Gotta Go ;
But before I do , that’s one fine job your doing . Tanker-Builder
Hey Tankerbuilder-
I know Rod Millard uses wood stain on his Imai kits, and they look fantastic! I’m definitely going to give it a try on one of my builds…but I’m running out of Imai kits! All I have left is the Mayflower…
Here’s a question:
I’ve heard about the plastic in Imai kits being different than other brands (acceptance of stain, etc.)…but what about the ERTL/Imai kits? Are they the same material? The only actual Imai japanese kit I’ve built is the Junk, all the others have been ERTL/Imai…except for the Chebec, which was a Minicraft re-box of the Imai kit.
Anyways, I spent a few minutes this morning learning to assemble and install chainplates on the fore channel…here’s a pic:
It was actually super easy! I know that this channel looks funny, because the chains don’t lead off in the correct orientation (they should go in a straight line following the shrouds to the masttop), but that’s because of the pesky gunport…I suppose they had to make some concessions for things like that…so it looks a little uneven and weird.
To make the chainplates/lower deadeyes, I used some round wooden deadeyes, some black annealed wire, some brass pins, and some brass chain. The chain and pins were darkened using Blacken-it. I wrapped a couple inches of the wire around a deadeye once, and then pinched it and twisted it tight so it would grab the deadeye and make a spiral tail…then I cut the tail to a length of about 1/4"…bent it backwards to make it into a hook, then hooked a link of the chain onto it before bending the hook closed all the way. Then I cut the chain to a length of ~1", and fed the chain through the top opening in the channel, until the deadeye sat neatly atop the channel. I poked a brass pin through a link of chain at the appropriate distance below so that when the pin is inserted into the hull (I had drilled out the kit locator points for the included plastic shroud/ratline/deadeye pieces) it held the chain at a suitable tension. Once I knew exactly how much chain I would need for each chainplate, I snipped the remaining couple of links off and inserted the pin all the way. They’re not glued in yet, in case I need to make any changes later…I figure I’ll get them all installed before I make it permanent…
I’m also planning to make a short video for YouTube to demonstrate how I did it, in case anybody cares to see it happen! I was actually really surprised at how easy it turned out to be…
Thanks!
Dave
Hi David,
She’s looking fantastic so fa…love the color scheme… and that one chain would be located above the gunport lid thus keeping it in line with the shroud.
David;
Looks fabulous. I used the same method on my Connie for the chain plate. It was much, much simpler than making two or three separate “links” as it is normally depicted. I justified this after some research which indicated that this type of chain link was still in popular use late into the 19th century. Mainly it depended on the outfitters and the availability of materials on whether or not this type of chain link was used. Eventually, from the 1830’s on, single flat or round bars replaced the links as can be seen in the Connie’s present day configuration. I am not sure I would worry about that one link, although it wouldn’t be that hard to move it to above the gun port as Michael suggested.
Looking forward to your next post.
Thanks!
I agree, it wouldn’t be hard to move that chain, but I’m not too worried about it…
You know what’s funny, though…on the Main Channel there’s a gunport blocking a chainplate fall, and that one does attach above the port! I guess there was some reason why they chose to do one but not the other??
By the way, your Connie is a heckuva beautiful model!! Seriously.
Dave
By the way, here’s a link to the YouTube video I made today, showing how I did it…nothing too fancy, but maybe somebody might like to see this method. Plus, you can see my handsome mug! 
Sorry it’s actually kinda blurry for the close-ups…
thanks for the video david., you made it look a lot easier than I thought it was, by the way your model looks beautiful., love the colour scheme,
Dave,
She is looking good bud. You did a first rate job on the painting, especially the detail work. After seeing your posts and the comments, I pulled out my imai Golden Hind and checked the alignments of the plates and the kit shrouds and “chains”. I hope I won’t be burned at the stake for heresy, but the Imai designers sure did some slight of hand on not only the fore but also the main chain plates and chains.
The kit chains that is just forward and aft of the fore gun hatch is molded at such a weird angle, that at first, I thought it was bent from storage, but after looking at both sides and the way they were molded on the sprue, it became obvious that they were designed that way. The main does some of the same things, so you might want to redo them or not, it’s your call. That being said, I still think you did a great job and the chains look MUCH better than the kit provided ones, so carry on.
Steve
I checked out the video and well done! I like it as much as your ratline video, so what is next on the video horizon?
Steve
david what size wire did you use in your video., i’m of to my hobby shop tomorrow, about 200 km away.,and intend to get some supplies
Steve5-
The wire is Dark Annealed Steel Wire, 28 gauge (.41MM)…honestly, it’s probably a little thinner than actual scale, but I like it because it fits between the links of the chain when I have it twisted. The Brand is Hillman Anchor Wire, if that helps…I had a sorta hard time finding it, had to order it online. Hope you can find it more easily. THX
Docidle-
Thanks, man! The video is okay…I just want to do things that might help other people learn techniques that are intimidating (like they seem to me at first!)…which is why I made the ratline video. That one has gotten over 15,000 views, and dozens of people subscribed to me because of it…and I’ve gotten tons of messages asking for more videos…truthfully, though, there’s already lots of videos on youtube that show many of the “arcane” techniques for rigging, so I don’t feel like there’s a huge need for me to make videos of everything I do…having said that, I might record some more if I feel like a particular stage can be made less daunting with a little demo and some narrative…and it’s not like I’m an expert, either…let’s say I make a video for when I tie up the shrouds and rig the deadeyes…they probably won’t all be perfectly even, but hey, if the technique works, and it helps clarify the procedure for someone…why not share it?
Hoping to get the rest of the chainplates done this weekend…
Dave
Dave,
I was going to ask you who that handsome guy was in the video?
Anyway, I agree that there are numerous videos showing ship modeling techniques, however, having been a corporate trainer many moons ago, your videos, the ratlines and this new one are VERY good. You take the time to explain and show what you are doing without losing your audience and that is a gift. When you were in school or being trained on a new technique for work, you probably had favorite teachers or trainers that you connected with, which shows there are good teachers and lousy teachers and many more types in between. You remember the good ones and the worst in some ways, because you learned something from the good and you survived the bad! You can be proud that you have subscribers and over 15000 hits.
Hopefully you’ll post some more pics from the GH and know I as well as others are looking forward to it.
Steve
Dave I really liked the vid.
You have fingers of gold. For a big guy, those things really respond to your brain. I will guess you play a good guitar.
Piano man myself, and soon will be playing with my elbows.
Thank you for the kind words, gents.
Steve, I’m glad you find my teaching style to be engaging…I hope that makes it easier for people to catch on to the method.
GM, I’ve been playing guitar for pretty much my entire adult life (40 is a few months away!), making music is definitely a big part of who I am…in fact, tomorrow I’m getting together with a few friends and we’re going play songs, have a few drinks, and enjoy the Summer time weather! Good for the soul!
I fiddled around with piano for a time, learned a few classical pieces…one of my favorites for piano is Moonlight Sonata, by LV Beethoven…lots of intensity for such a simple piece, if it’s played with intent.
Anyway, I will certainly continue to post updates on this build…but like many, I’m finding the season to be overwhelmingly busy, with weird long shifts at work, and home projects…the GH is shaping up to be the slowest model build so far! Hopefully by September I’ll be able to devote more time to the modeling workbench! Meanwhile, there she sits, on the bookcase, an empty shell…patiently awaiting my attention!
Dave
Hey everybody!
I was just browsing through the recent ship posts and figured I would bump this thread, and say Howdy!
I’ve been lucky enough to find some time for modeling lately…the house is painted, and I just put the second coat of stain on the deck this morning, so hopefully the majority of home projects are done for the season.
I started this thread not as a straight-up WIP, but mainly to highlight the specific mods I’m doing as I build it. Most of my recent progress has been pretty standard, so I haven’t seen much need for updating every step of the way.
I’ve got the decks installed, and I’ve been installing deck furniture (pinrails, cleats, ladders, etc.) when I find a couple hours of free time here and there. I expect I’ll be continuing in that direction for a few weeks yet, before the masts go in…at that time, I’ll be making a choice regarding sails (Furled or Bare Poles).
Anyway, hope everybody’s doing well!
Dave
Good to see you pluggin along Dave. I too have nearly come to the end of my summer fixer-upper projects…and will be entering my Fall/autum model schedule myself. I hope to finish up the Glory of the Seas this year.
From moving to resetting up my house/office/garage/model room…I’m done with Projects for a time.
(I hope)
Good luck.
Rob
Rob- I always love summertime, but it’s true, there’s not much bandwidth for hobbying!
It’s nice to know that fall is a’ comin’, and with it, some relaxation and modeling!
As for current progress on the GH, I tied the wooldings on the masts recently. I wish I’d have sanded off the molded-on wooldings first, but I thought I could get away with it, since I used fine thread. I don’t love the way they look, but for a first-attempt, it’ll do…and next time, I’ll do the proper prep work.
Now that the masts are ready, I’ll be putting in the masttops and crosstrees, and the lower topmast deadeyes, then LOOK OUT!..it’s rigging time already?!?
I’ll be breaking out the shroud and stay lines…
I’ve noticed a pattern with my ship modeling habits…Once I begin to approach the rigging of a ship model, I also begin to consider my next project…the forthcoming project is decided, and it’s a subject that has a polarizing effect on the plastic shipmodeling community at large, so I don’t know if I’ll feel compelled to post a WIP of it here…but let’s just say it’s a French Giant.
But for now, here’s a couple of pics of the wooldings on the Golden Hind…sorry, I think the pics are a little blurry and the lighting is poor:
Dave
Fantastic work Dave. I sure like your weathering technique.
"French Giant*?
I too have just about finished summer projects and am getting ready to settle in with some fall model building myself. I have to finish the rigging of the Glory of the Seas…which has been taking for ever.
Rob
Soleil Royal.
I know, I know. But I have to do it. It’s been haunting me, and I think I can make it beautiful! It’ll just take some time. The La Reale is in the queue, but I want to save that one for when I feel like a pro. Same with the Victory.
I’m glad you like the weathering technique…I find it more consistent than using wet washes…in fact, I hardly even use washes anymore.
I really dig the Glory…I always think about the Cutty Sark you showed me last year…love your rigging work…I especially liked the difference in tautness of the rigging…some of your running rigging was set with the perfect amount of realistic sag…very cool.
The trick in getting proper sag is in using nylon line stained with an alcohol wash…when dry it sags like the real thing with no defects in the swag(twists/bends,rolls of an unnatural nature). Standing rigging is left alone while the running rigging gets the treatment. Tight strait taught running rigging lines are unrealistic in my view.
Good luck my friend.
Rob