Zvezda Black Swan 1/72

Tied the gundoor rigging onto a handful of the doors tonight....turns out, it's not that tough!  Gotta get my fingers used to tying tiny knots again....anyway, I'll stretch it out into a couple of sessions, and should have them all done by week's end.  Then, I'll attach them, thread the *thread* through the new hull holes, and then I'll oil wash them afterwards...here's a a pic of one:

TA-DA!!!!  :)

Alright....got the gundoors on and rigged!  It wasn't super-tough...I tilted the hull on its side, and used Tamiya Extra Thin Cement...I love that stuff!  It doesn't make a mess, and flows well into crevices, and dries pretty quick!  It's not very strong, but it works great for little parts!  Applied some cement, Tweezers to get the doors in place, then I used a toothpick to poke the edges and make sure they were seated against the mating points...ten seconds, and they were dry enough to hold themselves in place.  after they dried for an hour, I tested the stiffness, and added a little extra cement to any loose joints.  Then a little touch-up paint, and an oil wash (wish I would have washed them before installing/rigging, because it took a bit of extra care to not get sloppy, plus the rigging thread likes to absorb the wash...)  Then it was a matter of guiding the extra line ends into the newly-drilled holes (SO glad I removed the I 22 pegs...those parts are impractical, in my opinion!)

I think they look okay...now to look ahead to make sure the launch is okay to place on the deck...don't want to put it there until I know I won't need to access that deck area later for any rigging, etc....and then I'll be starting in on the MASTS! That's when the real fun begins!  And soon I'll have to get my mind around the choices for shrouds/ratlines/deadeyes...still can't decide if I'm ready to tie my own!

Anyway, here's a few pics of the gundoors:

Niiiiiiice!

Very nice.  I'm assuming your adding the hinge with the pieces of wire?  That's something I wish I had done on mine.   As for the rope on the doors, it looks good.  Something you might try, though it looks fantastic as it is.  If you take the rope on a cannon door, pull the rope taught and coat it with a thin CA (make sure to use it sparingly so it soaks in completely), and let it harden.  When you release the tension it will stay stiff.  Then fold the end and insert it back into the hole.  It will look like the line is being held taught by the weight of the door.  It's just a little tricky making it so you can't see the CA, but with a little practice it actually makes for a nice point of detail.

I can't get over how good the hull looks.  Your color choices are excellent, especially blended with the oil wash.  You could even do the oil wash on the gold carvings to make all the detail pop.

I've always been a fan of eye catching displays and your Black Swan is going to be really eye catching.

Phil

Thanks for the kind words, Phil!

In fact, I didn't use any wire or anything to strengthen the hinges...so I'm sure if I bump anything, I could be in for trouble!  But it's cool...they should be fine, and I can always re-attach them if I need to.  And yeah, I thought of stiffening the gundoor lines to make them look taut...maybe I'll try it on a couple and see how it works.

By the way, I sent you a message, asking for advice and/or insights on your experience rigging the shrouds and ratlines, and using the kit-supplied deadeyes....I seem to remember you mentioning that you wished you had used aftermarket deadeyes?? Anyway, I'm thinking of *copying* your method, and rigging shrouds and ratlines, while keeping the kits deadeyes....I have to learn the *way of the ratline knot* first!!!

Hopefully I'll get some time this week to start painting the masts, and get the blocks tied onto them...

David

And oh, yeah...I tried using the oil wash on some of the gold detail before, but then I remembered that I used enamel paint for the gold stuff, and the wash lifted it!!! D-oh!  Now I put the gold on AFTER the wash, and leave it plain!  I could try some acrylic wash, I guess, but it doesn't seem to flow correctly, and tends to NOT settle in the crevices....so I might be stuck with shiny gold...

Got the masts painted over the weekend...I had to re-spray them after a poor choice of Flat Black color for the bindings...it looked really contrasted next to the Vallejo Wood, so I re-painted them and used a light brown for the binding, and Dark Brown for the *brace-pieces* (?)....anyway, it looks better now...Next, I'll get them assembled and tie about 25 rigging blocks to them...once they're stepped, I'll be on to cutting the deadeyes off the molded shrouds, and starting in on my own shrouds and ratlines....(ominous music in the background)

Looking good David, don't worry about the shrouds mate, judging by your build and your obvious ability, I have no doubt that you'll 'sail' through all the rigging with no problem!

Thanks, Jockster!  It'll be fun to learn ratline rigging, and I think once it's done, the ship will look really cool!  It's very exciting!  I'll be sure and post some detailed info about how I perform the modifying of kit parts to rig the lines...I'm going to use the kit deadeyes, since they look pretty good, so I'll have to cut them apart from the molded shroud/ratlines, and find a way to connect them to the channels....

The guy who started this thread before I hijacked it (sorry, Paul!!) has said that he plans to build it OOB, so it'll be interesting to see how his build goes, too....it'll be a neat comparison.  In some ways, his will be an easier build, but it's important to remember that I've got a little more ship experience than he does...the Black Swan is his first ship kit (he picked a helluva first kit to build!), while I'm on my third ship now...which is probably why I'm taking chances and making changes to the kit....I would never have considered modifications on my first ship, but now I find I'm liking the challenge of it....

I am still planning to use the Injection-Molded sails, even though many people consider it heresy!  I think they look darn good for molded sails, plus I think I can make them work!

Dave

Looking at the pics of built black swan the sails look pretty good to me and a damned sight better than the old Airfix vacformed sails! My first ship model is ongoing, it's the wooden Victory kit and I fully intend on taking many years to build it! The Zvezda Varyag protected cruiser is my first plastic ship and has been the most fun I've had with a model in years! Shame I wont be keeping it! I have thoroughly enjoyed the builds I have been following on this forum especially the two swans and the enterprises!

Hey Jockster...I'm not sure, but your profile avatar pic seems to resemble Pinhead, from the Hellraiser series, is that right?

Yep David, I call it a self portrait! It's a 12" tall vinyl kit I did about 15years ago, the pins that came with it were too big so I had to put each one in a drill and grind the heads down a bit so they looked a bit more in scale! I can't remember the manufacturer of the kit though!

This is one impressive build so far.

Thanks, TD!

I got the rigging blocks tied onto the masts last night, and went ahead and stepped them into the deck....tonight,  I'm going to test-fit the topmasts and see if they need to be on before I begin running the shrouds....that's right, I said "shrouds"....looks like I'm at that point, wish me luck!  Pics soon.

Few pics of the current state...gotta get the masttops on, and the upper masts of the fore and main, and a couple more rigging blocks attached, then it's Shroud and Ratline city!

She looks great David, Cannons/capstan/sailboat all bring your eye into your model, I look forward to seeing her rigged up!

Thanks!  I'm hoping once the sails are on, and she's rigged, that I'll still be able to SEE everything on the deck!!!  I'm at the point now where things get confusing...I've got some steps halfway done, and I've skipped ahead two pages and gotten other steps fully done...it gets a little hairy trying to keep everything organized...post-it notes all over the instructions!  I'm still tying a lot of rigging blocks to the masts, and got the topgallant and royal mast parts on, as well as the mast top platforms & railings...

A few more rigging blocks to tie on (about 15) to the topgallant crosstrees, and then I think I'm going to rig up the standing rigging STAYS before I start on the shrouds...I figure it'll be easier to reach the masts if I do them first, then rig the shrouds and ratlines after....but I still have to paint all the deadeyes, and come up with a way to attach them to the channels and tops...probably wrap some wire around each one and use that to lash them in place...

David it's a nice model for sure. The capstan is just so incorrect that it keeps me from taking the deck view (and to some degree the models subject) too seriously. I'd seriously consider removing it.

Just my

There's every reason to simply remove it, the assumption would be that the real one was down on the gun deck, which is most common.

Well, Bondoman...I truly am sorry that you're unable to enjoy my build.  But the truth is, I have no hangups whatsoever regarding the *incorrect* capstan, or the various other peculiarities of the kit.  I happen to really, really like how my Black Swan is turning out.  Just wait 'til I start installing the molded sails!  :)

I dunno Bondoman, I've never heard of it before, but there is a certain amount of logic putting it around the mainmast, I cannot think of a stronger part of the ship and with all the innovations that the shipwrights developed, who's to say that this isn't based on fact. It's growin' on me and David has done a nice job with it.

How's the rigging going David? P.s. I don't think Bondoman was insulting you bye the way.

David, I do enjoy your model. My comment was meant to be constructive, since it also included what I would do as a simple correction. Of course it up to you to take it with however many grains of salt as you wish.

It's just a case of "imagineering" on Disney's part.

Jockster, the real capstan is on the lowest gun deck, or whatever deck the anchor cables are brought in on before they go down into the hold. If there's one on the upper deck, it'd be connected by a solid spindle to any others below. They'd operate individually through a system of pawls, but nonetheless rely on a solid vertical spindle.

David, it is a very nice model and well built. Good work.

Exactly right Bondoman.  Disney.  Since the Black Swan is actually the Black Pearl kit it retains 99% of the original mold...the only difference being the figurehead and the nameplate.  In the movie, the capstan placement served several purposes.  First, it got the Capstan out of the way so there was more room both above and below deck.  At the same time, it allowed for optimal camera placement for shots that included the Capstan being used.  And finally, it gave more "character" and detail to all camera shots on deck.  

I don't think the shot of Jack chained to the mainmast when the Kracken came after him would have looked half as good if it had just been the mast.

Even with the "movie magic" Capstan your build is fantastic.  I can't wait to see the sails...

Phil

No worries....I realize that modelers place varying degrees of importance on *authenticity*.... I respect those who take it seriously (and I've seen some amazingly beautiful model ship kits made by guys from this forum!)...but I'm much less concerned about such things; I just like to make stuff that looks cool! It's all about personal taste....

Haven't gotten anywhere on the rigging yet....but it's close!  I had to assemble some more rigging blocks/stay holder things last night, got them painted and glued together....tonight I'll be tying them up with the stays, and that'll constitute the beginning of standing rigging.  

For me, I believe that as long as you like what you're building, it ultimately doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.  And I for one will never say anything that could deter you from building ship models.  I want to see this hobby go on.  If that means a model is not completely accurate, then so be it.  It's all about having fun and having a sense of accomplishment.  I'm all for accuracy, but I'll be the first to admit that the Heller HMS Victory I've been working on for-e-ver will not be very accurate.  But my kids sure love it and that's all that matters.

I'm looking forward to seeing how you approached rigging the shrouds.  I found it very satisfying to make my own instead of using the kit parts...

Phil

The shrouds won't be a problem....I did them on my last kit....it's the ratlines that I'm worried about!  I guess I'll just use simple overhand knots, keep the spacing uniform, and take my time...:)

You could just loop round them once which will alow you to slide them up or down when you are aligning everything later! When it's all shipshape you can put a drop of thinned down pva over 'knot' to stop them moving when you're happy, having said that, I will probably knot them traditionally but I have the advantage of the Victory weekly instruction manual showing how to tie the knots clearly. We must have the patience of saints to have a hobby like ours!  

I have to confess I get puzzled whenever I see the clove hitch (the knot that, typically, was actually used on ratlines) described as something other than a "simple knot."  It is, in fact, one of the simplest knots in existence - maybe the simplest.  You just have to take the end of the ratline around the shroud twice and be careful where the end comes out.  It's actually easier - and marginally faster - than the overhand knot, or the reef knot, aka the square knot.

Describing knots verbally is notoriously impossible.  But there are plenty of websites that illustrate how to do it.  Here's one:  www.netknots.com/.../clove-hitch .  Scroll down from the top and you'll see an animated version of a clove hitch being tied.

Reminds me of my time at Knot Tying U., aka the Boy Scouts of America.

Example to tie a bowline, and I could do it one-handed.

"The rabbit comes out of the hole, goes around the tree and back down the hole".

And no I didn't make Eagle Scout- not even close.

Good luck with the foot ropes. Another adage I have is that my ship models typically have a good side and a bad side, and sometimes I end up concentrating my efforts on one at the expense of the other. It sits on a mantel, after all...

I picked up years ago this cardboard card that pictures of various knots with an attached piece of twine. It's a great reference and I refer to it often and gives you a chance to practice.

Mike T.

What a nice looking model. I mentioned in another thread that I wasn't keen on 'movie ships', but I must confess, I like the look of your kit. Perhaps it's your choice of hull colours or whatever, but it does look great.

I especially like the deck detail and I am looking forward to seeing her rigged. I read somewhere that someone didn't like the molded sails, but then commented that on the finished ship, they actually came up well.

I would very likely buy this ship as a wooden model, which is my preference, but I will now look at this kit a little more closely, and who knows...

By the way, my opinion of a beginner versus 'pro', is and always has been, patience. If you have the patience and passion for the hobby, you are a pro in my book, and your ship looks to be have been built by a pro.

Errol.