1/300 Santa Maria build

[Texman]

In 14 hundred 92
Columbus sailed the ocean blue
Never built a sail ship don't have a clue
So I'm not really quite sure what to do


Feeling the need for something so radically different for me,
I decided to try my hand at a sailing ship. Not wanting a
huge committment on my first try, I chose the Santa Maria
by PaperKids. Originally designed in 1/150, I reduced it to
1/300.

After collecting reference material, I have started to discover
an entirely new language. Main upper yard, bowsprit, capstan,
foremast, etc. Spanker? Who names a part of a ship spanker?

While trying to decide where to start, I chose to try some experiments
with the sails. Being a small scale, I knew the paper sails as printed
would be to thick, and just wouldn't look right. After some pontification
about possible ideas, I grabbed a piece of white tissue paper, cut out an
8 x 10 piece, and taped it to a piece of cardstock.

After running it through the printer, I realized this would be the way to
go. Although very light and delicate, I think in 1/300 they should provide
a most convincing sail.



Next, I thought why not go ahead and attempt the masts. After several days of looking
for a small dowel, I found some 2mm mini dowels at the craft store. Being to large to use
out of the bag, I chucked them in the Dremel tool, and began sanding them down.
The main mast was going to be to short, so I spliced two pieces together to
get the 2.5 in mast I needed. The main mast is 1.5mm, and between the other
masts and arms, they range in size from .5 to 1.0 mm. Here are the masts and arms,
roughed in, they will be stained and cut to length when I install them.



And, just to give a quick idea of how the primary masts line up on the drawing.

[Peter Walker]

Looks very interesting so far. I'm looking forward to seeing the progress on this one.

[Texman]

My next experiment, is how to rig the deadeyes. I spent a considerable amount of time in
failed experiments, drawings, thoughts, and came up with nothing. Using my Japanese punch drill,
I tried punching out the little 1.5mm deadeye, drilling small holes for the "rope", tried to rig it, it failed.
Then tried to double the deadeye, drill the hole, put it in a jig to get the proper distance,
and rig it with the "rope", it failed. Then, in a moment of clarity, it dawned on me.

In this small scale, "rigging" the deadeye is not a necessity. Only the appearance of a rigged
deadeye will do what I need. So I punched out a set of deadeyes, two for each, a front and a back.
I made a jig (on the left in the picture) using the parts I punched out from. With the rigging
markings on the jig, I merely made three slits at each end to accept the "rope". Placing the "ropes"
in the jig, I then glued one set of top and bottom deadeyes to the "rope" using the same cutouts
I took the deadeyes from. Then I turned the jig over, and glued the other set of deadeyes to the "rope"
sandwiching it between the parts.

I took the deadeyes out of the jig, clipped the two outer "ropes" (leaving the center one
long for attachment points) and painted them with a little brown paint.

What I spent two days and numerous tries and hours failing at, I accomplished in
about 10 minutes with the new method. Not completely accurate, but provides the visual look of a rigged deadeye.

[dhanners]

My thoughts:
1) You're insane;

2) 'T'is a brave man who runs tissue through a printer (even if it is taped to a piece of paper);

3) Yet again, you're on the road to building a great model that a lot of us will watch, drool over and take inspiration from. I think I commented that your Cobra gunship made me think of the smell of avgas, and this one is going to make me smell the ocean.

[Michael Mash]

Good show.
Appearances are everything.
Mike

[Texman]

Peter, David, Michael, thank you for stopping by and checking in. I hope my attempts are up to standard for you!

Regarding the deadeyes/ratlines. After walking away for a little while, I have
come upon a further refinement of my methods. Using the entire ratline/deadeye part,
I can use the entire assembly as a jig. I tested one deadeye/ratline setup, and it works!

Got some committments, so more progress and pics of the new improved method tomorrow.

[Yale]

Originally Posted by Texman

... I have started to discover
an entirely new language. Main upper yard, bowsprit, capstan,
foremast, etc. Spanker? Who names a part of a ship spanker?

You bring to mind a classic old limerick:

A voyaging lady, Miss Panker,
Once napped while the ship rode at anchor.
She awoke with dismay,
When she heard the mate say,
"Let's hoist up the top sheet and spanker!"

Best wishes for your Santa Maria. Your experimental techniques seem very interesting -- they make me wonder if paper made from hemp, bamboo, or other such non-standard material would make more realistic sails.

[Texman]

Todays work consisted of trying the new method of working the deadeyes
and lines. In the first picture, you can see the jig I decided to go with. By keeping the
printed part as my guide, I popped out the deadeyes, and poked a hole everywhere I needed a line to go.



I colored a thread of my .004 nylon line, and then, using a single piece, was
able to thread all of the lines through the part. I then inserted a shim
in between lines to raise it enough to glue the intersections (this replicates
the knot that was used). I also added the two pieces of each deadeye, sandwiching the lines between them.



When this had dried I cut the lines and trimmed them up.
Then I painted the deadeyes and stays, along with the shroud lines.



It doesn't look as good in the pictures as it does in person, due to the magnification.
But, the part is only 2.5 inches from top to bottom. This is only one side for the
forward mast, I still have another, and two 5 shroud line pieces for the main mast!

Thanks for stopping by!

[Texman]

After looking at how I was working the shrouds/ratlines, it occured to me that I went
about it the hard way. So I printed another set of lines, this time making my threading
holes a little farther out. Then, I cut out the center area, thus allowing me to make a
much cleaner set of lines, without the glue/lines sticking to the paper and making
such a mess at the "knots" in the lines.



Work continues....

[jimkrauzlis]

Oh, what a brave man...your enthusiasm is admirable, and I believe will be amply rewarded seeing how well you are tackling this project.

Rigging at this scale is, in many respects, more appearance than execution, as it is too small to properly rig in the actual fashion, yet making it "look" right is a bit more attainable...your deadeye lanyards are a great example. You'll probably do a similar thing when it comes to setting up the blocks and tackle of the running rigging. Are you going to attempt to match the rigging shown in that rigging plan you show us, if so that is going to be an amazing looking ship!

Looking forward to more, Ray!!

Cheers!
Jim