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[Fastfaz]

  Hi Mark,
      I am extremely impressed with your woodworking skills the detail is very impressive, it reminds me of serving my Apprenticeship as a carpenter/Joiner. I served my time (not prison) with a timber engineers who, I believe, where the leaders in manufacturing Trusses and Laminated beams which at the time (mid 60's) allowed a huge single span open space without vertical columns. We had to build all this by hand with only the basic wood machining available at the time, it would have been an awful lot easier with the machinery available today, your patience and determination to get things correct and looking right has to be truly admired! Well done to you, keep up the good work.
         Kind regards,
               Pete. 

[Mark T]

Pete and Greg


Hi both and thanks for your comments     I see Le Rochefort as an on going problem to be solved.  I just take each little piece at a time as although its only a very small ship the overall build can get overwhelming.


How some builders make 3 deck ships of the line with cannon is beyond me as this is complex enough at the moment.


I am not a time served joiner - metal is my thing - but I have learnt how important sharp edged tools are.  I get the nice edges by having surgically sharp chisels which are an absolute pleasure to use.  They take no pressure to use them and they go through wood like a hot knife through butter.


The hold is almost finished and then I can get the main deck built.  I've looked at the plans and I've never seen carpentry like it but it does look very nice.


I'll keep plodding on 

[Mark T]

Hi All


Another update from me - Things have slowed a bit as I'm now back to work after a few weeks off.


So the hold deck is now planked - Only halfway across so that I don't loose too much detail and I've not yet put the nails in as I'm waiting for a delivery of carbon rod.











I've also been looking for some barrels to put into the hold.  I opted for some lovely 1" tall barrels from the Syren model ship company.  They do take some putting together as you have to fit very strake but it's doable.  I also did not use the supplied black hoops and opted to paint them on in copper due to the cargo of gunpowder.














Cheers Mark

[Capt Podge]

Fantastic work Mark (still keeping up to your demanding standards) and even those barrels can't have been easy, getting them all looking identical must be a challenge in itself!


Aye,
Ray.

[Mark T]

Hi Ray - Thanks mate and you know what it's been so nice just making a kit in the form of barrels.  It's been so long since I did a kit I forgot just how fun they can be.


Luckily making them all look the same will be easy as they are very well made - I had to import them from the USA and the postage cost more than the flipping barrels!!!


Here's a couple of pictures of one in the hold to give some perspective - they are tiny!

[B.B]

Absolutely stunning Mark 

[Mark T]

Absolutely stunning Mark 

Thanks Brian and it's all your fault - I saw your carpentry and thought yea I want to try some of that.  What a great journey it it is too 

[radiojoe]

Hi Mark,    skill plus patience  == Masterpiece   well I don't know what else you would call it,   


Joe.

[SteamboatPhil]

Like Joe, I have no words..........I cannot wait for the next pics...

[Mark T]

Hi All


Honestly thanks so much for you comments - especially from builders like yourselves that quite frankly I have copied and learnt from.  For some reason I don't get emails anymore letting me know about updates on the forum.


This is not much of an update as I've been very ill with some kind of virus - I don't go sick from work so I've been working through it but wow this really has left me tired.  So I've done as much as I can and I'm glad to say that I'm getting better now :)


So the hold deck is now nailed











I've also finished all of the other barrels  - I have to say though that they are historically incorrect.  I discovered that French powder barrels were always circled with chestnut.  I could have changed them but I really like the copper and quite frankly its my ship!!  So I'm just going to pretend that they were plundered from a captured English ship.








It took me ages to find my build on the forum - and then I saw that it had been pinned at the top.  Thanks Martin I just hope the finished ship meets everyone's expectations. 


Have a great weekend - Mark

[SailorGreg]

 

Greg

[Capt Podge]

Hiya Mark, like you I too have caught some sort of virus and slowly getting over it.
Good to know you're still doing some work on this and it's looking good mate. 


Ray.

[Mark T]

Greg and Ray - Lovely to hear from you both 


Yea Ray  - Honestly mate I don't get ill ever - but this thing tried to stop me in my tracks.  It took 3 days of work off of me but since then I've just tried to crack on.  I've managed it but it's just left me weak which is a feeling that I do not like.  It won't beat me but I've just not got time for anything else but sleep 

[SteamboatPhil]

Mark, your building is so impressive, but like (probably most of have had   these days)  Your health is more important, but slowly keep up the really  impressive work, I am learning a lot......
As my late father said....
If you are happy with the  work.....your work is good     ....but always learn
I am learning a lot from your posts


Steam boats  now are still a leaning curve after 50 years,,,,,,,
\


Wood is main medium, but then I  am more of a wood butcher ........




But brush painting........I am a wow 

[Mark T]

Hi Phil - cheers mate I'm feeling much better now thank goodness.


I need to start work now on the main deck - Although I've made 6 beams already to assist in building some of the interior I think there are about 22 in total.


So I'll start a small production line as they all are slightly different as are the dovetails that join them to the deck clamp.  They also have a double dovetail on the top surface to accommodate the water way and spirketting.  Another conundrum to solve but I'll keep you all updated


Cheers Mark

[Jerry C]

I’m not getting notifications either. Whole house has had Covid bar me.
Spirketting, don’t know what it means but it’s now my favourite word.
Back in UK 1st May.


Jerry C.

[Phil22]

As good as it gets Mark! Echoing all of the positive sentiments made so far. This is absolutely outstanding work and a joy to read through and follow.

[Mark T]

Hi Guys


Sorry for the lack of replies or work..........our mom passed away..............and well you can imagine.


Anyway I've chucked myself back into the ship as it's my passion.  So onwards with the main beams and boy do these take a lot of wood to make.  I cut them out and sanded them all to the desired curve.





Now each beam has to have 3 dovetails cut into it.  The first is to locate it into the deck clamp, the second to locate the waterway and the third to locate the spirketting (Jerry this was a new one on me too mate :) )


So I decided to do these by hand     Firstly I placed the templates on and then marked the depth of the joint





Using a nice new Stanley blade I then cut out the joint











Then cleaned it all up with a small chisel





And the final joint looks like this





I've finished all of the stern beams which are nicely lined up











I still need to cut the rebates for the hatches and carlings but that will wait until I've finished all of the forward beams.  And thats my next job 


Cheers Mark

[dougal99]

Sorry to hear about your mom.
Your work is remarkable. Green with envy, but then I don't have your patience.
All the best.

[SteamboatPhil]

Condolences Mark


Your work I think is an inspiration to us all


Keep going, you can do it (on both counts)


I know I have been there

[radiojoe]

My condolences also Mark,  Still following along,  as a time served carpenter and joiner (retired) I can appreciate your skill with wood.
Joe.

[Mark T]

Hi Lads


And thank you to you all I really appreciate your kind words.


So the build continues and I have now made the forward main beams.  Just like before they have been cut to size and carved








Then I cut the dovetails into the deck clamp ensuring that they all sat at the correct height





Ans just like the stern - at the stem the beams had to line up with the breast hook which was made and fitted over a year ago 





A couple more pictures including the most simple thing ever - two pins - a length of red thread - dead centre for the length of the hull.  If only everything was that easy eh!!











The next jobs are to mark out and cut the notches in all of the beams for the hatches and carlings


Thanks for the nice comments


Mark 

[Footski]

Wow,
Just picked up on this thread. Your skill is simply outstanding. Beautiful work.

[Mark T]

Wow,
Just picked up on this thread. Your skill is simply outstanding. Beautiful work.

Hi Footski - cheers mate she's coming along nicely now and actually starting to look like what most people think a ship should look like.  I reckon I've 2 - 3 years left on this one to get her finished just right 

[Footski]

Mark,
I will be following this thread with keen interest from now on….