La Sirene/ Duc'd Orleans (Heller). Conversion/scratchbuild

A lot has changed since original post. Hull got properly sanded AND shaped, with stern lowered. Gaps filled with white polystyrene (0.5 mm sheets), then putty and sanded.

Upper deck gun ports will be closed, so I have glued in squares of plastic to be able to put gunport covers later on.

Now- of course that mini- lower deck in bow section should be on same level as entire deck along the ship, but since "interior" will not be visible, I was not correcting those mistakes. Today I've prepared drawings of deck for laser cutting/ engraving. Proper grettings, as well as correct (more or less) plank layout.

Looking good!

Sorry to have missed your earlier post. That is some great work, and I'm looking forward to seeing your progress!

Here is my wunderwaffe- I am going to use 3d printing to create stern gallery and new stern decoration. Preview of modeling stern:

Wow thats cool!

David K- I noticed on the side elevation posted here the solution to the gun port lift question you had.

Great post.

I am glad it is of use to you gents.

Hope difference will be visible. Original...

and scaled/cut-out of styrene new ones being glued in

Oh My Goodness ! !

I want soma dem !

Working on battens (please, be so kind to correct me, switching from polish nautical terms to english tends to be troublesome)

Keeping proper line is not an easy task BUT I do feel they are already much better then "original" ones

Progress on starboard (again- joints to be sanded etc etc- as usual)

This is one of the most interesting threads to appear in the Ships Forum. I'll be fascinated to follow its progress. I'm particularly intrigued to see how the 3-D printing works out.

JTilley- since it was  your writing about La Sirene that pushed me to start work on this model, I got a little teaser for you. Black- original, kit parts. White- 3d printed, historically correct (although a 50 y. later) model of comparable cannon. I hope you like it.

I, too, am very impressed.  I have read that "layering" can be a real problem with 3-D printing, but I see no evidence of it in your cannon. It looks beautiful.

I agree that this is one of the most interesting threads I have seen in a long time!

Bill Morrison

You are very kind gents, thank you all.

Starboard with major parts in place (no decorative elements yet), ready for final sanding. I am quite happy with result- ship finally seems to be getting right proportions. Sure, she will sit in water rather deep but those things were not uncommon.

I am working on other side so I will not bore you with repeating same steps. In the meantime I've started preparing 3d reconstruction of gallery and boy... is it all twisted. I think 3d model will give you some idea of how many weird curves are there (and it is but a begining). Oh- and I do realize railings were not (and will not) be just straight lines (when seen from top). Those are just temporary helpers.

https://skfb.ly/E8UF

I do realize it goes rather slowly, but re-construction of stern, even with decent materials, is not an easy task. Here is where I am at the moment:

And- as a comparison- XIX c. re- edition of much earlier drawing showing a stern of the same period (and type)

...and just to show that I am not only working in 3d- new and old deck, side to side, plus new, laser-cut and scale- correct gretting.

Panie Kurczewski,

nice use of the current technology here! Do you own any of the machines you use? What kind of 3d printer are we talking about here? It would also be interesting to know if you do PE, too - you could help me out here... Good luck with your build and have a nice day

Paweł

Panie Pawle

Thank you very much for kind words. No, I do not own those machines (I was considering buying a MakerBot, but it can be used for hulls of ships- detail level on those is really too low)- I just prepare 3d models/ drawings and send them out to companies offering those kinds of services. If you do need any help with your projects- please, let me know, I will do what I can.

Lower deck got "wood-ized" (it will be hardly visible- only through grettings), entire thing FINALLY in first undercoat (Army Painter Uniform Grey). Everything got kinda "unified"- some errors got hidden, others jumped out to my attention. Time for final sanding.

Thick cardboard deck got 0.5 mm polystyrene sheet strips at bottom to strenghten entire structure, then coat of primer on both sides (otherwise it would bend, one way or the other). Glued in place with an universal glue (not sure what would be english name- synthetic one, one that shoemakers are using), then joint strenghtened with cyanoacrylic glue (it gets "into" cardboard, making it more stiff). Nothing very impressive but- hey, at least a step forward.

Deck painted with base colors and some dry- brushing. More- after it is furnished.

Panie,

Do you have a list of such companies?  I would love to know!

Thanks!

Bill

Dear Bill

What companies are you looking for ? 3d printing ? Engraving ? Photo-etching ?

Panie,

I would appreciate a listing for all three.  I am sure that others would as well.

Thanks!

Bill

Dear Bill

For 3d printing I am using Shapeways ( https://www.shapeways.com/ )- in my experience their quality is unmatched (they also got pretty good customer service). The only "problem" is that one has to be familiar with limitations/advantages of materials they offer to pick right one for a job.

Laser cutting/engraving and etching- that's just one company I am using, namely http://www.smwarehouse.co.uk/ . Now- do not take my word for granted, as I am working quite closely with those guys (we are basically college friends) BUT having access to all companies around the world I pick up those guys for a good reason and I hope my model will show that.