HMS Winchelsea 1764, 32 gun Frigate 1:48, Syren Ship model by Trussben

[trussben]

Hi

So I'm going to go ahead and start a build log of the Winchelsea, It will based off Syren's designs with a few modifications of my own.
My main reason for building her is because she was once captained by Pellew and I intend in the future to build another of his ships,
a 1:48 fully framed model of the 44 gun Razee Indefatigable and it would be great to have both models together in the same scale.
I will not be planking in AYC as I have a goodly stock of Castello Boxwood and prefer it on a model of this size, also stem/stern framing
and keel will be of Swiss Pear with other wood highlights, maybe I will use the cedar on things that wont be seen easily and use the fruitwood
gel stain to blend it with the boxwood to minimize usage.

Here is a link to the kit review that I did on SOS.
https://shipsofscale.com/sosforums/...frigate-pob-1-48-scale-syren-ship-model.8506/

I did purchase the Bulkheads and starter packages from Syren and will certainly be buying their cast resin set when they are available.
The first job I have started while waiting for planking to dry on Pegasus is to make a new build board for this "BIG" ship, it will be approx
38" long without rigging and will need good support while framing, planking and finishing, so I decided to go and buy another 'cheap'
5foot workbench from Harbor Freight for $100 and modify it to suit. First it was put together and lift casters added so that I can quickly move
and spin the bench whichever way I need it. Second was to add 4-foot T-tracks and a nice large 1/2" MDF buildboad to the top. Third was to
install the keel and bulkhead former holders ready for the backbone. The 4 drawers are great for holding parts/tools and the bottom shelf for
materials which keeps an entire build together on one table instead of being spread about my workshop.
Here is looking forward to an interesting build and I should start on the bulkheads later this week.

ben

 

[trussben]

I Purchased both Chapter 1 & 2 from Syren and decided to make up both the AYC and my own Pear/Box knee of the head to look at the difference in color and grain appearance and I have decided to go ahead with my decision to make the framing in Pear.

 

[trussben]

I have completed the keel and started glueing the bulkheads together, here you can see them sat in place, there are a lot of bulkheads compared to some other models I have built which is better for getting a good run of planking. The fit of the laser cut parts is fantastic and just needs a slight swipe with the sandpaper to go together perfectly.

 

[trussben]

I have started the Rough fairing process before I start the port framing layout, you can see the flexible holly battern I use to check fairness as I go.

 

[trussben]

Fairing of Port side underway.

 

[trussben]

Gunport layout and upper/lower cill framing complete, no issues were encountered with this process, and I have begun installing the port sides, again the laser cut parts are supplied just a little longer so you can sand them to fit perfectly with your own model.

Next up will be adding the stern framing and I’m also cooking up something special to add to this model which will change the original design somewhat but hopefully it will add to the whole.

 

[trussben]

I’ve begun lining up the stern framing and adjusting everything before glueing using the patterns and plans supplied by Syren, everything is lining up nicely and looks real good. Syren supplies some window dummy blanks that you can see marked 1-5, these ensure that you get the spacing between the uprights correct so the laser cut boxwood windows will fit perfectly.

 

[trussben]

I have cooked up something for my Winchelsea build to add a little difference to it from the standard kit.
I intend to add a frame reveal to the model, much like the one on the Model Shipways Confederacy or David Antscherls one on the Comet.
Midships is the obvious place to put a reveal so as to simplify the design work and make construction easier, so I have decided to make mine between the bulkheads of station frames G thru 5, Also it will be just below the wales to allow for two strakes of lower planking above and several below it.

It will be quite a large reveal so as to show the first and second futtock frame joints, I will have to construct a shadow box behind it to be painted flat black and the simulated frames will be made of swiss pear.
According to "Steel" and the "Shipbuilders repository" table of scantlings, a 32gun frigate of the time would have had 11 1/2" wide second futtock framing, molded 9" with a room and space of 27 3/4", I intend to simplify this a little with 11" wide framing with 3" between them, and it works out that I can fit 23-24 frames in the reveal.
I will finish the design side of this soon and start building it when I have completed construction of the stern framing.
ben

 

[trussben]

After manipulation of the NMM plans in Autocad I have now also completed the design of the hull framing parts and where their joints will be.
I need to make a load of these and construct the shadow box, I’m not going to make actual chocked joints - just simulate them and highlight with black monofilament line treenails.

 

[Heinrich]

Wow Ben, this is very interesting - some novel ideas on a POB build. I will follow your log with big interest. Thank you very much for sharing it with us.

 

[trussben]

Thanks Heinrich.

 

[trussben]

Stern framing completed and transom looks like everything is where it should be, I will now add the QG supports and begin installing the frame reveal shadow box.

 

[trussben]

Here is the shadow box installed and spray painted flat black, I’m cutting the frames out of Swiss Pear sheet that I milled down to 11” thick at full scale or 0.229" at real world. I typically think and work in full scale sizes.

 

[trussben]

While I’m working on the frame reveal I also decided to plank the counter in boxwood.

 

[trussben]

Well here is my port side frame reveal completed, in the end it turned out to be 23 frames that i could fit between the bulkheads.
I did the treenails with 20lb black line and reversed the pattern aft of the deadflat frames.
I'm happy with how this came out in the end that I'm going to build one on the starboard side as well.

 

[trussben]

1st layer of the wales have been installed using AYC, I will be using Gabon Ebony for the second layer.
The gunports were painted using Windsor&Newton Crimson acrylic paint.

 

[Heinrich]

Very interesting and innovative! I think you may have started a trend - when the hull is planked, it will look superb!

 

[trussben]

Upper planking above the Wales in Boxwood has been completed, Notice the laser cut dummy blocks supplied by Syren along the hull.
Now to install the two Holly strakes below the Wales ( one with a drop plank ) and start machining the ebony I need for the 2nd layer of the Wales.

 

[trussben]

Ebony wales installed and a Boxwood "Black" strake above them.
The Two strakes below the wales and the rest of the lower planking will be made from white american Holly as you can see, I like the contrast against the super black of the gabon ebony.
I now have to begin fairing the internal bulkheads down to the proper thickness and then I will start lining off the lower hull planking.

 

[trussben]

Just a shot of my double checking the angle of the transom, making sure its good compared to the plans, so I hope to have no issues when it comes to the Quarter Gallery installation.