Attempt No. 2 at the Rat-Lines....
I used dilute White glue this time, a little wiser....
The result was better this time but I didn't like it, so, off they came.

The excersise could have been viewed as a waste of time but I prefer to call it a "Learning" experience.

That was the weekend....

How about everybody else?

Cheers....HOF.

This weekend, I almost finished the first planking (and the only). I need to put in the stealers in the stearn, sand, and start on the deck planking. I took some pictures and will upload tonight. I actually enjoy the planking and would (I think) really enjoy a POF model with all the actual frames...

Are all of you only working on ONE model? Or do you have several going at once?

That's my weekend!
rgds
-Guy

Just the one at this time.
After Blenose II is complete, I'll think about the Cutty Sark, or, maybe some light relief with the Mare Nostrum.

I really want Bluenose finished, I have ordered the glass components of the display case already....

The safe way to proceed, in my mind, one thing at a time.

Cheers....HOF.

about 20 minutes after i bought a billings bluenose from ebay my "woman who must be obeyed" informed me she had already ordered for me the bluenose from model shipways. they both arrived at the same time. i thought i should build the billings first, as it looked simpler and would give me some practice for my first build. the model shipways just looked too challenging and interesting though. at this time i dont think i will live long enough to do the billings.
David

Is the Billings Boat #576? I would like to build both the Bluenose and the Bluenose II!
Did you want to rid yourself of this extra burden?

it is series 600 bluenose II. although i thought the bluenose II had propellers and this one doesnt. i will have to keep it, postage from here is nearly as much as the kit is worth.
David

Hi All,
Apart from trying to trade kits, how are your respective weekends?

For me anyway, I am pretty much invoved with the damn "Rat-Thingies!!"
No, seriously, this time they seem to be much better, still not perfect, but moving along regardless....

I tried tying the Futtok Poles, didn't like the result, so, off they came....

Anyway, I'm learning.... (Allot!!)

If I try to make things go faster, I just step backwards....

There is no way you can hurry things along, just patience and heaps of it....

Cheers....HOF.

Keep at it Harry. I know tying rats etc can be tedious but well worth it when the model is completed. As some modeler once said ''It's in the details''
Cheers, John

Thanks for the words of encouragement John, much appreciated!!
Well, progress is steady and this is the first time that I have actually "Tied the Ratlines.... The 1/120 Bluenose "Experiment" Ratlines were gled on to the shrouds due to the extremley small size.

The Foremast stuff is complete inc. the Topmast but there are some Rat-Thingies that I am just not happy with and these will be replaced after the Mainmast is complete. (There may be some room for improvement in one or three of the Ratlines here also!!)

I think that the next build with Shrouds/Ratlines, I'll sew the damn things!!

Jumbo-Boom running rigging also complete as I feel that this will not compromise any other rigging tasks.

The model is so close to completion now that I can just about "Taste" it!!

So, finish the "Ratling Down," add the Gaffs and the remainder of the running stuff and were done!!

There are plenty of errors in the build, but, nevertheless, for a first POB of any complexity, it is looking "Presentable."
(10 months so far? Hey, who's counting anyway?)

The Display Case is ready and I just have to machine a nice piece of Rimu to accomodate the glass....

How's everyone else doing?

Cheers....HOF.

Just about "Done and Dusted...."
I now just need to fit and rig the Gaffs, flying Back-Stays, and as I have/will do, look and be "Picky" with regards to things that are not quite right.
(There are allot of these, something that maybe I alone will see, but, nonetheless, something that I will correct if I'm not happy with....)

Glass case got delivered, where am I going to put it? It's large, 800 X 640 X 200mm.... I guess I'll find somewhere....
Thinking about building some "Niche/Alcove" in my internal walls, maybe thats the answer....

Photos to come at some stage soon.

Have a good weekend all!!

Cheers....HOF.

Looking forward to seeing her!

Isn't it funny, regardless of how well we do things, we're not totally happy with the results? Even if no one else on the planet can see small errors because we know they are there, they bug the hell out of us! LOL

Hi all and a great weekend to all....
Well, It's time for the finishing touches, Flag Hallyard and coils for the Belaying Pins.... The Display Case and associated joinery must be the easiest thing, but, where do I put it??

Anyway, some conclusions about the Bluenose II since it has occupied some 10 months of my life....

Would I reccomend this particular kit to a beginner?
Yes and no, I think that this will either make or break a model shipwright, the concentration and the forethought that has gone into this, the absolute concentration and the mistakes. (I call them Errors), are there for me to see but, the average bod would probably say what a wonderful thing, and so say I....

There are many errors, so what? as the late Frank Mastini said, "The next one will be better" and, "There are no bad ship models, only better ones."

The errors I have had to learn to live with, I do, and comfortably so.
The overall is acceptable, I would not say Museum quality but is my first POB model and only the second that I have attempted.

A refrence to Mr. John H. Earl and his wonderful web site who has been an insparation, the site in itself is a "Practicum" and the response and advice from John, invalluable.

It is with a little sadness that I am soon to stop work on this and move on to something else, another ship, of course.

(I am sorely tempted by the Cutty Sark)

I will retain an active intrest and input whever I can to this thread, I am after all the one that created it.... So, please all you bods out there that are building this beautiful Gaff Rigged Schooner, plese ensure that you take your time to input to this thread.

Photos of my attempt at Bluenose II, shortly....

Cheers and Regards,

Harry.

Photos Posted....

Mare Nostrum started.... (A bit of light relief and a good planking excersise.)

Cheers....HOF.

How's everyone elses Bluenose models getting along?

This thread seems to have stopped?

Stopped???? Nah! Just currently on hold! LOL

I'm still in the research and planning phase myself as it's my next project (first scratch build).

Right now I'm in the middle of putting together the masts and yards for the Endeavour Bark model I've been working on. With any luck, if I can find the time, I should wrap it up by the end of this month.

Then it's on to the Bluenose!

On Ya' Chap!!

Looking forward to the posts!!

Cheers....HOF.

mine is going pretty slow. i spent 2 hours building the hoisting engine cover. plus another 2 hours figuring out how to do it. afraid i am overthinking the process.
should just ...damn the torpedoes and full speed ahead...

I have just returned home after two months of wondering. It will take a couple of weeks to get back to the old routine.
In Bangkok's wood street where the shops sell nothing but wood I came across a shop which might be of interest to those needing timber for their project. It has a wide range of timber, all sizes from 2mm thickness upwards. The owner speaks good English. She told me she only stock teak because that is the most popular wood in Thailand, but can supply other wood if given advance notice. To get an idea of the price: 2mm x 2mm strip at 1 baht per metre. 3mm x 3mm at 2.5 baht per metre.
I can pass on the address if anyone is interested.

Apprentice

Hi Surcof

This is the follow up of my comments to your photo.

I worked out indenpendently how to cut the scrubber and it is the same way as you have described in your reply, except that I used clamps to hold the plank in place instad of tagging it with glue. Actually that is not the point I wanted to discuss; it is that I am not totally happy with the position of some of the scrubbers I cut. I see in your photo that you have done an excellent job, of an order of magnitude better than my and was wondering what is the order of installation you use: First the plank cut with the scrubbers than the false stanchions or first the stanchions than mark out the position for the scrubbers than install the plank?

I am building the Blusenose I by Model Shipway while yours a sketch built but they are of the same scale. I followed the instruction provided by MS and it recommended first the false stanchions than mark the position of the scrubbers and install the plank above the waterway. The problem is that the scrubber dimensions are small (1.2mm x 0.4mm; sorry I work to metric scale). To mark out its position, using a pencil, the thickness of the line is around 0.2mm. So the position of the scrubber theoretically could be out by + or - 0.4 mm in the most severe case. I found that on installing the plank, some of the scrubbers do not line up the way they should although I have taken all the care I can while cutting the notches; lack of skill is definitely the most important contributing factor here. I been think about this problem and I think the best way is to cut the length of the planks to the length of two or three fixed stanchions. Mark out the position of the scrubbers and cut the notch. Install the plank and then use the position of the scrubbers as a guide to install the false stanchions. This way we can avoid trying to position several small notches simultaneously. Another point I found with install the false stanchion first is that there is only a small gluing surface between the stanchion and the waterway. I have to redo many of these, some of them several times over.

I wonder if others can share their experience with me on this point?

Apprentice

I guess you are referring to the scuppers. I gave up trying to cut the notches and decided to just paint them in later using a very fine black marker.
good luck
David

yes, sorry for the mispelling. English is not my first language.

apprentice

your english is probably better than mine. i am also building the bluenose by model shipways. it is my first build and i find it very challenging. i look forward to reading about your progress and i will try to help as much as i can, which i am sure will be very little. originally i thought the planking would be the hardest part, now i think it may be the easiest. building this boat is a lot of fun regardless.
good luck

A quick note for those that may be interested.

The William Roue family descendents (Designer of the Bluenose...like I really have to mention that! LOL) are embarking on a project to build "Bluenose III" so that they can retire Bluenose II. If anyone is interested in knowing more let me know.

could someone tell me how the boom is connected to the mast.

I received Model Shipways Blue Nose for Christmas. I will begin building the model sometime this winter or spring and will post noes and photos of my experiences.
Bill Williamson