Building the Santa Maria

Nice work. Get this step done accurately as you have and the rest will be a lot easier.

Call it whatever you want- spine?

Bill

I read a great book about 20 or 30 years ago.  I don't remember the exact title but iit contained the terms "Columbus' ships."  It was written by a Spanish Naval officer who was somewon in the history  office.  Excellent reference!

it

Here is an update:

I have completed the building of the ribs, I also installed 2 large components that are part of the side of the ship, and the installation of the lower deck, I am now in the process of installing the second deck ( see photo ) which required me to go to my garage a get a large adjustable clamp so I can secure the side of the ship until the glue dries. I have ordered a bottle of Titebond White all purpose glue that, according to another member of this blog, dry faster than Elmer's glue. I ordered this glue due to the situation were there are some parts that can not be held long enough for the glue to dry and they are almost impossible to hold with clamps, etc.

So far the installation has gone fairly smooth, I do not know if is because I have more experience building these type of ships, if the instruction are easier to follow, or a combination of both, but, the building is coming along.

Well, until next time

Joe

Oh Boy?

      You mean the Keel? This is interesting. Ships of this era were so different from builder to builder. They didn't draw plans. A model was built. A board was convened and then it was decided by a consortium whether to grant the money to build one. None were alike so That era of shipbuilding will always contain a great deal of conjecture.

      As to her actual appearance, While many have gotten close, Still no Cigar! Why? Well, consider this. Many of the ships back then "Plowed" through the water. They did not sail well and had a tendency to broach in heavier that normal seas. Bluff(Rounded) bows detracted from speed and handling. Tall sterns caught the wind like a Cliff of wood.  

      So the question. Did the Santa Maria really look like some think or? are they all based on artists conceptions of what we think the ships of her type looked like back then? Build on . I am curious!

You might want to try super glue for wood. It dries just like the regular super glue we use for plastic models. Thin us super fast and thick which it looks like what you need dries faster than any of the "white" glues. 

I have started to plank the sides of the ship and it is coming along. As you may know, planking a ship is an art all by itself, an art that I am still in the process of learning, so I go very slowly and measure every plank to make sure it fits were it is supposed to seat.

To bend the planks I am using this tool ( see photo ) which basically is a modify soldering iron, it has made the work a lot easier because allows me to bend the wood exactly to the shape I need.

See attached photo of the progress I have made so far.

Until next time

Joe