radrick21

Wow.  After this they'll have to stop using the word "junk" in the name! 

Wow.  After this they'll have to stop using the word "junk" in the name! 

Wow.  After this they'll have to stop using the word "junk" in the name! 

Wow.  After this they'll have to stop using the word "junk" in the name! 

Wow.  After this they'll have to stop using the word "junk" in the name! 

I have not posted for a while but I have been working.  I constructed the railing around the hull.  That was more of a task that I expected, but I am reasonably satisfied with the results.  I also put in time making lots of little fittings.  The fittings for the bow spirit a real challenge.   Plenty of little tiny pieces of brass hit the workshop floor as I screwed up several versions before I made acceptable pieces.  Same can be said for the pumps.  I am getting practice on my brass and solder skills.....which did not exist several weeks ago.  I kind of like the looks of my fresh water barrel.  Finally, I tapered the main mast and have it positioned in the hull.  It has not been permanently attached.  I guess the next project will be the push boat and fittings.

boy.......murphy sure gets around!   I had a simular run of bad luck a while ago........though not that roll of the dice   what a mix of good and bad.......ouch and congrats!
 
yea,  I've learned that you can't jump ship when you first do it.........once it cures and dies down,  the true color comes out.  I've been using semi gloss lacquer for quite a while now...........I love it when it is done.....the shine is nice.  but, once cured,  it dulls out and the shine goes away.   I give it another coat.........but I think the next time I get more,  I'm going to get the gloss.  I think the wood will suck in half of it,  leaving me with the desired sheen I want.  it's all in how you plan it out.   I'm glad your happy with it....I saw nothing wrong

Evening all.  Well, a weekend away was a nice break but was itching to build!!
 
So - onward I went!!
 
Great ideas and will see what I can do with it - I like the wash, although my decks in most places are real tight, but will see what can be done =)
 
I did get the rest of the decking laid and threw on a first layer of stain (natural with just a hair bit of oak for tint).  The boards are Boxwood from the lumberyard and the color really popped.  Although, even though I preconditioned it and have in the past had great luck with it - this time it still came out a bit blotchy.   Not sure what happened.  It doesn't look horrible just odd that it did that.  I am hoping after the wash and poly to deepen it a bit the blotchiness will fade/blend in.  I know a couple coats sometimes can even up blotchiness - here is crossing fingers and hoping!!!
 
Thanks all for popping in!!
 

 
 
Enjoy!!!
 
-Adam

ASROC Control Station
 
The FRAMS had control station for the ASROC Launcher that also served as a security control point since the system was nuclear capable

The kit provides  a resin casting for the control station that is perfectly servicable. 

Unfortunately for my use, the windows on it are a style that the Basilone did not have so I will scratch build the station.
 
Using sheet plastic and the kit’s casting as a guide it was pretty easy to fabricate a new one. The kit also provides 2 pieces of Brittania metal to serve as the Replenishment at Sea (RAS) king posts which are located on the front of the station. I decided to build my own out of plastic because I find it easier to work with and I wanted to add an extra support leg to each kingpost. Here’s the station with the kingposts:

 
After that it was just a matter of adding some scratch details. I needed a loudspeaker for the front of the station so I made enough for the rest of the build while I was at it.

The details include:
lifejacket lockers on top Launcher train warning bell Launch warning siren windshield wiper motor Floodlight Padeyes, longlinks and cleats on the RAS posts (the white stuff) several photo etched aluminum safety placards (never read) Sound powered phone storage box junction box WT door

Jingren!  (translation: amazing)

Thank you Mirabell61 and to all who given thumbs up.
 
The model is now finished and I can change my sig to Chinese Junk completed.

Hey Oliver.  Looks like your fun is very successful.  So much precision and innovation has to be rewarding.  Thanks for the pics.  And I admire your workspace so organized and tidy.  My space is still evolving (i.e. it's a mess!)   I'm just starting the Willie Bennet skipjack but aiming to do a Mermaid soon.  Anyways, thanks for sharing your thought process and outstanding results.
Rick

A bit more progress... Assembled the winder, marked off the waterline and painted the bottom of the hull. Deck structures are just sitting on the deck, making sure they'll fit. Cool sign in the background is Father's Day gift from the Girlies. That's about it for now. Thanks everyone for your interest and comments.
 

 
 

Running a strip of wood over the upper surface of the frames, revealed that they were not properly aligned. Marked with arrows the direction in which some frames had to be adjusted. When they needed to be rised, a small bit of wood was glued in the slot.

Hey Oliver.  Looks like your fun is very successful.  So much precision and innovation has to be rewarding.  Thanks for the pics.  And I admire your workspace so organized and tidy.  My space is still evolving (i.e. it's a mess!)   I'm just starting the Willie Bennet skipjack but aiming to do a Mermaid soon.  Anyways, thanks for sharing your thought process and outstanding results.
Rick

A few steelers to go and then sanding/filling begins... Yay!

 
 

Leanne,, I"m glad i can return something, for all the help i have had is what has made this build what it is.. The whole MSW forum is a godsend..
 
I look forward to seeing your build log surface
 
John thanks for the compliments, i have a tendency towards wanting perfection, which can be a downfall at times, i came to the conclusion that ratlines were probably not perfect anyway..
 
Anyway the second time they have come up neater, although i did redo a few to get it right, too much sag on some.. also had a flame up and two rungs burnt out that was exciting/scary..  one has gotta be quick with the flame if burning fuzz..
 
When i stand back and look at it all, the ratlines and shrouds are really making it look close to done..      Onto back stays next..  steady as she goes, as i want to soak up the last parts of this marvelous journey..   Ollie
 
 

Ok, rats are done on starboard side.. reasonably happy with it, oh ok... I cant complain for a first go
 
It's not as easy as one would like and i'm sure it will go smoother on second run..  
 
I was brave enough to throw in a macro..  Black card helps find the fuzzy bits...
best if you dont use waterbased marker to mark out card, it runs when glueng.. 
 
I have a grip on the cow and clove hitch now, handy to know..   I used the principle of doing every forth run and then coming back to fill in..  Ollie
 
 

Mainsail Rigging
 
I've followed Arne Kverneland's scheme in rigging this junk.
 
http://www.junkrigassociation.org/Resources/Documents/Arne%20Kverneland%27s%20files/Junk%20Rig%20for%20Beginners.pdf
 
I rigged in the following order:
Batten parrels Halyard hoist Sheetlets and euphroe Tack line and tack parrel Yard hauling parrel Lazy jacks An extra clew line to create tension on the rigging  
The stay on the mizzen mast is a temporary feature.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A long time ago in a Modelshipworld forum far, far away ...I started a scratch build based on Amati's pirate junk. All went well and I was enjoying the challenge of a first scratch build until, until.... I used 17th century furniture to support the upper deck railings. I actually thought they looked rather neat, especially as I spent an ice age ensuring they were equidistant.
 
Not so, said my mentors. Take them off and do it again. 
 
So after 6 years or so of muttering, I've done the deed, ripped out the old and replaced them with something more vernacular.
 
So here's the restart. All comments more than welcome.
 
 
 

As several people have already stated, this is a hobby that balances historical accuracy and aesthetics. Victory is the only ship I have modeled that is painted.  Although I originally intended to leave it natural, it "spoke to me" and informed me that  it needed to be painted.  This also gave me the opportunity to learn a new skill, airbrushing.  I have added my best picture showing the run of the wales and gunports and how they do not follow the ochre striping.  Good luck with your decision.
 

Raddrick, I believe that the Segal took the longest to build, probably about two years, as I was still active duty in the US Navy until 1981, and could only work on the kit in CIC, when we were in port, and I wasn't on duty.  I did not keep an accurate hourly work done during that build like I did with the next kits.
 
The Dallas took maybe 550 hours to complete, followed by the Scottish Maid that took around 425 hours to complete.  These two kits I did while I was attending the University of California, Berkeley, when I wasn't studying.
 
Next kit was the Mantua Santa Maria, but life situations during that time caused that kit to take almost three years to complete, but I guess actual hours worked on it amounted to about 600 hours or so.  I did actually keep track of the hours of building somewhat until the next couple of builds.
 
Mamoli's Yacht Mary, and Golden Hind were done almost at the same time and I believe that I completed them in 700 and 750 hours respectfully.
 
The last model completed before I began six different kits, was Corel's Half Moon, with some life situations delaying that build for a bit but a total of around 800 hours were spent on construction.
 
Currently five of the six incomplete kits are on hold until I finish the OcCre Montanes, I HAVE to complete at least one kit for me and it is easier to build just one at a time.  Although I do read over the plans regularly of all those kits, just to keep my construction notes up to date.

Friend, I hope you'll get situated soon & finish your really great-looking Mermaid.  Having seen your log, I'm pretty sure I'm going to do the Mermaid next myself (she will be my 2nd build).  Hang in there.