mtdoramike

hope these come out better

I finally finished the Montanes.

I have built a couple of Bluenose over the years and Latina's is a beauty when finished. But the decking or deck planking is a might off scale to the boat. Model Shipways is a bit more to scale as far as the deck planking goes. Your brotherin inn Canada love this model and I sold both of them to Canadians in short order. I do hate to see models go unfinished especially with the fine work you have already done on it. Hopefully someone will step up and finish it for you.

This kit was always on my to do list, but like the old saying goes, "To many kits, not enough time".

mike

I have not been able to do much hobby work for the past several weeks, I have been fighting a bout of Pmonia and it has really kicked my old behind. I have just now started moving around and feeling a lot better, but still a might weak and get winded quite easily. But the breathing treatments are helping quite a bit. I think I picked it up while visiting relatives in the Virgin Islands last month. But hope to get bbaack to it very soon. I'm starting to feel the itch again. 

After further consideration, It wasn't the fault of Customs after all, it was in fact the fault of Abordage. Customs only opens packages that are coming into this country and not packages shipped within the US. My display case was manufactured and shipped from the Dominican Republic, which is where Abordage factory is located. The display case is then shipped to Punta Gorda Florida to their sister facility and then shipped from Punta Gorda to the receiver, which was me. No Customs involvement between Punta Gorda and my address. So Abordage received the packed display case packed like someone had stomped all over it and yet rather then opening up the package to check the contents and repackaging it properly, they just sent it the way they received it. They are supposedly trying to make things right, but after 5 days, I'm beginning to think that ain't happening either. This just goes to show that even though you have one great deal with a company, you can't expect them all to be great. The sign of a great company isn't how many great deals they have had, but rather how they handle the deals that weren't so great. So eventhough, I'm not as high on Aboradge as I once was, I would still recommend them if someone is looking for a decent high end display case, I was just make sure when they ask for the second half of the deposit that you ask them to make sure the package is sent from their Punta Gorda address in proper packaging to insure no damage.  

I received the display case from Abordage and was horrified as how I found it packaged and shipped. Fortunately the only thing damaged was the corner of the display base suffered a slight bruise. I spoke with Abordage and this is what happens when your package goes through customs. The furthest picture to the right is how it was shipped from Abordage. Customs left no Fragile warnings on the package, removed the entire exterior cardboard, the box corners were gone and no foam padding was left to secure the contents. Seven out of the eight screws fell out of the package while UPS driver was helping me into the house with it. Shame on you Customs for doing such a **** poor job repacking my package.

I heard from Abordage this morning and my display case is on it's way. The shipping alone was $179.00. 

I ordered the display case from Abordage, which will take about 5-6 weeks. I'm still doing some running rigging and hope to have it done by the time the display case gets here.

mike

On 6/2/2017 at 8:45 PM, Steve 12345 said:

Buetifull build mike I've just started a very old kit from a company called keilkraft ,it's  rc kit of a fast patrol boat but I'm turning it into a luxury yaght and will follow your build with interest for ideas 

 

thanks

steve 

Hey Steve, we would love to see your kit and progress on your build. I love these old kits.

Thanks Steve, I hope to be finished with the Commander by the end of summer, but that will depend on the sanding of the hull. There are a ton of drips and runs that need to be addressed.

This with three coats of resin on the bow and stern, with sanding in between coats with 150 grit, 220 grit and 320, 400 grit wet sanding paper. 

First coat of resin on the bow and stern sections. Now, sand, sand and more sanding between coats, which will total three coats of resin.

I decided to bite the bullit this morning and glass the outer hull. I use one sheet and made a few relief cuts on the sides and at the bow. I folded over the relief cut at the bow,which also gave double protection at the nose.  

starting on the cabin while waiting on a nice day to start the outside hull glassing.

Thanks Rick

If you can get a nice built display case or build one yourself for $150.00, god bless you. But in my area, the only wood offered is poplar or very limited red oak. The acrylic alone for a 54 inch display case from either Lowes or Home Depot at 1/4" thick would run about $400.00 the last I checked and the amount needed would have to be special ordered. Now if I ordered enough mahogany to build a nice display case all total with acrylic, would run me over $600.00. Now my time to build that case about 8 hours about $150.00, tools I need that I don't have, miter saw and router, $250.00. So $1000.00 for a display case doesn't look so bad.

mike  

Thanks, some that have built this model in the past that used the same size caulking wished they would have used a thicker caulking material. But I believe this size is the more scale look. If it were bigger, it wouldn't look right, kind of like ceramic tile laid with a 1 inch grout line. 

2 hours ago, CDW said:

It's shocking, the prices of display cases for our models. 

Yes, especially the big models. When you get over 32" long models, the prices like double and then double again for cases over 48".

Ok, I'm getting close to being finished with the Montanes, so the hunt for a display case begins. Now it would be easy just to reorder the same display case from Abordage that I bought for the HMS Victory, But upon checking with Abordage, although the display case remained the same at $825.00 for a mahogany and wood case, the shipping jumped from $150.00 to $195.00 UPS. So here is w hat I found:

Abordage = $825.00 +  $195.00 shipping UPS

Acrylic Plus = $656.00 for a 5 sided acrylic box, but I would have to make my own display base for the box. So depending on wood used, this could cost up to $200.00 if I want walnut or mahogany.

Caseforcollectables.com = $483.22 + 273.56 Freight This is not a kit and will come assembled with a black plastic base

Shoppopdisplays.com = $910.01 + $190.08 freight same style case as above.

Acrylicjobs on Ebay = $990.00 free shipping. this is a kit and will come with a wooden base

beautycn on Ebay = $699.00 from China same case as the one above.

These all have 1/4" acrylic