- Joined
- Nov 2, 2021
- Messages
- 27
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- 58
Hi, This is my first posting on ships of scale,
I am on with the construction of two sailing ships for an O gauge model railway, they are to be waterline models to sit in Whitby harbour in Edwardian times about 1905, the smaller of the two is almost completed and is an old Achilles model kit from Sergal and is to the correct 1/43 scale. I have not built it to be an exact model of Achilles which was an American pilot vessel which would have no place at Whitby UK but it was just about the only model I could find at the time which was 1/43 scale. It is basically as the designed kit but with a few freelance features and is named Cyclops. The Sergal kit is I find of good qualty and has gone together well, the hull was built full hull then cut to waterline on a bandsaw and a soleplate added underneath.
I also wanted a larger vessel and could not find anything really suitable, the nearest I could find being an Artisima Latina Scottish Maid which was to 1/50 scale. As I prepared to start this kit I decided to upscale it to 1/43 scale so photocopied the hull parts to 1/43 scale and intended to make it waterline right from the start building it on a soleplate after cutting new bulkheads etc.. Again I intended no slavish model of Scottish Maid and freelanced a little intending not to build a clipper bow but in fact kept the clipper bow and altered the stern to provide a flat area for a nameplate. The name is Stephen Hey after my father. I have the masts up and am at the spars, booms and rigging stage. All the supplied fittings are too small so larger ones have been obtained. The quality of the Artisima Latina kit left a lot to be desired anyway but I have used the strip wood material which was adequte the quantity being suficient due to it only being a waterline hull.
I have never built wooden ships before so I lack accurate knowledge of of rigging methods and knots and rope tying, however things are looking good up to now and progress is rapid, I have freelanced some acanthus scroll decoration at the bow instead of a figurehead and simple decoration at the stern. The only puzzling thing up to now is with the Achilles kit. There is a companionway entrance to the cabin which doesnt have any form of hatch cover which doesnt seem right to me so any suggestions are welcome.
I attach some photos showing progress so far and the harbour where they are to be used.
Doug Hey
I am on with the construction of two sailing ships for an O gauge model railway, they are to be waterline models to sit in Whitby harbour in Edwardian times about 1905, the smaller of the two is almost completed and is an old Achilles model kit from Sergal and is to the correct 1/43 scale. I have not built it to be an exact model of Achilles which was an American pilot vessel which would have no place at Whitby UK but it was just about the only model I could find at the time which was 1/43 scale. It is basically as the designed kit but with a few freelance features and is named Cyclops. The Sergal kit is I find of good qualty and has gone together well, the hull was built full hull then cut to waterline on a bandsaw and a soleplate added underneath.
I also wanted a larger vessel and could not find anything really suitable, the nearest I could find being an Artisima Latina Scottish Maid which was to 1/50 scale. As I prepared to start this kit I decided to upscale it to 1/43 scale so photocopied the hull parts to 1/43 scale and intended to make it waterline right from the start building it on a soleplate after cutting new bulkheads etc.. Again I intended no slavish model of Scottish Maid and freelanced a little intending not to build a clipper bow but in fact kept the clipper bow and altered the stern to provide a flat area for a nameplate. The name is Stephen Hey after my father. I have the masts up and am at the spars, booms and rigging stage. All the supplied fittings are too small so larger ones have been obtained. The quality of the Artisima Latina kit left a lot to be desired anyway but I have used the strip wood material which was adequte the quantity being suficient due to it only being a waterline hull.
I have never built wooden ships before so I lack accurate knowledge of of rigging methods and knots and rope tying, however things are looking good up to now and progress is rapid, I have freelanced some acanthus scroll decoration at the bow instead of a figurehead and simple decoration at the stern. The only puzzling thing up to now is with the Achilles kit. There is a companionway entrance to the cabin which doesnt have any form of hatch cover which doesnt seem right to me so any suggestions are welcome.
I attach some photos showing progress so far and the harbour where they are to be used.
Doug Hey
