Hello everyone.
I've got the itch to get back to work on my ship, but I've not yet done so. For a number of reasons. I've been rethinking how I want address the main gun deck. Originally, I wanted to build the entire deck with all the internal elements and make them viewable through a borescope camera. I've been rethinking this. It may be a bit ambitious for my first scratch build. I've not yet decided yet. But, I am leaning towards constructing dummy guns, closing the deck, focusing on the upper decks and the rest of the ship. While I ponder this, I have been doing some other things.
I've not been completely idle however and while I give that main deck decision some more time, I've been testing some other things "off ship".
Specifically, the gun ports. Prior to COVID, I was addressing the gun port sills and vertical linings. I've never worked with Padauk wood. So I wanted to test it to see if it had the density and tight enough grain to withstand thin processing (1.0mm).
So I processed the upper and lower sills as well as the vertical side pieces, without any issues. I did find Padauk has a "chalky" kind of texture.
In addition to the Padauk, I wanted to test other elements related to the gun ports.
- Color contrast between the Padauk and Pear woods
- Plank nailing, (fabrication, appearance)
- Finishes (oil + bitumen)
So I created a gun port test board, off ship to avoid any issues. When testing I always expect to some results I like and some I don't. I check off the good and attempt another approach for the results I didn't like and then retest. This test was no different. You will notice some color variations in the photos. They were taken at different times, under different lighting conditions. The latter phots best represent the actual test board.
Highlighted is the one of the reasons I test off ship while still not 100% from COVID..
Also, later on this same test board, I will install the clenched bolts that support the internal gun tackle. Actually looking forward to them as I think I have a solid approach.
So, after final review I decided I WILL use the Padauk for the gun port sills and linings. I'm happy with the contrast as it is subtle enough next to the Pear wood. It was easy to mill and process as well. Thanks Dave!
I'm happy with the Pear wood planks, although, for the test I did not process them to the same extent I would have if I were doing it to place on the model. I do regret this. However, I'm confident when I do process them to spec, they will be fine.
Nails, hmmmm the nails. This is the one element, there is always one, that I'm not completely pleased with. When cutting brass wire with pliers, there is a clean cut side and a "pinched" cut side. I always want to have the clean cut end to be outboard for the clean appearances. It seems I installed some of them with the pinched side. This is obvious from the photos. However, I'm not completely satisfied with the clean cut ends either.
The process I used;
- Drill a 0.46 hole for the nails.
- Treat the planks with Teak oil, 1 coat, wait a day, wipe clean and apply the 2nd coat.
- Bitumen diluted in mineral spirits (1:10)
- Press the 0.5 nails into the pre-drilled holes
- Apply Casey's Brass Black to the exposed nail heads.
The blackening process seemed to take on some nail heads, but not others. Also, the blackening solution seemed to wash into some of the nail holes via a capillary action. I thought by applying the oil first as others have done this would have been prevented.
I will do some more processing and testing. I will attempt to process nails using the "blade roll" cut that some modelers have used with great success. This produces as bit of a nail head, which is rounded. Also, for the appearance I'm trying to achieve, I will blackened the nails prior to inserting. I will test some other nail options on the same board to explore other "out there" options.
Not much of an update, but I'm still alive!
Thanks for following along. Until next time....