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Norskelove

D

Dicktracy

Joined
Jan 25, 2025
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Norskelove 1765 scale 1:75 , Plans by Billings from 1970. Not an easy build, some of the kit materials created extra work due to wood aging, so I used scrap wood and Birch Spatulas for all the white components. Wood Stains (water base) where by Saman #111 and #206. Gold and White Acrylic paints. Glues were standard yellow for carpentry, White Elmer's School glue and very little CA.
The tools used were by Dremel, Surgical Scalpel #11, many different machinist hand files, and a small model hand saw. Finishes were hand sanded using 200, 300, 1000, and 2400 grit metal sand paper, with cosmetic hand files reshaped to reach hard to get to places. Created modified Dental Spatulas and scrapers again for hard to reach places. Made construction templates for guns, hand rails, King Pins, Gun Tackle and 2 different Single, Double Pulleys. For an extra challenge I built moving helm and Rudder, just because!
This was my first scratch build, to date in excess of 2500 hours, which includes internet and book research . Next is to start on the Masts and Yards.

Not sure if I have posted this correctly, will welcome directions for future posts, cheers Richard.











Norskelove 1765 scale 1:75 , Plans by Billings from 1970. Not an easy build, some of the kit materials created extra work due to wood aging, so I used scrap wood and Birch Spatulas for all the white components. Wood Stains (water base) where by Saman #111 and #206. Gold and White Acrylic paints. Glues were standard yellow for carpentry, White Elmer's School glue and very little CA.
The tools used were by Dremel, Surgical Scalpel #11, many different machinist hand files, and a small model hand saw. Finishes were hand sanded using 200, 300, 1000, and 2400 grit metal sand paper, with cosmetic hand files reshaped to reach hard to get to places. Created modified Dental Spatulas and scrapers again for hard to reach places. Made construction templates for guns, hand rails, King Pins, Gun Tackle and 2 different Single, Double Pulleys. For an extra challenge I built moving helm and Rudder, just because!
This was my first scratch build, to date in excess of 2500 hours, which includes internet and book research . Next is to start on the Masts and Yards.










All reactions:
10Chance Liebrecht, Chelsea Liebrecht and 8 others​

 
Welcome to the forum! That's a fine looking model. I started a Billings Danmark in the late 70's, so I can concur with the wood quality. The "mahogany" or what ever they supplied for the hull planking was never straight-grained and would split just to look at it.

Birch spatulas? :D
 
RussF said:
Welcome to the forum! That's a fine looking model. I started a Billings Danmark in the late 70's, so I can concur with the wood quality. The "mahogany" or what ever they supplied for the hull planking was never straight-grained and would split just to look at it.

Birch spatulas? :D
Click to expand...
Good morning Russ, thank you for your comments, and especially recognizing the troubles with the "old Mahogany " wood materials, another product was the Balsa Wooden Blocks. I had to buy the Birch spatulas because of the cream colour (that could be stained to oak, mahogany etc), and the relative straight grains that allow the wood to be split longetudely. I also bought Bamboo BBQ sticks and various Tooth picks, (I made this forming tool out of Heating Duct sheet metal) which were used for the Bollards, as I do not have a lathe. I put the Toothpicks in my electric hand drill chuck, and pressed the forming tool against the toothpicks. the second & third pictures shows the finished results.
"Need is the mother of invention", Cheers Richard

Bollaster shaper.jpg

BullwarkHandRail Port.jpg

PoopQuarter Deck Handrail.jpg
 
Stuart Little said:
Sorry, I can't view your photos as I don't 'do' FB. Any chance you can upload them to the site?
Click to expand...
Hello Stuart, I bought my kit in 1970 in England, emmigrated to Canada, but did almost nothing with the kit for 20 years. When I did go back the Keel and Bulkheads had warped, so I had to dismantle and start again. The series of pictures brings my work up to date March 2025
Most of my work was completed using hand tools, although I did buy Dremel with many different bits, made my own mini table saw and router table for the Dremel.
I wanted the Rudder to operate so I designed the mechanism using miniature springs attached to black sewing thread. Decided to make my own Gallery Lantern, see drawing (suggest zooming into picture).
Need to down load a few more pictures from my camera.
cheers, Richard.
Pictures 1: Setup to paint Waterline, 2: Gunport template, 3,4:Quater Deck Helm and Staircase, 5,6: Rudder pictures, 7,8,9: Billings plant pre 1970, 9: Gallery Lantern drawing.

Waterline Laser Beam Setup 01.JPG

DSCN0360.JPG

Helm04.JPG

Norskelove QuarterDeck.jpg

Rudder Mounted 01.JPG

Rudder Stearing 02.JPG

Decking Plans.jpg

Hull Plans.jpg

Rigging Plans.jpg

Gallery Lantern drawing.jpg
 
Nice work! Your gallery lantern looks fantastic, but ... um ... it looks like you made it to the 3X size rather than the model scale size. Is this a trial for technique before you tackle the 1:75 size?
 
RussF said:
Nice work! Your gallery lantern looks fantastic, but ... um ... it looks like you made it to the 3X size rather than the model scale size. Is this a trial for technique before you tackle the 1:75 size?
Click to expand...
Hi Russ, you are quite right, the drawing was drawn 3X model scale, but the dimensioning is actual model scale. (What is further misleading, the printed paper size is 8.5x11, while the drawing paper space is 11x17, hence the appearance). If you look closely you will spot the "plastic" gallery lantern Billings supplied. I did not like to glue haze on the glass that resulted from over use of glue, so I made my own lantern from scratch. As it turned out, it was one of the hardest self made components on the model due to tapering of the glass frames and then assembling the six frames between the top and bottom components. That is partly why I created the drawing. Kinda like making a template. (If I can draw it, I can make it). It is this approach I have used for almost everything. The Billings drawings I find too vague, while the painted (not lazer) component outlines on the Billings mahogany materials are not reliable.
Cheers Richard.
 
Thanks 'Dick', I'm not impressed by Billings' kits like many others on here. One kit (Bounty) was enough, & that's only got to completion of the hull (now in 'ordinary' storage). What's more, is their Victory with NO main wale!
 
Got it! I didn't realize the drawing was a photo-reduced copy. Very well done!
 
Dicktracy said:
Hi Russ, you are quite right, the drawing was drawn 3X model scale, but the dimensioning is actual model scale. (What is further misleading, the printed paper size is 8.5x11, while the drawing paper space is 11x17, hence the appearance). If you look closely you will spot the "plastic" gallery lantern Billings supplied. I did not like to glue haze on the glass that resulted from over use of glue, so I made my own lantern from scratch. As it turned out, it was one of the hardest self made components on the model due to tapering of the glass frames and then assembling the six frames between the top and bottom components. That is partly why I created the drawing. Kinda like making a template. (If I can draw it, I can make it). It is this approach I have used for almost everything. The Billings drawings I find too vague, while the painted (not lazer) component outlines on the Billings mahogany materials are not reliable.
Cheers Richard.
Click to expand...
If you use white glue on the plastic "glass" it will not cause the haze. Testors actually has some specifically for that although I don't know that it's any different than common white glue.
However, your lantern looks great !
 
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