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After what has seemed like an eternity I have finally moved into my new house and having spent the last few weeks unpacking boxes, sorting out a few small problems with various parts of the house, getting the grass cut, and more importantly, getting my workroom ready, I have decided to build a...

I have not been very active on this site for a few months because I have been selling my house and buying a new one. There has been no end of problems with my solicitor and the buyers solicitor and things have dragged on for 3 months but a last the buyer is signing a contract today and we will...

I was fortunate to meet up with Uwe in Vienna last summer. He was an excellent host and we spent an enjoyable evening putting the world of model ship building to rights. If anyone is visiting Belfast let me know and I will happily spend some time showing them around the city that built the...

I was in Hastings about 10 years ago, my Daughter wanted to go to Battle and then we stopped off in Hastings. I remember walking by the Fishing Net "Shops" and then playing Crazy Golf on the seafront. We went in Frank's Front Room, I worked with a chap called Frank and whenever you phoned him he...

You are doing a good job. I also have to build models on my Kitchen table, although when I finally move to my new house I hope to be able to use the spare Bedroom to build things. As long as you enjoy what you are doing that's the most important thing. There will always be other people in any...

Be careful Greg about making jokes about HM The Queen. You will find youself put on a wooden sailing ship, shackled in irons in the hold, and exiled to some remote barren land in the southern hemisphere. Oh wait you're already there ;) Cheers Andy

The Rudder and Tiller look really good Kortes, Andy

Ron these are Lee Boards, they are designed to stop shallow hulled boats "slipping" sideways in cross winds. First used by the Chinese, Dutch boatbuilders then used them on Inshore Flat Bottomed boats. The St. Gabriel is built to a Dutch boat design, Flat Bottomed to enable it to sail in shallow...

It's been a while since I posted something on this build. I have now sold my house and I am in the process of buying a new house. We are only moving about 1 mile to another part of the village but I've been busy getting another mortgage sorted out and dealing with a Solicitor to get the legal...

Flattery will get you everywhere Ron ;). I tend to rush things especially if it's something I don't like doing, so by telling myself a certain part of this build is difficault it might help me to take my time, concentrate and do it properly. With regard to the grain on the planks, I always...

Thanks Ron, I am in 2 minds regarding the pre-shaped planking. I liked using the pre-shaped "Rough" planks because it meant I only needed a little bit of fine adjustment to fit them, and for some one that is not used to planking it's a great help. I'll see how it goes with the outer planking. I...

That's a great looking boat, very neat and tidy. The sails certainly bring these smaller boats to life. I enjoyed reading through your building of her, Cheers Andy

You are right Don. I must confess I do mostly head to the build logs, but when I get a spare moment I read through Uwe's excellent Today In History section. I try to research the history of any ship I build, it brings the whole thing "to life." At the moment I am looking into the history of the...

Many thanks Jim, I may call on your assistance later as there are a couple of things I'm not sure about. The next set of "Rough" planks are pre-shaped and fit from the Deck level downwards. The first step is to dry fit 4 "Rough" Bulwark pieces which go in between the 4 centre Bulkheads. I...

It's looking good Ron, I like your idea of using Mugs (Tea Cups) to bend planks, if you filled them with boiling water it might help dry out a damp plank and hold the bend. Cheers Andy

Thanks Jim, I am impressed by the design and quality, not just the wooden parts but also the detailed instructions, even though the translation from Russian into English is not perfect and there are some places where I need to read it several times to fully understand what the process is, it is...

I have now fitted the 12 "Rough" planks and before I turn my attention to the pre-shaped planks I fitted the 2 Cabin Window outer Frames. These needed to be chamfered on each outer edge so that they would fit between the Bulkheads in the Stern area. These Window Frames will be filed down...

Hi Ron, thanks for your interest. I have finished fitting the 12 Rough planks and smoothing off some of the rough edges, but no photos yet. I'm afraid you will have to be like a good Doctor and have plenty of patience (patients), Cheers Andy

Here in Britain it is Remembrance Sunday when we remember all the people that have lost their lives in conflicts. In villages, towns and cities all over Britain there will be services of remembrance at War Memorials and a 2 minutes silence will held at 11 o'clock. In the village that I live in...

Hello Peter, I am not painting the etched parts on this build because it's such a small scale and I feel if I were to paint them most of the fine detail would be lost. On larger scaled ships that I have built I do paint the etch, usually spraying it on the frets with car body primer and then...