Model Shipways "Sultana" Group Build 2006

Fippy,

your Sultana is very fine work indeed. I know that you are very proud of your accomplishments, just like I was when I finished mine.  Have you checked out Chucks scratch build of the SYREN on Model Ship World?  Maybe you should try scratch build with us next. You know that basically that is what the Sultana was, was a scratch build with instructions and wood already. There were not very many pieces that was done for us on that Sultana.

Well, Fippy, I hope that this is not the end, but the continuation of another project. It looks like just a few of us finished - thanks for hanging in there with me. It meant alot to have someone for the duration.

You are welcome to touch base anytime you wish - just come on over to the model ship world. 

 

Donnie

zerodb@bellsouth.net 

My Sultana is complete! I am thrilled to think I pulled off the 15 month build without losing patience. Despite some flaws I am proud of her. A good start to a new hobby I think.

Here are a couple of last photos of her. I may post some better closeups later on my build log on Model Ship World. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the folks in this forum, especially Donnie and Chuck who kept my interest level high with their own expertise and enthusiasm. I'll try and tune in here from time to time to see if there is further activity. Good luck folks with your own Sultanas. :)

I am sure that the Lady Nelson will be a fine build. I will get some photos of the case.

Donnie 

As an MSW member I have indeed seen that group build. It looks interesting, as does the Triton one.

However, I have already ordered my "Lady Nelson" from Victory Models/Amati and looking forward to doing that. I hope to be starting it in a couple of weeks, though it might take longer to get here from the UK. (I saw that modelexpo was selling it but weren't expecting shipments until mid August anyway.

Did you put your Sultana in a display case? If so, can we see a photo or two?

Well, other than viewing your work, I am working on a Midwest Boothbay Lobster Boat 30" Radio Controled. I think I have about a month to do on it. It is a rather quick build. After that, I have no idea what to do. I have been following Chuck Passaro's Syren scratch build on the model ship world website   http://modelshipworld.com/phpBB2/index.php

It is a group build project in which Chuck is providing step by step instructions. It is very interesting - he has alot of talent and obvisouly alot of time and dedication.

In order to follow along, I am sure that you must join. Just go to the main forum page and about half way down on the list is USS Syren 18 gun brig
Welcome to the online practicum for Chuck Passaro's Syren project. We are OPEN to new members.

This is something perhaps you can look into - if you join, let me know.

Donnie 

Donnie,
I saw your pictures in the latest issue of MSW magazine. Great job! Now everyone can appreciate your decent work.

I'm finishing over the last of my yards now. I never realised so much rigging went into them. Then its just some more backstays, vangs, bowsprit rigging and I'm done. I think I found a great prebuilt perspex case for a decent price so I need to order that.

I'm getting excited about moving on to the next model.
What are you up to Donnie?

Fippy,

I think your ship is going fine!  Building a wooden ship has some serious challenges. I personally would not become discouraged.

I like your booms main fore and aft. They look fine. The shroud cleats are "hard" to do in my opinion. I like your windlass and the way you did this.

You mentioned that your deadeyes are not tight - well, those are hard to get done as well.

Overall - this ship should really help you on the next one - this ship will help me on the next one as well. I am not an expert either.

Donnie

Well I am finally progressing with the rigging after fits and starts, sometimes going a whole week without spending time with the Sultana. Here's some more photos:


The is a closeup of the foredeck showing some of the rigging ans the anchor cables which I am rather proud of. The deadeye rigging is a little messy, and I chose not to lash cleats to the shrouds when I simply failed to do so a dozen times in a row. Maybe next time. :)


A closeup of the mounting of the mainboom to the mast. Wiring those beads was a challenge - I managed to spill them twice.


A general view of the rigging with all booms. The topsail yards look wrong because as yet they are not fastened with braces or lifts, so they are just flapping about. The booms might be at too severe an angle - I'm not sure. You can also see that I never went back to fix the topmasts that lean forward. As I think I mentioned earlier, I'm of a mind to leave some of the errors on this, my first build, so that I can look back in half a dozen ships time and see how far I have come.


Finally, a closeup of the foremast, showing the rigging of the boom. Sorry about the harsh shadows.

So... I hope to finish the braces and lifts on both topmasts tonight, and then I have the main yards and some ancilliary rigging to go and I am done! Yay!

Fippy,

it looks like your model is going to turn out very nice indeed !  I think you should be proud of work you have done.

 

Donnie 

I'm into the home straight now! The main boom is done, as are the anchors. I have the main and fore gaff completed but not attached yet, and then it is down to the yards and final rigging! I'm getting very excited about finishing.

Very nice job, Donnie! That came out very well indeed. What made you decide to put the window shutters on the stern windows? I'm not sure it needed those, but otherwise I love your model!

Perhaps you can post some photos of your glass case and instructions of how you made it, if you have time?

Here's a couple of my latest photos of my shrouds and bowsprit rigging.

Finally Done !!!

Man, this has been a journey. But, she is done - 11 months and about 3 weeks.

Here are the completed photos. I am still around checking on everyone elses progress. I am not going away in case someone needs some help.

Donnie

 

Hello Seamac,
It's great to hear that you are still around even if you aren't getting much building done. I proceed in fits and starts. Sometimes I work on it every night of the week, and sometimes whole weeks go by without me finding time. No hurry, I say. I'd love to see some photos of how far you have gotten, once you get back to it.

Donnie, I'm jealous that you are done. The rigging is driving me nuts :) I'll post a photo or two tonight of how far I am along. I'm really looking forward to seeing your finished photos and the case as well. Your alst set of photos showed some very nice rigging work. Well done.

Hi Cmac,

glad that you posted. It is good to hear from you. I am just now finishing up the Sultana. I am now trying to mount this on a board so that this whole assembly will go inside a glass case.

I am going to post pics of the final project. I am still going to visit this Group Build becuase Fippy and you are still trying to build and I want to stay posted in case someone has a question.

Thank you very much for your compliments. This Sultana to me was more for intermediate builders. I don't know, I am still wondering - it took me 11 months and 2 weeks to complete.

Donnie

Please check back in the next few days to see my final pics. I hope to have them up soon. 

 

Hello Donnie and Flippy,

You guys are doing a great job!  I've downloaded and saved your pictures and followed your progress through this project from day one and can only say I'm humbled and impressed by your skills.  I feel guilty that I haven't participated as much as you 2 but I did manage to get some things done: work on the hull - started planking (don't really know why but I'm going to eintirely plank it); built a new work area including desk; spent some time cleaning castings and painting.  But now it is again all packed away.  As you know I've been very involved with work over the past year, now I'm in the process of moving to a new house!  Everytime I get started on working the Sultana some BIG thing comes along - so far all of it for the better!  Hmmmm... maybe I'll never finish.  For now all I can do is monitor the site.

But it has been alot of fun watching your progress - both your models are looking super.  I'm not signing off, but will be out of touch for the next couple of months.  Thanks for the inspiration and pleasure of your company.

Till calm seas return.

Cmac

Yes,  I built my own case last year some time. I have a table saw that I used. I need to post images of that as well. I don't really know how to describe it but to give pics of it. My wife works at a Hobby Lobby, so I was able to get the glass from her. I used the table saw to carefully cut out the grooves for the glass to slip into.

Donnie

Looks like I'm going to run out on my first reorder too. Making the ratlines uses a surprising amount of thread. This weekend I'm off to a local hobby shop to see if I can get a local source of these, rather than ordering online all the time.

I'm 90% done on my ratlines, and about to start on the booms.
Donnie, did I remember you saying you were going to construct your own display case. There's a great tutorial on MSW. I wanted to buy one but cases are so expensive.

This might sound crazy, but I have already ordered my second round with the smaller blocks and three rounds of the smaller rigging manila and black .008 size.

Donnie

 

Nice boat! I made mine but decided not to use it, a) because I thought it looked terrible and b) I wanted a clear deck.

I've almost finished doing the shrouds - well not the full ratlines, just the lines running from trestle tees to the deadeyes. Some are ok, some are not so good, but at least I;m making progress. I took your advice and ordered more of every rigging for the sake of $10. It's definitely going to be a close call - they were't overly generous.

Got my Ships Boat done. That carriage is made from scratch and I am not taking credit for any historical accuracy, I am just shooting for what works.

 

 

Donnie 

Thanks Fippy for the compliments !  I made my own case. I have a table saw and I made mine last year to hold another model that I made, but did not use the case. I will use that case on the Sultana. The case was made with 3/8" square rods of pine. I cut the groove for the glass using the table saws depth gauge. I will send pics of that too.

I think that I might try the Phantom next since it seems even simpler than the Sultana. I still can't believe that Model Shipways is considering the Sultana as a beginner model. BTW, I wrote Model Shipways a long letter stating some disappointments. Mostly, the lack of enough rigging line. I had to order 3 more of the large and small rigging line. You might as well order it cause you gonna need it. I also had to order some more dowels for the yards. It seems that they underestimate the amount of materials needed. At any rate, good luck. I think your ship has some very clean lines to it. It really looks like a professional job !!!

I have a Mid West Lobster R/C boat that I am wanting to build next. I bought it about a year ago and the Sultana took the front seat as far as finishing it. I have trouble working on more than one model at one time. Ihave to focus on one project at a time.

I also got the USS Constitution 1/96 scale for Christmas 06 that I am going to have to settle into at some point. 

I am looking forward to the Mid West Lobster boat. It is almost 30" long and remote control and best of all NO Rigging

If you have to order more parts for the Sultana, you should have a parts list that all the parts start with the letter designation of WP-  Like one of the rigging line is WP1218. Go to the Model Expo online web site and in the SEARCH type in MS1218. In other words REPLACE all the WP with an MS and this will give you the part number on their web site. I don't know why they did not go ahead and use the PREFIX of MS on their Parts list in the first place.

 

Donnie 

Thanks for all those photos. You have done an exemplary job with those yards and rigging. They look truly excellent, you should be very proud. Your shrouds look a million times better than mine. Since I have only completed 2 of the 16, I'll try making your jig and see how that works out.

You've really moved on and must be so close to being finished. Have you thought whether you are going to buy or build a glass case? I've been looking around for ideas on glass cases.

Do you know what model you are going to do next? I'm probably going to do Victory Model's Lady Nelson. As a one-master it's simpler in some ways but its plank on bulkhead which I have never done before.

regards,

Fippy,

I would not be so hard on yourself. Your Model is "clean" and is fine looking. I am mounting my Yards and I am almost finished. I had thought about making a short video on how I did each area, but it seems that it is alot of trouble and my wife is not around at the time to help make the video.

If you don't mind, I can sit down later (later is now, and I am writing the full write up) and write out some type of procedure that I did to do my shrouds, but I can say that for me it was a challange.

I always try to think of a "jig" that will help do the work better and faster. In the case of the shrouds, I had to come up with a jig to help.

I don't know if I can explain this or not, but lets say that you have all the lower deadeyes installed (from the chainplates thru the channels, and then your deadeye). What I did was that I took a piece of the brass wire and made a twisty looking kind of jig. The jig is about 1 inch in length. It is two pieces of brass wire 1 inch in length that is twisted together. ON each end of the wire the wire spreads out and "bends" so that each wire will go thru the bottom deadeye. The other end of the brass wire is the same. It is bent and the two wires are spread apart so that the wires can go thru the holes of a deadeye that you want to put on there. Now you can take the rigging line and bring it down to the deadeye that is "steadied" by that brass wire, becuase the brass wire is a HOLDING JIG that holds everything in place so taht you can run your rigging line thru the deadeye and sieze it. This guarntees same method of each mounting of the deadeye.Look on page 17 and figure 26 of the manual and you will see what this jig looks like.

I do not have a problem with my glue stopping up. I guess I am lucky. I use this brand of glue: KROXX 301 Net 20g and I got this from Model Expo online (www.modelexpo-online.com)

I bought some of those short applicator tips that has the super tiny hole. You have to make sure that NO air is getting in and around the additional tip on the bottle. I used tape or eletrical tape or scotch tape to secure the tip onto the bottle to make sure NO air gets in at any other place. the Tiny opening stays open all the time for days and never "stops up". I hate to see you have problems otherwise.

I Need to send you pics of what I have so far. Gee, I guess I need to get the camera out and do this now. Ok, so now I have some pics for you. I wish that I had taken some videos of how to do this, but just couldn't get to it. If you send me an email I can help more.

Donnie 

Good luck - anything I can do to help just let me know. 

 

Donnie 

Again, forgive a repost of my post over at MSW, it really says most of what I want to say:

I am definitely finding the upper details much harder than working on the hull, as you might remember from my earlier posts about rigging blocks and deadeyes. The fine detail is very difficult for me, although practice does help.

Making the bowsprit was a lot of fun and the rigging on that was straightforward. As you can see though, I did make the mistake of attacking the jackstaff perpendicular to the bowsprit rather than vertical. Lesson learned.

I had a hell of a job building the chain plates. I just couldn't fold those little pieces of wire without a) making a mess of the wire, b) breaking the little hoops they go through, or c) a couple of times I separated the entire channels from the hull. Grrr... I finally got them on but if you look closely at them from the bow or stern they look a mess. From amidships they don't look too bad. My reasoning on this, my maiden build, is to do the best job I can on the basis that the overall effect will be good and most people won't notice the details. I can improve on my next model, I hope.

Right now I am trying to rig the shrouds and having another hell of a job a) threading the lanyards through the deadeye holes, and b) ensuring the upper deadeyes are level.

I realise that a large part of my problems are that I can't apply CA glue accurately enough. I don't know how everyone else does this since my fine-tip applicators always seem to glue shut or get hopelessly clogged, whether I use a pin to keep the tip open or not. The glue-pens are no good since they seem to require too much pressure to activate and that isn't possible on floating rigging. I keep glueing the holes shut on my deadeyes and blocks. I am obviously lacking tricks of the trade

From the photos you can see another mistake I made (or probably many) - I used tiny elastic bands on the masts. Chuck suggested tiny hoops of manila folder but mine kept fraying or wouldn't stick. The bands looked good at first but now I realise that they are far too transparent.

Donnie, you are whizzing away. Stuck as I am on the first couple of shrouds I realise just quickly you zoomed through all of that. You must be almost done by now?!

 

however, let me say that I am not really happy with the Black Main Boom. I do like what others have done. But, I guess I charted my own course with this one and looked at a real vessel to see what was going on.

 

Donnie

I am working on the Gaffs now which gets me deeper into the rigging. Again, this is supposed to be a ship for us beginners or novices.... yep !!!!

That's very cool. It's surprising just how small the Sultana really is, but encouraging that our models look just like the real thing. The kit is definitely a faithful reproduction.

Your boom looks great, I was just surprised to see it black. I'm almost done with my masts now, I should be stepping them in a few days. I'll post some photos of my completed bowsprit and masts soon.

Fippy,

this is the web site that I used for most of my documentation:

http://ship25bsa.org/images/03081923_HMS_SULTANA/HMS_SULTANA.html

 

I hope this helps. I applogize if I have not shown you this before.

Donnie 

 

Very nice. Your rigging looks very neat too. Interesting that you chose to paint the boom black. Chuck had his bowsprit black too but I decided to leave it unpainted and stained it maple instead. What made you choose black?

Fippy - nice work as usual. It looks like you are really coming along. It feels like forever that I am going to finish mine.

Here are some pics of my Main Boom. 

 

 

Donnie