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frenchguy

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  • Gender
    Male
  • Location
    Lexington, MA
  • Interests
    Model ships, steam powered model ships

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  1.    Duanelaker reacted to a post in a topic: Benjamin W. Latham by frenchguy - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1:48 Scale
  2. frenchguy started following Alexandra by Jason Builder - Krick - Radio - Steam Powered
  3. frenchguy
    Hi Jason, I am following your build with interest. I built the Alexandra about 10 years ago with a Cheddar steam plant. It still give me great pleasure to sail her from time to time. I am actually considering building a new steam chaloupe, from a plan. I will be very likely using the same team plant as you are using, but the horizontal version, which will give more overall stability. Cheers, Stephan
  4.    hexnut reacted to a post in a topic: Hesper by frenchguy - Pilot Schooner - scale 1/48
  5.    hexnut reacted to a post in a topic: Hesper by frenchguy - Pilot Schooner - scale 1/48
  6.    hexnut reacted to a post in a topic: Hesper by frenchguy - Pilot Schooner - scale 1/48
  7.    hexnut reacted to a post in a topic: Hesper by frenchguy - Pilot Schooner - scale 1/48
  8.    hexnut reacted to a post in a topic: Hesper by frenchguy - Pilot Schooner - scale 1/48
  9.    szabolcs_horvath reacted to a gallery album: Benjamin W. Latham
  10.    Duanelaker reacted to a post in a topic: Benjamin W. Latham by frenchguy - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1:48 Scale
  11.    Duanelaker reacted to a post in a topic: Benjamin W. Latham by frenchguy - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1:48 Scale
  12.    Duanelaker reacted to a post in a topic: Benjamin W. Latham by frenchguy - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1:48 Scale
  13. frenchguy
    I finished the hull planking and started sanding. Not as neat as I wanted, but it will be Ok. I will use Gesso to finish the hull before painting, and it does a good job at preparing a smooth finish. That stuff dries very hard, so I learned the hard way to apply in thin coats with sanding in between. I will not copper the hull, instead I am thinking a black and red finish, but we're not there yet. Here are a few pics of the planking. The dents were caused by me using these clips. Clearly, some filling will be in order. Starboard side sanded..
  14. frenchguy
    I started the hull planking. I laid first a 1/8th wide strake flush with the top of the rear deck and flush with the bottom of the foredeck, followed by two more 1/8th wide strakes on each side. The use of smaller strakes from the top down was to better follow the sharp bulkheads 14 and 15 round shape at the stern. The top strake has been shaped in a quarter round for the transition from 1/16 thickness to the thinner bulwarks. I am now using the kit supplied 1.5mm x 5mm (roughly 1/16 x 3/16) planks to continue the planking. Here are a few pics (sorry I realize they’re not best qua
  15. frenchguy started following Hermione by Zarkon - Artesania Latina - 1/89 and America 1851 by frenchguy - Mamoli - scale 1:66
  16. frenchguy
    Hi Matrim, yes I used Lego blocks quite a lot while building my Benjamin Latham. See here. The advantage is that it minimizes the use of pins which leave holes. As I mentioned, I did some minor adjustments on the bulkheads before gluing them in place. As I am preparing for the planking, it is clear some of them are clearly out of whack, in particular frames 2 and 5 which, if left as is, will give a weird looking pinch to the bow, which was clearly not on the original model. From what I concluded, the foredeck and quarter decks are the reference to use, and the frames have to be
  17. frenchguy
    After soaking the keel in ammonia, followed by a lot of steaming, I was able to reduce the warp to something acceptable. Once held in by my square aluminum support, there is no warp noticeable. Because there is no mention of cutting a rabbet in the instructions, and to facilitate the planking later on, I added a 1/16 thick band along the bow and the bottom of the keel, sanded so that the keel is now about 1/4. This will also allow to tapper the bow as per the original model. I will do the same on the sternpost later on. After some adjustments, I glued all bulkheads in sequenc
  18. frenchguy
    I received the kit today. It seems I have another version from the version built by Hamilton in 2015, as I have only 3 plans supplied with the kit. And, oh, the keel and bulkheads don’t match the plan anyway, so I don’t know which is at 1:66 scale, the parts or the plans?? The wood is so-so, but the biggest issue is the plywood is seriously warped. It will require some serious TLC, otherwise my America will look like a Venice Gondola. The supplied blocks are ugly and not to scale (but then again, they always are in all the kits I have built). The laser cut parts are ok.
  19. frenchguy
    So, after finishing my Benjamin W. Latham, and after a busy summer, I have been thinking about my next build. I had several options: resuming my Hesper build now that the hull is completed, build another fishing schooner like Elsie, build the Emma C. Berry which has been collecting dust on my shelves, and also having visited Rochefort in France this summer, I saw the Hermione -again- and building the kit from A.L. tempted me. Not to bore anyone, but here was my line of thinking. As tempting as the Hermione is, and after seeing several build logs, I finally decided to stay away from
  20. frenchguy
    So, I finished my Benjamin W. Latham back last December, and resumed working on Hesper. I realized I did not make pictures of the planking in progress, so I have a couple pictures of the planking completed. After planking and sanding, I applied several layers of Gesso, sanding between layers, to provide a good basis for painting and also coppering. Starting this fall, I'll work on planking the deck, bullwarks, stanchions, railing etc..
  21. frenchguy started following Mid-deck detail
  22. frenchguy
    Mid-deck detail
    Hi, the blocks look really realistic. Did they come that way with the kit, or did you make them yourself?
  23.    frenchguy reacted to a gallery image: Tryworks - another view
  24.    frenchguy reacted to a gallery image: Whaleboat
  25.    frenchguy reacted to a gallery image: Mid-deck detail
  26. frenchguy
    I have not posted an update in a while on this project, but as I said, I resumed working on Hesper after I finished my Benjamin Latham. I finished the planking, and will be posting pics soon.
  27. Sailor1

    Hi I’m a new member and saw your Marie Jeanne. Very nice. I am building one also, an Artisania Latina model. I am a little confused with some of the rigging. Do you have any other sources for more detailed rigging plans. Thanks

  28. frenchguy
    Hello Tasmanian, I used the fabric that came with the kit. it was Ok, but I still have to find a thinner fabric for sails in general, especially furled sails. Stephan
  29. frenchguy
    I created an album in the finished kit gallery: Now back to Hesper..
  30. frenchguy started following 20181211_112821.jpg, IMG_9942.JPG, 20181211_112926.jpg and 1 other
  31. frenchguy
    Pictures of my -finally- completed Benjamin W. Latham from Model Shipways. If someone asks where are the jib, jumbo or balloon jibs, the answer is that they were taken off the boat for repair 🙂.
  32. frenchguy
    Well, hard to believe but I actually finished this build!!!! Well, almost, I still need to varnish the display board. I started this kit four years ago, and the lesson is that it's way too long. After a few months , I don't remember exactly where I left, I actually prepared spars that I already done and misplaced (and found them later!), etc.. As usual, I see a lot of areas that could be improved. I have also to admit that I may have rushed the past few months, because I really wanted to get it done before the 4 years deadline 😉. So, when the varnish is dry, I'll take pictures and po

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