Imai 1/50 Catalan Ship Completed

You've got something special going.

I wasn't loving the idea of nut/ bolts. It seemed a little bit of an anachronism for the 15th C. I did do some research on that, and in fact they were invented around the 14th C. Threaded screws have been around since BC.

I can't tell from the angle of the pictures, is there a beam under the front edge of your quarter deck?

Truly a wonderful model.

you really are a clever man steve , can't wait for your next upload

steve

Steve, that is one beautiful model...she's coming along nicely...good work, my friend!

Steve she' coming along great.I like all your details.

Rod

GM, Thanks for checking the history of bolts and yes the quaterdeck does have a beam across both the forward and after ends as shown in this picture.

Steve, Dave and Rod,

Thanks guys for checking in, I appreciate the kudos. I have been doing some more small parts such as staining the wooden hearts and blocks I will be replacing the plastics parts for. Also painting the cleats, knightshead, etc... that I scrtached. Starting to put the bolt heads on. All the small stuff that needs to be dealt with hopefully before you say, DANG, I should have done that first........

The one item(s) that I have been searching for but have had no luck finding are 'O' Scale Medeival lanterns for lighting around the tub. I can find Railroad style but not something appropiate for the 15th Century. I found a Stern Lantern from Model Shipways although it may be either too large or too elaborate. I'll post a picture tomorrow or later to see what everyone thinks......

I'm also scratch building the beam ends that are are prominent on th model and the drawings in "The Ship." Using Evergreen styrene again....... I should buy stock in that company.

Steve

A small update and also a question. Here are shots of the wooden rigging material from Model Shipways that I am going to use. I have stained them with Dark Walnut to give them a more worn look. I also plan on roughing them up a bit. 

Now for the question. On the last photo I have the 3mm blocks and the 5mm blocks next to the yard. At first I was planning on using the 3mm blocks but after looking at them with the yard I think that the 5mm will look more in scale. Any opinions?

Steve

The first photo shows the larger hearts on the left I plan on using on the stays. The smaller hearts will be for the deadeyes.

Here are the fall blocks that will be used for the halyard. I'll only use one.

Next are the lower deadeyes/hearts. I wrapped blackened wire around them and then stained with Dark Walnut.

And finally the blocks. Again, the 5mm are on the left and the 3mm on the right. I'm leaning towards the 5mm now, although I might use a couple of the 3mm for smaller rigging on the sail.

I forgot the lantern..... Here is a shot of the lantern itself and the lantern next to the hull for size comparision. Any opnions? Too big, too ornate......?

Steve

I'm no expert steve , but to my eye it is a bit of both , it could detract from your beautiful build .

Well I think the gold is the problem. A darker color will scale it down. I'd suggest black as in wrought iron.

Steve--I wish I could offer you an opinion about the sizes, but that is out of the realm of my expertise.

I do want to say though that the lantern looks pretty darn cool. I like it. Also, I like GMs idea of toning it down. I think that by doing that, it would bring more realism to it. I guess it depends on what your vision for this project is. I am sure that whatever you do, it will look cool.

Steve,

The lantern you've selected (at least to garner opinions) looks very nice but, and I say this without any real knowledge of maritime history, I think that it's way too modern - probably 17th or 18th  century. I base my opinion (and it's a rather uninformed one) on the Masters thesis I just found on the 'net here:

nautarch.tamu.edu/pdf-files/Quinn-MA1999.pdf

That having been said, I feel that your artistic license should have at least as much weight as historical accuracy in this instance. Go for whatever floats your boat!

Mike

One big question: is that lantern a kit part, or an aftermarket one? 

I suspect the latter. Several of the European manufacturers make such components with tinted plastc to represent stained glass. That in turn brings up two more questions. One - why on earth would anybody put stained glass in a ship's lantern? Two - I question whether sheets of glass that large (stained or otherwise) were obtainable in the fifteenth century. Even in the nineteenth, ships' lanterns - and windows - usually were made up of pretty small panes. A 1-foot square piece of glass was hard to find until relatively recently.

In other words, I'd have big reservations about adding that part to this particular model. But that's just my two cents' worth.   

You're adding the lantern on your own, correct?

Gentlemen,

Thank you all for your input. I really appreciate everyone chiming in and giving me pause in what would have been a mistake. I agree that it would be a distraction, is not even close to what was available at the time and last but not least, is down right tacky! Therefore, it is not going to get used.

And in answer to the questions, No it is not a kit part and embarrassingly, yes, I thought it up............

1943Mike, that was a really interesting thesis and helped immeasureably. Thanks for linking it.

Thank you again,

Steve

Now, moving forward to the beam ends.

Also, any input on the size of the blocks?

The larger blocks look good. If my math is right they scale pretty small, about 4"

they are lovely though- the heart shaped ones.

Thanks GM. I agree, Model Shipway's hearts and deadyeseyes are nice.

Steve

docidle

Gentlemen,

Thank you all for your input. I really appreciate everyone chiming in and giving me pause in what would have been a mistake. I agree that it would be a distraction, is not even close to what was available at the time and last but not least, is down right tacky! Therefore, it is not going to get used.

And in answer to the questions, No it is not a kit part and embarrassingly, yes, I thought it up............

 

 

 

Steve-  Laughing out loud at that quote!  Hey, I'm the LAST person around who's going to criticize what a person puts on their model (in fact, I may be a bit of an advocate for shirking authenticity!  I have this recurring idea of turning my big Revell Constitution into a steampunk mashup blimp-thing...but I do fear repudiation of the elders!)

I digress...and I will concede that your Catalan will look better without the lantern previously pictured.  I'm only saying so because you decided not to use it...:)

Anyways, as always, she's an amazing model, and your masterful touches are creating something very special.

Sally Forth, my friend.

Roger that Dave and thanks bud. My plan for this week is to get all the bolt heads on the wales and get the cleats attached to the inner posts. I am going to use the smaller rounded bolts heads to show attachment points on the cleats. Might as well use them and they are really beautifully done so I'll post some pictures this week to give everyone an idea of what I'm thinking...... Hopefully not as bad as the lantern idea ......

I'm glad I could give you a laugh, I had to laugh at the idea myself after coming to my senses, thanks to the collective wisdom of the group!

You know Dave, I think a steampunk Constitution Dirigible would be REALLY cool............

Steve

Good day Steve,

Jobs, which You already did, looks very nice for me, I like your painting technique... i don't have any experience in use oil paint for wood imitation(use acrylic paint and dry pastel instead of, and recently began to use very good staff for imitation wooden effect on plastic -acrylic paints from Folk Arts,they producing special" antique"paint for such purpose ),

but yours result,with oil paint- looks very good!

Have question, did You ever think abt to make blocks for your nao of that specific forms, more or less similar to those which were recovered with Mery Rose?

there is еssential difference in their appearance and way of stropping them ,used on medieval vessels and on" modern" (16-17 cntr)...mataro model has them,in their specific old fashion style....it will add a lot of sharm to your model,using such "special" shaped and stropping bloks...mentioned abt them due to such specific and unusual details on the model always make some positive effect...model looks more interesting...there are not toomuch bloks on this model,even make them from piece of waist kit plastic seems to be not difficult task...?

https://www.shipmodeling.ru/phpbb/download/file.php?id=26416&mode=view

https://www.shipmodeling.ru/phpbb/download/file.php?id=29198&mode=view

https://www.shipmodeling.ru/phpbb/download/file.php?id=30243&mode=view

https://www.shipmodeling.ru/phpbb/download/file.php?id=30461&mode=view

https://www.shipmodeling.ru/phpbb/download/file.php?id=41930&mode=view

https://www.shipmodeling.ru/phpbb/download/file.php?id=41929&mode=view

https://www.shipmodeling.ru/phpbb/download/file.php?id=41928&mode=view

https://www.shipmodeling.ru/phpbb/download/file.php?id=48162&mode=view

http://f-picture.net/lfp/s58.radikal.ru/i159/1112/56/eb45b57208ad.jpg/htm

http://f-picture.net/lfp/s017.radikal.ru/i415/1112/c6/2e3be3399279.jpg/htm

Hey Steve-

I was hoping to see some new progress by now....so I figured I'd come by your thread and kick you in the butt to see if you have anything new to share?  Any work on the Catalan lately?

I'm even more interested in seeing what you do now, because....wait for it.....I got one!

Well, it's in the post right now, but it should be here by Monday...pretty excited to get my hands on a Catalan, at long last!

Anyways, hope things are well with you, and if your'e sandbagging your progress....let us have it!

Dave

Hi All,

I am in Australia and am a new member. I have buit some different models over the years, but mainly Sailing Ships.

Recently I have obtained a Model Kit, IMAI, 1/60 of the Catalan Ship from a second hand source, but one major part is missing, the Left Hand side Hull section. I was wondering if I could find out if I can obtain one to make my kit complete.

This Model Kit seems very rare & it would be a pity not to complete it and to just disguard it.

Can any Member make a suggestion?

Thanks, James H

James, I think you might be out of luck on that one....and it WOULD be a shame for a kit like that to go unbuilt.

I can't think of a way to make a reverse mold of it.

You might be able to find a manufacturing company that does work in plastics to help you. If they have a scanner and a 3D printer, you could theoretically have them scan it and print out a *relief* or mirror-image version on the right-side hull.  But, even if you found a company that would do it, you would have to pay them for it...we occasionally have parts 3D printed for us at work from a company, but they charge a pretty penny for high-resolution subjects...it might be cheaper to just keep an eye out for another Catalan on eBay.

But it could be worth looking into?

Dave

I think that particular kit it would not be hard at all to make another half. If you are willing to accept some compromises, such as "view from this side only' it might be fun.

You can make your templates easily as those will copy over, and carve it out of solid wood. Make a template every 1" or so, whatever matches the thickness of the plank in the next step. Be sure to mark on the one side where they were taken from. Get a piece of poplar or similar hardwood, cut up a bunch of squares equal to a little bit more than the area you need for each section. Mark your templates on each, rough cut the shape, glue them together bread and butter style, and when it's all set, go to work shaping it.

Hey All-

Haven't heard much from Steve lately, I guess he's on Hiatus....

But I was thinking the Catalan might be my next project...after the long haul of a Heller Soleil Royal, maybe something with less than 2000 parts might be in order.

Anyway, I hope I'm not hijacking this thread to ask if anyone has some leads on good research sources fro building this kit?  Specifically, I guess I'm interested in rigging style, how the chainplates would have been fashioned, any major contradictions from kit plans, etc.?

Keeping in mind that it's a model of a model, and perhaps somewhat whimsical at that, I just wondered if there are any books or materials that would better illustrate the general building of a 15th century Nao, or carvel, or carrack, or whatever it is!

Steve, Rod, anyone with some insight?

Thanks!
Dave

 Hmmm;

 Liquid Fish Poop ? I don't see how that is a problem .Three parts M.M. Clear , One part black and one half part light flat green . That's LFP. Now the ship would've been preserved in the Med . by using a seal oil or heavy whale grease . Something like that or just pitchblende swabbed all over the Hull .

 As far as oiling a seal just Blow out a Well . No really , You boil the poor critters fat for the oil. Much as the Eskimos do .

I regret to say that the photos are not coming through, so I have a question.  Is this the same kit as the Heller Mataro?  If so, that could help James.

Thanks!

Bill

Bill, I *think* the Heller Mataro is actually based on the Heller Pinta hull (or Santa Maria?), with some additions...it's not quite the same.  I read somewhere (maybe here) that Imai actually studied the real Mataro Nao model to design their kit, but that Heller took one of their previously-designed kits and made some mods to it.

Either way, I'd probably build that one too, if I could find it for cheap....but it definitely won't help with matching up to an Imai Catalan Hull....

Dave

Dave,

My sister-in-law gave me the Heller kit back in the 1980s for Christmas one year.  The hull looks much like any model of the Mataro ship I have ever seen.  I still haven't built it.  It's yours if you want it.

Bill

Wow.

What can I say, except wow.

Bill, if you really don't mind, I'd be more than happy to have it!

Now I have visions of a tandem build, a comparison WIP thread, and a display case proudly exhibiting both within...

That's a very, very nice thing to offer.

Thanks!

And Wow!

Dave