Dark Elf Corsair Ship

[Crowsfoot]

Amazing work, hope (wishing) your providing a scale plan of every piece when finished

[cultofkhaine]

scale plan of every piece when finished

I don't have every bit because most of the beading I have used is fairly straight forward etc. I do have drawings for the main pieces. The thing is with any undertaking this size scale, cuts etc are always going to be slightly out. This is as much a learning curve for myself while trying to help other achieve something similar.

I am hoping by the end of this that someone with average modelling skill can look through the photos and take the rough plans and build something fairly close to what I have come up with.

[Phox532]

This is one of the most intense projects I have seen. I check the forum everyday just to get updates on this project. I have no where near your talent for this, but I really want to try something like this now. Maybe not something tho this scale, but I am more interested in trying to create something like this.

[anthalont]

Soo awesome!
Thank you very much Cult for doing this

[cultofkhaine]

STEP 13: CARGO HOLD

Time to cut the middle out before the lower section goes on. I start by cutting the deck section (this will not go to waste)



Then I brace the underside with a lip to fit the doors on and reinforce the section of the deck I cut out





I put some sides to the base section to close in the box



and then slide it into place, gluing it to the deck, also adding some full length braces (this will support the lower deck in the next stage)







I then cut a couple of boxes to fit the top section and fill them in to make the grate.





Hold now complete

[Amboadine]

Great detailing yet again Cult. Grates were a lovely touch.

[cultofkhaine]

STEP 14: UPPER DECK SIDE DETAILS

I decided to do this next step in card because I wanted a different texture on the side of the ship and its slightly easier to cut.

To begin with I took the first photo below and pulled it into illustrator, I then drew the scales shape and made them to scale on the photo, then I printed out the shapes, I got a cereal box, glued the print out to the card and then cut the shapes out.







I then glued the details to the side of the ship

[cultofkhaine]

STEP 15: LOWER HULL SIDE & BACK SECTIONS

This next stage was a challenge. I started with planking again, getting some height for the ship to sit on. The panels slide into a groove I created with the beading (in earlier stages) along the side of the ship.



I had to then build it up towards the back of the ship, with very little measurements to work from. I then fitted the side panels into the groove I created and was able to trace the profile to cut the excess waste off.



Once I had this fitted, I was then able to work out the shape of the rear of the ship.



I drew up the shape and then did panelling for it, cutting it to shape





I then braced the panelling from behind to give it some extra strength, this also gave me something to fix it to



I now glued the side panels and rear section in place. Bending the rear section again was a challenge like the front as it is under a lot of tension



I braced up the internal area of the ship



Then I trimmed off the excess panelling at the back to bring it in line with the rear of the ship and added some more beading at the back

[Amboadine]

Quick question. Is the glue holding up to the tension okay or are you planning to pin?

[cultofkhaine]

Quick question. Is the glue holding up to the tension okay or are you planning to pin?

Super glue is working fine - I use it in stages as I go around the bend. First I glue one end fixing it to the part, holding it tight I let it dry for a few seconds then glue a bit further along, holding again for a few sec and so on until I go around the curve.

You can only bend up to 2mm thick, 1mm is ideal. Any major curve and I would use card.

[Layne]

This is remarkable. + 1 power to this project.

I am impressed with the level of effort you have put into this. Would you have an estimate of time spent building this up to the present stage?

[cultofkhaine]

Would you have an estimate of time spent building this up to the present stage?

Thanks Layne - the pace on this project has been exhausting! I think I have been working 3-4hrs a day on it for the past couple of weeks (it's all becoming a bit of a blur at the moment)

When I started this project I did not think it would take so long - I thought the assembly would be finished by now. As soon as I finish one section I move on to the next - each of the steps I have posted has been a days (2-4hrs) work.

I would say I have spent 30-40hrs work on this so far, also a heap of time thinking about the next stage/researching etc.

[cultofkhaine]

STEP 16: RUDDER

I started this stage again by drawing sketches of the shape of the rudder, then firmed the drawing up to a solid line drawing to scale.



I then cut the shape out of 2.5mm balsa



and some inner detail sections to strengthen it up an add detail in 1mm balsa.



I decided that I wanted to make this section removable for transport, so I use some rare earth magnets to join it to the rear of the ship





I was really worried about the tip of the tail splitting so I then gave this section a couple of coats of 100% PVA glue to really toughen to balsa up (hopefully it wont split done the track its quite fragile)

Finally the rudder section is done.

[cultofkhaine]

STEP 17: FRONT OF SHIP HULL

I started this step by using balsa, it all split when joining it at the front so I then decided to use card.... a much better option.



I joined all the card up and then glued it together





The long clips that you see in the picture have come in really handy when supper gluing bits together (some times you need to hold a part in place for that little bit longer)

Hull complete!



The ship is starting to look good now and coming together nicely





The pace on this project has been exhausting to get it to this stage, your comments and posting on this thread is keeping me motivated to keep pushing ahead.

A few more details to work on next.

[Daeron]

The result is really, really impressive. How much experience do you have with Balsa wood because you seem to just shake magic out of those fibers.

[Darkmark]

Wow! This is epic. Usually the last thing I want see after working all day making real ships is another one, but I'm happy to make an exception. Please keep at it, pretty please.

[cultofkhaine]

How much experience do you have with Balsa wood

Not a lot, I do have a background in product design - I guess this helps me to visualise things better than most perhaps, because of my training. I have made a few bits and pieces over the years in balsa, but nothing to this scale. Its fairly straight forward to work with, you can cut it to all sorts of great shapes and bend it within reason. It can look a bit chunky sometimes.

@Darkmark I have come to a real appreciation of ship building the past few weeks - there is nothing straight in them anywhere There is a real skill to building something like this, the old Vikings sure had a talent. I'm sure there is a skill to the current metals ones as well.

[Crowsfoot]

You should enter it into the Golden Demon if you can a sure fire winner.

I'm going to have a bash at making one.

Maybe a rowing boat first

[With hatred ...]

Absolutely outstanding, I love it!

[Amboadine]

Are you planning to add the ram to the prow or leaving that part as underwater?

[Phox532]

It is really coming together. I think what has me most impressed is the over all design looks amazing. I know that it is an original concept and that you used some concept art as a base, but if you told that this was a kit you bought, I'd believe you. Super high quality.

How many models can you fit on it? As a scaling question.

[Diobarach]

Definitely looks amazing, I'm looking forward to seeing the finished version.

[cultofkhaine]

Thanks for all the comments guys, it keeps me going on this.

Are you planning to add the ram to the prow or leaving that part as underwater?

Amboadine - I was not planning to add one is it's underwater... It does look cool though.

How many models can you fit on it? As a scaling question.

Phox532 - This thing is huge, bigger than I thought it would be, but surprisingly enough I can fit a huge amount of units on it. The front deck will hold a bolt thower, the mid lower deck over the cargo hold can sit a unit of 20 (5x4), the mid deck can hold a unit of 10 (5x2) and the top deck, enough room for a few characters. The plan is to have a smattering of individual well painted units spread around the ship to give it some character.

[Phox532]

I was looking at it a again and wondering where are you going to attach your main mast at? Also are you going to a traditional westerner cross sail, or an eastern fan sail?

I think a Japanese or Korean Fan sail would be the way go, personally. It has a oriental look about it already.

[cultofkhaine]

where are you going to attach your main mast at?

I have this step coming up soon - plan is to cut some well placed hole in the deck for the mast to go through. I will be doing them as per the illustration.