I finally decided to try and tackle a BIG build. I mean, I have all these fantastic models sitting on my hard drive, waiting to be built, and all I ever do is build some props here or a small shack there to use in my RPG sessions...

NO MORE!

The decision between The Maiden and Shellendrak wasn't an easy one, but in the end The Maiden wn out because it has a clearly laid-out plan of what to built and where to put it. Shellendrak is more flexible that way - and thus more intimidating (no pun intended) for a beginner like me.

I have printed a large amount already, but I'm still missing the masts and some other things, but those can wait a bit as I want to get started...
I also have my tools ready and my foamcore at hand (took me a while to find a store that has black foamcore), and so I started out into deeper waters (pun intended).

Right now, I have the decks cut and ready for mounting onto the foamcore.
Pictures wil follow as soon as I have something to show.

Oh, and while I'm at it: You know how "it's not a real build unless you shed some blood"? Well, I'm past that stage already! While cutting out the decks I managed to poke my left ring finger with my cutting knife.

I'd say that counts as a pirate christening!

OK, here come the first pics. YEY!

The tools I use

Two cutting knives, two kinds of glue (one regular, one superglue), a cutting board and a metal ruler.


The first lay-out trial

Trying to fit all the deck pieces onto a single sheet of foamcore... It works!


The finished product

All the deck pieces glued to the foamcore, with the cargo hole transparencies in place and the mast and skylight holes cut out.

Looking good

It's a fun build and was actually the first WWG project I tackled.

I hope to see the final result soon...looks nice!

I see you use those exacto knifes or whatever they are called. Piece of advise that I found out after buying those same knifes you have and buying expensive refill blades and still struggling with dull blades all the time:

Buy one of those breakaway knifes. They are dirt cheap, refills are dirt cheap, they cut ten times better AND straighter than those exacto knifes, they stay sharp longer and when they go dull you have like 8 snap-off blades. You can pick 'em up at Home Depot or Michaels. Note on the HD one (yellow, from stanley): I like it OK, but I don't like the way the blade lock works, because I end up extending the blade during a cut because I accidentally end up unlocking the blade during a cut.

I use those snap off blades too, because of the cost of x-acto blades.

But skip home depot or other stores like that. At a dollar store near me I found the snap off blade knife which included a 10 pack of replacement blades, for a $1!

I had those knives lying around here anyway (from my WH 40k hobby), plus a set of blades for them, too.
And while I appreciate your advice, I can't take it - due to the fact that I live in Germany and the stores you recommend simply don't exist around here. (But there's other stores with similar products, so not all is lost.)
Oh, and I do have a selection of snap-off knives, too. I just didn't use them on the first part of my build, hence they are not in the pic...

Tomorrow I'll start cutting out the wall sections for the lower hull. Hopefully I'll have them assembled by the weekend.

Hi Grimskull, I'm an immigrant from the Netherlands, and I used to own one of those snap off breakaway knives before I ever immigrated.

The knifes we talk about are the ones you see Danny use in the videos where he demonstartes the hobby on this page http://www.worldworksgames.com/store/index.php?main_page=infopages&pages_id=4&zenid=5f2c25cbaf0a50a39c26f69bc75be56d. I am sure you can pick one up at eeither a hobby store or a Hardware store in Germany (or anywhere else in the world, for that matter).

As to the dollar store thing, that's fine, but my little knife was $2.95 and came with three snap-off blades that stay in the handle. I thought that was good enough. (I paid $8.00 for the damn' exacto knife and $12 or more for the refill blades, and it doesn't even work, ugh)

Good luck on the Maiden, Noshrok!

And congrats on blooding your build.

Back with new pics.
Didn't make it all the way through the hull yet - what with running two RPG sessions and what-not in the last two days I didn't have as much time as I hoped.
But anyway, here's my progress:

The rear hull

Had this done on Thursday.

The rudder

Also part of the Thursday building session.

The main hull

Finished this part yesterday, though I still need to touch up some problem areas where a bit of white cardstock is still showing.

Interior shot

Not much to say here - I did this shot just for fun.

Lesson learned: Edging goes smoother if you use a pen with a soft tip.

The parts for the forward hull are already cut, folded, glued and edged, so I'd say that by tomorrow the next pic could be up.

I´ll wait for it. Yours pictures are like a Maiden tutorial...may be to much useful to me when i decide built it...thx for sharing!...

You're welcome, gloriar.
It's nice to know that someone can actually profit from this - otherwise it would just be me showing off my build.

As promised, here's the next set of pics.

Another interior shot

The first was towards the rear of the ship. This one is towards the (now completed) front of the ship, with the mast support boxes already in place, too.

The forward hull

Wasn't easy getting this thing into shape. I eventually resorted to superglue for fixing the tags of the bow pieces to the deck because superglue makes for an almost instand bond. And thanks to the thoughtfully provided bow brace, one can afford to be a bit sloppy with those tags, too!

Another shot of the bow

I even went with the cut-open doors thing. This was actually quite easy (apart from the edging, which got a bit harder in the small corners of the door frame, but hey, the effect was worth it!).

The almost complete hull in its full glory

Now I only have to add the support beams and the ratline ledges and I'm done with the hull.

That is looking like one clean build. I tried to rush mine when I started and now I'm just starting the whole thing over.

Keep up the great work and the really nicely detailed pics!

Coming on great! Thanks for the images they make a great tutorial.

Before you start on the top decks maybe an addition: For a more realistic look of the top deck grids don't use the transparencies but the method below. It took me an 1 1/2 hrs extra for all three grids but the result is definitely worth it:



Copy part 1 three times. Then cut as shown in 2-4. Edge carefully (this took the longest) and paint 2+3 black/brown on the backside. Then start with 2 then glue 3 ontop and finally 4 ...

Wow, great stuf Noshrok. It's really cool to see the Maiden come together from this perspective. Keep up the great work! She's worth the effort

Look very nice....I want built one!!!!!!!!!!

Next update from Da Ork.

The complete hull

This last step took me longer than I thought, but cutting, folding and edging those 12 support beams really ate up time. Also, attaching the ratline ledges wasn't so easy as there is very little area on those pieces where you can actually apply pressure without crushing them (as I almost did ).

Front ratline ledges and support beams

Applying the front ratline ledges was a real strain as there is a slight curve in the bow at the point where the ledges belong. And since you can't apply as much pressure as you might want (see text for above pic)... Eventually, I resorted to superglue again - got the hull-facing side of the ledge in place with regular glue and then worked my way towards the bow and along the curvage using superglue. Worked like a charm.


Now that the hull is complete, I'm tempted to do some of the interior walls, but I want to get more of the actual ship done before I go into making prop pieces.
So, next up should be either the bow or the stern castle.

That is a great look to the grate.

Keep those update pics coming! She's looking super.

Did you notice the quality of his pictures?

How come this guy isn't doing the pictures for the instruction sets?

UHF brings up a good point - what is your set up for those shots; camera, lighting and so on?

Picture tips would be great. I desperately need to improve mine.

What a beautiful build.

Im agree...

Wow!
Thanks, guys.

I'm really just an amateur with a digital camera at hand...
I use a Sony Cyber-shot 5.0 Mega Pixels. Lens / Optical 3x, f=7.9-23.7mm 1:2.8-5.2. (No, I have no idea what all those numbers mean. I just wrote down what's written on the camera. )
And as for set up and lighting:
Here's my "Workspace" where I cut, fold, glue and take pics.

Da Ork's Workspace

Yep, just your plain ol' sunroom / conservatory (minus the plants).
The hull sat on the couch during "photo sessions" and for lighting I use good oldfashioned sunlight.
And if a pic doesn't sit right with me (thanks to cameras with displays it's easy to check!), I just re-shoot from a slightly different position.

So, there's my secret: I don't know what I'm doing, but I'm doing great. Guess I'm just lucky!

Oh, and for those of you who didn't notice: Those parts scattered on the table and the chair are from the bow castle.

Next update: The bow castle.

In the last shot you see all the parts for the bow castle still unassembled, but now it is done. Yep, that was fast, but assembling the piece is pretty easy and all the parts were ready to be glued together - cut, edged, folded, the works.
(Cutting out the handrail was a pain... )

So, here goes:

The bow castle - almost there

"Why almost? This thing looks good.", you might think. Look closely. Or look at the next pic.

A problem?

See? After building the castle, the handrail pieces gaped apart due to slight bending and warping. And truth be told: This looked like crap. Take a closer look at the first pic to see the full effect.
A solution was needed...

Presto - problem solved

Ta-da!
I just grabbed a length of brown string from my mom's sewing kit and tied it around each problem area, fixing them into place. Easy as pie.

NOW we're done

Doesn't this look better?

And another interior shot

Again, I went for the open door thing and put in the transparencies. It just looks better that way, IMHO.

Granted, with the strings holding the handrail in place, putting the roof into place is a tight fit, but it works, so I'm good with that solution.

Next up should be the stern castle, but I highly doubt this will be up before Sunday...

[quote="Noshrok Grimskull]Yep, just your plain ol' sunroom / conservatory (minus the plants).
The hull sat on the couch during "photo sessions" and for lighting I use good oldfashioned sunlight.[/quote]

I live in the Seattle area... sunshine, sunroom... what are these things you speak of?

Thanks for info! Keep on building, it's looking awesome!

Well my camera is 5.2 megapixels so I guess I need to take pictures somewhere else then my basement work area. Sadly I lack a sun room, and the rain will be preventing any photo tests outside today.

LD2062- yeah you gotta LOVE Michigan weather, one minute it will be nice and sunny and 70 out the the next minute cloudy, windy and temps dropping. BTW LD where in Michigan are you, I am in the Flint area.

And to keep this on topic. Noshrok great work, the string is a nice little fix and also something I have have seen once or twice on the corner of railings on a tall ship or two.