My first ship/learning exercise: HMB Endeavour (plastic!)

[johnlattanzio]

Hi Everyone
I expect I will have a few questions about how best to complete this model so I have started a thread on the topic. I hope that is OK?

Background (please skip unless you are bored!)
I built a few plastic models as a kid - didn't we all? But never any ships. Later I fell in love with sailing ships and when I finished my PhD I trerated myself with the 1:100 Heller Victory. I was about half way through when I got a PostDoc position on the other side of the world so the poor victory never got finished.

I got back into modelling a few years ago, but did not attempt any ships. I promised myself that I would try the Victory again when I retired! This has now happened so I bought a Heller Victory. About the same time I discovered the fantastic after-market accessories available from HiSmodel ships in the Czech Republic. So I bought the whole lot - scaled threads, wooden blocks, material sails, brass cannons. Cost more than the original model kit but the stuff is beautiful!

When it arrived I was immobilized by fear... I really shoudl not try this as my first ship kit. I discussed this with the fantastic Radimir at HiSmodel and he suggested a larger scale and a simpler ship...such as the 1:72 Airfix Golden Hind. Again, I bought all the HiSmodel accessories for it. Then I returned to the projects I was currently working on.

Soon after, I was given a kit of the Airfix 1:120 HMB Endeavour. I thought that I might build this relatively simple kit straight form the box - no extras. This would teach me the very basic stuff in preparation for the GH and then the Victory. This model has plenty of faults but as a practice I thought it would be fine.

Well, I won't bore you with the errors I found (and I checked - others found them too, so it was not my incompetence...or, perhaps more accurately, not solely my incompetence!) But I have indeed learned some things to look for to avoid problems later on!

I decided that the plastic sails were rubbish, compared to the beautiful material sails from HiSmodel. So I bought those. Then it was suggested that I add some rigging. Long story short, HiSmodel prepared a dramatically reduced set of running rigging for me, so the model is greatly improved over the default palstic. Of course, I did not intend this originally, and the scale of 1:120 is not ideal for learing. But hey - this model is a test case!

So I have completed the standing rigging - I used the plastic deadeyes for the shrouds (thread, from a jig in the kit) and they are indeed awful I added blocks for the forestays and all things considered, it is not too bad as a first attempt.




But now I have to sort out the sails and running rigging and this is where I will need help please!

 

[johnlattanzio]

Preparing for the Running Rigging and Sails...

So it seems to me that the order of doing these things should be something like this:

1) attach blocks to yards
2) shape sails (wires in seams? hairspray to match the plastic shapes provided? Both?)
3) attach sails to yards
4) attach yards to masts
5) add the rigging to the blocks

There are many sub stpes that I need to sort out and this is my job for this week

Am I on the right track here?
Thanks!
John L

 

[Rob444]

Preparing for the Running Rigging and Sails...

So it seems to me that the order of doing these things should be something like this:

1) attach blocks to yards
2) shape sails (wires in seams? hairspray to match the plastic shapes provided? Both?)
3) attach sails to yards
4) attach yards to masts
5) add the rigging to the blocks

There are many sub stpes that I need to sort out and this is my job for this week

Am I on the right track here?
Thanks!
John L

I think you are doing well. I tend to break down my projects into a series of subprojects and put them together much as you are doing. You may want to consider not doing sails at all. I think they tend to obscure the view of the rest of the ship, especially the rigging which you have taken so long to set up.

In addition to the wonderful build logs here, there are many you tube videos on all aspects of building and rigging, and making sails.

However this is your ship and you should do what you want.

Rob

 

[johnlattanzio]

Thanks Rob. I was thinking of following the suggestion in the kit..with the lower sails on the fore and main mast being furled, so there is a clear view of deck and at least some of the rigging

 

[Corsair]

Welcome to the forums !

 

[Rob444]

Thanks Rob. I was thinking of following the suggestion in the kit..with the lower sails on the fore and main mast being furled, so there is a clear view of deck and at least some of the rigging

I like the idea of furled sails. If you do furl then it may be advisable not to use the whole sail so it will be as realistically "bulky" as the real thing when furled. you may want to experiment with different amount of a similar fabric to get an idea of whet it would look like.

This you tube video by Tom Lauria where he makes furled sails may be of some interest.

Rob

 

[johnlattanzio]

Thanks Rob, I also saw a video by Harry Houdini on making furled sails. I will try it first but as you say, with the material sails it may be a bit bulky. WIll have to give it a go!