my apologies if anyone was expecting a Saga batrep in today's post (as I was!) but I've been let down by the Nerd Herd who have not submitted their posts this week. So instead I thought I would give you another update on my ship building efforts to date...
So following on from last time, I wanted to build a sort of fo'castle. Having scanned numerous pictures of Chinese Junks and other ships of the Far East. I made the decision not to have another boxy walled section and instead made it flat - like a fighting platform, not only that I wanted to add a fore mast as well. With that in mind I wanted a sturdy frame and chose some 3mm balsa from my bits box and made a square
then out came the coffee stirrers (yes Mrs Gobbo does drink that much coffee!!) and the platform was completed. Using a drill I made a hole for the mast and then added some 5mm balsa supports to hold the platform in place. I drilled a corresponding hole into the deck below where the platform would be.
I also drilled a whole in the main deck after strengthening it with an MDF 25mm base. I did the same to the aft'castle. Keen followers (or not) of the blog will note that I cut off the ladders that poked out of the side of the aft castle and replaced them with a single ladder that faced forward - much better, thanks Joe (Zabadaks Zombie World) and Bryan (Vampifan's World of the Undead) for your comments.
So I've progressed the hull a little more as you can see, not by a lot but I've been pushed for time having just completed a run of 7 x 12 hour shifts in 7 days ending in 2 night shifts so not a lot of time for hobbying! However I also managed to start with the sails and masts. Following on from comments from Jez of Carrion Crow fame regarding planters and wallpaper, I remembered that I had some spare dowels in the loft that I had used in a previous games table that would make fabulous main masts and other thinner ones from other projects so didn't take him up on that one, but I did use wallpaper samples for the sails - cheers Jez! Below is what I've come up with the fore sail. I'll have 3 masts in total and the mid mast will be bigger.
That's it for now, hopefully the Herd will be shamed into finally submitting their reports (doubtful....) and I will pick up the Saga batreps next week.
hope you enjoy
dGG
Looking good, Andy. Glad my suggestion was of help. One of my friends used to work in a coffee shop, so presented me with a full box of approximately 1000 coffee stirrers, so I could probably build an entire frontier town with them! I probably won't, but maybe some wooden fencing (like in Top Cat) would be more useful to me.
ReplyDeleteI have a cadre of collectors who bring them back from coffee shops (I don't drink the stuff!) and they are my favourite building material - as if that isn't obvious.....
DeleteI've already got several things in mind that I want to use them for ;-)
It really is coming along wonderfully Andy, inspiring stuff Sir.
ReplyDeleteThank you sir :-)
DeleteGreat build soo far ☺
ReplyDeleteIt's coming on nicely buddy :-)
DeleteThe master of scratch building strikes again. Great work, Andy. I really am very impressed with all you do.
ReplyDeleteThank you Bryan I appreciate your kind words
DeleteLooking good, really impressed with the sail
ReplyDeleteYes one down two more to go, then onto the painting and detailing.
DeleteThat Sail looks superb! Its coming along nicely indeed
ReplyDeleteThanks dude, it's coming along for sure ;-)
DeleteTerrific stuff Andy. This is definitely turning out to be a masterclass in scratch building :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks mate, I'm happy with the way it's coming along after my initial doubts
DeleteWe want this boat (to add to our own collection) for our games so MUCH.
ReplyDeleteAt least let me finish it Hils :-)) x
Delete.... I want it more than she does ^^
DeleteThanks guys, I appreciate the compliment I think is hidden away in your lacernous thoughts....lol ;-P
Deletelol
DeleteDamn good progress!
ReplyDeleteNot too bad Fran, hoping to finish the sails this weekend
DeleteI am loving the progress . Kindly keep us all posted of the next few steps when you have hem complete.
ReplyDeleteThanks Clint, will do
DeleteI am really enjoying watching this come together. Forgive me for not having written earlier: I`ve been able to open pages but not able to post anything easily for some reason. I think it is this new super duper AVG anti virus we paid for (and covers all the computers here), its so savage, if you don't allow something through, it tends to say "nope, don't like that. its unsafe - quick ATTACK ATTACK"
ReplyDeleteHowever, I think its fixed itself now as I gave it a good talking to.
Wonderful post Andy: and yet again, I think that's another thing you can add to the list of your stuff I want to keep for myself.
Thanks T, it's coming together nicely, I'm at a painting stage now, so shouldn't be too long.
DeleteLooks terrific. Functional too.
ReplyDeleteThanks Finch :-)
DeleteYou've made great progress on this and I think it was a wise decision to relocate the stairs.
ReplyDeleteFor a couple of my masts I sank a tube (only just larger than my masts) into the deck for greater stability as I found the polystyrene to be unstable over time and with the use/abuse the msts got- mostly by my own incompetent handling!
You're right Joe thanks for the advice last time it looks much better now. I'lol see if I can find a tube. The masts are done now and they are quite heavy so it's a good idea.
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