mtdoramike

hahahahahaha, You are right Don, the rudder was one of the hardest things that I had to do on this ship model. Fortunately, I have done so many of them, I knew enough to know that it was going to be a little tough. So I waited about as long as I could. Getting the rudder sanded down, plated and installed along with the chain was about a 6 hour day. Now on with the masts and then the rigging. I will start with the Bow sprit. For the actual masts, I use a building board, which I mount the mast to in order to build it from the bottom to the top. I then hang a plumb bob from the ceiling of my building room where I have a hook installed that when the time comes to install the pre-made masts, I place the ship model on the floor which is perfectly flat. I then install the mast using the plumb bob as a guide to get them straight and even with each other.

mike

Thanks Tom, I ordered 5mm vinyl lettering from Cornwall Ship Models from England.

mike

Installed the rudder and chains.

Will do, thanks Red.

I decided to go with brown railings.

mike

Unless you spend 8 hours a day 7 days a week on this model, expect a year and a half to more like 2 years. But as long as you are prepared for the model once finished because it's not just the model, but the size of the display case as well, which is even bigger.

mike

What a step by step process on the glassing. But what a beautiful finish. I can't wait to see the final result.

mike

InnKeeper, build the model you want to build. To me, even as a beginner it wasn't the difficulty of the model as much as it was price point, size and length of time it would take to complete it. You can start off with a practice model if you are the type of person who may or may not finish a fairly complex model. But if you feel that you can devote 500-600 hours on the Endeavor kit and be willing to ask questions can follow instruction well and can read plans fairly well then I would say go for it. You will have plenty of help here to ask questions. How some people can finish the Endeavor in 4-6 months while it might take others a couple of years to build. It all depends on how much time you are willing to devote to the model each week. When I'm building a model, I try to spend at least 1-2 hours almost every day on it either building, studying plans or researching that type of model. I actually spend quite a bit more time than this most of the time and can lock myself up in my work room for 5-6 hours easily if I don't have nothing else going on. But it's football season here and that takes away some of my modeling time.

mike 

I can't really say this is my first attempt at R/C, because I have built several R/C planes from the ground up and outfitted them with all the required equipment and either flew them or sold them. But I eventually got out of R/C planes a few years back. So I have some working knowledge of R/C that I will have to translate into radio control boats.   

Thanks for the info Grant, I was thinking of gold leafing some of the parts to try and mimic shiny brass plating. Here is a link to the kits that Grant is referring to: http://www.caswellplating.com/electroplating-anodizing/brush-plating-products/plug-n-plate-kits/plug-n-plate-copy-chrome-kit.html  this will a good affordable option.

mike

Here is the Dumas 1954 Chris Craft Commander Express 36" model kit that I received. My first impressions were the size of the box was quite larger than I expected and weighs close to 15 pounds. It has the typical woods. I didn't get too much into it since this will be stored away until I finish my current Montane's build. But one thing I did take note of was the fittings weren't crome or shiny, but looked like either lead or pot metal fittings and will need some type of finishing on them. But here are a few pics as to what it looks like at this point.

This will be my first attempt at R/C building. I had thought about building this for my grand baby and son in law, but I think it might be a bit to large for them, so I might decide to sell it once completed to re-coop what I have invested in it. I'm mainly building it just to get a change from cannons and rigging and to try my hand at something else.

mike

Beautiful work, the stickers look great. When I do mine, I will have to get with you and see if you can have your sticker shop make up some for me, I don't have a sticker shop any where near me.

mike

You are putting to much thought into it. The object of this is to have fun, enjoy what you are doing and learn while doing it. Most of the models that I built were probably not quite accurate, but still built into a beautiful model. No one is going to question well is it a 1:64 scale or closer to a 1:66 scale. You must realize that you are building from a kit, so you are at the mercy of the kit manufacture when it comes to size and scale, not all parts will be exactly to that particular scale, but close enough for government work. If you are looking for perfection, which it sounds like you are, then don't worry about a kit, get a set of the most accurate plans you can find and build it from scratch. 

I have built a few Billings boats kits one of which were the Danmark and another was the Bluenose that I can remember off of the top of my head and I have nothing but good things to say about Billings. Great company, great kits and good instructions and plans. Now, with that said, the big complaint I have heard about Billings boats are their use of plastic fittings, which I'm not opposed to for most fittings, but I have replaced some fittings with wood on their kits. You can do this with most any kit if you don't like certain fittings. You might want to look at Cornwall models in England and check out Cauldercraft models, they are a good company from what I hear. I would also look at Artesania Latina and Constructo kits they are good quality kits with great wood and good fittings. My first ever wood ship model was the Constructo Bounty. I then went on to builder their Mayflower, Cutty Sark, Pandora and the San Mateo.

Just remember that a kit is a kit is a kit, it's what you do with it that counts. I have never run across a bad kit and I have built better than 30 of them from numerous kit manufactures. But I also know going in that the kit is only the beginning or starting point, it was up to me to make the best representation of the subject model that I could with what I had and if that meant replacing portions of the kit or spend hours researching that particular model to make certain changes that I thought was needed to make it more accurate to me, that is what I would do. Just look at the kit as being your first step into a wonderful adventure that you are about to begin and I think you will do great things with your model. This is the way I look at each and every build I do.

Good luck on what ever you choose and help is just a key board away,

mike 

started on the railings today. Debating on leaving them the white or light color wood or paint them brown? I haven't totally decided yet.

I got a little more work done on the Monte, like the chain plates, lanterns and rubbing strakes. There was a piece of thin plywood that I didn't care for the color of the wood, so I decided to paint the pieces brown. I would have rather left them natural, but it wasn't meant to be. I was a bit disappointed in OcCre's choice of wood for the Plywood though.

mike

Ooooooo, thanks Stan, those are some real beauties and brings back some fond memories of some of the best boats ever made.

mike

Thanks for the club info Stan, look like some valuable information.

mike

I believe the S.S. Minnow was a 40' Wheeler. 

I didn't say it was VA, I said It looked like it. But thanks for the observation.

mike

I just bought a 1954 Dumas Chris Craft Commander Express 36" kit that I will be starting on one I finish the Montanes. It will be my first RC boat. What a classy looking boat. Man they sure knew how to make them back then. The Commander reminds me of the SS Minnow that sank on the Gilligan's Island show.

http://www.dumasproducts.com/product_info.php?products_id=186

mike

OK, on with the fiberglassing.

That is really neat, I would have thought to use it myself.

mike

Well that IS a new use for old Stockings. Then when your boat gets on plane you can say your boat is getting a little "leggie".  

MIke

To me, Varnish would not be enough, initially it might not leak, but if you hit something or just the strain and stress from the motor(s) could cause issues. I too have never glassed anything either and is why I'm curious to see how yours turns out. I intend to build an R/C boat as a gift for my son in law and my grandson, so I will be glassing what ever I choose to model.

mike

I can't wait to see the fiber glassing phase

mike