HMS Portland 1770 by Trussben - Portland Scale Ship Co. - 1:48 - 50 gun 4th rate.

[trussben]

Hi All,

Im going to start a build log of my latest model kit of HMS Portland 1770, which was a 4th rate of 50guns.
This kit is currently not available yet for general sale and I was asked by the designer to build one of the first prototypes, this will be a Hybrid POF/POB kit in the classic 1:48 scale, size will be very large in this scale without any masts or rigging.
The kit as I said is currently still under development but here you can see what the designer is aiming for it to look like and represent the Marshall paintings of the contempory model.

I shall keep updating this log as the build progresses.

 

[trussben]

Here you can see the box that Chapter 1 was delivered in, weighing in at a hefty 28lbs.
Chapter 1 holds all of the basic hull structure and framing below the wales.

 

[dockattner]

Looking forward to seeing this new kit come to life.

 

[trussben]

Here is a link to the Designers build log and information.

HMS Portland 1770 by scrubbyj427 - 1:48 - 4th rate 50-gun ship

Hi Guys, So I’ve been developing HMS Portland for about two years now and I plan to offer it as a kit, it will be sold in parts or sections so you can build at whatever speed you wish or only purchase what you want and scratch build the rest. The project will be in 1:48 scale and will be offered ...

modelshipworld.com

 

[trussben]

Here are some pictures of the contents of the Chapter 1 box, all well protected from the shipping.

 

[AllanKP69]

Looks like a potential winner! With all the detailed Portland contemporary drawings at his disposal Scrubby should have a home run. Will he be making the kits in Oregon?

Thanks
Allan

 

[trussben]

The build has officially begun, the MDF former made of 3 pieces glued together on a nice flat surface and left overnight to dry fully.

 

[trussben]

Some spacers were needed to centralize the last piece of the bulkhead former in position and then it was glued up.

 

[trussben]

Looks like a potential winner! With all the detailed Portland contemporary drawings at his disposal Scrubby should have a home run. Will he be making the kits in Oregon?

Thanks
Allan

Hi Allan

I think so but I’m sure JJ will will comment when he sees your question.
I believe he is working on a website right now.

 

[trussben]

A little more progress, the two pieces of Swiss pear to represent the fake “rising wood” being glued into position, the quality of this Pearwood is really really nice.

 

[trussben]

I glued together the eight included bulkhead former uprights ready for the build board and then glued the “rabbit” strip to the former as well.

Now to work on the Knee!

 

[admiralackbar86]

I get the appeal of 1:48 scale, but who has room for these behemoths? We need more kits like these in 1:64 scale.

 

[trussben]

The Stem and Knee shown in their construction jig.

 

[trussben]

Final progress from this weekends work, the sanding of the Knee to its correct dimensions and then its installation onto the former along with the keel and false keel pieces.
Now she is on the build board ready to start testing the fitment of the bulkheads.

 

[trussben]

All of the bulkheads were removed from their sheets and dropped into position on the former, no adjustments were needed to any of them to make them fit!

No glue has been used so far and you can see the longitudinal stiffeners being installed - fore sections first and then the aft ones, after these clipped into place with a little persuasion the entire structure has really begun to get more solid.

More bulkhead and stiffner work to come before glue goes anywhere near it.

 

[trussben]

So the foremost bulkhead #1 requires that these two upright bow supports be glued into place before it is installed, making sure to make them perpendicular.

Also the stiffners between aft bulkheads 24 & 25 need to be installed to tighten that section up.

 

[trussben]

Last bulkhead to be installed is for just forward of #1, it is for the beakhead support, it also has two verticals for the bow and it locks bulkheads 1/2/3 together for more stiffening.
There should be a 1/16-1/32” gap between it and bulkhead #1.
With all these parts now installed, the entire structure is very very stiff with almost zero movement anywhere and is now ready to start having glue applied to it, kudos to JJ for his design and laser cutting to make this as solid as it is.

 

[trussben]

All of the bulkheads and stiffners have been glued to the former and themselves, this thing is now rock solid and a very sturdy platform for everything thats to come.
I have begun installing all of the jigs that will support the upper parts until the model has been planked on the outside, these jigs are NOT to be glued to the model as they will be removed later for all the internal work, here you can see the forward one.

 

[trussben]

Here is the midship jig installed.

 

[trussben]

I started installing the aft jig, this one is much more complex than the other two as it is the one that will align all of the stern framing.