Boulogne Etaples by popeye the sailor- Billing Boats - 1:20 scale kit

[popeye the sailor]

well Bob........you did say you wanted to see me back at work on my builds :D ...careful what you wish for    I found out that I'm not on Santa's nice list........I guess in a way it'll be good......I'll need all the coal I can get to power the heaters at the wharf

 

never a dull moment Adam.........never a dull moment     I love it as well!

 

 

 

well.......the cover is dry now.  I fitted it in place,  and to be honest,  I'm not happy with it.   it sticks up in places,  the curvature isn't right,  and there's gaps.   I could add a border strip around it,  raising it up a little,  but then I'd have to contour it to the deck curvature.....too much work,  in my view.

 

 

 

 

since there is a lip around the hole,  and I do have some 1/16 flat stock,  I decided to go the route I should have done in the first place.   the cover will have to be made in three pieces......so I cut the first segment.   the decking is 3/32 thick.....I'll have to make up the difference somehow.  I cut the second segment,  and held it in place.

 

 

it looks pretty good........I cemented them down.  for the seam in the middle,  I reinforced it with a strip of wood,  so it would mate flush.

 

 

 

now to cut the last segment......I reinforced the seam here as well.

 

 

Edited April 9, 2014 by popeye the sailor

[popeye the sailor]

the last segment is cut and cemented in place......even though there is a 1/32 difference,  it looks much better.

 

 

 

 

I am thinking of using some .5mm strips to make up the difference.  it would cover those nasty seams and it would look a bit better.  I ran a center line down the middle.

 

 

 

I have some 5mm wide strips.......but then I thought of the dark mahogany strips I have.   these strips are an inch wide {about 25 mm}......the insert is about 5 inches wide.  it will save me from dealing with all those smaller strips.

 

 

 

not to worry about that cover I wasted my time on.........I'll put it to good use......somewhere 

 

Edited April 9, 2014 by popeye the sailor

[NenadM]

Recover pictures ?

[popeye the sailor]

wow!  I didn't realize......  I'll have to work on this right away!  

[dragzz]

well look at u popeye u do love billing boats lol. u do some vary nice work as iam about to start mine .keep up the great work that u allways do .

[popeye the sailor]

you can say that Dragzz......I've only built one other boat by another manufacturer.  I've gotten to the point where I can follow the instructions pretty well........and the kit materials are of good quality.   I've had no real issues with them.  thanks for the good word.

[popeye the sailor]

just a small update:   the hull is in the garage..........it's had it's first sanding ans now has the first filler coat.   once the hull is smooth,  I will do the rub rails and give it a primer coat.  I did notice one small problem with her though.......that opening in the deck that I plated over,  has begun to ripple.   I've shown how I'm going to make up for the thickness difference.....I'm going to do it and weight it down.....then I will give the deck area a primer coat as well.  hopefully that will thwart any more of this from happening.   more to come  

[popeye the sailor]

I took a couple of pictures of the Boulogne while she was out in the garage. both hulls are back in the hallway now. it's a good thing humidity didn't wreak havoc with them. the boulogne still needs a bit more filler in spots, but the hull feels pretty good. I gave it a shot of primer.

 

 

 

[Jim Lad]

On we go with Popeye's multi-builds.

 

John

[augie]

I see he has multiple lawn mowers as well.

[popeye the sailor]

yes Augie.......I do     you can also see where my guitar carpet ended up.....the admiral finally got her way        I was sad to see that I didn't learn my lesson.   the grain of that center area I filled in is going the wrong way........the humidity in the garage caused it to buckle.   I can still save it.......it's just going to be a bit more work.  I'm happy with the outer hull though.......even though it feels rough from the primer,  the hull has a real nice shape.  there's only a couple small areas I need to touch up on............another sanding..........and then the second primer.  I was quite happy with how the Nordkap came out {when I goofed on not cementing between the planks}.......so I might give this a coat of diluted white glue {and a fine sanding} before I paint the color coat.

 

you can also see the minute crack at the bow stem.........another product of my leaving it out there for so long.

 

 

I'm hoping I can get back to her soon John.........I can get back in the saddle..........but,  can I ride?

Edited September 10, 2014 by popeye the sailor

[popeye the sailor]

WHOAAAA!   clean up the cobwebs and dust!  at least all the pictures are still here.......I thumbed through the log.   it's been a while since I last worked on the project.   I was gonna pull out the other fishing boat....but that needs paint.   I'll wait till I can set up in the garage...late spring and it's a wet one so far.   this one is not far behind in that respect.......add a few things and she'll be good to go.

    I thought........rub rails.......but first,  I gave the hull a good going over with the sandpaper.   the split in the bow stem was fixed......the plywood had separated.   there's also an area that I'm going to fix.    I pulled out the diagram of the side profile and laid out the main part of the rub rails.   I still have to round off the ends,  as I've done with other vessels.  I recalled using the metal pulley blocks,  when I did the Andrea Gail.  Billing's was out of stock,  so I did try my hand at making them from scratch for another project.   it worked out well....but,  in ordering the belaying pins for the Thermopylae,  I saw them......so,  I got a package of them.   they come ten to the pack,  and they do require assembly.

the rub rails for this boat was fun to do......there are some at the bow I still need to add.   next update.

I need to see what I have for the cap rails........I have the pair for the bow.   now.......perhaps with time that has past.....I can arrive at a solid solution to solve my 'pain in the deck'.  

it doesn't look bad,  but it has some buckles in it.   with what I learned with the U.S.S. United States deck work,  I should have run a pair of 1/8 strips parallel underneath.....it would have thwarted it from happening.  we'll see what I come up with     as always.......thanks for looking in.

 

[popeye the sailor]

of course,  things had to rain on my parade!  Thursday was a nice day.......so I did all the stuff I needed to do on the car.  I also got to spruce up the garage,  so I can do some painting in there.  Friday morning was good........but it got too busy in the afternoon,  so modeling was hard to come by.   I did a bit more on the Boulogne between all that went on.  the frame of the trawl rig is assembled now.

    it wasn't easy assembling it either......centering the upper parts with the bottom parts.   they kept wanting to fall over....but I managed to get them to stay put.

there are two cross bars that connect them together......the lower one and the upper one.      the lower one was first......making sure they were both even with one another was hard to gauge.    setting up my ruler made it a lot easier......and to make sure they were perpendicular on my desk,  the bases were clamped down as well.

things took a turn here,  'cuz when I went to fit the top cross bar,  I found that the tops of the uprights were off.   I ended up removing one side and changing the angle of the beveled end,  that connects them together {the top and bottom uprights}.   after putting it back together and trying again to fit the top cross bar......it looked much better.

sanding will be required to smooth edges and such.......but this is the basic frame of the trawl rig.   this is the stern view.                           

[popeye the sailor]

after that debacle.......and allow it to dry,  I thought I'd do stuff that was a little less tedious.   the bow rub rails were measured and cut........the dash for the pilot house was assembled,   and this small locker,  that locates on the bow deck was assembled.  the 'square 'o matic' was set up on the main table to make the locker.

the lid for the locker seems too small........so I gave it a bit of a filler board.    I'll create some form of hinges and a handle for the lid.

doing a dry fit on the deck,  in front of the pilot house,  I noticed it doesn't sit flush up to it.   I gave it a back.......the plans don't show one.....none supplied.

those three sets of 3/16 square pieces,  pictured above,  are the rub rails.......I started to put them on.   while I was doing that,  I created a sill for the pilot house dash to sit on.  the separation along the windshield was also filled and sanded........it's a nasty looking gap.

you can see I already tried to sand it down.......filling and sanding was a better alternative.   in the end,  the dash was cemented in place.

painted........this will look OK.  I'm also looking at the box that the pilot house fits in......for some reason,  the opening is wider.  I'll need to address this  

[popeye the sailor]

I wanted to sand and round off all the ends........but that didn't happen.   another day       the bow rub rails are in place.   I showed earlier,  that I had done a little ad-lib to the stern transom.   I was looking through the assembly plans,  and there are some rub rails,  that are to go there too.   I will need to think of a different way to arrange them,  since I added those two pieces of 1/8.   here is how the bow looks.

I did get to round off the port side rails at the bow........this is how they will look.

I still have some of that half round.......perhaps I can dress up that bow stem    we'll see....    the new additions really change the look of the boat.

[kiwiron]

Nice work Popeye as usual,fishing boats are still my favourite.

[popeye the sailor]

Thanks Ron......they're my favorite as well    work week is done now........     gotta go get my car inspected this morning........once that's done,  it's play time!

 

thanks all for the likes as well !

[popeye the sailor]

I managed to do more on this project.......although it turned into a two day event for me.   I figured I'd straighten out the fore deck.   there were some major gaps around the bulwarks,  and the area that the pilot house fits in is a bit too wide.   I'm sure that letting it sit around all this time,  didn't do it any justice either.    what I'm going to do is plank it over with some 0.5 x 5 mm thin strip,  and then paint over it.......just as I did with the other fishing boat.   I kinda liked how that came out.   I have some of the Annegre strips......but since I intend to paint over it,  I really don't want to use it.   I also have a large supply of Obetchi {I think that's what it is} thin strips,  given to me some time ago by a friend.    I took most of the broken strips from the bundle to use first.   doing the front area of the fore deck,  starting from the center...working starboard.

I took some narrowed stuff and shimmed the pilot house opening.    I haven't cleaned up the planking yet.  you can see along the port bulwark......the gaps I'm talking about.

with the shimming done,  I can plank over and hide it.    I got a little further,  when I got pulled away to look at my son's car again.   it will never end   

 

I did get back to it this morning,  and finished the planking.    I did a little clean up and sanded the deck a little.....nee to do more.

looks much better along the bulwarks....

with the pilot house fitted in place........it doesn't look too bad on the port side......

but I'm thinking one more shim strip for the starboard.

I do plan to do some type of molding around the deck / pilot house.........it will look nice     I was going to attempt to do the cap rails.......but though it might be better to do this first.  if I paint,  I'd have to get up under the cap rails......makes the task so much harder.  I still nee to finish rounding off all the ends of the rub rails.

 

[popeye the sailor]

I took Monday off to surprise the admiral........she was very happy not to get up @3:30 AM      I figured I'd play a bit with the Boulogne.   have you ever had one of those days,  where just about everything you touch,   blows up in your face?   first,  I started with something easy......the spool that sits on top of the trawl rig.   finding the center,  the end caps were cemented in place.   the hole was drilled through the spool......that went rather well too.

there are two more parts that go with this........I though I'd do a little sanding to clean up the assembly.   that's when the trouble started.   this kit had a small problem with the laser cutting.....some of the parts had ply delamination,  separating in a number of places.   I glued them back together and fixed them all.   one of the affected parts,  the platform that separates the two sections of the rig,  came apart in a big way......all the plys came apart at the same time!   I glued one back and the other ply tore away.

I had used white glue to reassemble them the first time around........I used CA this time and put it back together.   with that problem solved,  I continued with the sanding........then the top bar came off!   what the heck is this.........bad glue!?!?!?!    that was CA'd back in place as well......and the two parts I needed to assemble was done.  the next thing I wanted to tackle,  was the deck.   the patch I put in the opening some time ago had rippled.   I was going to use mahogany strips to fill it in flush with the deck....but in light of this new development, I'm not sure that will be possible.  I could wet the patch and weight it down to see if it would conform to my wishes........or I could simply tear it out and start over.   since I intend to plank over the deck,  it will make no difference what I use to cover it.......but I have nothing to make up the difference.   it equates to 1/64.........0.5 mm will have to do........and so,  I used the mahogany  {what a waste}.

in hindsight......there are things I could have done in this instance.........I could have cut narrow slits in the ripples,  to aide them in laying back down..........or I could have used the water method;  laying a wet sheet of paper towel in between,  to rejuvenate the wood.   heck.......I just glued them in place.   one thing I should have done to make it easier,  would be to dampen the mahogany since applying glue to one side of the strip caused it to curl {what a pain to align}...but it is done.   all these could've,  should've,  would've things........the fact is,  I didn't.

I did a little sanding........once the lip all around is flush,  I will plank over this and the mess will be gone.   it should stay now....relatively flat.......it feels flat to the touch.   this morning,  I messed around with the rest of the parts,  figuring where some of them go.  refresh my memory,  since I haven't touched this project in some time.   I did a dry fit of the parts I've already assembled.

today,  I'll likely finish the rub rails     

[popeye the sailor]

more progress was made on 'er.......starting with the bulkheads at the fore deck.   I made up the panels and cemented them in place.

more sanding was done as well......outside and well as inside the hull.   these covered the mess.......

the little gap at the bottom on the starboard side will be covered with the planking.   the pilot house floor is mapped for planking too.   I had my doubts about the stern rub rails......but now that I did it,  it came out rather well.   the rails that run inside the chute and all around it,  have been rounded off,  so it won't hinder the net.

I went around outside the hull and rounded the other rub rails as well.......the only ones left now are the starboard side.

the patch in the main deck has been sanded and the winch / net spool platform has been cemented down.   it will be painted the same color as the deck.   there is another platform that locates in front of the trawl rig.   I found that the rig sits a bit more forward than what I been showing it at.   I'll be gluing that one down before I paint...gotta figure out where it's supposed to be located at.

   I noticed in the plans that there is another spreader / support bar at the base........cemented it in place after the measure and cut.

the net spool and bracket needed some stuff added.........framework wad added to the bracket,  and the spool was assembled and sanded.

the platform next to it is the winch platform........both of these assemblies will be located on the platform cemented to the main deck.   well......that's it for now.......thanks for look'in in!

[popeye the sailor]

I took a tiny break from the Thermopylae......I have a vendetta     I'm going to fix the main deck.......once and for all!   no more will we see that mahogany patch in the middle of it.  As mentioned,  I have some 0.5 x 5 mm blonde strips {Obetchi,  I think},  and I plan to plank the deck with it.   the planking starts in the center of the main deck,  just behind the pilot house........seemed like a good place.   I'm going to do some butt staggering,  which will add detail when I paint over it.   yep!.........gonna paint right over it anyway.   anyone who has visited the Holiday Harbor log,  saw what painting the deck looks like.......it's an interesting take on the work boat deck.

this fishing boat has no name yet.......when I continue on her,  I'll start a log.  there is much more to go yet...I'm a long way from being done.   as you can tell,  the boulogne Etaples is it's mother...it's one of the hulls that I had cloned from her parts panels.   another one of the hulls went off to become the Andrea Gail.   sadly,  I chose the wrong boat,  to base a Christmas theme on.   Anyway...the planking on the Boulogne has begun!

from the halfway line,  I went starboard first.   I didn't mark off too many stagger lines...probably going to be my downfall,  but we'll see.  it progressed further.........

....from the front of the platform,  to the aft end of the platform.   it will fill the area and meet up with the strip along the platform.

getting closer to the bulwarks.......there's going to be some fancy cutting to do.

I know it's hard to see.......>help....I'm Blonde blind!<   as I cols up between the posts,  they are filled in with odd cut pieces.

this half is done.......now to get the other side done.    thanks for look'in in.  

[Jim Lad]

Very nice, Popeye.  By the time you've finished the fleet the western side of the North Atlantic will be in danger of being fished out!

 

John

[popeye the sailor]

hello John! .......just finishing up on the port side.   slowly but surely cleaning her up....and making progress at the same time    just think.......five more fishing vessels,  and I can have my own calendar  

 

thanks for the good word......glad to see your back!  heard you were out gallivanting again  

[popeye the sailor]

....now for the other half........I finished it off this morning    it's so good to see the mahogany patch ......GONE!!!!!

I was going to cement the aft platform in place,  but since it sits in front of the trawl rig,  I figured I'd leave it at the same level.   closing in on the bulwarks...

you'll see that lone strip of mahogany on the starboard side......the strip was perfect to box in the pilot house on that side.   since it will be painted anyway,  it won't matter.   on the port side,  I was able to use some blonde strip I have on hand.   I have about three or four different widths of Annegre,   but that too is a decorative wood {at least for me},  and I chose not to waste it.  the pilot house fits nicely......I may use the Annegre to do the decking in there.

I do have to be careful though.......I have a nasty habit of killing subjects,  in this way.   I have a hair appointment around noon {the admiral thinks I'm a bum}.......so I had to scramble......but the deck is done.   when I get home, I'll work on painting the deck.  a few of the minor gaps will be filled with wood filler....but I won't be too picky.

a good sand now should complete the process.......I like the way it came out    so much better than the eyesore it used to be.

[usedtosail]

Nice looking deck you have there.

[popeye the sailor]

thanks Tom.......appreciate the good word  

[popeye the sailor]

the sanding process is done.........it went very well.   the sawdust filled in some of the gaps and the deck has a nice feel to it.   before the big moment,  I took the time to lay the floor of the pilot house.

   only the main part of the floor was done......not the winch room.

the pilot house was put in place to insure I stayed within the structure.

the floor was then masked up.   I used Billing's pale gray for the deck paint........not the advent gray that I used on the other fishing boat.   I also opened up the garage......unblocking the other window......I close them up for the winter.   I gotta face it.......the paint may be too old.......I couldn't spray it with my airbrush.   I ended up using a brush.   it still came out alright.

there's a touch of ghosting.....adds to the weather look,  as far as I see it.   it's a flat...another plus......and the plank lines,  butt staggers and grain still shows through.   putting the pilot house in place is spawning ideas about some details I might add......one in particular.

an idea I have pertains to something not shown here........wait a moment........I've been working on it since I began putting this post together.  it didn't take me long to come up with something workable  

[popeye the sailor]

since it's called the winch room {it's what I called it},  then there must be something in there that powers it.   I decided on a simple four cylinder engine.   going into my junk box,  where I keep all the punch outs and odd stuff,  these parts were fashioned from them.

the crankcase is a larger dowel,  cut in half.   it was cut flat in what will be the back section,  and another squared piece was added.   sanded and rounded up,  it looks like the sump well.   assembled, a rear mount was added.

added at this point,  was a piece that will serve a dual purpose,  as a front face {timing cover} and the front mount.

the part to the right.......which is a punch out for a sailing ship top {from the Gothenborg,  I think.  shows you how long I've had this junk},  will serve well for a radiator / shroud combo.  you may notice the tulle laying around here too.   radiator grating.......can ya dig it    inside the winch room,  it looks a bit low......I may add a platform to raise it up a little.

it's a doable size......not bad for tinkering on the fly.   there plenty of room in the front,  for the radiator........

.....and plenty of room in the back for the gearbox.

add a battery and control box......and I think it will look pretty good    now to come up with the intake,  exhaust, spark distribution,  and the rest of the engine  gobbl-de-gook  

[popeye the sailor]

I did spoof a bit more on my engine idea.   odd......I've had these thoughts before.   during one of my tinkering tangents,  I made an engine block for a V8.......I was going to make a hemi engine.   I put it away,  and haven't touched it since.   I'll pull it out again......if I can remember where I put it     I had made the head for the four lunger.......drilled the impressions for the spark plugs,  and drilled the holes for the plugs themselves.   I have four belaying pins for the plugs,  but I think they are too large......I may use the 5 mm.....may look better    the engine is painted in brunswick green.

the interior of the pilot house has been painted too.......in pale gray.

the floor was sanded and given three coats of poly urethane already..........I don't think I'm going to go for another coat.

I cut a strip of 1/32nd flat stock and wet it......it's pretty flexible.   this will be the shroud for the radiator.   Tulle was cemented on both sides of the cast off part.

the strip was cemented around the top of the cast off piece.......the bottom will be closed off with the piece you see in the background.  I needed to do some sanding......adding the 16th to the width is almost too much for the width of the room.

I made up some form of frame for the engine

[Piet]

Caught up on this one too Denis but only put one like - - - however - - consider all your posts a like

 

Cheers,