Build Log: HM Bark ENDEAVOUR (1:54 Occre)

[Hatteras]

It's been a while. So here's a photographic update of my progress with HM Bark Endeavour. Quite a lot of time was spent researching and experimenting, since for me, as a novice building only his second ship, there were many 'firsts' in this phase of the build. If anything it was motivating rather than discouraging.

 

[KeithLyall]

Progressing nicely … good work. Takes a while to construct all the deck furniture.

 

[Hatteras]

Hi Keith, thank you. I have a question for you, but I will post that in your own Endeavour log.

 

[Uwek]

Very good work on the deck fittings - Looking very good

 

[Hatteras]

Another photographic update of my progress with HM Bark Endeavour.

I was already warned by some of the more seasoned members of this forum, but it looks like the 'bashing-virus has indeed got to me. For example, I was not happy with the ornaments that came with the kit, and ended up replacing them. It was a quest in itself to find eligible alternatives. There were also doubts about the suitability of the lime wood provided with the kit when used for the parts that need to be carved. So I ordered some samples of walnut, pear and beech to experiment with, and ended up using those in many situations. I wished I had thought of this earlier; particularly the samson posts and the columns would have turned out better. To replace the brass strips supplied with the kit I ordered a 6 m roll of 0,25 mm thick, 5 mm wide strip, which is easier to bend and - more importantly - does not break as easily.

Comments of any kind are more than welcome.

 

[Magic Mike]

Mike, fantastic detail on the deck pieces. Great job! Magic Mike

 

[Hatteras]

Since the construction of HM Bark Endeavour is progressing, I reckoned it would be wise to give some thought to the future crew.
Found myself a captain who could well pass for James Cook, and one loitering sailor. Well, it's a start.

The ship (allegedly) is 1:54 and these are 1:50. So well within acceptable margins.




Also ordered some wood samples of different shapes ans sizes to experiment with: walnut, beech, abachi and palm wood.

 

[Magic Mike]

Mike, did you order the wood pieces from Amati also? Magic Mike

 

[Hatteras]

Mike, did you order the wood pieces from Amati also? Magic Mike

No, I ordered both the figures and the wood from a Dutch company: https://www.modelbouwdekombuis.nl/
Long delivery times and not the cheapest, but good quality and extensive product range (for Dutch standards at least).

 

[Hatteras]

Finally an update on HM Bark Endeavour. I have hardly been working on the ship the past few months. Somehow the pace of building has slowed down. Possibly because of the scary upcoming task of rigging, and the indecisiveness where to start. Nevertheless below are some 'overdue' pictures of the build, that I hope will be informative. They come without further comment. But questions will be answered and remarks welcomed.

 

[KeithLyall]

Finally an update on HM Bark Endeavour. I have hardly been working on the ship the past few months. Somehow the pace of building has slowed down. Possibly because of the scary upcoming task of rigging, and the indecisiveness where to start. Nevertheless below are some 'overdue' pictures of the build, that I hope will be informative. They come without further comment. But questions will be answered and remarks welcomed.

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Yep I also found myself procrastinating before doing the rigging. Nice work, lot of projects progressing well.

 

[Hatteras]

The Endeavour Longboat with some modifications. A project in itself. I used pearwood for the planking because I assumed it would be easier to bend. Palmwood for the rubbing strakes because it was the only 1x1 mm strip I could lay my hands on. The metal fittings and the cask are from Amati.

 

[Hatteras]

After over a year of inactivity - apart from building the longboat - I picked up Endeavour where I left it: the start of the (quite intimidating) rigging. The reason for this renewed enthousiasm is I managed to lay my hands on an old Artesania Latina kit of Santa Maria which is very tempting to start building. But first Endeaveour must be taken care of, for if I leave her half build as she is now, it will be an everlasting frustration. I did opt for a compromise though, that is, I will not put sails on her. Apart from this reason of speeding up the process it seems to me it is not easy - not to say beyond my skill - to make this ship look better with sails than without them.

The thread and blocks/deadeyes I am using are from Amati Instead of the parts provided with the kit. The Amati thread is synthetic and thus much less fuzzy. The blocks/daeadeys have a more woodlike appearence. In also use both 3mm and 4mm blocks instead of only one size.

I started however with modifying the platform over the tiller. Maybe not historically correct, but to me it looks better.

 

[Magic Mike]

Mike, glad you are back at it. I like the platform over the tiller, nicely done! Magic Mike

 

[AllanKP69]

Your ratlines look to be to-scale which is very nice to see. Well done
Allan