Hi Alan.
Superp job on your gun port lids.
Look forward to seeimg your progress Ian

Hi Alan
What did you use as eyelets for your gunport lids, is that part of the etch kit or something else, i was thinking of using some very small fish-hook eyes ?
Paul

Hi Hans,
Thanks for your comments, much appreciated.
Regards
Alan

Alan

Some very nice re-work taking place here. Never an easy task on a completed kit but you seem to be doing very well.

Happy modelling

Tony

Hi all,
Back after another long absence, but haven't been completely idle
Finally finished the gun port refurbishment on the starboard side. So that's all the gun ports completed.


So decided to turn my attention to the channels.
As you may recall I had already made the channels and deadeyes some years back. I didn't like the idea of just gluing them to the hull edge on as there would be some tension on them when ratlines are installed. So I made some small locating pins from 0.8mm brass rod, and drilled 0.8mm holes in the rear edge of the channel. Below is the portside main channel, the brass strip at the top of the picture is basically a set square made from a piece of PE sprue so that I could glue them square to the hull sides, as every proper square I have was too large.

I fitted the three main channels, (fore, main and mizzen) to the port side and it was only when I came to fit the smaller channel aft of the mizzen, I realised there wasn't enough room to fit it between the mizzen channel and the aft most gunport where it should be.
PANIC
On further investigation I realised that I would have trouble fitting some of the chain plates on all the channels as the deadeyes clashed with some of the gunport locations.
As already mentioned, I'd made these channels years ago, I must have got the dimensions, layout etc from somewhere, I doubt I would have followed the Del Prado instructions and I definitely wouldn't have guessed it !! Upon checking drawing and plans, It became clear that the main channel was too short, and the fore and mizzen units were too long !
Only one course of action

The above photo is the result of removing the fore channel, some damage to the hull and minor damage to a couple of gun port lids, the others were a similar story, nothing that can't be sorted
I must admit that the brass pin method of fixing was very good, the channels split into pieces as I was rocking and twisting them up and down with pliers trying to loosen their grip on the hull
Well, a lesson learnt, at least it will give me the opportunity to do a "making the channels" section on the build log
Regards
Alan

Thanks Robin,
Well, I was "working" from home today, didn't get much invoicing done
But made a start on the new channels, so here is the work so far.
Started with some pieces of 1.5mm thick hard wood sheet that I've had since starting this build, in fact, its the material I used to make the previous,(now infamous)set of channels, but in those days it was 1/16 inch thick . I've used it for various other projects over the years, but still have a bit left.

Using the various books and drawings I have, I converted the information to 1/100 scale, double checking I had it right this time , then marked out and cut 2 sets of channels from the pieces of hard wood I have. Each pair was then clamped together before final shaping to make sure they were pretty much identical. Below is one set of shaped channels.

Although I have marked these for the port side, at this stage they could be either.
Offering them up into position on the hull, I marked the positions of the gun ports on the channels, ports below marked on the front edge, ports above marked on the rear edge. Then, again using plans etc, set out the deadeyes on the channels, marking the centre of each one and double checking that the chain plate below or the shroud above would not conflict with the gun port openings or anything else.

Once I was happy that all was OK, I grooved out the front edge of the channel to take the deadeye strops.
I started with the starboard side fore channel as most of the books I have show a good detail of that one.

Next I fitted the strops to the walnut deadeyes and glued them in position on the channel. The largest are 5mm, then 3mm and 2mm.
I am using the PE strops from the same manufacturer that produced the gun port hinges etc, and they come with all the chain plates too.

As you can see, the very small ones need some tweaking, as this PE set was made to enhance the Heller Victory kit which I assume doesn't have the smaller deadeyes. But I can sort that out.
Then I adapted and fitted the brass edging piece that I had salvaged from the first set.

In this case, it had to be made shorter by cutting a section out and butting together, the new main channel edging will have to be extended.
Below is a photo of the old and new channels showing the difference in length. Also notice, the old one is narrower, I can only think that I did the originals from a plan view and was fooled by the projecting hammock crane platform above it.


In the detail above you can see a couple of ring hooks in use at the aft end of the channel, so they were fitted next, I also have other drawings that show additional rings on all the channels so I have added them too, even if they don't get used they will look good

Finally, a couple of coats of Admiralty black paint. On the deadeys themselves, I have used ebony wood stain as its a bit thinner and, although I have already positioned the deadeyes, will allow me to rotate them easier.


Now I just have to construct the rest, and I'll be back to where I was last week
Regards
Alan

Excellent job there Alan, most interesting tutorial. Well done. Looks great.

Thanks Alan, Hans and Ian for your comments, much appreciated.
Regards
Alan

Lovely work Alan....

Regards

Alan

Thanks Alan and Steve for your comments.
Much appreciated.
Regards
Alan