Mary Celeste

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

As it was hot and sunny this morning, I worked outside.   I completed the display case and assembled the carrying case.     Next I cut the lawn and after lunch, completed the hull.   The hardest bit is now over.    The rigging of two masts will not take very long.

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Got side-tracked today!     Was intending to make a good start on the masting and rigging.     But sold a model four-masted barque on Ebay at about 0930 Bst as “collection only.”   Buyer set off immediately and arrived at  about 1100 and we had most interesting talk about ships and ship models before he left with the model.    All I achieved in the afternoon was to assemble and paint the two masts, spanker boom and gaff.    Rigging will commence tomorrow and I hope to be able to post some substantial progress during the afternoon.

Bob

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Glad you made the sale Bob!

[Barry FooteParticipant @barryfoote68385]

Bob.

Pm sent… 

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Barry – Replied direct.

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I have now completed and fitted the two masts.   I have also made and painted the 5 yards, boom and gaff.     The masts and spars are all of metal.

 

This is the time I like least when building a sailing ship – when the bare masts are standing alone without a scrap of sail or rigging on them.    After about an hour’s work, it will begin to get interesting and then I will find it hard to stop.   Not long to go now.

Bob

 

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

It`s looking good Bob!

 

How many hours so far?

 

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

When I stopped for lunch today, it was a total of 19.4 hours spread over ten days.    Generally less than two hours a day average.   Some days I did three or more hours and others maybe only half an hour.    Three hours a day isn’t much problem though, two in the morning and one in the afternoon.   Plenty of time left to do other things.

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Di over 3 hours today, so probably wont do much tomorrow.

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

That`s taking shape now Bob!

 

The sails and rigging looks very realistic……..and the colour of the sails looks perfect

 

What do they call those little sails between the masts?……..stay sails?

 

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

The sails are just white airmail paper with grey lines printed on using the computer.   The larger ones are moulded around an ostrich egg whilst wet to get a wind-filled shape.   The sails between the masts are staysails.   The two aft of the mainmast are the spanker and gaff topsail.

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

I have now set and rigged all the fore-and-aft sails.   The standing rigging is also complete.   At this moment, my wife is in the other room painting the sea.   All I have left to do now is the setting and rigging of the five square sails on the foremast.    I hadn’t intended to work on the model over the week-end, but as it is so close to completion and it is pouring down with rain outside, I decided to carry on.     Getting a bit fed up with it now – running out of patience!

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Your model looks a little Gem, Bob

 

Is it time for another close up?………How do you fix the sails to the wire rigging?

 

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

I just put a smear of contact adhesive along the edge of the sail and then put it on the wire!    If you click on the image, it will come in closer and there really isn’t much more to see.

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Here is the sea, completed a few minutes ago, but I am not allowed to touch it until tomorrow morning when it will be thoroughly dry.    This will fit perfectly into the base that I prepared some days ago.    As for the ship, I have now set and rigged the foresail and lower and upper topsails.    I have only to set and rig the t’gallant and royal and the ship itself will be complete.    That should take maybe an hour.

Bob

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Really nice Bob, I am very much enjoying your posts as usual. That sea looks extrordinarily real – your wife is to be congratulated.

 

Colin

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Thanks.  After arduous day, we settled down to watch Robbing Hood – IT WASN’T ON!   It was B…. Wimbledon.   If it is not that it is B….. Football, or B…… Cricket.    I can’t stand sport – I hate sport – I loathe sport.   One of the reasons I went to sea – No B…. sport!

 

Rant over.   Going for a drink.

 

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Got our Robin Hood in the end – found it on another channel a bit later, but did they bother telling anyone? of course not!    Can’t really expect it when sport even takes precedence over World News!

 

Anyway, MARY CELESTE and sea is now complete.   This morning, I will fit the sea and edging.   Make and fit the nameplate and finally fit the model in the sea.   Complete picture coming up later this morning.

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Here is the completed ship.    As soon as it is fitted in the sea and case, I will publish the completed photographs.   This will be later today.

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Your model of Mary Celeste is looking really nice

 

That Biro must be quite old and collectable by now……it seems to appear on all your postings!

 

Bob

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