The Black Pearl... a slow build log

[Twokidsnosleep]

The rigging work looks fabulous. A really great model this is building into.

Thanks mate, it is a bit much
Biting off more than I wanted to chew so to speak

[Twokidsnosleep]

Superb work versus the kit parts mate. Top drawer stuff.

For some reason it made me think about what it must have been like to take these kind of ships into combat. Thinking about the damage that would have been caused to sails and masts and all that rigging by ball and cannister ammunition.

Its Saturday morning contemplation time with my morning coffee

You do have a good insight into things
I was thinking the same way building this tub and researching actual ships
The Black Pearl is a fictitious sailing ship. It is built on
a diesel tug and has half masts
But when you look at Endeavour or Victory…those were enormous ships and I cannot even imagine the manpower and skill needed to keep them going and then in battle.Wow
This must be why there is such a history of enormous pride from the men who serve in the Navies around the world.

[Stokesy44]

I was thinking the same way building this tub and researching actual ships
The Black Pearl is a fictitious sailing ship. It is built in a diesel tug and has half masts
But when you look at Endeavour or Victory…those were enormous ships and I cannot even imagine the manpower and skill needed to keep them going and then in battle. Wow
This must be why there is such a history of enormous pride from the men who serve in the Navies around the world.

Absolutely. Victory is an absolute monster!

I have a thing for aircraft carriers. I'm fascinated by how they have evolved from the ships of WW2 to the present day. Its amazing to see how the Americans overhauled their basic 1940s designed ships by adding angled decks for landing and side elevators, increasing the size of the flight deck by 100%. One of them, USS Midway became one of the longest serving front line carriers in history, finally retiring in 1992.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Quiet Saturday morning’s work:
I have the shroud lines for the Mizzen mast tied into the deadeyes and to the upper mast
Awaiting on some finer ropesofscale for the rat lines that run horizontal on these shrouds





Practicing some technique videos that we may see a few more of on ISM…appreciate any comments or critique on the vid
This one covers staining of the ropes from tan to a dirty brown using an AK pigment
Just my voice on here, no music in the background as the copyright jerks are all over that now

[RangerNeil]

From memories of 40+ years ago when I did the Heller 1/100Victory I seem to recall finding out all the ropes supplied to the ship were natural colours and the standing rigging, once set up, was tarred to stop the rope from rotting due to sea and sun hence the blackened look which in time faded to a dark brown. At which point it was either re-tarred or replaced.
Overhauling a ships rigging was likened to painting the Forth Road Bridge - if you started at the bow then by the time you reached the stern the bow needed attention. again

[Johnj]

On we continue.
I need five PAIRS of the 7mm deadeyes for the standing rigging lines…that means ten round doodads, yes ten Scott, not five
Had to cut out more and then had a number of failures on the lathe so only got two pairs done all day

This is Hemlock… a poor choice by me. A perfect sized piece ready to go, but grain is too large hence weak
I have a hunk of Alder that is a harder wood, just a big hunk I would have had to cut up. Will be doing that tomorrow


Turned to 7mm diameter on the lathe


First ones I turned in the morning went fine, the rest went to hell and I only recovered with one more in the afternoon



I also made a little jig to hold the round eyes stable and a fixed distance while threading them.






So not a total loss day, but some challenges

Sorry scott, i'm just catching up with this.
Is there some reason that you couldnt have used something like mahogany dowel, that way you'r only "machining" the groove in the centre ?
The reason i'm asking is i have something similar near the top of the pile but it's the rigging thats putting me off

[Twokidsnosleep]

On we continue.
I need five PAIRS of the 7mm deadeyes for the standing rigging lines…that means ten round doodads, yes ten Scott, not five
Had to cut out more and then had a number of failures on the lathe so only got two pairs done all day

This is Hemlock… a poor choice by me. A perfect sized piece ready to go, but grain is too large hence weak
I have a hunk of Alder that is a harder wood, just a big hunk I would have had to cut up. Will be doing that tomorrow


Turned to 7mm diameter on the lathe


First ones I turned in the morning went fine, the rest went to hell and I only recovered with one more in the afternoon



I also made a little jig to hold the round eyes stable and a fixed distance while threading them.






So not a total loss day, but some challenges

Sorry scott, i'm just catching up with this.
Is there some reason that you couldnt have used something like mahogany dowel, that way you'r only "machining" the groove in the centre ?
The reason i'm asking is i have something similar near the top of the pile but it's the rigging thats putting me off

Hey man thanks for reading. There is a lot to unpack in the build

Ok for the dead eyes. I didn’t use dowels as then you are left with end grain on the ‘face part’ where you have to drill the three holes and is the most visible. Cutting plugs allows you to be grooving end grain on the sides and having face grain on the front and back. This lets the staining be more even and predictable too.
I refined the lathe process quite an bit and got two dead eyes out of each plug.

[Stokesy44]

Nope, didnt understand a word of that explanation but it sounded proper clever like

[Johnj]

Nope, didnt understand a word of that explanation but it sounded proper clever like

He's machining them from the "face' or the lenth of the dowel rather than the end of it if that makes sense

[Twokidsnosleep]

Nope, didnt understand a word of that explanation but it sounded proper clever like

He's machining them from the "face' or the lenth of the dowel rather than the end of it if that makes sense

Yes
From a woodworker standpoint it makes complete sense...face grain vs end grain

[Stokesy44]

Nope, didnt understand a word of that explanation but it sounded proper clever like

He's machining them from the "face' or the lenth of the dowel rather than the end of it if that makes sense

Yes
From a woodworker standpoint it makes complete sense...face grain vs end grain

Err, yeah, whatever.

[aur0ra145]

Being that I had to look up the face vs end grain to understand, I will share with the class the graphic that made it make sense to me.

[Johnj]

Being that I had to look up the face vs end grain to understand, I will share with the class the graphic that made it make sense to me.

Yes, a picture paints a thousand words and all that

[Johnj]

Nope, didnt understand a word of that explanation but it sounded proper clever like

He's machining them from the "face' or the lenth of the dowel rather than the end of it if that makes sense

Yes
From a woodworker standpoint it makes complete sense...face grain vs end grain

Fair play to you scott, that's a fair bit of extra work and i absolutley understand why you went in that direction, although i dont know if i would have thought of doing it that way and i have fair bit of experience with woodworking, building R/C aircraft for getting on 50yrs now. My most elaborate build so far is a 1/3 pitts

[RangerNeil]

Got to admit - I would have (and will) take the easy option and buy blocks, deadeyes and pulleys from HisModel's Web site.
So great kudos to you for going the handmade route!!!

[Twokidsnosleep]

Got to admit - I would have (and will) take the easy option and buy blocks, deadeyes and pulleys from HisModel's Web site.
So great kudos to you for going the handmade route!!!

It turned out to be pricey so not make sense if I can make similar
The ropes on the other hand are super value and excellent so I am happy to spend a bit on them

[RangerNeil]

Got to admit - I would have (and will) take the easy option and buy blocks, deadeyes and pulleys from HisModel's Web site.
So great kudos to you for going the handmade route!!!

It turned out to be pricey so not make sense if I can make similar
The ropes on the other hand are super value and excellent so I am happy to spend a bit on them

If you ever delve into building Nelsons ships of war the cannons they do are excellent - 6, 12, 19, 24 and 32 pdr long guns and the 68lb "Smashers" or Carronades. And prices for those are reasonable considering...

As and when I get around to that Barque I have no access to a lathe here (ironic when you think I started working life as a toolmaker) so I'll be using the bought in versions. That's a while in the future though... When not tanking right now that dirty great Mil is taking my time.....

[Twokidsnosleep]

I got my ropesofscale in for the rat lines. I meant to get tan and a smaller diameter but think I f’d the order and went a little small
0.25 mm rope was a surprise when I opened it, thought I did 0.4mm


But when I test it out, it will be ok. Three 0.25 horizontals tied on here


Then a 0.45 rope to test larger…it is too big


The reference pic from the movie. The horizontal rope called rat lines are definitely on the thinner side

[digger303]

Man there's loads of them to do. Armour wheels is easier I'd like to think.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Shifting back to some figures, I am working on Cotton and his Blue-golden Macaw Parrot named “Chips and Salsa”
I 3D printed the bird and modified one of the stock plastic figures
Reference pics while the figures dry

[Twokidsnosleep]

Here we go, Cotton’s skin is oil paint still drying but the bird was acrylic







This was the stl file I used to print the birdo

[digger303]

The bird is pretty damn good.

[Twokidsnosleep]

The bird is pretty damn good.

I wish they were 1/32 scale figures; really hard to get the details right and for me to not get my paint swampy at 1/72
But then the ship would be enormouser then it already is!

[Twokidsnosleep]

Jumped over to this build for a few hours last night and finished rigging the ‘rat lines’ ladder work on the rear or Mizzen mast






You kind of get a rhythm tying the clove hitch knots
Unfortunately my thread burner is dying and will have to source a new one

[Stokesy44]

Superb work

[digger303]

The ropes look taut,all the knots neatly tight and that's half the battle for realism.
Going very well, much better than I could achieve.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Back at the Pearl again last night
The Sci Fi build awaits some more supplies, so felt it necessary to give the Pearl some love

To get ready for the next set of rigging, the port side needed all its lower deadeyes secured…sixteen in total
So an hour’s work , some Ca glue and wire and I got them all in solidly to support the ropes
Didn’t take a picture…will tuck a new one in ofter work, but it is the lower wooden deadeyes seen here

[Stokesy44]

Gargh!

Excellent

[Twokidsnosleep]

Here we go…lower dead eyes attatched




Crew getting anxious to get The Pearl ready and leave port

[Twokidsnosleep]

Had her up on the bench tonight and got one of the riggings started for the foremast. Twelve of these to do.



I couldn’t stay up past my bedtime on a school night so I had to call it quits here

Over the next two evenings before bed got the first two lines stained up, rigged, tensioned and tied off

[Phillip1]

Twokidsnosleep-The very good detail work continues!

Phillip1

[Twokidsnosleep]

Twokidsnosleep-The very good detail work continues!

Phillip1

my friend
I just need more spare time

[Stokesy44]

I couldn’t stay up past my bedtime on a school night so I had to call it quits here

Too right. Who was the idiot who invented work? The bane of all out existences!

[RangerNeil]

I couldn’t stay up past my bedtime on a school night so I had to call it quits here

Too right. Who was the idiot who invented work? The bane of all out existences!

Regrettably the curse of work is what pays for the hobby!!! Just wait till you retire......

[Twokidsnosleep]

I couldn’t stay up past my bedtime on a school night so I had to call it quits here

Too right. Who was the idiot who invented work? The bane of all out existences!

Regrettably the curse of work is what pays for the hobby!!! Just wait till you retire......

Arrrrgggg

[digger303]

I'm in semi-retirement and being out here away from civilization it's filling in time that's the issue. Believe it or not I can't model day in day out non stop. 2 yrs ago I made a bad investment and lost 25% of my retirement money so now I have to continue working for another 5 yrs. All my own fault no one else's, but it's not the end of the world or though it took some time to come to terms with it and I can still cope with the work so all good. Just keeping the mojo on track is tricky sometimes.


Ps... normal service is now resumed.
Will you build another ship anytime soon ?

[Twokidsnosleep]

Foemast rigging continues
Five of six shroud lines done. I have some adjustment to level the deadeyes and tighten the rigged line when I get all six in place.
Then the upper three shroud lines and then all the horizontal rat lines

[Tomcat64]

The latest of my catch up sagas and all the way back to February you were already working on that rigging - man that's an insane amount of work you've piled in there but it is absolutely worth it as the results are nothing but eye-catching already.

There's an author I like called Alexander Kent (actually a pen-name of Douglas Reeman) who wrote a series of novels based around the 17th/18th Century age of naval warfare - this has made me think I need to go back & revisit them again.

[Twokidsnosleep]

The latest of my catch up sagas and all the way back to February you were already working on that rigging - man that's an insane amount of work you've piled in there but it is absolutely worth it as the results are nothing but eye-catching already.

There's an author I like called Alexander Kent (actually a pen-name of Douglas Reeman) who wrote a series of novels based around the 17th/18th Century age of naval warfare - this has made me think I need to go back & revisit them again.

Hi mate
I stopped on her for the egg sig in the spring and then the sci fi sig so took some time away
I had finished the aft mast, but it was only three lines.
This is the front mast and then there is the main middle mast too both with six lines to do
I actually had to look at my own posts and videos to see how I stained the ropes and how I tied them..good thing ISM is a reference

[Twokidsnosleep]

More after dinner and chores. Rigging one side of the Foremast rat lines...18 in total.

[Stokesy44]

Amazing, especially when compared to the kit parts

[Twokidsnosleep]

Amazing, especially when compared to the kit parts

Indeed
The subtle little differences and imperfections add to the realism. I like having the kit part to guide me on the separation distances.
It is like a double check.

[RangerNeil]

Impressive job on the ratlines!!

[digger303]

Good man keeping it going. Your doing a marvellous job on those lines I can appreciate how fiddly it must be to get them all tied .

[Twokidsnosleep]

Impressive job on the ratlines!!

Thanks. It isn’t hard really once you learn

[Twokidsnosleep]

Good man keeping it going. Your doing a marvellous job on those lines I can appreciate how fiddly it must be to get them all tied .

The smart use of time modelling after dinner instead of mindless internet scrolling
You get a bit of a rhythm going tying these cross hitch knots.
Keeping good spacing and alignment is the hardest part

[Stokesy44]

Something that has been bothering me about this build as its gone on is this. With the way the masts are attached and now the rigging, how is it all going to fold down when you fit it into the bottle?

[Tomcat64]

Awesome realism on those ratlines again mate - absolutely stunning work

Something that has been bothering me about this build as its gone on is this. With the way the masts are attached and now the rigging, how is it all going to fold down when you fit it into the bottle?

[Twokidsnosleep]

Awesome realism on those ratlines again mate - absolutely stunning work

Something that has been bothering me about this build as its gone on is this. With the way the masts are attached and now the rigging, how is it all going to fold down when you fit it into the bottle?

Indeed
The bugger barely fits on the workbench and you have to be very careful reaching anywhere to not get tangled in a line
I have popped off one line already , broken off the lamps and keep ungluing the lower cannon doors that were rigged open

[Twokidsnosleep]

Foremast lower shroud lines and rat lines are done





Next I either go main mast lower shrouds or foremast upper shroud lines