Chuck Seiler

Looking good! 
 
"Pointy end"  "Other pointy end"

Looking good! 
 
"Pointy end"  "Other pointy end"

Yesterday I got to plank eight on both sides. And yes I have a few more coins in the super D cup. Don't you just hate it when you sand ,carve, shape a plank get it all ready to glue in and bang it breaks lol. One more coin for the cup lol. So far I have broken 6 planks, but will be ble to use them soon as the planks are getting  shorter .
After I cleaned it up,  I took a wet rag and wiped it down to see what it might look like. The grain of the  wood shows up so nice. I really like this kit, the wood is right on..
 So I will post again when I put four more planks on each side.
 Later my friend's.    

We have these questions about similar models come up from time to time, Chris is well versed in the topic. While appreciate what you’re trying to do for your friend, as Chris notes there is really no secondary market for models of this quality. Only the best quality models can fetch any price worthwhile and even then it’s a small market or built on commission. Try posting them on eBay, maybe that will generate a few dollars. I suggest making the topic description there more about donating to the charity than about the models. 
 
I feel for you and the loss of your friend. Thank you both for your service. 

Hi, Mitch.
 
The first model is a mass-produced decor model with essentially zero resale value. The second model is likely made from the Artesania Latina kit. Being a kit model and given its current state of disrepair, its resale value is also negligible. If it were repaired, it might be worth a few bucks -- not a lot, just a few, but restoration work is not cheap, and finding buyers for a model like that is not easy.
 
Wish I could give you better news.

Thanks, @LyleK1 if by access you mean send everyone to your log for all the historcal and research  data, yes I will go for that. What could I add that is not  already there. Plus they will see your boat and read your log,  it's fantastic.  One that I will visit often.  Thanks so much for posting it.
 I am going to dedicate  this boat to my First Mate,  love of my life. She helps so much with the builds, editing,  sail making , sewing and did I mention editing  lol
 
 Well my son helped me put the disk in and make a pDF or what ever lol. And started looking at it and the next thing you know , ready for planking lol 
   Everything was so clearly marked on the strongback and it was easy to assemble.  I put tape on the strongback to hopefully  stop it from sticking when I go to remove the boat from it.
 I am going to let everything dry up really  well before planking. Plus life's little detour  will slow me down for a couple of weeks ,but after that I will have or make more time for the ship yard.
 
Bob M.

Good luck!
It was a fun build. You can access my log to the same build below, if you're interested.
I'll be pulling up a chair to watch!

Today I feel compelled to start this boat. Last year while shopping around for more models to buy, I came across this boat. I found a log for it here at MSW  and got the address for the boat. It was at Scott Miller Guitars  http://www.semillerguitars.com/sea-of-galilee-boats/. I got in contact with Scott,  and he explained what type of boat it was, it's called a strong back.  He also told me what type of wood was used . He explained how much time goes into one of these kits and asked if I was I sure It was the kind of model I was looking for.  We agreed on a deal and I bought one. So a year later  lol, I emailed  him and told him I was indeed going to build it. I don't know why I need to start this log today maybe because it is Easter Sunday.
 I opened the kit and placed it in a box that was more accessible to get the parts.  The wood looks excellent,  everything is labeled  and packaged neatly. 
 There are some really great logs of this boat here on MSW, some with lots of research and historical information  if you care to look.
 I just need to build a boat,  lol. So for the next couple of weeks  I will be getting  things organized for the build. I will add more info about the way I will build this model and hope it looks as good as the ones I have seen here. Follow at your own risk, there will be plenty of typos, and a whole lot of laughter and fun and I am allowed to use lots of CA glue for this model lol . Happy  Easter everyone  I am having a great one . Thanks so much 
Bob M. 
 
 
 
 

Great video Kevin - nicely moderated.
Kurt

I agree with Jim, except the water based gave more of a splotchy finished didn't care for it at all. 
 
    I have an old can of oil based gloss.   Many have recommended the satin.  When I tried to find here in California, I was unable to find oil based satin, so I got water based.  Tried it on my Queen Anne Barge.  You see my thoughts above.  I reverted to the oil gloss.  I had i discussion with another member (Claire I believe) at the NRG Conference who suggested that I might not be able to get oil based in Cali....so I stopped on my way out of Nevada and got some.  Don't tell Guv'ner Brown.
 
    Go with the oil.

So, you HAVE seen my Queen Anne Barge buildlog.  The rubber bands seemed like a good idea at the time.

Nice mermaid!  I think I saw her in a bar in Vegas. 

Woooooo hooooo!  I made it!  I'm in.    Which one of those is mine?
 
Seriously, thought....great job Chuck.  We appreciate the effort.  I hope to do you proud.

I have the 'John Smith SHALLOP".  It appears to be a good representation based on the reproduction in the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.  I have ordered, but not yet received, the Oseberg Drakker.  The laser etchings on the bow and stern look superb.  So far, I am happy with the quality of the SHALLOP.  The instructions are a bit light on verbiage, but oherwise complete.  Email responses from "Pavel" have been quick (although so far I have only dealt with Denis...not Pavel).
 
    As noted above, shipping is pricey.  Another issue is that it takes a long time to get the package,  It took over a week for them to send the package and several weeks to arrive.  Part of this is due to the war.  IIRC, this is a small operation so they only crank out a few kits at a time.  It is even slower when bombs are dropping around you and knocking out your electricity.  Also, it is my understanding that there is no commercial air currently in Ukraine, so everything has to go by ground until it gets to a place with air.

I’m still wrestling with the cant frames. It’s slow going. It’s all put there together, take them apart, rinse and repeat.
I’m learning as I go, which is a good thing since my order for the osberg ship is in the mail. The lessons I have learnt should make that assembly much easier.   
I also have been cleaning up a pair of Altec lancing voice of the theater speakers. Much more forgiving.

You are on MSW (Model Ship World).  I was referring to the sponsors on the front page.  Includes models, books, wood, etc.

Mike,
 
    Thank you for your kind words. 
 
    Don't give up completely on kits.  They can be the source of some great kit-bashing.  ...and there are some VERY NICE kits on the market and about to come out from smaller businesses such as MSW sponsors.
 
    When I refer to 'milled' I am not referring to individual planks.  I was referring to sheets.  Chuck (Syren Ship Model Company) has Alaskan Yellow Cedar, boxwood, Swiss pear and others.  Crown also has boxwood, cherry, maple and others.  I get various thicknesses of sheet, then use my Byrnes to cut, using for planking, structural and other pieces parts (deck furniture, gratings, etc).  For me, that is more cost effective and easier than getting a larger board and cutting it down to sheets.

There is another downside to over-beveling your planks.  The planks will meet snug on the surface, but there will be a gap as you get deeper into the plank.The resulting finish sanding could remove that vital upper layer and create a gap in your planking.  Don't ask me how I know this.

I had the same experience, 40 years ago I started with a solid hull model and failed to get past step one.  I've built a lot of plastic models but never went back to try a wood model, shaping a hull and the rigging intimidated me.  A couple of years ago I decided to try my hand at wood models and saw an advertisement for Model Expo & Shipways models.  I started with the Model Shipways 3 ship beginners set and they took me step by step and I learned a lot of skills and knowledge for a fair price.  So much I tried my hand at a solid hull again and it's been successful so far.
   I highly recommend the Model Shipways Shipwright 3 Kit Series. By the time you finish the 3rd boat, the Muscongus Bay Lobster Smack, you will have the skills to take on anything.

Happily agree on this idea.  I did the NRG training kit first to learn some planking skills and it's a great tool.  Plus if planking is your interest it's perfect as that's all it is (well, some frame and rabbet practice too) and it's not terribly expensive.   

It sounds like you walked away from the first attempt with not much more experience, but alot more wisdom.  The fact that you are trying again tells me much.  This hobby is very much about going back and fixing things that went wrong.  As mentioned above, sanding here or there, making a new piece, adding another layer of planking.  I am a big fan of going back, ungluing something that is not right and doing it over again.  This includes a large swath of planking.  The first time around you find out how NOT to do it   and hopefully gain insight on how TO do  it.
 
    As Keith said,sometimes when you hit a snag you just have to set it aside.  Sometimes I will do that for a couple days and my mind will work on the problem.  As a friend and fellow modeler once told me 'if you can draw it, you can make it'.  It need not be an engineers dream diagram, but sometimes if you pencil it out it makes more sense.
 
    No screw up is a complete lost.  I had an old schooner ENTERPRISE model (y'all know the one) I screwed up.  I kept it and later used it to experiment on before I tried the same thing on a "keeper" model.
 
    Good luck and remember, patience is one of the most important tools in our kit.

It sounds like you walked away from the first attempt with not much more experience, but alot more wisdom.  The fact that you are trying again tells me much.  This hobby is very much about going back and fixing things that went wrong.  As mentioned above, sanding here or there, making a new piece, adding another layer of planking.  I am a big fan of going back, ungluing something that is not right and doing it over again.  This includes a large swath of planking.  The first time around you find out how NOT to do it   and hopefully gain insight on how TO do  it.
 
    As Keith said,sometimes when you hit a snag you just have to set it aside.  Sometimes I will do that for a couple days and my mind will work on the problem.  As a friend and fellow modeler once told me 'if you can draw it, you can make it'.  It need not be an engineers dream diagram, but sometimes if you pencil it out it makes more sense.
 
    No screw up is a complete lost.  I had an old schooner ENTERPRISE model (y'all know the one) I screwed up.  I kept it and later used it to experiment on before I tried the same thing on a "keeper" model.
 
    Good luck and remember, patience is one of the most important tools in our kit.

SD, limit spending to no more than a couple of hundred bucks for a kit and get knee deep in it. Work till you either finish or get frustrated enough that you need to stop. If the latter happens, take a break. Look through as many build logs as you have time and learn from what you observe. Buy a couple of books and add to your knowledge Then go back to whatever model you were working on and try to finish it. If you can't finish it, put it aside for a couple of years and try again. If at that point you can't finish it, chuck it in the bin and find a hobby that makes you want to get out of bed in the morning. life is too short to saddle yourself with a hobby that is drudgery. Model ships are joy to view and for some a joy to build but not all people who enjoy looking at model ships are model ship builders. 

The Mayflower is a fun ship to build, I am making one now , if I can help in anyway  let me know. Then I will ask someone who knows lol. Good luck on your journey