mrcc

Hi Jan-Willem... funny that you noticed that as well. This kit seems out of scale to me - not the 1:75 as stated on the box and limited documentation that we got. It is hard to believe that Billing Boats would get it wrong???

So I have now come to a hiccup... I decided to create scuppers. I did some research, whether correct or not and made 11 in the fore deck and 8 in the aft deck. I drilled a 0.5 mm hole in the inside going outside tight against the stanchions as a reference and with a small file created the rest of the cut-out from the outside in. When you are in the middle of the work, you don't realize how much material you are taking out and perhaps I got over zealous and only upon resting after the work that I noticed that the cut-outs are out of scale and are now perhaps too big. I have tried a fix as evident in the last picture and hope to get opinions on whether to fill with a small length of 1mm planking and then sand back to create perhaps a more realistic look for the rest of the scuppers or leave as is. Not sure...?

I got to work planking the deck fixtures as well. All easy work with some fill and sand and final finishing to achieve yet the final pieces... all progress to report.

I addressed the issues at the stern by soaking a couple pieces of wood (short planks) and affixing them above and below the original work and then planking the full stern face below. All easy work... creating a more real representation I believe. Of course lots of filler and sanding is yet needed.

I was missing the rudder so I fabricated one from some scrap wood. I also laminated another scrap to it to get the proper width. It will of course get painted.

I have had a couple of weekends to complete some work... but only now able to show progress. I added the fake stanchions which the kit never asked for, I added one between each of the bulwark stanchions already in place. Perhaps should have done two between each which likely reflects the real number on the original ship. Certainly looks better in my eyes.

Thanks Alan, Jan-Willem, I think my neighbour (the original builder) may have taken some liberties with the plans, slight as it may be. The problem now for me, especially with the cap railing on is to fit the fake stanchions in. I think I will just stick one in the middle as see how it looks. Jan-Willem, maybe try two between each fixed stanchion (bulwark) and see how it looks. I certainly feel that this Billings kit may not be true in any sense but I am sure it will look great in the end. I will post some progress / pictures later this weekend. Cheers, Julian

I am presently starting a second log. I am not even 2 years into this hobby, plugging away at a Caldercraft kit, the HM Granado, and have now started a new (old) build. My neighbour purchased this kit 25 years ago in 1989 and completed it to the stage shown in the pictures below. Unfortunately, that is where it has sat for 24.5 years and fortunate for me though is that he has passed the kit on to me. I was very surprised at the quality of his work, certainly better that what I would have done on my first effort and maybe even on a second effort for me, specifically with respect to the planking. The kit though has some definite misgivings. 1) There is no instructions at all - not sure if they were present originally and subsequently lost but for me I have had to do a lot of research both on MSW and with a co-worker of my wife's who to my surprise has built 3 Bluenose and Bluenose II kits and lucky for me, was able to provide me with his instruction manuals and plans to refer to. 2) The quality of the kit components is certainly not up to par with the Caldercraft kit - for example plastic deadeyes and blocks which I will surely replace with wooden items. 3) Some missing parts but certainly easy to scratch build - for example the rudder and the cradle. 4) There are some minor mistakes and deviations from the plans made by my neighbour, but easy to fix. There are some positive items to the present build and kit though. 1) The hull is single planked but my neighbour has done a very good job (in my estimation). The nail holes are nicely countersunk and with a fine layer of wood filler, the hull is ready for primer and paint. 2) The deck planking needs a simple fine sand and is basically ready for a protective varnish. 3) The fixes that are required are easy to do - for example at the transom. Also I feel that I should first put some fake stanchions to make it more to the proper and original form. I should also cut some scuppers into the hull which I find more appealing to the model. And I will also have to create a waterway which I presume will have to be masked off and simply spray painted, first with primer and then a paint, given the current state of the model and difficulty getting a brush into the bulwarks and stanchions. There is a current build on MSW of this same original kit, presently not on the market, at this scale anyways, done by 7Provinces. Hopefully we will be able to collaborate a bit and I think the model will turn out quite well. Not sure on how fast my progress will be as I currently have another build on the go.

Oops... You are right Timmo. Not sure if I will be able to fix this given the housing is soundly glued in place.

Last progress to note is the painting of the figurehead, lower finishing figures, and quarter badges. The problem now that I note is that with my 50 year old eyes, I sometimes miss the finer details as noted with the finishing figures, and not cleaning up the cast halves before painting them. Hmm, maybe these eyes are a blessing given this is my first build. On another note is the frustration in who ever put my kit together at Caldercraft prior to its shipping. I was missing an entire sheet on first opening the kit and then later in the build noticed I was missing numerous stock wood strips. The retailer was excellent last year in providing the missing parts after a direct email to Jotika was unanswered. I again have noticed that I am missing some casting parts, specifically the figurehead sceptre and the 2 cathead decorations.

I then tackled the tiller, tiller mortice, and canopy. All easy work... Some obvious challenge in drilling the 1mm hole centered in a 2mm by 2mm mortice.

Time once again to post some progress... completing the rudder, first painting the waterline, attaching the rudder pintle straps, and then drilling the holes in the straps to accommodate the pintles made from brass nails. I had to just slightly enlarge the rudder cutouts to align with the hull gudgeon straps the I affixed earlier in the build which I believe now was a mistake. I should have down both together at this stage. Nonetheless, everything looks good and I was very lucky to have the rudder slip into place without any problems. I will apply a second coat of paint to polish everything up.

Thanks Jan-Willem for the note. I as well am extremely slow at this hobby and given I have a current build going on with my HM Granado (my first), I am certainly not sure how much time I can devote to the Bluenose. I will though start a Bluenose log in the next week or two and show some pictures of where I am at. To be honest with you, your first few posting and pictures are "identical" to the model I inherited. I have seen the Bluenose II docked in Lunenburg 3 years ago while it was undergoing some restoration in Nova Scotia, Canada, and it is such a beautiful ship. The lines obviously so similar to the original. Who knows, I may just shift my focus on this ship, and complete it first. Julian

Hi there, I also have this same and identical kit. My neighbor began this kit 25 years ago and gave it to me this past weekend to complete as he was not interested in this hobby. I am also at this same exact stage as you and have this inherited the same concerns. I am optimistic that it will turn out OK with a bit of detail work and simple scratch buildup. My problem is I have another build log on the go and not sure when I will have time to do this kit justice. I may create a log for this model and then let it sit for a while. Nonetheless I look forward to any work you get done as I am right behind you.

Thanks Alistair... yes the cannons look very fiddly. When I see the quality of the work on MSW and the details that show up on the close-up photography, I am always very impressed. I just finished the rudder and the deck canopy for the rudder which both turned out quite well. I will post photos shortly. Cheers, Julian

Well, I have been procrastinating on the cannon rigging but I think I am certainly ready to attempt this task next. Maybe this upcoming weekend.

And I also created the swivel gun pedestals and attached them to the hull. It is funny how everything looks great until you take the close-up picture with the camera. My paint finish is not so great... I presume I should be putting on a light coat and then sanding and reapplying a second coat. I have been told there is a product that can be added to the paint that slows down the drying time and thus provides a nicer, smoother, and cleaner finish. Of course the primary problem is my 50 year old eyes being not so great for closeup work.

I also started on the channels and chainplates which was easy and fun enough.

Finally some time to provide an update... I attached and painted the capping taffrail and of course repainted the legs of my "warriors" on the transom decoration to the correct flesh color.

Thanks Alistair... very nice instructions!

Thanks for the tips of advise... Alistair, Timmo Alistair, with regards to the rigging, you are right, I just tied off the ring bolts on one strand of string to make it easier to handle. I will cut the thread in half, thread the ends through the bolts on the carriage and CA them on the "cascabel" And yes you are right about the flesh coloring on the legs, I will be doing some touchup painting. Thanks! With regards to the sweep port lids, do you think they would look OK without the hinges should I recut them all slightly larger and reattach them, scrapping the old "garbage" I put on? Or best to leave the port lids off the model?

Well this next step was an absolute disaster for me as I really butchered the sweep ports lids. I tried them all closed... knowing this would be the easiest to get completed. I first had trouble with the hinges and getting them centered on to the port lid and as they were slightly undersized to completely cover the port, they look terrible. I seemed to also have trouble with super glue and its fast set up time. Also my cuts on the 0.5x3 mm strip were terrible. I think I will be tearing them all off but not sure how to salvage the hinges? It is like a 2 year old did them... oops!

I next focused on the transom decoration which I think turned out OK.

I started to create some of the rigging for the cannons but this was as far as I got.

I also completed the lower and upper cheeks with the headrails. The work always looked better to my 50 year old eyes until you see the imperfections on the photo. Needless to say I have some detail and touch-up painting to do.