HIGH HOPES, WILD MEN AND THE DEVIL’S JAW - Willem Barentsz Kolderstok 1:50

Jimsky said:
There is no way I will join this club! I don't want to struggle while building models the old way. I had enough time in the past to use fretsaw and hand plane. I have to use them only because I couldn't afford the electric ones. Why torture yourself? It is not just about the precision you can get by using the power tools. It is the convenience, speed along with quality.
Let me guess, how many of us have a rotary tool? A simple one, expencive\cheap doesn't matter. I would say 9 out of 10, and something tells me that I could be right. Wait...but this is a power tool, so why not use the handled drill ;) Something like this? BTW, it is more expensive than my rotary tool. :p

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...same logic can be applied to 3D printing. Why use the convenience of modern technology? Get a piece of plastic (BTW, does plastic\polymer used by the shipwright?) and carve using the knife\file, oh...almost forgot, why use a computer program (CAD) and draw? Blueprints are the way to go....like the old shipwrights!

I am in no way part of this club, sorry guys! :D
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Point well taken, Jimsky. As @Dean62 Dean said, it was all light-hearted and tongue-in-cheek. :)
 
Jimsky said:
but...tongue-in-cheek comments are often used in critiques. They tell something truthful...while being light-hearted :p
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Often used is not the same as always used! ;)
I use a Proxxon rotary tool, a disc sander, a mini scroll saw, just to name few. But for the sake of keeping my building area clean, I use those in the garage or outside on the porch so I can use my shop vac to clean up.
In addition, I don’t want fine wood shavings all over my models on shelves! So I try to do most of the small stuff by hand inside my model room. But that’s just my personal situation and it works for me.
I am in no hurry when building, and I do appreciate precision. So if the job is better suited for a power tool, I have no problem with that. I can’t however justify buying a milling machine or CNC for model building. Especially since wooden ship models are not the only type models I build. But to each his own! ;)
 
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Heinrich said:
Point well taken, Jimsky. As @Dean62 Dean said, it was all light-hearted and tongue-in-cheek. :)
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Good morning Heinrich. The banter was brilliant. I had a good chuckle about Mams etc. Was brilliant :D . On the serious side : From my point of view I will buy those tools which enhance the enjoyment factor of building my ship. It is the most important thing for me to sit in my shipyard and have the best time. Carving for example- if I loved doing this , even if the outcome was crappy, I would still do it. Luckily for me I don’t enjoy it so no crappy carvings on my shipsROTF. Cheers Grant
 
GrantTyler said:
Good morning Heinrich. The banter was brilliant. I had a good chuckle about Mams etc. Was brilliant :D . On the serious side : From my point of view I will buy those tools which enhance the enjoyment factor of building my ship. It is the most important thing for me to sit in my shipyard and have the best time. Carving for example- if I loved doing this , even if the outcome was crappy, I would still do it. Luckily for me I don’t enjoy it so no crappy carvings on my shipsROTF. Cheers Grant
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Good morning my friend. I think you nailed it by mentioning the "enjoyment" factor. To me, I get my biggest enjoyment out of building a hull and planking it, doing the decks, cabins, etc. I don't really enjoy working with metal (I wish I did), while I suck at ship decorations (painting/carving etc.). However, my biggest dislike is rigging and all its associated chores.

So, I really don't mind fairing and sanding a hull by hand - in fact I quite enjoy that, and I don't mind cutting/filing my wooden parts with an X-Acto knife or using my files, even beyond the call of duty. But when it comes to creating slots in blocks for sheaves, or shaping masts and yards, I would really have preferred using a milling machine and a lathe as those would give me a greater sense of enjoyment (getting the job done quicker and more accurately).

Reading what I had just written, makes me realize just how important choosing the right model/s is and how much that can contribute to or detract from one's sense of enjoyment. Maybe that is something I have to focus on in future.
 
dockattner said:
An interesting discussion for sure! As I shared on another build report, I fear the final endgame will be printed model parts and wooden ships will join the mastodon in extinction (only to be seen in museums where people will shake their heads in bemusement) ...
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Dear Paul. All I can say is that that would be a terrible shame.
 
One of the reasons I was attracted to wooden ship models was that it was a marriage of wood working and model building, and I like the old war ships.
Now they have the Model Airways line of wooden airplane kits, which is really exciting for me, but the selection is slim!
So if ships became plastic, I would most likely build from plans and get away from kits. If I wanted plastic ships, they already make them. ;)
 
Dean62 said:
Heinrich, those modern tools don't align with the craftsmen who built the ships we strive to duplicate! ;)
Why should we use tools they didn't have? Of course they didn't have giant wood bending tools either! Therefore to be a purist, you must light a tiny candle used for Birthday cakes and then wet your planks and carefully bend over the open flame! ROTF
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If those early craftsmen had the opportunity to work with our modern tools, they certainly would have used them.
So if you have the option, just use them.
And ‘Toys for Boys’ are always fun. You just have to have the will to buy them. Then you will automatically use them.
But don't get me wrong: it's not a matter of ‘ you must use them’. It’s just willing and have fun to use them.
Regards, Peter
 
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Peter Voogt said:
If those early craftsmen had the opportunity to work with the out modern tools, they certainly would have done so.
So if you have the option, just use them.
And ‘Toys for Boys’ are always fun. You just have to have the will to buy them. Then you will automatically use them.
But don't get me wrong: it's not a matter of ‘ you must use them’. It’s just willing and have fun to use them.
Regards, Peter
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We all have the option, it's a matter of whether you want to, and can justify it.

see my next post...
 
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Peter Voogt said:
……… and (secretly) use them by ourselves ……. ;)
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I have already stated that I use power tools for models occasionally. But not often enough to justify spending that much on them.

I have a full size contractor table saw, router table and bits, compound miter saw, jig saw, scroll saw, sanders, nail gun, brad gun, staplers, compressor, etc, etc. I use them to build cabinets, furniture and do home remodeling. They have more than paid for themselves! ;)

I don't want go down that road and buy miniature power tools to build ships. The Proxxon rotary tool is a good all around tool, and replaced my Dremel. And the combo disc and belt sander can be used for models and full size stuff, and was easy to justify.

So that is my own personal position and mindset on power tools for small scale stuff. Not worth the investment for me. But I can't speak for anyone else. I can joke...I think? It seems people are taking this way too serious! :(

So after joking...I don't care to keep repeating myself. I am done with this topic...sorry I brought it up! To each his own... ;)
 
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Dean62 said:
I am done with this topic...sorry I brought it up! To each his own... ;)
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The internet is a powerful tool (Pun intended) it provides us with the opportunity to exchange ideas and construction techniques with fellow modelers worldwide. What it does not provide is inflection of the spoken word. Sometimes it is very difficult to determine if it was meant as a criticism or as tongue in cheek humor.
Statements like "Spending $5000 or more on power tools to build a $800 kit" I tend to take personally. Power tools of any size can be used for many other projects than building model ships.
I say to each his own and let's get back to building and forget this MAMS diatribe.
 
rtibbs said:
The internet is a powerful tool (Pun intended) it provides us with the opportunity to exchange ideas and construction techniques with fellow modelers worldwide. What it does not provide is inflection of the spoken word. Sometimes it is very difficult to determine if it was meant as a criticism or as tongue in cheek humor.
Statements like "Spending $5000 or more on power tools to build a $800 kit" I tend to take personally. Power tools of any size can be used for many other projects than building model ships.
I say to each his own and let's get back to building and forget this MAMS diatribe.
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Did you spend $5,000 on power tools? If not, don't take it personal! ;)
 
Once upon a time, there was an organization MAMS, who attempted to take away power tools from the ship building community. Soon mass riots, looting, shooting and fires were set upon the once peaceful community! The rebels would not stand for this, and formed Modelers Against Diabtribes! The MAMS members were captured and hung in the town square, with a sign that read: You take my power tools, I take your life! And soon thereafter, all models were high precision, high tech examples of efficiency and perfection. ROTF
 
Dear All. This reminds me of the good old days when I would go to sleep in the evening and come back the next morning only to find that I missed out on a most passionate discussion about our hobby. Reading all the posts and following the discussions, once more made me deeply aware of just how passionate and opinionated (meant in the nicest possible way) we all are about model shipbuilding. And the best thing of all is that this discussion would never have taken place if we weren't concerned about and only wanted the best for its future. With members like you guys, I have a feeling that wooden model ship building is a l-o-n-g way off from becoming an obsolete and irrelevant pastime.

What is more, it has motivated me to continue my research on the history of the WB (whenever time permits) until I have either exhausted all possibilities or found the proof to what I know. Thank you all for this - you guys are the best!
 
rtibbs said:
My CNC machine alone cost over 20K
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I only have two points to make:

1) If a general statement is made, then there is no reason to take it personal if it is not directly aimed at you! And I had no idea what you owned or what you paid for it.

2) Whether or not it was a joke, is a moot point! And that is because people have the right to express their opinion whether you agree with it or not! ;)
 
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Dear Friends

As a means to take a break from shaping the yards, I decided to make a start on the mizzen sail.

miz 1.png
This is what the Kolderstok-supplied sails look like and it's really a pretty straightforward operation to start with. I removed the backing paper and cut out the mizzen from the sheet with my much-used X-Acto obviously following the line on the outside of the indicated fold over edges. Afterwards, the edges were wet with diluted white PVA glue, folded over, pressed into position and left to dry.

miz 2.png
I am quite happy with the first few steps, but now it is over to Admiral Anna for the stitching. But therein lies also the problem. She is on dad duty in the hospital today (Saturday) so she will only return very late at night. Hopefully, we can squeeze some time in tomorrow.

By the way, her dad's operation was a success, and he is recovering well. Thank you all for all the well-wishes.

As a parting note, compare the color of the "completed" sail to the one that I first showed. The first one is much "whiter" in color and is a finer texture than the one I actually used. I simply compared the two sail sets of WB 1 and 2 to each other and found that I much preferred the WB 1's sails. It seems to have an almost natural stain which blends in very well with the oak wood.
 
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