April 2020

There was no meeting this month due to concerns for the health of our club members and visiting public because of the present COVID-19 pandemic.  Members are encouraged to submit progress on their builds to Ray for publication in his monthly newsletter and also here, on this website.

Phil M. reports he has finished planking the starboard side of his Spanish (Basque) Whaling Galleon San Juan.

​Note that the colour of the planking changed just one strake higher than the upper deck. On the original, the higher up the planking went, the thinner it became until finally it was deal (softwood), although the wales continued in oak.  Sometimes, the wale was a “T” shape so that it overlapped the strake above and below, sometimes it was “L” shaped and occasionally a thinner wale was nailed down the middle and on top of a wider plank.  He had intended to use Castello Boxwood for the deal, but his stock is largely a darker wood, likely heartwood, and so ended up using Poplar for the lighter coloured wood.

Next he will begin cutting Swiss Pear for the Wales on the port side. Even though it will be largely open, the shrouds are fastened to postarios which in turn, are bolted to the wales.

Alan reports that he had completed adding the bits and pieces (cleats, saddles, and hoops) to the bare bowsprit he had made last year for his HMS Bellerophon (1786;  1:64 scale).  He has also made the two yards for the bowsprit and jib boom assembly.  For a full description of what was involved  download the accompanying PDF here......

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