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Dry Dock Modeler

Dry Dock Modeler Building Better Ship Models

Dry Dock Modeler

Dry Dock Modeler

Dry Dock Modeler Building Better Ship Models

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Welcome to Dry Dock Modeler

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Ships in Scale - Latest Issue
September/October '26

Hello from Venice/Santa Monica Calif.

Welcome aboard!!!

By All Mod Cons · 8 minutes ago8 min
Duchess of Kingston Yacht 1772 by Blue Ensign – Vanguard Models – 1:64 scale.

Post 8
9547
The temporary bulkhead cross beams have been installed and the hull structure is now more secure for fairing. The 'broken' ears required additional clamping to secure.
I must now return to the stern area and fix the last two modified bulkheads and the much less robust stern timbers.
This is going to be a testy part of the exercise, gone is the reassuring fit of solid laser cut parts slotting seamlessly into place.
I will now find out whether my modification passes muster, or is classified as fubar as our American cousins may say.
9556
9557
I used a cardboard template of the Quarterdeck to gauge how the run of the deck looks before I commit to gluing Bulkheads 12 and 13 into place.
9500
Bulkhead 12 is first glued ensuring it sits square and vertical, the template is used to check the square.
Bulkhead 13 follows using the same procedure.
9578
When it comes to the Stern frames the central two are glued first, followed by the middle and outer frames.
9579
Spacers/carlings are inserted to brace against any lateral movement.
I used the stern pattern to check that the lights sit properly between the frames, but the real test will be when the broadside patterns are matched up with the stern and counter patterns.
9584
9587
All now fixed into place.
9575
I have decided to fit a Skylight over the Great Cabin which will involve fitting Carlings. There is no indication of one on the single Hillhouse plan, but the Royal Yacht Caroline has one and I’m sure our feisty Duchess would accept no less.
Besides it will offer a view of the Great Cabin.
I also halved the ply Quarterdeck sub pattern for ease of fitment.

B.E.
24/09/2026

By Blue Ensign · 11 minutes ago11 min
HMS Victory 1805 by serikoff - 1:79 - Started with Mantua -> Upgraded with McKay's Anatomy.

Chapter 5. Ship's Head
4/8

...

By serikoff · 18 minutes ago18 min
Sovereign of the Seas 1637 by Brian62 - Manuta - 1:78

All guns built and in place just a bit of rigging to do but that can wait till I start the main rigging.

By Brian62 · 21 minutes ago21 min
HMS Surprise 1796 by Lami - Vanguard Models - 1:64

Second planking looks stunning, I see you have cut your plank lengths down presumably for realism and easy of fitting. Is there a magic scale length as a guide?

By Bomber_County · 28 minutes ago28 min
HMS Victory 1805 by serikoff - 1:79 - Started with Mantua -> Upgraded with McKay's Anatomy.

Chapter 5. Ship's Head
3/8

...

By serikoff · 31 minutes ago31 min
HMS Victory 1805 by serikoff - 1:79 - Started with Mantua -> Upgraded with McKay's Anatomy.

Chapter 5. Ship's Head
2/8

...

By serikoff · 36 minutes ago36 min
HMS Victory 1805 by serikoff - 1:79 - Started with Mantua -> Upgraded with McKay's Anatomy.

Chapter 5. Ship's Head
2024
1/8
This was one of the most challenging stages, partly because there were no detailed plans or blueprints available. While there is a wealth of information and photographs, the kind of precise data found in an Ancre monograph was missing; consequently, I had to fit and adjust almost everything on the fly. I will cover the plastic components in separate posts. The model might look overly bright or glossy in the photos, but that isn't the case in reality; the finish is actually a deep matte. Unfortunately, the lighting and image quality mean not all photos capture the true look, but the model actually looks even better in person. I had originally considered adding masts, but I changed my mind; the model will likely remain in a "completed hull" state, without masts or rigging. It will feature only the bowsprit—complete with its lower stays—and short mast stumps protruding from the decks. Executing the full rigging at this scale would be incredibly difficult and time-consuming—an eternity's worth of work—so I take my hat off to anyone who pulls it off.

Later, I attached the legs to the slab, but I already showed that in the very first photo of this review.
In this build log, I will be sharing only photos. I am documenting the detailed, step-by-step explanations of all the processes on my website at this link >>>

By serikoff · 49 minutes ago49 min
SMS WESPE 1876 by wefalck - 1/160 scale - Armoured Gunboat of the Imperial German Navy - when first commissioned

Porthole Glazing
Following the discussion on ways to make the porthole glazing further up, I looked over all available photographs and came to the conclusion that one does not actually seem to see the bronze frame from the outside. On the other hand, most photographs or their scans do not have sufficient resolution to really see such detail.
In order to make my life simpler, I decided to go for solid Plexiglas plugs. I did have 1 mm Plexiglas rod in stock and short sections were cut from this to make 2 mm long plugs. The plugs have to be a bit longer than their diameter, so that they can be inserted straight. The front face was turned flat on the lathe and the back-end was given a bit of a chamfer for easy entry into the pre-drilled holes after which it was painted black using a black permanent marker pen. The pieces were then transferred to the micro-mill for polishing the front face with a silicon rubber polishing bit.
In order ensure that the porthole plugs are set at equal depth, a little ‘tool’ was made, a punch with a recess of 0.3 mm depth around the rim.

Collection of Plexiglas plugs ready for insertion

Glazed portholes

Glazed portholes

To be continued ....

By wefalck · 1 hour ago1 hr
tools for milling sheets and strips for ship modelling

The guide stays fixed in place (in the T-track). You set it to the strip thicness you want - say 2mm - out from the outside edge of the saw blade. After that, as each strip comes off you just move the fence up until the now slightly thinner workpiece butts up against the little roller wheel on the jig. The roller wheel guides the outer side of the workpiece accurately into the spinning blade. Quick and easy.

By Tony Hunt · 2 hours ago2 hr

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