Charles W Morgan by jwvolz - Model Shipways - 1:64

[jwvolz]

Officially got the Morgan under way a few days ago. I really should be working on a case for my Bomb Vessel Granado, but I was tempted...

 

 

I hope everyone enjoys the ride here. I'm really looking forward to this build as something a bit different, since my last four builds were all warships. 

 

I won't get into much about the kit itself, since it is fairly well known. I have yet to fully evaluate what I'm going to keep and what I'm going to discard with regard to the kit pieces, in particular some of the Britannia castings. The rope will definitely be replaced, and possibly the blocks and I will replace wood where needed to avoid things like splitting issues when drilling basswood. Most wood will be painted, which is quite a contrast from the Granado build. 

 

The bulkheads have been cut out and cleaned up, which was a pain since they are plywood. A hobby knife struggles, but the laser cuts are too narrow to fit even tiny xacto saw blades. 

 

Moving on, I've cut the rabbet/bearding line, using a compass to get the line, and a copied paper template from the plans for the bearding line. The basswood keel was much easier to work with than the ply bulkheads...

 

 

 

 

 

 

[DanO]

Joe I look forward to seeing your progress with this build. If I remember correctly that the kit was originaly a solid hull.

 

Be well

Dan

[rafine]

Joe, I will be following along. I built the Morgan some years ago and remember it as a fun and interesting build. Enjoy.

 

Bob

[ianmajor]

Joe,

 

I am expecting this to be another fine piece of modelling. 

[Beef Wellington]

Nice start Joe.  Interesting to see the difference between basswood and the plywood keel formers, Can only imagine how much easier it is to work with.

[Landlubber Mike]

Subscribed.  This is going to be awesome.  I have the CWM on my shelf and will be following your log.  No pressure

[egkb]

Hey There Joe.. Thanks for the link (on your Granado Log) over to here.. Am looking forward to another one of your class builds..  So as Mike above says 'No Pressure'    

 

All The Best

 

Eamonn

[Gundorph]

Its gonna be another great build from you... Good to be here from the start...

[Brucealanevans]

Greetings

Partially through my build so eager to watch.

[Mirabell61]

Hi Joe,

 

wishing you a most enjoyable build with this famous "whaling mothership",

shall watch this interesting log....

 

Nils

[jwvolz]

Thanks for the early support guys. I'll try to live up to your expectations... 

[texxn5]

Hi Joe, just found your log. Glad to see you joining the "Morgan Club". I have a lot of photos as well as a build log here on MSW. should you need any reference photos please check my website as I have them posted there. I'll enjoy following your log --- it brings back memories of when I was at this stage. I'm almost finished with mine probably around 95%. It's a fun build.

John

 

http://www.charleswmorganmodel.com

[jwvolz]

Thanks John. I've done nothing on the Morgan for a number of weeks, as I'm busy with outdoor activities while the weather is good. Hope to resume in the Fall. 

[Timmo]

I'll be waiting for you to resume Joe.

I'm looking forward to another quality build.

[texxn5]

Hi Joe, just an FYI I was just visiting the Morgan yesterday and took over 400 more pictures. I'll be posting them on my website in the next few days as internet connections allow. they will be in the gallery section under the Morgan. I will possibly make another page for them. Check it out if you need anything or PM me and I'll provide you with pictures. Look forward to you getting back into building again.

John

[jwvolz]

Well, I haven't posted anything in here for quite sometime.  I am waiting for some replacement parts from ME to fix a major screw-up with the Morgan. I am finally motivated to try to save it.  We shall see how that works out...

 

Meanwhile, I realized that I never posted any photos of the Granado in her case. The base is a piece of oak plywood. I routed a lip around the edge to accommodate the acrylic case, and finished the outer edge with oak molding from Lowe's. The acrylic portion was made by a plastics company in Philadelphia, and cost me about $220. They did a real nice job on it and I will use them again. I got a local trophy retailer to make the brass nameplate: a mere $5.00.

 

Overall I'm very pleased with how it came out. 

 

 

 

 

[Timmo]

That's a classy case that finishes Granado off nicely Joe. Great work.

[Landlubber Mike]

That came out really nicely Joe, congratulations on a fantastic build!

 

Looking forward to seeing you restart your Morgan

[texxn5]

Joe, it's all correctable....look forward to seeing your progress..

John

[jwvolz]

Thanks guys.

 

John: Yeah,  I know I can fix it, just wasn't motivated to do so for quite a long time. I have a plan, and at this point I just need my replacement parts from Expo to arrive. 

[gerty]

Beautiful model and nice case  - - congrats !   Look forward to following along.

Edited February 15, 2016 by gerty

[jwvolz]

As I patiently wait for my replacement parts from Expo I decided to work on some deck structures to at least get something done. I've built the deck house and vegetable bin (a fiddly little thing) and painted those up. I also built the workbench, but am not 100% happy with it and will likely do it over (top is unfinished at the moment).

 

I can say after working with mostly boxwood on the Granado build I'm not happy being back on basswood for this one. There are absolutely some areas where I will substitute boxwood for strength, likely pin rails, fife rail and channels to name a few. Probably the skylight as well in order to be able to drill all the holes for the rods an not split the wood.  

 

John, your photos are coming in handy, thanks! I still need to stop by Mystic next time work takes me through the area. 

 

 

 

 

[texxn5]

Hi Joe, looking good.  Let me know if you need anything specific.  I agree on the hardwoods and would highly recommend them in the areas you mentioned.  Contact Jason at Crown Lumber and he'll get you what you need....you'll be a much happier camper!

John

[jwvolz]

Well after waiting over a month my parts arrived from Model Expo like this:

 

 

They were packed in an envelope with two thin pieces of card stock. How could anyone possibly think that would survive the USPS?

 

Back it goes on the shelf. I may have another project in the works anyway soon. Very disappointing...

Edited March 12, 2016 by Joe V.

[texxn5]

Hi Joe, man that sucks. Sorry to see that - not much of an excuse is it? You could probably make those work, but it's your choice - don't let that discourage you since about 95% of this build is by scratch. You can probably glue the pieces together and really not know the difference. It get's real discouraging, and unfortunately reflects back on the company MS, not only time but frustration. Good luck with your choices on what to do next. Sorry again to see this...

John

[ianmajor]

Joe,

 

That is shocking. The packaging that you describe would not survive any postal service in the world.

[rafine]

I'm really sorry to see what's been happening. I've been looking forward, as I'm sure you have, to progress on your build.

 

Bob

[jwvolz]

Thanks guys. It's really splintered up badly, and being relatively delicate I don't think it will glue up very well. 

 

I'm going to give myself a day or two to ponder my options. 

[Jack12477]

Joe,  may I suggest that you send a PM to Marc Mosko (MMOSKO) here on MSW and tell him about the bad service - he had a lengthy discussion on his company here a while back and talked about his desire for customer satisfaction. Doesn't hurt to go to the top man.

[jwvolz]

Good idea Jack, will do.