Cap'n Rat Fink

I started this kit just after Christmas,  although I didn't get this as a gift.   this is a reissue kit.....I've never seen the older version,  but this version looks to be of good quality.   I did find a couple of small flaws in it, but nothing to go ballistic over.......they were quite easy to repair.   the build starts as a split keel design, numbering the pairs of ribs was a bit of a challenge........the rib layout diagram was different than the laser cut part's panels.  once I figured it out,  it went much better.   I will try to narrate some of the missing text, but if you'd like to read the entire build as it stands so far,  you can go here:
 
http://wenzelswharf.wordpress.com/2012/12/30/billings-america-a-172-scale-kit/
 
there is much more text here than I could ever put into any site.....without seeming long winded, of course.



this is where the first problem surfaced.....one of the ribs was nicked by the saw and caused an edge to be flattened.  the fix was to cement a piece of basswood onto the offended area and sand it to shape.  on the 30th od December,  the numbering,  fitting and subsequent assembly of the keel halves began.   they supply a nice board to assemble the halves on,  but I have a large length of pine board, that worked even better......more than enough room to do both sides at the smae time.




this picture gives you a good idea as to how large this pine board is.  in this next picture,  I will show the repaired rib.....I'm certain you can see which one.

Thanks a lot Sjors, all this makes me "blush a bit"
 
Børge

Hello All,
A couple of small things left to do. But she is pretty much complete. i will add more detailed and close up picture in the completed Forum later this week.
Thank you all for watching

cheers Mario





 
 
Well I'm all done. some pic's may be out of order and some text might not make sence but it's better then nothing.....you all fun now!!!

Mark, JP, John,
   Good to see you guys stop by. got home late last night so i will finish off frames 4 n5 tonight and add updates today after work. I decided getting home late last night, so I went and added my Bounty Launch build back in to help others out.

JP, Greenstone,
  Thank you both for stopping by. I added the build back because I had been getting a  couple of PM's on the build back on MSW 1.0 , so to help the others I had a fail safe and put the build back, though it is missing some texted but better then nothing I always say....

OK ,,,,NOW THAT I AM BACK WHERE I LEFT OFF. THANK GOODNESS FOR PUTTING EVERYTHING IN MS WORD. SAVED MY BUTT. COPY N PASTE NOW I'M BACK. SO IF MY PLAN GOES RIGHT ALL FRAMES WILL BE COMPLETED BY THIS WEEKEND AND I WILL BE ABLE TO ADD SOMETHING NEW................
 
 
MARIO

Hello All,
A couple of small things left to do. But she is pretty much complete. i will add more detailed and close up picture in the completed Forum later this week.
Thank you all for watching

cheers Mario





 
 
Well I'm all done. some pic's may be out of order and some text might not make sence but it's better then nothing.....you all fun now!!!

Hi Guys,
    Well I'm back and feeling better. I will post my photos back up soon. Just thought I would leave an FYI that I did not leave like the Ol MSW site did. So give me a bit and I will re-post my pictures some time this week....
 
cheers Mario