Sailing home for Christmas

[Mjwomack]

KUTA is the most important GB in the calendar for me, and this year I was always intending to make FULL use of it...

I started the Revell Mayflower in the Revell Classics GB with an eye on finishing it in KUTA as it's Christmas present for my sister

 

This was the state of play at the end of that GB

 

Now tidied up the paintwork (does a ship have lining) and settled upon doing the rigging before the ratlines to improve accessibility (I mean really who follows the instructions).

So, with Christmas roughly a month away this might be a KUTA I actually finish!

[Adm Lord De Univers]

She's already looking very respectable indeed MJ - can't wait to see some pics with the tided paint! Good luck with the rigging, I shall be following along intently.

 

David

[Mjwomack]

Paint work tidied up before it got the model got too cumbersome and delicate.

First piece of rigging in place and time for some sober reflection aka Reality Bites.

 

Firstly these 'guy ropes' for the masts aren't explicitly in the instructions, but I worked out by comparing different illustrations in the diagrams. As the full rigging instructions are no clearer, they are definitely stages where I have no idea what is going on.

 

Secondly, it's incredibly fiddly; threading through the masts I completed 4 out of 5 bt had to send for my wife's far more dextrous fingers for the last one..

 

This was partly because the thread had frayed too much on my earlier attempts and I'd trimmed it back too much.

 

 

Point is, I can't keep interrupting her art!

 

So the rigging is going to be the simplified version, plus any of the full version that I feel capable off and can understand the instructions for. As usual reverting for my impressionist approach to modelling.

 

Due to the hull shape, this model is very much the nautical version of a tail-sitter; the more so as the masts and sails go on. Some ballast in the base of the hull would've been a good idea. But it's far too late for that. Instead I've packed out the base of the stand with milliput- yes I know it's not to be used as ballast, but it's so pliant and the easiest way to get weight into such a thin area.

 

And finally a question for those who know about ships- where's the ship's wheel/ helm? I notice there isn't one included and I'd have thought it would be on deck for visibility rather than below decks?

 

Idle curiosity because I'm not likely to scratch one.

Edited November 26, 2022 by Mjwomack
Always the typos!

[Ernie]

That is looking nice! I built that same kit as a class project in the 5th grade. My dad did most of the rigging though I have fond memories of that kit.

[ArnoldAmbrose]

22 hours ago, Mjwomack said:

And finally a question for those who know about ships- where's the ship's wheel/ helm? I notice there isn't one included and I'd have thought it would be on deck for visibility rather than below decks?

Gidday, I'm not sure, maybe she didn't have one. Could be she was steered by tiller of whipstaff, considering her era. My model of Drake's (and Grenville's) Revenge doesn't have one either.

       Regards, Jeff.

[Adm Lord De Univers]

On 27/11/2022 at 09:34, ArnoldAmbrose said:

Could be she was steered by tiller of whipstaff, considering her era

The Oracle certainly seems to agree with you here Jeff: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayflower - also has a link to what that looks like. Apparently the American museum has reconstructed blueprints, but you may be able to judge for yourself from the Mayflower II: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayflower_II

 

On 26/11/2022 at 11:15, Mjwomack said:

Idle curiosity because I'm not likely to scratch one

Go on, it sort of looks like a large stick coming up through the deck. Although - admittedly - I would still be saying "go on" even if it were the most ornately elaborate wheel ever dreamt of by man or beast.

 

Looking good and I don't envy you with that rigging.

 

David

[Mjwomack]

On 12/2/2022 at 8:00 PM, Adm Lord De Univers said:

 

Looking good and I don't envy you with that rigging.

Ah yes...The rigging! Certainly not an eyesight test that they offer at Specsavers, though other opticians are available so maybe they do.

Had to move onto to the dining table and use every light in the room to see the mass of black threads:

 

Christmas cards and table runner an unnecessary reminder that this has to be completed within 3 weeks  Still, without the 11th hour nothing would ever get done.

A week at it, andI think it's a passable attempt and conveys the complexity of the rigging- no place for a landlubber, for sure.

 

 

 

That's instruction stage 91 behind me. Let the eyes recover but next up are the sails, I think they'll be much simplified. Anyone with a passing knowledge or the Mayflower, or sailing ships in general, will notice a few of the arms are missing. This might be left as storm damage at the end of the crossing. No actually, they got knocked off but it's an ill wind and all that, so I'm figuring it might be easier to attach the sails to them first before reattaching to the masts... We'll find out soon enough!

 

[PeterB]

If you are going to rig the yards (arms?) then it might be easier to do that before attaching the sails, but probably six of one, half a dozen of the other! When I built a batch of the large Airfix sailing ships many years ago I did most of the rigging, but then I was not using the sails which I suppose were also pre-formed plastic - can't remember now.

 

Pete

Edited December 7, 2022 by PeterB

[Mjwomack]

13 hours ago, PeterB said:

If you are going to rig the yards (arms?) then it might be easier to do that before attaching the sails, but probably six of one, half a dozen of the other! When I built a batch of the large Airfix sailing ships many years ago I did most of the rigging, but then I was not using the sails which I suppose were also pre-formed plastic - can't remember now.

 

Pete

I think it will be half and half because roughly that ration of the arms are not currently attached!

Pilot holes drilled for some sail sewing tonight

 

The instructions offer the option of gluing them, but I just can't see that looking remotely acceptable

Not sure what I painted the sails with other than a Railmatch rattle-can but I'm pleased with how they've come up and they're thinner and nicer than I remember the airfoil ones being- arguably the best bit of the kit!!!

 

[Snafu35]

Hello,

 

It's going well, keep up the pace!
Unless you take ice cream breaks between two roping sessions...  

 

What are the sails made of?

Blown plastic?

 

Regards,

Eric-Snafu35

[Mjwomack]

47 minutes ago, Snafu35 said:

What are the sails made of?

They're white vac form, very thin which is excellent. Easy to work with scissors

They were a very bright white, but somehow I've managed to tone them down to a passable linen

And yes, plenty of breaks, my teeth can't cope with ice cream but they're fine with wine . And as I'm cross eyed from the rigging the side effects are of no consequence

[PeterB]

Sails look good to me - if it was a Railmatch spray then presumable either GWR or BR stock cream.

 

Pete

[Adm Lord De Univers]

6 hours ago, Mjwomack said:

my teeth can't cope with ice cream but they're fine with wine

Drink enough wine, ice cream will be fine. Probably a rough order of consumption mind.

 

Sails do look really good, I remember trying to stain my first sailed kit (victory, many a moon ago) with used teabags. Didn't work but got tea out of it, so can't complain. Sorry, flashback looking at these and wondering how you got them to look so good.

 

David

[Mjwomack]

3 minutes ago, Adm Lord De Univers said:

wondering how you got them to look so good.

So am I! Sorry to be so vague and unhelpful. I think it was a grey primer to start with and then as @PeterB suggests a BR stock cream lightly over the top.

[Mjwomack]

She's had a fair wind these past couple of days and now the sails are fixed on

Six sails sown on a sailing ship securely (other tongue twisters are available)

 

 

Ratlines going on next, and then some actually rigging on the sails to 'busy it up' and she's well on course.

Even started recruiting Captain Pugwash and the Motley Crue, as well as a solitary pilgrim father

 

 

[ArnoldAmbrose]

1 hour ago, Mjwomack said:

Six sails sown on a sailing ship securely (other tongue twisters are available)

Actually, I think that's quite clever. And does the poor old Pilgrim Father have a Pilgrim Mother for company? Hardly a promising way to start a dynasty if not. 

Good luck with the rigging.       Regards, Jeff.

[Mjwomack]

6 hours ago, ArnoldAmbrose said:

And does the poor old Pilgrim Father have a Pilgrim Mother for company?

He does not, or maybe she's tucked away below deck away from the lustful eyes of the Motley Crue. I hadn't thought of the dynastic problems that would cause, so much as the union endorsed staffing ratio of 5 crew to 1 passenger

 

In other news, sorry to hear about the bad stuff in Australia recently. 

[RC Boater Bill]

MJ,

I love this build- been following along since you started it!    You’ve stirred up some fond memories- as a youngster I built a lot of those old Revell sailing ships, Mayflower included!   

 

For your sister’s sake, I hope you finish it under this GB banner!
 

-Bill
 

[Mjwomack]

10 hours ago, RC Boater Bill said:

You’ve stirred up some fond memories- as a youngster I built a lot of those old Revell sailing ships, Mayflower included!   

 

For your sister’s sake, I hope you finish it under this GB banner!

My sister's sake?! It's me you should worry about. Actually, unusually uniquely for me, I'm on schedule with this one. Though the Vickers Viking catch-up is on hold, but that's partly it's own fault! Ratlines on before the weekend is out and set fair for the rising tide to Gallery Freeport methinks.

 

So, if you built this as a youngster, I've only another half a lifetime to go before I have a chance of being anywhere near as good as you.

I've been wondering about the whole business of writing instructions and how hard it actually is. When you built this, can you remember how the rigging was detailed? Was it lots of pictures or plain text (which would have been a nightmare) I'm certain though they could be clearer than in the current booklet.

[RC Boater Bill]

MJ,

 

I just took a look at the instructions online-   is this what you are working from?

https://downloads.revell.de/Manuals-Modelkits/05486.pdf

 

If so, it looks like there are two colors of thread- one black (A) and one tan (B).   Black is for the standing rigging, which holds the masts in place, and is coated with tar to weatherproof it.   The tan is for the running rigging, which work the sails.

 

There are many (large) books on the topic of rigging ship models, many obsessed with the minutiae of how things were done by different countries in different eras.   We won’t go there!

 

Looking at the instructions, I would suggest:

-leave the ratlines off for as long as you can- it will be easier to run the lines to the deck with them out of the way.

-  the best way to do rigging is start “low and inside”,and work your way up and out.  This includes adding sails.

- Vac formed sails are fragile- drill holes instead of punching them whenever possible.

 

My approach  is to add enough rigging to create the effect-   it doesn’t have to be historically accurate.

 

Hope this helps…..

 

-Bill

Edited December 15, 2022 by RC Boater Bill
fixed typos, added neew wunz….

[Mjwomack]

2 hours ago, RC Boater Bill said:

MJ,

 

I just took a look at the instructions online-   is this what you are working from?

https://downloads.revell.de/Manuals-Modelkits/05486.pdf

 

If so, it looks like there are two colors of thread- one black (A) and one tan (B).   Black is more the standing rigging, which holds the masts in place, and is coated with tar to weatherproof it.   The tan is for the running rigging, which work the sails.

 

There are many (large) books on the topic of rigging ship models, many obsessed with the minutiae of how things were done by different countries in different eras.   We won’t go there!

 

Looking at the instructions, I would suggest:

-leave the ratlines off for as long as you can- it will be easier to run the lines to the deck with them out of the way.

-  the best way to do rigging is start “low and inside”,and work your way up and out.  This includes adding sails.

- Vac formed sails are fragile- drill holes instead of punching them whenever possible.

 

My approach  is to add enough rigging to create the effect-   it doesn’t have to be historically accurate.

 

Hope this helps…..

 

-Bill

Yep, that be they!

Glad to say I'm going about it the right way, though it would be rather late to 'changer tack' now.

Certainly going to effect over historical accuracy. My sister will settle for a good impression that doesn't look like a toy. Just have to hope nobody buys her one of these books you mention- though I think that's very unlikely.

Thanks for the help and encouragement

[Mjwomack]

Well, that was a lot harder than I expected. Ratlines attached. A couple of times my fingers were also attached and there is so much superglue on my fingertips that the phone unlock doesn't work at the moment

 

 

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

Good to see you getting this one done, a braver man than I! It is looking great 

[Mjwomack]

As journey's end drew ever closer, it hadn't passed unremarked among the brethren that Brother Cuthbert* spent more and more time looking wistfuly back at where they'd come from

 

 

For his part, the captain was worried about having a stowaway and awkward paperwork upon his return to England and told the crew to take it turns to set a watch on him (some weren't as subtle about it as they might have been).

 

* I do hope there wasn't a real Brother Cuthbert, apologies if there was.

[Mjwomack]

Safely docked in the gallery now. Thanks to everyone for all the support, encouragement and advice.

I'll need it as I really focus on the Vickers Viking before the Salty Seadog GB distract me