James H

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You're going a lovely job on a beautiful ship. Aggy is one of my favourites.

Hi Zbigniew Great to have you with us here at MSW. I very much look forward to that build log on a model based on Le Superbe.

Beautiful work and a beautiful subject too. I might get the Coureur drawings from Ancre too.

Exquisite work and photography!

Outstanding! Can't wait to see this with its clinker hull 🏆

I have actually used iron pigment on them since painting too.

Crack on! Fix those parts and get planking!

Time for an update. The hull is now pretty much built, down to the various rigging points on the outside hull. Here is another abridged series of photos which will feature in the instruction manual. It had been decided very early on that First was to look very different from Speedy. That wasn't just with the white bottom hull and earlier riggings, but also with selective use of period colours. The kit itself is quite different to Speedy, with different materials used in places, necessitating new laser cut files specifically for this release. Instead of leaving the upper bulwarks in pear, I sat the swivel gun post support patterns against the cap rail and marked the area to be painted blue, with a pencil. The adjoining areas were then masked and several thin coats of Humbrol 25 Blue brush painted into that area. The patterns were then glued into position and the areas they lay over the gun and oar ports, snipped away and trimmed back. The catheads were now assembled and painted before being installed. These were very much a perfect fit, which really pleased me! The bow timbers and head rails were now fitted. This was probably the most fiddly aspect of the model so far, and what I thought would be a 20 minute session turned out to take about 3hrs before I was happy enough with it. I also fitted the depth markings etc. The dark area you see around these is where I've sealed them in polyurethane varnish to give them extra protection. Those areas will blend in to the last full coat of varnish I apply. Note I also added the vertical swivel gun timbers, but in Humbrol 74 Linen (ochre) to give some contrast against the other elements. Thought I'd have a small diversion and make the four anchors. The only metal in these is the ring. The stocks are also made up from two parts as per the real thing, and black cartridge paper used for the bands. All belaying pins and racks are now fitted. These are also pinned as well as being glued with PVA. I prefer this glue for things like this, as CA can fracture if stressed. As with the belaying pin racks, the channels are also pinned and glued with PVA. The chainplates in this kit are provided as single pieces. You need to open them up to sit the deadeye in them, then close back up. Some touching up with black paint is also required. All chainplates are now fitted and pinned to the wales. All my previous work in making the deck fittings and furniture can now be put into play. The small steel balls for the cannon shot, are burnished in metal blacking fluid. And here we are so far! Hope you like it.

Not an assembled model. Maybe you should try a couple of easier vessels and then the Brig Aris?

There's nothing wrong with that at all, in fact you've less stepping around the bow than I did. Looking forward to seeing this progress.

Nice to see this coming along again.

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Sure can! It's Plastikote red oxide primer. I generally give all parts a finish with 320 grade paper and then spray. If necessary, I will sand an d reapply. https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Plasti-kote-25002-400ml-Primer-Oxide/dp/B006XBST08/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=plastikote+red+oxide+primer&qid=1590226003&sr=8-1

They sure are fiddly. I find the stern more difficult than the bow, and this one is planked with 2mm x 1mm strips (narrower than Speedy's 3mm strips). Still, it should look ok when done, fingers crossed.

The little 18ft one that sits atop Flirt's deck.

Cheers. I'm building the little cutter at moment, as I'm still waiting for my blue paint to use on the upper, outer bulwarks.

Hi Alan, The nails are only in the first planking, and the reason you can't see the holes is because the sanding filled them in. If I was to blow on or brush that surface, you'd have seen them again. I just used pliers to pull them out. Bevelling the engraved bulkheads is for most of the bevelling work. You still need to fine tune that and slightly bevel the other bulkheads so a plank will lay flat over them.

Looking great. You'll not find much testy here though 🤣

Yes, form those planks in Amy way you can. You will have to twist that lime as it runs under the stern area.

You build in card better than anyone I know and your stuff gives a lot of the top-flight plastic models a run for their money. Absolutely outstanding!

She looks beautiful, and you took some great photo angles there too.