Model Build - Bluenose II: 14

Back to the model after a holiday to the East Coast. Just missed the launch of the "new" Bluenose II in Lunenburg at the end of September. However, while it would have been a memorable experience to be present at the launch, the current state of fitment of the vessel would have afforded me little in the way of details for my model. Hopefully, will get to see the fully refurbished ship sometime in the future (although if and when I do, might be too late to be of benefit for this particular model!)

During our holiday, made an overnight stop in Saint Andrews-by-the-Sea. While checking out the shops on the main street, caught sight of a familiar-looking model in the front window of a Home Hardware store.

Bluenose model in the window.

On taking a look from inside, it turned out to be an identical version of the model I'm currently reworking for this blog.

Same Bluenose model as mine.

Whoever assembled this one only went as far as the manufacturer intended. Doesn't look too bad from a distance but of course the details start to pale when you take a closer look; all the same deficiencies that I observed on my version are evident in this model as well.

Close-up view of the model.

With this diversion out of the way, time to catch up with the deck furniture I've been working on. Since I had the bowsprit out of the way, figured I might as well carry on from the bow to the stern. This meant tackling the windlass but that presented another issue - what type to build?

Over the years, the original windlass on the Bluenose II had been swapped out for more modern versions, such that the latest is a small, compact electric one, which is what Jenson depicts in his book.

Electric winch (windlass) on the Bluenose II.

While simple to replicate and faithful to the current Bluenose II, I felt it would detract from the look and feel of the original Bluenose, which is what this particular model is supposed to represent. (For those following this blog, my original intent at the start of this build was to undertake a conversion of the kit model to the Bluenose II, which is the configuration depicted in Jenson's book. However, I'm now revisiting that decision.)

For the record, here is the extent of what was on the original model.

Original model windlass.

Fortunately, Jenson includes drawings of the original version of the windlass that was used on fishing schooners of the day and which was the original fitment on the Bluenose II (and presumably the original Bluenose).

Original Bluenose windlass - side view.

Original Bluenose windlass - detailed plan view.

Thus I've decided to go with the older windlass and in so doing, committed to replicating the original Bluenose, as opposed to the Bluenose II. This means I won't be building out all the deck furniture that Jenson depicts in his book but the upside is that it shouldn't take as long to finish this model!

Some other windlass detail from the instruction manual for Model Shipways Kit No. 2130 - Bluenose (Shipways Instruction Manual).

Model Shipways Kit instructions for the windlass.

I didn't take photos of the windlass construction but tried to adhere to Jenson's drawings as much as possible. Most of the construction was straightforward, with the exception of the gears. However, came across a web site that provides an on-line tool to generate gear shapes (http://woodgears.ca/gear/index.html). Using this app, generated a variety of gear shapes which I then applied to a thin sheet of boxwood.

Various gear forms for use with the windlass.

With a little cutting and trimming, produced passable gears, at least for a non-functioning application. Here is the end result.

Gear cut from plywood using template.

Combining a range of gears with other components such as axles, a drive chain, windlass drums, drive clutches,a reversing mechanism and support stands to mount all the items resulted in a reasonable rendering of Jenson's drawings.