Landlubber Mike

Well, the helicopter is done and on the shelf and memories found and remembered.    So back to Belle Poule.   The shop has been cleaned up, she's on the bench and tools are prepped.    Then I had one of those moments... "what the hell was I thinking?" as I looked over the balsa filler.   I thought about dumping it and starting over and doing it "properly", but then I'd still have a lot of sanding to do.   So.. I'll carry on from where I am.
 
Sidenote.... funny thing about strokes.   Not ha-ha but weird maybe is right word.  Right after it happened, my mind was shot.   But it seems like things I thought were lost (like how to do a POB) but they've come back.   Not completely but reminds of a computer backup.   So memory gets trashed and then can be restored by back up tapes.   It's the only way I can explain it.   
 
Hopefully, pictures in a few days of the port side I'm going to finish shaping.

This is absolutely amazing.  If you’re a novice, I wonder what that makes me 😳

Well CD this is the pics of the ICM figures for this build and the little Dio is ICM figures pre-molded in 1/48 Kevin

Masked, painted and mounted the canopy today. A good 4-5 hours required, rather tedious. The pre cut masks make a world of difference. The job would have been much more difficult and time consuming without them on this model.
 
 

Very cool!  Love the figures.
 

Very cool!  Love the figures.
 

Thanks for the link, I'm going to start them tonight. It's nice having well designed hardware to begin with instead of having to "polish a turd".
 
Thanks Mike, I've been building models for 60 years (mostly styrene and railroad) but I still have a LOT to learn about model shipbuilding. It's a whole different class of modelling, with a bunch of new nomenclature and techniques to learn. I really liked the ebony planking on your Charles W. Morgan! Your builds are great and your build logs really well done.

Very cool!  Love the figures.
 

Very cool!  Love the figures.
 

I started prepping and masking the main canopy pieces tonight. It will probably take me the better part of my modeling time tomorrow to finish the masking and painting of it. I have some chores to do tomorrow that cuts my modeling time short.
My baby girl (she's 22) leaves in another week for New Hampshire to finish up her schooling. It sure is going to be an adjustment for me when she's gone. I'm dreading it, but I won't tell her that. Guess I'll spend more modeling time to chase the blues away.
 

Thanks, BobG! Testor's metalizer paints are awesome...
I got the gunwales installed and started work on deck paraphernalia. I had a real problem with the 12 pounder cannonball racks though. They are VERY delicate so of course I ended up breaking both of them...😬 After some fiddly repair they are installed but I'm still not really happy with them. Even though they are prototype, they just don't look substantial enough to hold all those cannonballs. I may end up scratchbuilding some improved ones.
 
Progress shots:
 



 

Thanks, leclaire! Most of the hardware on the carriages came from the three Goodwill cannons. The rest came from Hobbylinc, ebay and Amazon. As kurtvd19 suggested, that hardware is superb. Another manufacturer called Tichy-Train has a whole assortment of styrene nuts and bolts in different styles and sizes I use that are really nice. Grandt line, Meng, Scale-Master and a lot of other manufacturers make hardware that works great also. Hinges, brackets, grommets and lots of other stuff is available for dollhouse scale (1:12) that can also be used. For this scale (1:24) model car detail parts are a good source. I'm also using some 1:35 and 1:60 stuff depending on what fits and looks right. I have a huge stash of photoetch, brass, styrene, cast metal and wood detail parts that I dig through when I need something, so I guess I'm lucky.
   I am seriously debating using the mortar. Since I decided in the beginning of this build that it wouldn't be true to the original I have a lot more leeway in what I can do. This build is ending up being a "typical" gunboat (or gundalow) that could have been used by many nations during this approximate time period, based on the Model Shipways Philadelphia. The mortar was part of the original plan, anyway...
   Now that the decks are done, the fun begins! Slim is stoked... I've given him a grog ration...
 
   
 


Here's the mortar with the scratchbuilt carriage. It would be fixed on the centerline (no swivel) with variable elevation only. I'll add a lot of nuts, tackle, chains etc. to detail it out. 

Well Just because Mark is such a wizz getting his helicopter done, as usual I have not been so prodigious in my progress. Even though there has been a considerable amount of work since I last updated my log it is not all that visible. With only a couple of things left to go I finished the pilot chairs, determined their proper location and glued them into position. I will add the shoulder harnesses after the pilots are fully painted, and add the collective and cyclic controls at the very last so that they won't be broken.
 
I have been spending most of my time on the jump seats. Getting them assembled in a way that they could be strong enough not to fall apart later. The rear bench and gunners seats were especially problematical and I eventually had to come up with my own way to make them fit and, (Hopefully) look right. I am not a 100% happy with it but I can only alter them so many times and still have them work at all.
 
So at this point it is mostly getting the seat belts installed, making a few more repairs to the deck, and a lot of painting. Mostly on the pilots who have to be in position before installing the overhead, but the over all interior also needs a lot of paint and will be easier to do it now rather than wait until later.
 
So here are the pictures. They don't really show the back and forth and constant redoes but you just need to be aware what you are looking at is just the latest rendition and far from finished.




Thanks for looking in

Good evening everyone, 
 
not a complete disaster today, but the photos,  do not show what i am trying to achieve, however the steel lines are still to be weathered, and perhaps then it wont look so bad,
But my attempt at a well hammered/used set of shrouds and rats, dont look good at present

im passed that stage, and as i nor have the free time, thoroughly enjoying it
 
 
good evening everyone, another day another update, you lot are so lucky
 
some of the little modules that i built months ago are now finding there way onto the build
the booms behind the wheelhouse the fwd funnel stays are in, the two cowls now have a home, but mainly there for now to ensure nothing is causing an obstruction
two booms are in the rest position, and will be rigged tomorrow, in the raised position
all the mast stays are now in place, and this week will be fixed in place so that the ratlines can go in
 
then outside for a few photo's

 
 
 
 
 

Good evening everyone
 
 
the funnel, is a large lump to just drop in place, and there are no location tabs, so i have fixed a piece of wood inside the funnel, another fixed to the superstructure and drilled through a 3rd but, this screw then pulls the piece inside the funnel down therefore locking it in place (not fell of yet)
 
i continued with the rigging today, and it seams to be ok, the mast is in the right position, so for now i am making up the backstays

good morning everyone
 
well i put the shrouds in place, they are secured at the bottom, and the tops are still free to be adjusted, when the time arrives, i may have to remove the mast again to put a larger wedge in to improve the rake
 
the ratlines will be thread, as that is how the Ross Tiger is fitted out, although a different type of trawler

Really nice job on this Mark.  Especially nice that you could build something you had a connection to.  Congratulations!

Looks fantastic OC.  That's turning out really nice.  

Bob, very nice work!  I love the weathered look - looks amazing.  Slim probably could use a little more food though.

Not to dredge up the evils of PE, but here are some pictures of what I've been dealing with on the 1/700 side.  Might make you feel better
 

Lou that's coming out really nicely.  Those figures look amazing, this is going to be a very sweet build.

Thank you!
 

1:64 Zulu Fishing Boat - KIT PREVIEW
Vanguard Models
**Coming soon**
 

 
Vanguard Models are currently around 2 months (give or take) from releasing two new kits which are suitable for both beginner and expert alike, but of course engineered to help those who want to try their hand at modelling a ship/boat in timber. Both models are in 1:64 and both are working vessels; fishing boats. These are the Zulu and Fifie class of vessel which tended to operate around the south-eastern coast of Scotland, mainly as herring fishers. If you know Chris's style of design, then you'll see it here in this preview kit I have for the Zulu. 
 
This is a preview only and isn't designed to be a review. It's simply to show you the basic box contents before Chris finishes the kit. Firstly, it isn't a finished-boxed product, being sent to me in a regular shipper box. It also has no instructions and no plans at this stage, and rigging blocks/cord/sails will be with me later. My own build which Chris wants to use for a box-art photo, will be made using his prototype photos that I'm currently editing for his instruction manual. Sails will be provided as an extra, should the modeller want them. Many don't use sails, so you'll not pay for something you won't use when you buy the initial kit. Despite the model also being pitched at newcomers and novices, no poor quality materials have been used. You get pear in this kit, with an option to buy with a maple deck instead of lime.
 
The Zulu contains:
 
2 x 3mm MDF sheets 3 x 1mm pear sheets 1 x 2mm pear sheet 1 x 3mm pear sheet 1 x 2mm acetate sheet 1 x 0.8mm ply (single part) 1 x 0.7mm maple or lime wood laser cut/engraved deck (lime is standard) 1 x 0.4mm PE sheet Timber strip Metal tubing  
Not seen in this photo are the rigging blocks and cord, and the optional sails.
 
MDF Sheets
One thing you'll note here is that Vanguard Models are now using laser engraving on their parts, so everything is pre-numbered and there are also bevelling lines so you can roughly shape bulkheads before assembly to the false keel. Final shaping can be done later. 






 
 
1mm pear sheets
These are very nice indeed. Timber quality is excellent, and I love the pink hues of this stuff. Note that the bulwarks (supplied in halves) have the positions engraved on them for the timberheads. The first two lower planks are also included to take the guesswork out of those shapes near the keel. A rabbet has also been cleverly engineered into the design, and you won't need to cut or chisel a single thing to create it! The rabbet will help those second planks sit snugly into position.






 
 
2mm pear sheet


 
 
3mm pear sheet



 
2mm acetate sheet
All models from this company have clear acetate stands supplied with them, and this includes these two fishing boats. These just push together with no need for adhesive, although you could, if you wanted to, drop a little PVA into the slot as it will dry clear. The acetate is covered in a blue plastic film which you first peel off, as seen here. A benefit of a clear stand is that it won't hinder the view of the completed hull!

 
 
0.8mm ply (single part) and 0.7mm maple deck
All kits, as standard, will be supplied with an engraved lime wood deck. The kit which I've been sent has the maple option. As you can see, it does look really neat, and the engraving is excellent, including proper trunnels instead of just dots. This deck will sit atop the ply one seen here, but only when the hull is built (and painted).



 
 
Strip wood and tube
Three bundles of materials are supplied with this kit, all of high quality. The alloy tubes are for the flues. Materials are 1x5mm limewood for first planking, 1x4mm pear for second planking, and walnut for the rest (dowels, half round strip and 1x1mm strip)





 
 
Photo Etch & errata
A reasonable size PE sheet is included, manufactured from 0.4mm brass. Brass nails are the excellent Amati ones with no malformed heads or points etc. Probably the best I've ever used.




 
As I say, this isn't a complete kit. It needs the rig, blocks, optional sails, instructions, plans and a box, but it should give you a good idea about how the finished product will look.
 
Here's a photo of the prototype, so far.
 

 
 
 

I have started the deck furniture.