decision? Thanks! You have so many great ideas that I hope you will take as a compliment when I adopt them in sorts on my vessel.
 
Before starting on the masts and rigging I have been creating lots of items/deck clutter to give the impression of a working ship.

Modification 25: Miscellaneous Deck clutter/detail
Life rings: I purchased appropriately scaled life rings but was not happy with the "rope", so I cut those bits of plastic off and replaced with 0.1mm thread.
View attachment 585397

You can't beat a good pair of "helping hands" for this fiddly work
View attachment 585405

Storage boxes: Using a small block of timber as a frame I glued thins sections of offcuts to simulate boxes.
View attachment 585400View attachment 585399

Other stuff: I had previously purchased some barrels, turned a couple of lamps, and created an extra ladder as well as some cable drums.
View attachment 585401

Windbreaks: Some of the railings on Endurance were covered to provide windbreaks. I glued a couple of sheets of model aircraft paper together and then stitched onto the railings to replicate this feature.
View attachment 585402View attachment 585404View attachment 585406

A semaphore was created by the ships carpenter to allow the bridge crew to show the direction to the helmsman at the rear of the ship.
View attachment 585408View attachment 585407

I added the deck clutter ...
View attachment 585411View attachment 585412View attachment 585410View attachment 585409
Hey Keith,

I hope you don’t mind me asking all these questions and if so just tell me to kick ricks! I just saw that you used the red paint below the waterline. Where did you get that detail from? I’m guessing that’s historically accurate, but I’ve never seen it done this way and of course the photos are black and white. I literally just airbrushed my final black coat on today. . Thanks sir!
 
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