Good gentlefolk all, back in 2004 when my eyes were still good, having been discouraged by the Billings Golden Hind kit, which was cast into the outer darkness, I foreswore all kits for life. After considerable lipchewing , I decided that if I was to build a ship model, it would have to be built as close to original techniques of shipbuilding as I could manage with the limited tools at my disposal. Having done some reearch and having a photocopy of Portia Takakjian's monograph on the 32 gun heavy frigate Essex of 1799 ( a ship precious to the yanks as having incommoded the english and met a glorious apotheosis in Valparaiso), I sent away for a set of plans by Portia and set about building or buying a set of tools to start the adventure. As Portia had recommended, I bought a baulk of american cherry and, using the faithful Triton workbench, I cut overthickness planks which were sanded to correct thickness on my home-made thickness sander (plans from NRG Workbook). It should be noted at this point that Portia had become enamoured of the Navy Board model of the HMS Bellona which was not built as normal Navy Board models but, somwhat like the real thing, with double frames of two different thicknesses. I now became somewhat discouraged but persisted and did some trial midship double frames
To cut the story shorter, I was encouraged by this and launched into thebow and stern sections which I left separate for the time being
I will leave the build there for now.....
Cheers
Dick
To cut the story shorter, I was encouraged by this and launched into thebow and stern sections which I left separate for the time being
I will leave the build there for now.....
Cheers
Dick