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| Jefferson Davis | ||
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| Author | Post | ||
| Jerry Partick |
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 Registered Member #4481 Joined: Tue Sep 02 2014, 02:43pmPosts: 16 | There is a steep learning curve associated with POF model building! When I decided to check this item off my bucket list, I had no idea of the precision required nor had I any idea of the grand resources that are available on this website. As I may have said before, I have been blessed with the ability to look at a picture and build whatever I am looking at without plans. Uh-Oh...not a good idea in POF building. As a matter of fact, having the gift of being able to build from a picture is a detriment when one decides to build a POF model from scratch. I would have been so much better informed had I known about the practicums on this website. So much time would have been saved by becoming familiar with terminology and technique. Now, after starting with some confidence that I could do it, I was called out on first and learned another lesson of life. When in doubt, follow the instructions! So, I have been pouring over the various practicums and now find myself better prepared. I've got my 31 square frames about half finished now and before I figure out how where and how to put the aft can't frames in position. I'll also build the building base with the keel in position. What a great purpose-oriented website this is... More another day, Jerry | ||
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| Jerry Partick |
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| Registered Member #4481 Joined: Tue Sep 02 2014, 02:43pmPosts: 16 | The Jefferson Davis is still a work in progress. I haven't posted on the log since I seem to be stuck on finishing the frames and putting them on the keel. I think I have made each of the 31 frames at least two times and sometime three times. As for the can't frames of the stern and the bow, I decided to make a solid piece as is illustrated. I'm to happy about that but I couldn't figure a way to support the cants while the glue dried. I think the problems in the construction are entirely mine and due to lack of experience. I've lost some of my confidence in my ability to build anything that I have a picture of and no plans. I don't want to complain but the booklet that I got before making the decision to build is not very helpful when building from scratch. It may be that the book was written to be an item used with the kit. For example, there is absolutely no illustrations nor instructions about how to build and place the Bow Cant frames and perhaps two sentences and a fair illustration about the stern cants. Is this a common problem across the board in ship model building? Under any circumstances, I am making my way slowly but surely. One thing that interests me is a philosophical point. Man lives in the three dimensional world. It is such a beautiful third dimension the average man such as myself doesn't consider the third dimension except .... it's there and we are so used to it that it never occurs to this average person except in rare instances. The expert model builder is the exception to this rule. He/she lives and breathes his model in three dimensions. It becomes a habit, an exceptionally beautiful habit that focuses that ability. I hope I am able to incorporate this ability in my life on a cognizant level. A good thing building a plank on frame model has done for me. Soon I will post some photos of the frames, in place but not glued. | ||
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| daves |
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 Registered Member #105 Joined: Wed Jul 15 2009, 12:01pmPosts: 2624 | Jerry Partick wrote ... There is a steep learning curve associated with POF model building! When I decided to check this item off my bucket list, I had no idea of the precision required nor had I any idea of the grand resources that are available on this website. As I may have said before, I have been blessed with the ability to look at a picture and build whatever I am looking at without plans. Uh-Oh...not a good idea in POF building. As a matter of fact, having the gift of being able to build from a picture is a detriment when one decides to build a POF model from scratch. The thing is Jerry many of the old shipwrights built full scale and never used plans, so why not model ships. You will find a large part of ship plan collections will have plans that say "as built" that is the ship was built first and plans drawn from the ship. I have built plank on frame model ships without using plans and your right it is the skill of spatial orientation that is knowing a point and putting in relation to points around it in 3D. Knowing the XY coordinate you can find the Z. It is like watching someone sculpting say a face in clay there are no "plans" they are using spatial skills from one point to the next. [ Edited Mon Nov 17 2014, 04:11pm ] | ||
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| Jerry Partick |
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| Registered Member #4481 Joined: Tue Sep 02 2014, 02:43pmPosts: 16 | Daves, Thanks for the perceptive response. Hope I can live up to it... | ||
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| Gary M |
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| Registered Member #4198 Joined: Tue May 07 2013, 10:50pmPosts: 909 | Hi Jerry, your reflections on ship modeling ares well stated. As for your frame problem, I feel your pain on the redo's. I have burned up many a tree trying to get the frames right on my Eagle. Many of the frames were done two and three times. As for your build log, post some pictures so we can see what your up to. There are many here that can help. We all learn from each other. And, yes, ship model instructions are not known for being detailed or even accurate. Stick with it, the rewards are ever lasting. Gary | ||
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| daves |
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| Registered Member #105 Joined: Wed Jul 15 2009, 12:01pmPosts: 2624 | many model builders follow the old ship plans as if they are "builders plans" which they are not, they are an artists rendition of what the ship looked like or how it should look like. Those plans are not to scale and in most cases inaccurate. The draftsman of those days were not concerned that the plans they drew actually worked. In other words spatial orientation is not a concern it was up to the builder to figure out how to build the ship so it works. Here is a prime example this is a exact tracing direct from the plans of the Caustic the red line is the deck line looking closer  red line is deck line the blue line is inside of the frame and the green line is the inside planking to the right is a gun sled again an exact tracing from the plans. Ok so far so good now the sled width has to fit the correct size gun carriage so the width is set. these are pivot guns that are turned on an iron ring. In CAD a draftsman can work to exact sizes so lets see what happens when we pivot the bow gun  BANG! it hits the side of the ship so did the draftsman sit down and do the math? the plans were only meant to show a very general size and layout? The builder has to figure out how to make it all work. spatial orientation another is the admiralty plan of the Princess Charlotte "drawn as built" in other words the ship was there the draftsman was drawing what he is looking at. But still his drawings were 10 feet off from the measured wreck. I have come across many plans where the height of gun ports are either to low or two high for the size guns. Drawings of sterns where the right half does not line up with the left half. These are drafting errors or drafting within the accepted "artists drawing of a ship" | ||
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| Jerry Partick |
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| Registered Member #4481 Joined: Tue Sep 02 2014, 02:43pmPosts: 16 | Very nice observation and example! Your point is well taken AND instructional. Wish my perception reached such depths! Thanks | ||
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