The Black Pearl... a slow build log

[Twokidsnosleep]

This is working on the front mast called the bowsprit



I have reinforced it with a tapered wooden dowel for it’s entire length inside so that it isn’t just a hollow plastic tube
Then some wood grain scratches with a file, primer tan, black accents and burnt umber oil






I will be weathering the heck out of all of this later
Note: Once you add some masts things start to get large on a ship real quick

[Stokesy44]

More great work. Its certainly not going to get any smaller now.

[DBMiller]

You are determined to finish this monster aren't you!!!

[Twokidsnosleep]

You are determined to finish this monster aren't you!!!

Ha ha, yes
She has a hold on me right now
I am a bit nervous about the rigging and also about weathering it with black and then sea wear and tear

[Twokidsnosleep]

More great work. Its certainly not going to get any smaller now.

Yep she got a lot longer with that beam and then will get a LOT taller with the masts
I might have to clean up my mess a bit (a lot) on the desk to be able to work on her

[digger303]

More great work. Its certainly not going to get any smaller now.

Yep she got a lot longer with that beam and then will get a LOT taller with the masts
I might have to clean up my mess a bit (a lot) on the desk to be able to work on her

Looking better and better and I'm glad you got past the stair case. It did seem to be holding you up.
If I can put forward a idea. When you use your oil wash then go back over with a acrylic black slightly wetter than dry brushing, but be careful as it can move the oil wash. It does give it more realism. I'll post a pic of my Maultier tonight and you can judge it for yourself. I used acyrlic brown as a base, but you might be more inclined to try a light to medium grey.
I have no thoughts on the rigging except to say some ships modelling rigging is pre coloured and won't accept colour.
Keep up the great work.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Thanks digger, I will look into that.
I have a couple darkening and weathering possibilities and will practice them before taking them to the ship.

I got an order today from Eastern Canada, Ropes of Scale, for various wound scale ropes in different sizes and colours



These are so much nicer than I could make and were like 6 to 7 $ a piece.
So quite reasonable vs the wooden deadeyes, thus made more sense to buy the ropes than try and make them
I just looped and tied off one rope around the bowsprit and you can see the lovely detail of the rope windings

[digger303]

Thank digger, I will look into that.
I have a couple darkening and weathering possibilities and will practice them before taking them to the ship.

I got an order today from Eastern Canada, Ropes of Scale, for various wound scale ropes in different sizes and colours



These are so much nicer than I could make and were like 6 to 7 $ a piece.
So quite reasonable vs the wooden deadeyes, thus made more sense to buy the ropes than try and make them
I just looped and tied off one rope around the bowsprit and you can see the lovely detail of the rope windings

Those look to be the best scale ropes I've seen to date...I'm impressed.
I need some ....

[Twokidsnosleep]

Thank digger, I will look into that.
I have a couple darkening and weathering possibilities and will practice them before taking them to the ship.

I got an order today from Eastern Canada, Ropes of Scale, for various wound scale ropes in different sizes and colours



These are so much nicer than I could make and were like 6 to 7 $ a piece.
So quite reasonable vs the wooden deadeyes, thus made more sense to buy the ropes than try and make them
I just looped and tied off one rope around the bowsprit and you can see the lovely detail of the rope windings

Those look to be the best scale ropes I've seen to date...I'm impressed.
I need some ....

www.ropesofscale.com

Super stuff there

[digger303]

Thank digger, I will look into that.
I have a couple darkening and weathering possibilities and will practice them before taking them to the ship.

I got an order today from Eastern Canada, Ropes of Scale, for various wound scale ropes in different sizes and colours



These are so much nicer than I could make and were like 6 to 7 $ a piece.
So quite reasonable vs the wooden deadeyes, thus made more sense to buy the ropes than try and make them
I just looped and tied off one rope around the bowsprit and you can see the lovely detail of the rope windings

Those look to be the best scale ropes I've seen to date...I'm impressed.
I need some ....

www.ropesofscale.com

Super stuff there

yes I had a look yesterday and has been bookmarked.
One nice thing about those ropes is you get 5-6m in a pack instead of the usual 1/2 - I m.

[BigWall]

Yar matey! Coming together and lookin' great she is!

[Twokidsnosleep]

Yar matey! Coming together and lookin' great she is!

Thanks very much

[Stokesy44]

www.ropesofscale.com

Super stuff there

Little Man S&M store has the same products if I recall correctly

[Twokidsnosleep]

I re-did the ropes on the ship’s wheel

[bfrd]

I re-did the ropes on the ship’s wheel

Indescribably better!

[digger303]

I re-did the ropes on the ship’s wheel

Indescribably better!

That was a good decision to give it a lift.

[Stokesy44]

I imagine the demand for ropes like that must be massive for sailing ship fans. Its amazing how much detail and texture they add, overcoming the scale problem all kits have in that no matter how good, your mind knows the subject is not life-size.

The painting and weathering looks superb with all that woodwork.

[cor]

Huge amount of work in that ship model. Looking really good.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Huge amount of work in that ship model. Looking really good.

Thanks for commenting
Lots of work but quite fun so far

www.ropesofscale.com

Super stuff there

Little Man S&M store has the same products if I recall correctly

Embarrassingly, I spent a few minutes on Google trying to look that store up…and got a surprise and then got the joke
Doesn’t pay to be slow

[Stokesy44]

Embarrassingly, I spent a few minutes on Google trying to look that store up…and got a surprise and then got the joke
Doesn’t pay to be slow

You made me laugh out loud. Sorry if I have caused any distress (I'm still laughing as I type this)

[Twokidsnosleep]

Embarrassingly, I spent a few minutes on Google trying to look that store up…and got a surprise and then got the joke
Doesn’t pay to be slow

You made me laugh out loud. Sorry if I have caused any distress (I'm still laughing as I type this)

I figured you would like that
I will be fine, had a good chuckle too

[Twokidsnosleep]

I messed around with the Foremast ( most forward toward the bow mast)
First reinforced inside with a tapered dowel and sprue glued it all together clamped up overnight



Then ran the mast on the lathe to remove the fake moulded ropes so can put the cool new ropes on there


Was harder than expected as the styrene rod is still too flexible and won’t spin concentrically. But overcame with some file work after which let me add some rougher wood grain effects
Then primed and brown oil paint

[Twokidsnosleep]

Quick video of it running

[Stokesy44]

Very cool, I really like the way you apply art and science to the build. Oils for the wood effects and use of strengthening pieces and the lathe. Cool little vid too.

[digger303]

Is that a bit of whip in the mast due to flexing of the material or is that just it being out of correct shape ?

[Twokidsnosleep]

Is that a bit of whip in the mast due to flexing of the material or is that just it being out of correct shape ?

Flexing styrene in the chuck. I have it tight and square with a live end supporting it but don’t want to crank on the styrene too much
Running a bit fast so I don't melt the plastic when cutting
The diameters wouldn’t fit the collets unfortunately, they support a bit better
For the next masts, I have put brass rod inside…pics soon

[smokeriderdon]

Again, just WOW.

[RangerNeil]

Impressive work and attention to detail!!

A thought occurs - did you consider replacing the styrene mast sections with wooden dowels? Would have been easier to turn in the lathe.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Impressive work and attention to detail!!

A thought occurs - did you consider replacing the styrene mast sections with wooden dowels? Would have been easier to turn in the lathe.

Good question
Yes, I certainly did consider that, had the teak blank sitting right there actually
It was plan B if I FUBAR'd the plastic mast
There are some parts that interlock with the plastic masts that make the build easier if I keep them that way...but plan B always lurks as a possibility

Again, just WOW.

thanks for looking pal

[Twokidsnosleep]

Made some railings out of rope and wire

[digger303]

[Twokidsnosleep]

More on the Foremast
I could not spin this part of it on the lathe as it is off center, non concentric
So I used diamond disk and sandpaper disks to remove the moulded ropes while Tamiya taping on either side for protection



Then added some brass rod and tubes to reinforce things
Scratched up the plastic to give wood grain texture with a coarse-ish file


Followed by primer and then the burnt umber oil paint.


On the left side mast I got the black oil on and the close up shows where I am going with the "black" part of the Black Pearl....not solid black but a burnt deep brown look with some hints as to how nice it used to be. I will then do a light wash of 'concrete' Ultimate wash and get a light grey/white layer overtop

[digger303]

[Twokidsnosleep]

Using the 0.7 mm tan rope to do the wrappings around the lower foremast
Used this size and colour so I don’t use all the black up. I can stain it and weather it darker too
It looks cool contrast colour

Here I took them off


Here I add them back



So, I had to ask the ship nerds as to why these wraps. The answer is that the rope wraps around the masts which are really just tree trunks. These rope collars help prevent splitting and cracks.

[digger303]

Using the 0.7 mm tan rope to do the wrappings around the lower foremast
Used this size and colour so I don’t use all the black up. I can stain it and weather it darker too
It looks cool contrast colour

Here I took them off


Here I add them back



So, I had to ask the ship nerds as to why these wraps. The answer is that the rope wraps around the masts which are really just tree trunks. These rope collars help prevent splitting and cracks.

Why doesn't the rope stretch as it is only a natural product too and how did they get it so tightly wrapped ?

[Stokesy44]

Lovely work. The after market ropes looks so good.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Using the 0.7 mm tan rope to do the wrappings around the lower foremast
Used this size and colour so I don’t use all the black up. I can stain it and weather it darker too
It looks cool contrast colour

Here I took them off


Here I add them back



So, I had to ask the ship nerds as to why these wraps. The answer is that the rope wraps around the masts which are really just tree trunks. These rope collars help prevent splitting and cracks.

Why doesn't the rope stretch as it is only a natural product too and how did they get it so tightly wrapped ?

They put some sort of a coating on the rope, like a resin or oil of some sort
I think that is why it looks so grotty

[Twokidsnosleep]

I learned a new way to do the wrappings on the masts without any glue: whipping
These uppers are all tied and have no glue at all. The lower part of this mast has crazy glued rope wrappings



Whipping a rope around something involves having a loop at the top with a tail along the length
You wrap from the bottom covering the tail and then thread through the loop when you reach the top and secure everything by pulling the tail down which pulls the loop under your wraps and tightens everything

[Stokesy44]

Looks a bit ropey to me

It all looks superb with the ropes and wood effects. Great job mate

[digger303]

Very pro knotter....



PS... I may have found a local rope manufacturer although atm he doesn't go under 1mm.
https://bloodknot.bigcartel.com/

[Tomcat64]

Well that was an entertaining read catching up - the Citadel Oxide worked stunningly well on that brightwork (if you remember that far back ) and those scale ropes look fantastic. The rework around the wheel was definitely worth the effort and the whipping around the masts takes them to another level too

Superb progress mate - I'll try and make the effort to stop by more often now I'm coming out of hibernation

[Twokidsnosleep]

Thanks everybody
I am trying to keep puttering along on this huge build bit by bit
Weather has remained very poor and cold so far this spring, allowing me to keep modelling
So the great outdoors has not called yet...though I have many outside projects to tackle

[BigWall]

Superb work once again!

[Twokidsnosleep]

More mast work
For the main mast, I am using brass rod and tubes so things will telescope into each other





Fore Mast before black oil stain:


Fore Mast with oil stain and main mast gluing up:

[digger303]

[Twokidsnosleep]

Thanks Digger
Here is my black oil wash treatment on the mast and the rope



I think it will be good in conjunction with the cement grey wash I can apply later
Found a good pic of the real ship mast

[Twokidsnosleep]

Pulled out the dental equipment and rolled some clear resin ball tops for the baluster-rope handrails of the fore deck

[Stokesy44]

Cracking work.

[digger303]

Nice.
I'll be interested to see how the cement wash goes on that mast. Will it be a clay based type ?

[Twokidsnosleep]

Nice.
I'll be interested to see how the cement wash goes on that mast. Will it be a clay based type ?

Yes it is the Ultimate one
Will be easy to get it too weathered which I don't want...not too clean but not too messy
The Ultimate stuff will wipe off though