Le Saint Philippe 1693 after Jean-Claude Lemineur (Ancre) in scale 1:48

[AnobiumPunctatum]

Paul, I fully understand you. I know the problem. If I draw my parts everything looks easy, if I try to build it, I have two left hands. This doesn't mean that you also have two left hands, but I think that you have a similiar feeling. Don't forget you work with drawings, someone else has done and you have to think what the hell will he say.

But this is also the fun of scratch building to find solutions for problems someone else has produced.

 

[GrantTyler]

Hello Friends,

I had hoped this would be a major update, but alas...

I continue to struggle with the challenges inherent to scratch building. Namely, the more complex the part the more difficult it is for me to visualize what the drawings represent. Plus, determining a proper build sequence is elusive. It seems that if I could install certain parts... that would provide some helpful constraint to the shaping of subsequent parts. But if I install those certain parts, it precludes correcting them (or further shaping them / sanding them). Basically, my lack of experience has profoundly slowed progress.

In my last progress report I celebrated the installation of all frames that originate at the centerline. Aft of that there are to be two more frames. One of these is the top timber that goes on top of the fashion pieces. This forms the corner between the side of the ship and the stern of the ship (that is - it needs to be perfect). There is an additional filler timber between that top timber and the last frame previously installed.

Across the lower portion of the stern there are eight stern counter timbers - and then above that are a series of upper counter timbers. These items relate one to the other.

Here are the lower and upper counter timbers during fabrication:

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In order to control the position of the counter timbers I made a jig:

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I mentioned the top timber that sits above the fashion pieces (forming the corner of the ship in the back). That piece is a 3D marvel that shares the profile of the counter timbers I just showed - but it also follows the curves of the ship hull (effectively making this piece S-shaped when viewed from the stern).

In the center of the image shown below you can see this vexing part. My first attempt was long ago abandoned. This was the second attempt. It has also been binned after an investment of nearly a full day. I made the mistake of trusting the drawing of the filler frame (labeled #18 in the picture below) when creating the curved portion of the fashion piece top-timber.

Anyway, I have given up for the day and will make another attempt over the weekend.

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I'm sure you are familiar with the "I don't think I can build this thing" feeling...

Good morning Paul. Your counter timbers look good although mighty fragile and I send you all the luck that you don’t give these a bump. As always your woodworking is on another level…..and your log is a pleasure to read.

That S curve top timber/fashion piece is something I know I couldn’t scratch build however I have completed confidence in your ability and perseverance to construct this.

This hobby…….…it has to be fun or we wouldn’t do it…..right.

Cheers Grant

 

[Peter Voogt]

I'm sure you are familiar with the "I don't think I can build this thing" feeling...

Mix the words up a bit, and it sounds a bit like a previously peed-on TV quote: "I've never done it, so I think I can."

The combination of views on the 2D drawings needs to become a 3D image in your mind. That can take a while. But take your time. Another option: invest that time in learning a 3D CAD program. Ultimately, that program will visualize it. If you've entered it correctly.
In short: you're doing well; the pieces of the puzzle are really falling into place.
Regards, Peter

 

[Daniel20]

The waste of wood and time is regrettable

This statement made me think why not use something akin to balsa or basswood for those verry difficult pieces until you come to the correct solution then transfer back to the pear or box wood for the actual build?

 

[dockattner]

Neither the time nor the material are wasted.
And (as I have heard said) " If it was easy everybody would do it."
The nice thing about working with gold as opposed to a precious stash of boxwood or Swiss pear, is that you can just melt down the gold and start over.
I, for one, am enthralled with your efforts, process and progress. I love what I'm seeing. It reminds me of the things my dad was able to come up with seemingly out of thin air. I believe he would be impressed and proud of your work. He (Robert P. Gutterman) has patents online and an award from the Navy during WWII.
You have a very analytical mind. As did my dad. Me, not as much.

Thank you kindly, Peter. I wish I could have met your dad.

 

[dockattner]

Mix the words up a bit, and it sounds a bit like a previously peed-on TV quote: "I've never done it, so I think I can."

The combination of views on the 2D drawings needs to become a 3D image in your mind. That can take a while. But take your time. Another option: invest that time in learning a 3D CAD program. Ultimately, that program will visualize it. If you've entered it correctly.
In short: you're doing well; the pieces of the puzzle are really falling into place.
Regards, Peter

Pippi Longstocking!

I did think about the 3D CAD solution - or just trying to redraw the plan drawings to correct for perspective (David Antscherl has a tutorial for this in TFFM) - but when I try to do it my eyes roll back into my head and I risk passing out .

I'll figure it out (or not)...

 

[dockattner]

This statement made me think why not use something akin to balsa or basswood for those verry difficult pieces until you come to the correct solution then transfer back to the pear or box wood for the actual build?

Good advice, Daniel. I suspect I keep using up the pear wood out of arrogance. I actually think I'm going to succeed when I set out to make a complicated part . Not sure if this can be solved with therapy or not...

 

[dockattner]

Paul, I fully understand you. I know the problem. If I draw my parts everything looks easy, if I try to build it, I have two left hands. This doesn't mean that you also have two left hands, but I think that you have a similiar feeling. Don't forget you work with drawings, someone else has done and you have to think what the hell will he say.

But this is also the fun of scratch building to find solutions for problems someone else has produced.

I think I might have two left brains, and I need to strengthen the right half...

I love how you can relate, Christian! Do you do this too... I design and fabricate a piece that should be perfect - but when I take it to the model something is off... I then stare at it for an hour trying to figure out how it can possibly be SO wrong...

 

[GIG1810]

Hey Paul,

There used to be a series called "A Terrible Family" with Al Bundy. I think yours was called "Married ... with Children". There was a line: "... If you build it, he will come! ..." By that they meant the idea that it would be better ... As always, superbly realised. Great build.

Cheers, Günther!

 

[dockattner]

Good morning Paul. Your counter timbers look good although mighty fragile and I send you all the luck that you don’t give these a bump. As always your woodworking is on another level…..and your log is a pleasure to read.

That S curve top timber/fashion piece is something I know I couldn’t scratch build however I have completed confidence in your ability and perseverance to construct this.

This hobby…….…it has to be fun or we wouldn’t do it…..right.

Cheers Grant

Yup. Insanely fragile but this is where I have to be in order to proceed with subsequent steps (though I might be wrong about that).

When does the fun start ?

 

[Steef66]

Sometimes I make a part 3 times till it's okay. And even then I have still doubs. That's the life of a scratch building modelar.

 

[dockattner]

Hey Paul,

There used to be a series called "A Terrible Family" with Al Bundy. I think yours was called "Married ... with Children". There was a line: "... If you build it, he will come! ..." By that they meant the idea that it would be better ... As always, superbly realised. Great build.

Cheers, Günther!

Thanks, Gunther. A nice phrase to encourage the discouraged!

 

[dockattner]

Sometimes I make a part 3 times till it's okay. And even then I have still doubs. That's the life of a scratch building modelar.

I hope you are right - I'd be happy if the next attempt was a success.

 

[Steef66]

I hope you are right - I'd be happy if the next attempt was a success.

There are people they use 6 attempts ore more

 

[GrantTyler]

There are people they use 6 attempts ore more

Really….……

 

[shota70]

Dear Paul
Your counter timbers looks perfect

 

[Peter Gutterman]

There are people they use 6 attempts ore more

Like me. Paul has commented on that on my Flying Cloud build.
My dad was (among other things) an inventor. So, everything was a prototype, out of his head and onto a drawing board. No computers. Just an old K&E drawing kit and plastic templates. So, yes, he would have appreciated your efforts. That's why I appreciate them so much myself.

Pete

 

[Mirek]

Witaj
Drogi Pawle nie powinneś się przejmować drobnymi niepowodzeniami i trudnościami są one po to żebyśmy mogli się uczyć je rozwiązywać i być mądrzejszymi na przyszłość. To jest twój pierwszy model w tej konwencji uczysz się na nim zdobywasz doświadczenie ,podziwiam Cię i trzymam kciuki dasz radę. Pozdrawiam Mirek

 

[dockattner]

Welcome
Dear Paweł, you should not worry about minor failures and difficulties, they are there so that we can learn to solve them and be wiser for the future. This is your first model in this convention, you learn on it, gain experience, I admire you and keep my fingers crossed, you will make it. Greetings Mirek

Thanks, Mirek. I'm sure I'll figure it out.

 

[Namabiiru]

Inasmuch as your work looks perfect to me, Paul, what I think I learned here is this: The difference between a scratch builder and a kit builder is the scratch builder gets to fix his own mistakes; a kit builder gets to fix somebody else’s mistakes.