thibaultron

Thanks, John. I've got a couple of frames completed testing my procedure. It has gone well and I'm confident we'll see Billy with paddlewheels in the not too distant future. My process is no different than yours or anyone else, just smaller scale. 
 
 Thank you, Ken. 

Tamiya and AK interactive make gun metal paints. I think they are acrylics. And if you can find it, Testors makes an enamel gun metal. So you have options for the Billy. 

Great 👍 Can’t wait… No pressure 😆 

i was thinking along lines of enamel paint gun metal colour - Humbrol 53 being one example which is a greyish colour which can be made to look like galvanised wire if mixed with a little dark grey.

Thank you very much, John. I wish you were here to help me with these wheels. 

This viewer can certainly see the difference. Excellent work Kieth!
 
IMHO
Cheers 🍻

Thank you,Keith. I missed pilot Keith's message, I need to go back though your Erebus log. I'd love to do a gun metal wash..........what material/paint would I use? Birchwood Casey would just make look black, I think? I've got some wrought iron craft paint I think I'll whip up a thin wash and test it on some scrape thread. 
 
 Thank you. Bob. I really like the way the metallic thread resembles stranded cable, I think it looks more so than braided but I can see where it could resemble braided cable as well. Ahh, another use, thanks, Bob.

Keith you Nailed it my friend,  I was going to going to put a  like on @clearway last post , but being a Neanderthal I like shinny things,  to me it looks like braided cable in the sun 🌞.  Don't know if they had braided back in Billy's day or not. But yes that looks good and shinny   
Knocklouder 😁 

does look better keith - maybe a wash of gun metal? Regards pilot Keith, he did drop a comment on my Erebus log a long time back but that has been it.
 
Keith

High praise indeed, thank you, Craig.
 
 Thank you, John. I'm glad you could tell the difference. By the by, I've started on the wheels. 
 
 Thank you very much, Paul. 
 
 Thank you, Eric. Coming up with material solutions kinda makes me feel like I'm following in Engel's footsteps. 

Yes, that's very nicely done. Great combination of scavenging and skill!

Very nice revision Keith!

Yes, I can see the difference alright, Keith. Well done on the updated stays.
 
John

Keith:  I continue to be amazed at your work on this wee tiny craft!  My shaking hands limit the small work I can do, but BILLY really raises (?) the bar . Me 'at off ta youse!

Stays 2.0 are done. You the viewer may not be able to tell the difference but I sure can. I am much more pleased with 2.0 than 1.0. 
 
 I kept fighting that 32 GA brass wire and kept failing so I dug through Maggie's thread stash and found some silver metallic thread that was the right diameter. This was my first time using metallic thread, what a treat and it turned out to be just the ticket! Most of our models have some weight to them and when running line or wire through eyes the model is heavy enough to add resistance when tying a knot. My biggest problem is Billy doesn't weigh anything. I weighed Billy tonight and as pictured Billy only weighs 0.8 ounce or 24 grams! The metallic thread when looped through an eye and pulled tight will cinch on itself. This allowed me to CA the thread at the eye without issue using just two hands.   
 
 Stays 1.0

 
 Stays 2.0.  All the connections look the same The thread is tight and not wavy. As is off the spool the tread is pretty bright, I gave the thread a very light black wash. Depending on how the light hits the tread the metal in the thread shows differently. It's kind of a cool effect but still might be a little too bright. A second light black wash maybe in order and is not a problem applying. 

 
 Stays 1.0 

 
 Stays 2.0  
 
 Stays 1.0

 
 Stays 2.0. I also changed the eye connections from under the eaves to the boiler deck and the wheelhouse roof. Much more sturdy and it looks better, IMHO. 

 
 Thank you for the likes, comments, and the support.
 
   Keith

Thank you, Jacques. Without the paddle wheels it does look more like a houseboat. Billy was a heck of a lot more colorful than any other sternwheeler I'm aware of.
 
 Thank you, Glen. It's not the wire itself, it's the connecting points. I will differently be redoing the stays.
 
 Thank you for your support, Keith
 
 Thank you, Bob. Even though the Tennessee sits in front of me I've really not paid attention to her in a year and a half. The other night I looked closely at where I left off and I was startled at how much I've forgotten. Bob, short answer to your question is, yes, I'll be going back to work on the Tennessee. Billy has scratched whatever itch I had. 
 
 Thank you, Keith. We haven't heard from the other Keith, pilot Keith. I think of him from time to time and wonder how he's doing. We seem to lose track of far too many of our MSW family.    Gary comes to immediate mind. 
 
 Thank you very much, Pat. 
 
 Homemade yes, not so much flimsy, John. I can do better!
 
 

Fantastic!

I thought flimsy and homemade was the standout feature of the original 'Billy'!
 
John

What a wonderful little build Keith. My hat's doffed in respect.
 
cheers
 
Pat

as an aside not sure if the other keiths know this but apparently our name is gaelic in origin and means a woody or windy place- so if farting while building billy just say you are living up to your name😆

keith i agree with keith they look great.
 
the other keith😁

Keith I agree with Keith, they look great, besides  once you post your paddle wheels everyone will not be looking at your stacks lol. Just curious,  after Billy, Tennessee?
Knocklouder 😁 

They look fine to me Keith.

If it's the brass wire that is too flimsy, you might try music wire.  On my SIBs, I've used it for the funnel stays on sidewheel paddlers as well as tiny railing.  Even at .015", it stays rigid and does not bend easily like brass wire.
 
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002WXPNB4?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title
 
Regardless, your Billy is coming together nicely.  Can't wait to see how you make the paddlewheels.  They are quite a challenge at that scale!
 

Very nice work, it's great to see this odd little vessel coming together! With the details added, I was going to say that it's really starting to look like a boat, but to be honest, I think it looks more like a floating house--I mean that in the best possible way, of course.