18th Century Smoothbore by Model Shipways

[STGCS]

I'm taking a break from rigging and will do a battle station for my nephew. I see so many beautiful finishes in build logs I want to try a few new processes and a small project is a good place to start.
First I sanded a 10° bevel on the bulkhead side of the deck base. Then I sanded all side of the deck planking and applied a coat of sanding sealer. When it was dry I sanded again.
Next I cut the planks to length as directed, rubbed a black charcoal pencil on the edges, and glued them to the deck base.
I dipped some toothpicks into dark walnut stain and set aside to dry.

I made a clear plastic jig for the treenails and marked all their locations, then drilled a small hole for each.
Finally I inserted the toothpicks in the holes. I'll leave it overnight and clip off the excess and sand smooth tomorrow. No glue needed as a coat of poly will hold them in place.

 

[STGCS]

Deck completed and a coat of poly applied.

 

[Tony H]

Deck completed and a coat of poly applied.
View attachment 215706

Hi very nice start, I built the two MS naval guns last year as a way back into modelling. They they turned out very well and now I'm building a ship.

 

[STGCS]

Hi very nice start, I built the two MS naval guns last year as a way back into modelling. They they turned out very well and now I'm building a ship.

Thanks Tony. This is my second also. I give them away to friends. What ship are you building?

 

[dockattner]

This kit looks really fun. And a fine start you have made of it as well!

 

[STGCS]

This kit looks really fun. And a fine start you have made of it as well!

Hey Paul - Thanks. A fun project. Taking a break from the big kits. Pretty much tossed most of the kit wood and metal parts. Will make my own plus add several other small items.

 

[STGCS]

Hey Paul - Thanks. A fun project. Taking a break from the big kits. Pretty much tossed most of the kit wood and metal parts. Will make my own plus add several other small items.

Thanks I turned on watching. Looking great!

 

[Tony H]

Thanks Tony. This is my second also. I give them away to friends. What ship are you building?

I choose the Black Pearl mainly because it looked good, there are a lot of build logs to get me out of trouble and it's very good value for money.
Tony

 

[STGCS]

The bulkhead was not planked in the plans. It looked to thin for the scale so I planked both sides. will have to cut some wood to make allowance for the thicker bulkhead but it looks much better. Beveled the timber heads to 10° and applied a coat of sanding sealer to all parts and sanded smooth. Added the nail heads as directed, and glued the timber heads in place. Will let everything set until tomorrow to dry.

 

[dockattner]

I love the precision of your work!

 

[STGCS]

I love the precision of your work!

Thanks - This time I slowed down and skipped the "close enough for government work" and tried to get everything a little more precise.

 

[STGCS]

Added the clamp to the top of the bulkhead. Will cut some walnut for the rail cap when the painting is completed. Drilled eyebolt holes for the Breech pins, out tackle, and gunport tackle. Tomorrow I'll set up the paint booth and do some spraying then work on the gunport hinges.

 

[Daniel20]

Hi Charlie.
Great start, I like the deck work especially.

 

[STGCS]

Hi Charlie.
Great start, I like the deck work especially.

Thanks Dan - Looking for a black hair brush with small bristles to experiment with treenails. Toothpicks are a little messy and not all the same size.

 

[Daniel20]

Thanks Dan - Looking for a black hair brush with small bristles to experiment with treenails. Toothpicks are a little messy and not all the same size.

If you were looking ahead to do a lot of this in the future see @dockattner VASA build log post # 483 for a real clever workaround on tree nails.

 

[STGCS]

If you were looking ahead to do a lot of this in the future see @dockattner VASA build log post # 483 for a real clever workaround on tree nails.

Interesting - Don't know if I'm that coordinated. I have to double check everything slowly before I put a tool on the ship. Even at that I've become a rip out artist on the mistakes I generate.

 

[Daniel20]

Interesting - Don't know if I'm that coordinated. I have to double check everything slowly before I put a tool on the ship. Even at that I've become a rip out artist on the mistakes I generate.

Ha! I know exactly what you mean! I need some kind of special floor mat that catches all those tiny parts I drop and funnels them to a low spot that I can actually see

 

[STGCS]

i regularly sweep the floor and then carefully go through the dust pan with a magnifying glass

 

[STGCS]

I cut a piece of walnut for the cap rail, sealed it and added to the top of the bulkhead. Next I completed airbrushing the parts. I'll let it dry overnight and mate it with the deck tomorrow.
The casting supplied for the gun carriage were not the best. Lots of flash and not the shape I liked either, so I decided to cutout my own. Made the drawing and glued it to a block of Poplar, then trimmed the edges. Will drag out the band saw tomorrow and cut out the drawing, then split it down the middle so I get two identical parts.

 

[Tony H]

I like the colour scheme what shade red did you use it looks really good. I agree with you about castings I used mine mainly because I wanted to use the parts provided.