patrickmil

Hey all, this will be a small update for the time being. I am working on more and hopefully may be able to add later.
 
I had only one of my anchors constructed and decided that it was time to get the second one ready. I hope to be adding them to the Niagara soon. I figured I'd show my method for constructing the anchors. I discarded the white metal upper piece and sprayed the lower piece with a thick black metal primer to get some casting texture. Next I glued to pieces of basswood together with a square hole through the middle. After some shaping I took some black heavy paper cut into strips and added the iron bands. I added the brass hoops and wrapped them in black nylon thread and painted over this with flat black paint to hold things in place and cover any bright spots. They are ready to go now. I will be working on adding these 'sleeve catchers' to the Niagara next. 
 
By the way, has anyone been catching the new pirate series on a certain premium cable channel? It is completely awesome and makes for a good background distraction while model building. I haven't spoken with anyone else who has watched it and was looking for alternate points of view on it. I read somewhere that a new series about Blackbeard will be on a national broadcast station soon. I'm anxious to see that come out too.

Scott, thanks for the nice comments. I have periodically been checking in on MSW to see progress but haven't had much interaction. I was getting tired of tying thousands of tiny knots. LOL. That is all about to change though. I took a hiatus to work on some plastic models that have been gathering dust and have become reinvigorated to finish up my Niagara. I dug all of my tools and the Niagara out last night and am planning on an update post by Thursday. Thanks for looking in.

Scott, thanks for the nice comments. I have periodically been checking in on MSW to see progress but haven't had much interaction. I was getting tired of tying thousands of tiny knots. LOL. That is all about to change though. I took a hiatus to work on some plastic models that have been gathering dust and have become reinvigorated to finish up my Niagara. I dug all of my tools and the Niagara out last night and am planning on an update post by Thursday. Thanks for looking in.

Popeye, your progress looks great. I know we're all anxious to see more progress pictures.

Scott, thanks for the nice comments. I have periodically been checking in on MSW to see progress but haven't had much interaction. I was getting tired of tying thousands of tiny knots. LOL. That is all about to change though. I took a hiatus to work on some plastic models that have been gathering dust and have become reinvigorated to finish up my Niagara. I dug all of my tools and the Niagara out last night and am planning on an update post by Thursday. Thanks for looking in.

Popeye, your progress looks great. I know we're all anxious to see more progress pictures.

Those pictures are very nice Sjors. It looks like you've done quite a bit since I last looked at your log. Very nice progress.

Ed, I really enjoy watching your builds in progress. Your explanation on all of your steps brings to life the processes you use and makes it feel as though your skill in this hobby is within reach of everyone. 
 
I didn't have an appreciation of how large this model is going to be until that very last photo.

It's these little details you put into your models that make your work into true masterpieces. Just like you said... most won't know the waterstops are there, but it's cool that you still take the time to put them in. Your scarf joint is already a work of art.

I'd have to agree with your assessment of the supplied gun port linings. I think you will have a better looking model with using timber to line you gun ports. Your Victory bow section is looking very nice so far.

Kimberly, I am sorry for the confusion. The lanyards I was referring to are the simulated (in plastic) ropes that have two deadeyes attached at either end; one end being at the chainplated and the other end (floating in the breeze) will attach to the shroud. The ropes that come with the kits (plastic and wood) is many times less than a quality material and we all, at times, find replacements for it. New rope and the experience of having already done it once should provide you with an outstanding finished product.

Daniel, I like these scenes where you have the figures involved. It gives us all a small sense of how things actually worked in a visual way. Please keep up with the excellent progress and detail.

Glad to see some progress being made Sjors. Great pictures and I completely agree with Wayne.

Glad to see some progress being made Sjors. Great pictures and I completely agree with Wayne.

The gun rigging looks really awesome. You have put in some incredible detail.

That counter planking is looking very nice!

You're doing an outstanding job on your Santa Maria! I really like the colors of paint you've chosen to apply. Very clean build so far!

Hey Augie, I really like the red color you have painted your gun ports in. I have found the minwax ebony stain to be great in getting the black color you are looking for with the tiled floor.

Your painted hull halves look great Kimberly. When I was working with plastic models, I would sometimes paint first and then glue and sometime I would glue first and then paint. Either way is going to require some touch-ups here and there almost every time.

She's looking great Popeye. A little varnish and some curing time will do her real nice! Lookin' forward to seeing progress on the Gothenborg.

Nice (faux?) sheaves Augie. Those are nice little details!

Wes, the green looks perfect to me.

Nelson's favorite ship is really coming alive with your careful attention. The ship's boats look great in their places and I'm very anxious to see some masts and rigging with your skills.

Popeye, I really like the look of what you have done in place of the cap rails. The pin racks are also a great addition.

Well, the hiatus on my Niagara continues....
 
The story goes something like this: One day I am walking around Hobby Lobby with my seven year old, Eva, and we stumble upon the section of the store containing dollhouses. Well, they had this monstrosity there in the color red and her eyes got as big as dinner plates and I watched as her face lit up like few times I have seen before. With Christmas and then her birthday right around the corner, it was a no-brainer. Needless to say, I was back the next week with a coupon for 40% off and I made the purchase of a dollhouse KIT (I stress the kit part which means massive and painstaking assembly required). Soooo.... My plans to cut some rigging out of the Niagara and re-rig her were quickly put to rest to imagining my youngest daughter's delight. While there I did spot the Midwest Products Skiff kit on clearance for $12.00. Why not buy it and put to rest some of the questions at work about how scale model ships and boats are made? 
 
This kit is great for work as my desk measures an impressive four feet wide (LMAO) and is dominated by two large flat screen monitors. A few tools and the kit and I would have onlookers galore!
 
The Midwest kit is a great kit for beginners and is wonderful for fulfilling my model ship sickness until the dollhouse at home is complete. The scale is 1/12th and I will be replacing the plywood pieces with extra strips of planking I had from an old AL kit. I am doing this in the hopes of recreating an old skiff (before plywood was all the rage) that has been beaten and worn down. I will be painting it and stressing the paint and will place my creating in a shadowbox to hang on the wall next to some pictures of lighthouses. 
 
My saga begins....