Build Log: Jotika/Caldercraft 1/64 HM Brig Badger

Joined
Mar 22, 2012
Messages
130
Points
38

Location
Laguna, Philippines
Hello to all,

I've been building this kit (my 3rd ship) for some time now, I'm already a bit far into the build but I thought I'd share my progress here. It's better late than never right? ;-)

For some historical info, this model is based on a captured American Brig in 1777, whose original plans can be seen at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich as shown in the link below:

http://prints.rmg.co.uk/image/767573/unknown-lines-and-profile-plans-of-badger-1777

Comparisson of their lines showed Jotika's kit to be spot on for this particular draft so kudos to Jotika for that :cool:

The company however went a step further in their marketing gig, stating that this particular kit represents the first command of Admiral Horatio Nelson, of Trafalgar fame, but this particular bit was later proven untrue after our lengthy discussions in another ship modelling site :geek:

So suffice it to say that my kit represents the NMM drafts of an American brig captured in 1777... Period.

Anyway, enough history and on to the fun part starting with completion of the hull :)


badgerresizea_171.jpg


badgerresizec_120.jpg


As can be seen, she's a bit messy now with all those wood dust, but further sanding and some varnish will take care of that :)
 
Thanks very much for the kind words, I've been sorting out my pics and loading them into photobucket as recommended :)

Finally been able to upload all significant pics, I'm sneaking in some internet time while at work, hope they don't notice :techie-typing:

Anyway, here are more pics:

Start of fitting out
12_172.jpg


Working on the guns: in the kit, the trunion caps are supposed to be held down by 2 dome shaped pins:
2.jpg


Comparing this to an actual cannon of HMS Endeavour, the pins look way oversized :shock:
3.jpg


To closely match the original, I decided that I would need to do some modifications. Below is a close up picture of my Badger's prototype cannon showing all the modifications I have added :)
4.jpg


I ended up applying these modifications to all 12 cannons, except for the scratchbuilt chain, which was nearly microscopic at the scale involved :shock:
I also decided to completely rig each gun :)


Here she is after installation of all the fittings and guns:

stern_1_778.jpg


3_254.jpg


portside_420.jpg


stern_408.jpg


dsc05695_734.jpg


17_377.jpg
 
Looks like you are doing a real nice job on this model. Yes, I believe that the pins seem extra large. I would think that brass round headed nails would have looked more realistic. But, remember, this is a learning process. The Caldercraft kits seem to be well made and have a lot of detail. I have 4 kits in my closet awaiting me. I have Mantua's "Soverign of the Seas" to build after finishing my current build of the "La Soleil Royal" by Mantua. Eventual, I would like to try Caldercraft's Victory.
 
Hi Gary,

Thanks very much for the encouraging words, they are much appreciated :)

I had some flat head pins from my HMS Cruiser and was indeed planning on using them, however, since I will modify the cannons, I decided to go all the way with a complete hinge and locking mechanism for the trunion caps as seen in the close up of my prototype cannon :)

I have seen your build of Soleil Royal, you're doing a great job on her Sir, she's coming along beautifully :cool:
The Caldercraft's Victory is an excellent choice, Caldercraft really puts a lot of research into their work and their Victory is the best so far. I will build the HMS Pegasus after this, then hopefully also move on to a "ship of the line" if everything goes well :handgestures-fingerscrossed:

thanks very much for that tip, I'll put it to good use and try to break down my posts into sub-assemblies, just like the real model ;-)

So, on to the build..of course after fitting out starts the work on the masts.

dsc05803-1.jpg


Here she is after completion of the masts

dsc06510_136-1.jpg


dsc06525_767.jpg


dsc06506_101.jpg



Work on the yards begins
dsc06538.jpg



Yards after completion
dsc06791_678.jpg


Here's my high-tech method of shaping the footropes :lol:
dsc06681_121.jpg


Yards dry-fitted to check if everything is square
dsc06731_130.jpg


Thanks for watching, more pics coming up :text-thankyouyellow:
 
OK, we have fitted out our ship and gave it some masts, time to put on the threads to this little critter ;-)

Starting work on the shrouds
black_tarry_ropes_how_exciting_woohoo__122.jpg


Futtock staves cut oversized and glued to the shrouds (No knots for now)
My hi-tech cardboard spacing jig is used to make sure the staves are angled symetrically athwartships
distancing_jig_made_of_cardboard_and_taped_to_the_mast_tops_618.jpg


Planks are also glued forward and aft of the staves to make sure they remain in place when I start to lash the futtock shrouds and catharpins
dsc06780_188.jpg


Now for everyones favorite part of the build, the Ratlines :grin:
Note my hi-tech spacer jig: a 5mm plank held in place by clothespins :lol:
rattling_jig_made_of_2_5mm_planks_sandwiching_the_shrouds_in_between_169.jpg


crazy_little_things_called_rats_to_the_tune_of_crazy_little_thing_called_love_127.jpg




Shrouds and ratlines complete :grin:

dsc07081_248.jpg


dsc07080_201.jpg


DSC07082.jpg


DSC07086.jpg



Alignment check on the futtock shrouds, staves and catharpins... I guess the jigs did their work rather nicely ;-)

alignment_check__151.jpg


foremast_futtock_shrouds_741.jpg
 
Hello Barba,

Thank you for the kind words, it means a lot to me, coming from an expert modeller like you :)

And now for some more updates, here she after all standing rigging has been lashed on:
standing1.jpg


standing3.jpg


Standing rigging done, time to start some work on the running rigging :banana-dance:

running2.jpg


running3.jpg


running1.jpg


The last 3 pictures above reflect my Badger on her current stage of build, about 1 1/2 years in the making :oops:
Partly due to work, other hobbies and a 2 y/o child getting most of my time, but mainly because I'm quite a lazy modeller :lol: :lol: :lol:

Thanks very much for watching :text-thankyouyellow:

More pics to come, once I have some substantial progress to show. 'Till then, rock on mates! :music-rockout: :music-rockout: :music-rockout:
 
I have a daughter, 3,5 years old. She start to help dady in shipyard :angry-banghead: , but world remains to younger.

Barba
 
Thanks very much Sjors and Anja, your kind words mean a lot to me :)

Sjors: I have no doubt that you can rig La Mirage excellently, you've already done a great job on your Corsair, you will do even better on the Mirage :handgestures-thumbup:

Anja: Thanks very much for the tip, I think I'll let me daughter scratbuild her own boat from my excess planks :lol:
 
Beautiful work Aldo, I am new to wooden ships, havent even started my first yet. Looking at great work makes me want to start it soon !

Tony
 
Hello Tony, Barba and Børge

Thanks very much guys for visiting my log as well as for the kind words, I appreciate it :D I'm sorry for the late reply, I've been very busy with work lately and so have had little time to check on my log.

@ Tony: I'm pleased to know that you're interested in trying out wooden ships mate, I too have been building mostly plastic/resin kits for so many years and have juts lately tried out wooden kits. Come jump right in with us, it's a totally different but rewarding experience, and this site is full of friendly people to look over your shoulder and guide you through any problems you may encounter. Your previous modelling experience is a big plus once you start your wooden ship :)

@ Barba: Thanks for the compliments on the wood, I used the stock that came with the kit (walnut for the hull and fittings and tanganyika for the decks) :)

@ Børge: Thanks for dropping by, I've had a look at your ship log, she's looking really great, and your modifications look really sweet :)
 
Hello to all,

Time for some updates.

I built the kit-supplied boats, which were mostly made of resin

boats.jpg


Badger however, was mostly natural wood, so I tried to paint the boats to look like natural wood... the result was a disaster! :shock:
I then repainted the boats a white exterior with red inside but placing them against Badger showed that their color was too pronounced and didn't match Badger :sad:

DSC08275.jpg


My final solution.... I will scratchbuild the little critters using wood :twisted:
 
Hi Aldo
Your ship is coming along very nice, she looks outstanding, you do first class work.
My final solution.... I will scratchbuild the little critters using wood

Way to go :), i know all about kit supplied stuff, and the looks of it, :angry-banghead:

I say:

"make it yourself, get it right,and it's a unique piece of work."
 
I am surprised with such a nice looking kit and the results you are getting with the build that they would have given you these type of boats. It makes you wonder if this is the first kit they designed and never updated or was it intentional to keep the skill level required lower.
 
Thanks Borge and Gary for dropping in and for your kind words :D
These are actually the "latest" in Jotika's line of ship's boats. The pre-shaped resin hull was supposed to make it easier for the builder to make a decent shaped boat without the difficult planking that was required on their older boat kits. They're actually not that bad once painted as their lines are quite true when compared to Admiralty drafts, the main problem is my preference of natural wood for Badger totally made them useless :mad: I decided to use them as templates for cutting a new wooden stem, keel and transom... to do that, I had to cut these parts from rest of their hull, a bit brutal, but it was worth it :twisted: I'm nearly finished resizing my scratch-build updates to the allowed pixel size and will post them once done, thanks for watching guys, more updates to come :D
 
Your attention to detail is outstanding ! I like the way you did the cannon's brackets . That is as close to the real thing as you can get . A little extra time makes a huge difference . I had a real ships plank in which they carved cups into with a metal bar going across for a hand hold and it's those little things a lot of people miss . You don't miss a thing in details Excellence at it's best .This is one of the best on SOS Beautiful Ship . A masterpiece ! Bravo !
 
Back
Top