John Fox III

Welcome aboard Michel! Hope you enjoy the journey as much as the rest of us. What sort of ship plans are you looking for? Anchor's A Weigh! John Fox III

Greetings, I did some checking online, and found a USS Independence 1814-1913 listed as a 90 gun ship of the line, first in the US Navy. It was later "razed" into a frigate, and lastly as a receiving ship. Below are two sites with info about that vessel. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Independence_(1814) https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/uss-independence.htm The lasted one has a large sail plan drawing that might be useful. No mention of any sort of plans in this info though. Anchor's A Weigh! John Fox III

Greetings, I've never actually made or used that type of stopper, but can guess how it could be accomplished. I suspect the vertical part inside the neck of the bottle has a slot in which a piece of wood would be pinned so that it could slide inside the vertical part during insertion, then rotated 90 degree so that it would lock the stopper in. Anchor's A Weigh! John Fox III

Greetings, I said that based on my own experience and a host of other models I've sen. I suppose it is possible it was someone's first ship in model build, but it seems to be more advanced in technique and execution in my mind. Perhaps I should not have used the "definitely", just looks a bit more advanced to me. Anchor's A Weigh! John Fox III

That is certainly an interesting find! Definitely does not look like a first model, perhaps others exist by the same builder? Anchor's A Weigh! John Fox III

Greetings Joe, We all made silly mistakes in the beginning, always pays to remember we all start this journey in the same place. Your model looks much better than my first s-i-b for sure! Welcome aboard! Anchor's A Weigh! John Fox III

Greetings Dan, Do try to remember that I've been doing this sort of modeling for 40+ years now, everybody starts with banging rocks! Too boot, I've made more mistakes and bad solutions to problems in that time than you'd do in the same time frame. I usually try to work "outside the box:" so I am often working things I've never seen done before, with many attempts until I actually find something that works. Also, keep in mind that one solution doesn't work for every model. I've had to adapt the inside the bottle/bulb upper hull holder many times to accamodate various different models. In the particular model from the photos last posted, my Bon Homme Richard, all the lines excited from beneath the upper hull. Many reasons for it, mostly due to attempting to duplicate all of the rigging, the vast majority being running rigging that needed to be "operated" from outside the light bulb to move the sails into position. Your America looks very nice, clean and good hull shape and display! Good luck in Manitowoc in a few weeks!! Anchor's A Weigh! John Fox III

Greetings Dan, Here are a few photos of what I do when making models with more "control" rigging lines that have to be pulled from outside the bottle/light bulb. I've made several of these, each one designed for specific models, so the openings are in the right place to apply glue to the lines once tightened. Simple wire hoops keep the lines contained to the desired angles to make gluing easier. The "head" end has a rubber pad, then a thin wood slab, with rubber underneath. The arrangement keeps tension on the lines as they are tightened, and allows tension release if a mistake is made. There is a brass 90 degree angle with holes drilled to keep lines separated into groups, to make it easier to label lines. Anchor's A Weigh! John Fox III

Greetings Dan, Looking good! I agree, building and rigging the model is fun, but it is definitely nerve wracking to get it in the bottle and everything finished off. Good luck in Manitawoc, wish I had planned on coming this year, but won't be after all. Anchor's A Weigh! John Fox III

Greetings Dan, You can make them with an inkjet printer and cigarette papers. I've done this many times in the past. Design and print the decals you want on plain paper, then use cellophane tape to put a cigarette paper directly on top of the original print and run it through the printer again. Inkjet ink is water soluble so I then spray it with clear coat of some kind, very lightly and let it dry. Then cut out the decals and use PVA glue to adhere them to the hull. With any luck and with cutting as close to the outlines of the decal items, there will be almost no "edge" to the added decals. Good luck! Anchor's A Weigh! John Fox III

Greetings All, Here's the latest on my 1813 Lawrence/Niagara model at 1:200 scale. Added the fife and pin rails, and their nearly 100 belaying pins. Also started adding the cap rail netting, last photos show how they were made on a jib I constructed. The catheads have also been added to the model. Anchor's A Weigh! John Fox III

Greetings Omni, Thanks! I do try! Anchor's A Weigh! John Fox III

Greetings All, I wrote this a number of years ago, and have shared it in the past, but thought it was appropriate to put it up again for those who had not previously seen it. A Ship Modeler's Rhyme 'Tis the night before Christmas, And out in the shop, Not a creature is stirring As I sit deep in thought. I sit with hot cocoa, Or coffee or rum, While thinking about All the work that's been done. The frames are all glued To the keel and faired, While visions of me planking Hang in mid-air. I envision planking completed, The hull looks so fine. Then I get to check out That new air brush of mine. While the hull sits a drying, I start on the spars. I love this hand carving! My hands bear the scars. Then it's on to the details, The one's no one sees. Like framing 'neath decks, And partners and knees. Finally on to the rigging, Those ratlines and shrouds, Those forestays and backstays For crying out loud! There's no end to this rigging! It just isn't fair! I could have built modern, And had time left to spare! My late night "mind building" Is at last all complete. My cocoa is finished, As I get to my feet. I go to the door, And turn out the lights, I think Merry Modeling To All! And to All a Good Night! Anchor's A Weigh! John Fox III

Greetings All, Have made considerable progress on my 1813 lakes brig model. Cap rail, chain plates, most of the deadeyes and chains, plus most of the deck structures have been added. Much still to do, but getting there. Anchor's A Weigh! John Fox III

Greetings All, Finished adding and rigging all the guns for my Niagara, plus added the chain plates and deadeyes. Added masts temporarily to locate end points for the chains. Anchor's A Weigh! John Fox III