HMS Warrior 1781

I know it has been a long time since I have updated this site, work has progressed slowly due to a lot different things (mainly a job change that requires a lot of travel).  I have finished the basic stern structure and the two layers of wales as well as the cannon ports on both sides of the ship.  However……. I am not sure if I will continue with further construction.   The HMS Warrior Practicum was written by the Rev. William Romero.  I have recently learned of some very disturbing news regarding the author that has left a distinctly bad taste in my mouth and a desire to never finish this project.   At this point I would consider this blog closed.  Right now I am tempted to burn the model and the books.  Please see the following links for clarification:

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2004_01_06/2004_02_08_Zagier_ExPriest.htm

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2003_07_12/2003_10_14_Zagier_ExNaples.htm

Jeff

This website as well as all 7 of my websites has been hacked twice in the past 48 hours.  The attacks have been occurring at my account where all 7 sites are stored on the web hosting service. It was not aimed at me personally (I don’t think), as others are experiencing similar problems. Let’s just face it, there are some malicious assholes out there in the world.

The hacks have mainly been bots (I’m pretty sure) that insert bits of code into web pages. So far the code has done nothing more than break sites that use php scripting (like this one). The code is poorly implemented and the php pages simply fail to load and execute.

The databases appear untouched (so everyone’s private information is fine), but just to be sure I have restored them from archived backups.

I have implemented a few more security measures last night that I hope will keep the bastards out from now on. Fingers crossed.

I am in the process of rebuilding the site, bear with me.  All pictures must be re-uploaded from backups.

I modded my waterline marking jig that I posted about yesterday.  I drilled a 3/32″ hole above the pencil hole for a 3/32″ steel rod (pointed on one end) to be inserted so that the jig can also be used for taking measurements or scribing.  You can also hang a level off the back end to check if it is level.

I originally drilled a 1/16″ hole for a brass rod that I had laying around, but it was a little too “bendy”  Steel works much better.

Amati makes a waterline marking jig, I figured I could make one cheaper out of scrap wood and hardboard.

a couple of carriage bolts, washers, a wing nut, and a locking nut keep the movable slide in place:

A little brass screw in the side of the pencil holds it in place:

I took an old wooden ruler, ripped in it half on the table saw, thinned down the halves to 3/64″ in the thickness sander and then glued them in place; inches on one side, centimeters on the other.  Make sure to cut off an appropriate amount from the bottom of the ruler halves to account for the height of the blocks at the bottom of the jig.   🙂

I milled down one of my ebony sticks today, originally it was 1.5″ x 1.5″ x 24″.  I cut 4 strips 1/4″ thick plus one strip 5/64″ on the band saw.

I milled these down to 7/32 and 3/64 respectively in the thickness sander.  I then took one of the 7/32 strips and cut it down to three pieces 7-8″ long, each of these I then cut into strips that were 4/64″ thick (on the Byrnes table saw).  I then milled these down in the thickness sander to an even 3/64″.  From one of the 7/32 x24″ strips I was able to get 37 strips that 3/64′ X 7-8″, plus 10 pieces that were a little too thin in parts (but may still be usable).

If I mill down another 2 of the 7/32 x 24″ strips, I’ll still have a LOT of ebony left over, more than enough.  Ebony stinks when you cut it – somewhere between a beer belch and vomit.  But hey it kept the family out my workshop all night.  🙂

The practicum has you make several jigs to aid in planking the hull, basically they are a series of wood planks with a “grill” on them so that you can suspend spales and bits of wood to hold planks in place as the glue sets.

I made the jigs today – there are no explicit plans for these, just a few vague pix.  I over-engineered them.

To make the grills, I milled out a few strips of wood and then mortised everything together.

I then glued the grills to the main pieces of wood.  There are 4 jigs, two that attach to the sides of the construction box and run the full length of the hull, there are two smaller jigs that mount on the construction board surface at an angle for the bows of the ship

Here are two of the finished jigs:

And attached to the construction frame (with a spale in place to show how they work):

There is another set of jigs for the other side of the hull.

Looking at the side jigs, they are very close to the hull and may make getting in there to attach the planks difficult – I’m not so sure how much I’ll use them, but oh well, they were a project while waiting for my wood shipment to arrive.