Don Quixote

Does this look right? At the widest, I need 18 planks. At the stem I need 9! At the stern I need 19. Note however, that the planks are supposed to be 4 mm but are on average 4.14 mm.

If I'm reading that right, I need to reduce every plank at the stem by half, and the sterm may almost work perfectly. It's a double plank, but I'm hoping to get away with 1.

We won't be doing any bashing on this ship of that nature. I'm going to modify what I don't understand. Or at least Jerry rig things. Once my Victoria gets here I'll be going back and forth.

I didn't get that far into them.

Talk about a bash kit, I'm gonna bash this alright. I'll test my 12 ton arbor press.

It's game on. This is gonna be BAD!

As near as I can figure, the top strip is where it should be. It's supposed to sit directly on top of the port and in fact the little bit I can glean from the instructions is that the ports are to be used as "guides". No matter how I slice it, 12mm ports, 2 - 5 mm planks. Guess I'll be at Ace hardware to buy some more wood filler too. Here-on-in known as bondo.

Beautiful job! You're kit is NOTHING like mine. I don't have any of those transfers, my keel was all one pcs.

Thanks, Jon, looking at is as soon as I press Post.

Use the metal port as a guide. Place the bottom strip so that the bottom of the strip is even with the bottom of the deck. Run the next strip above the port. 2 more pcs in between and you're golden.

Except the ports are 12 MM sq, and the planks are 5 mm each.

I soaked the wood for 30 minutes before shaping, and applied a little heat. No matter what that cheap wood frays. Supposed to be Tanganyka wood.

The wood doesn't look that bad from 10" away, but the gap is of course ugly. I have some 1.5X 2mm strips from the Niagara left over that I'll used.

I have a plank, perfectly shaped, smooth... I don't think I'll waste it on the model.

Ever notice how many times the "good" side of the ship swaps sides throughout the build. We'll call that the presentation side.

And money!

Good grief. I've been drooling over those Victory brand ships. Cheapest I could find for a single mast was $240. Prices then went to $320 through $1200. The one I wanted, the bomber was $490.

Found it for $245 at Cornwall Model Boats LTD. http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/acatalog/vm_granado.html

You know I just ordered that!

Currently way over my head with Model Shipworlds Niagara. It's hard seperating which rigging is for standing only and which is for sails/furled...etc. So I've shelved it and want another ship. I asked this question when I first started here and was told it was a stupid question. 3 years later I'll ask again.

Who makes the best kits? GOOD detailed instructions. I hear Victory makes great kits, but they only have a few to choose from and they're mostly for advanced builders.

What about Constructo?

I want a mid size ship, around 1:60th, needs to have at least a few cannons but must have GREAT documentation and plans.

No, the cross section. Again I have the Mamoli version with which I'm not impressed. I'm ever so slightly too smart for a beginners ship and too dumb for anything else.

Does anyone make them other than Mamoli?

Mike, I'm confused, your not building the same brand, right?

Good Grief, I'm not sure I know enough 4 letter words to respond to that.

My fingers are short enough!

Here's the extent of the plans. The directions read like stereo.

"Take from the view of the fore deck the position of the rail posts supporting the hand rail and make 14 holes (as many as the rail posts) on the plank sheer.

Top decks are done. Plans call to make the cannon ports and planking before planking the rest of the ship. I'm thinking I'll get the whole ship fair and setup my strakes first.

There is no planning on hull planking that I can see.

Thanks for looking in, S.

Mike, can you name a specific ship with that kind of rigging detail? I found a victorysipmodels.com but I have no idea where to start. I'd love that kind of detail!

Great, only time will tell.

My local Ace Hardware store turned me onto a water based polyurethane satin finish. I like it, it's very subtle, and I glued 2 pcs of basswood together with no problem. It's called Verithane. No odor, either.

Wanna do some trading? I have several Mamoli's I'll never build.

Had I known there is a model expo version I'd have snagged it. I just a minute ago got their Virginia Sloop. Single mast, beginner to intermediate. And it'll fit in my space.

I should say I just ordered it. Amazon prime and $30 less.

Mike, I read in the paperwork somewhere that you have to contact Mamoli (Milano?) for parts and got the impression it'll cost. Not much I'm sure, I'd hate to see how long that takes. I need to see if I can bend, sand, heck at this point I'll even bondo.

In Model-Expo's defense, I've had this box for 2 and a half years. I had no idea it'd take me 3 years to incomplete one ship. (Niagara)

I have several other kits, most are Mamoli that I don't think I'll build. If modelexpo's other ships are as high quality as the Niagara, then someone would have to do a lot of convincing to get me to buy another brand.

Having said that, I have a friend that built the U.S. Constitution, I believe from Corel? Those plans and manual looked great!

Which reminds me... You know how you get those ads from modelexpo offering deals? Yeah? Cheap skate. jgarcia@modelexpo-online.com will always be the one sending the message. Email him when you're missing or lost a part to the dogs nose. Their online form does not work! They know it. They should fix the site, right? Actually, as I understand it (I'm no authority and am probably preaching to the choir) but there is a new site under developement. Albeit slowly. I understand the time and cost of web upkeep and development, but if anyone one out there... Make it easier to get those missing parts. That's one of the things you've earned the right to be proud of.