Dave,
Here are a couple of shots of the Santa Maria (Revell). Not great shots and I can find numerous mistakes; however, I did experiment with some ideas I had for added dynamics. I was really disappointed on my acrylic wash which is what brought me to experiment with artist’s oils.
Steve
Yeah, I learned that Acrylic Wash doesn’t work for me…it never seems to settle properly…so I switched to enamel wash over acrylic basecoats…it was just with my last kit (the Black Swan) that I branched out and used artist oil (just black) and Mineral Spirits for a wash…and I loved it! Now, especially after seeing your work, I might go into acrylic bases with artist oil overcoats and washes…we’ll see! I don’t really have another plastic ship kit in mind right now…I’m actually thinking of trying my hand at a wooden kit…
But I really like the shape of the hull of that Santa Maria!! I looked around a bit, and there are a few Santa Maria kits, Heller, Zvezda, Revell, and Imai all have one, though I think the Heller and Zvezda might be the same kit?? I’d definitely be interested in the biggest, highest quality version I could find, but they all seem pretty small and basic…how big is your Revell SM?? Looks like you have another unassembled hull in the background?
Thanks for the pics, Steve…I’ll be keeping an eye on your Kogge build (and your Santa Maria, if you continue with it!)…I’m still blown away by your coloring technique!
Bravo!
Here are the ship’s boat and the wooldings I did today. The boat actually looks more like something from say the 17th to the 19th century but It’s in scale. The waxed line wooldings are in place of the molded woolding that I always file off. They look SO much better than plastic.
Steve
I did not like that the castles undersides were blank, so I used strip styrene to mirror the topside. Here also are some the subassemblies that go with the build.
Dave,
The unassembled hull you see are Revell"s
Nina and Pinta although I would not recommend them whole heartily. It’s been a bear to get some of the deck parts to disappear well. But enjoy anyway.
Steve
Great stuff!
I’ve been mulling over how I was going to do the yard for the Kooge. The kit come with a full sail and a furled sail, both made of plastic that was fairly thick, but nowhere near the old Aroura sailing ship kits. I’m a bare pole kind of modeller so the options were either getting a basswood dowel or possibly using the furled sail version. Then the obvious hit me this morning, cut the sail from the yard. Well, it worked out great and I have added pictures. Now comes the painting and rigging. I have also glued the windlass down so I have included some pictures of that… I know, really exciting stuff!
Steve
Another picture of the windlass et al…
At the risk of sounding like a broken record…Amazing!
I can’t keep my eyes off the deck…
You are useing your windless to hoist the yard-just as i did on my viking ship–I’m dieliated. well dun !
Started dry fitting the upper works. I also started rigging the mainstay with wooden deadeyes instead of the kit ones. They were cool, but I like rigging my own. Also, I think it would look funky with plastic deadeyes and scale hemp lines. The brass rings on the cargo hold are to replace the scribed one on the hatch. I am going to get them to lay down correctly after I blacken them.
Steve
She is looking awesome…Cheers and congrats on what you have done so far…Mark
Thanks Mark!
Steve
Here are.the plastic blocks and deadeyes provided with the kit; as you can see, they are much better than most of the blocks and deadeyes provided for in sailing ship kits, especially the shroud/ratline monstrosity since the the seventies. I, however; like doing my own rigging and I’ ll put some photos as I proceed. Thanks for all the support guys! Note the sink holes on the deadeyes… These are on the facing side on each and every one.
Steve
Look forward to seeing more of your work…Cheers mark
Using artist oils is the one medium I’ve never done. I’d love to read a tutorial on them though, anyone got one? the colors are fantastic.
Thanks Mark and Jake. As requested I have some new photos to post tonight. Things have been a bit on the crazy side with one of my boys sick and on the good side, my lovely wife and I celebrated on 13th anniversary today!
Jake, I’d be happy to go over how to use artist’s oils, or at least how I do it after this build which I am trying to get ready for our local IMPS show on 03 November.
Thanks everyone for taking such an interest in my build!
Steve
Here are pictures of the ship’s boat I bought to go along with the Kogge. Even though the boat would fit better with a 17th to 19th century sailing ship, I really wanted to add something more to the build. I do plan on adding barrels and some boxes on deck. The boat is a Zvezda model with the unlikely name as a Medieval Lifeboat… it is still a nice little kit.
The deadeyes after staining them.
Stretching the lines to get rid of kinks. I soaked them for a couple minutes then hung them with a bit of weight.
This is the start of rigging the Kogge. I’ve set up the two deadeyes for the main stay.
Seizing the line around the lower deadeye.
Looped and seized. This is around the post and will be positioned where the deck and post meet.
Reeving the two deadeyes.
Reeved and ready to seize the lines. You can see the plastic deadeyes for the main stay just below.
Seized and now I’ll let this sit overnight to check if the lines are still taut tomorrow. Then I’ll move on to the shrouds.
Steve
Just fantastic, Steve! Thanks for the update! This build is generating a lot of interest…many people want to learn your artist oil finishing technique! You might consider posting a tutorial thread with pics, explaining the process in detail…that is, if you’re inclined (and I can tell you’re a busy guy these days!)…such is the burden of knowledge! Or how about a YouTube video? 
Personally, I can’t wait to try out the method on my next plastic kit…after I practice on some scrap, of course…
You know, that Zvezda Medieval Boat seems to pop up all over the place…it was included as the boat in their Black Swan kit, and I think it was in a couple of their other boxes, as well, in addition to being available as a stand-alone kit…it’s a pretty neat little project in itself! Nice touch with the furled sail lashings…I left mine stock with the molded ropes.
Congratulations on your Anniversary!!
Dave