Elijah

BlueJacket Shipcrafters seems to be under-represented in build logs on MSW, despite their reputation as a quality American model company that’s been in business a very long time. I recently completed their Lobster Boat kit and thought I’d write up a quick review, as there aren’t any build logs for this kit on MSW (I didn’t do a log myself as I wanted a break from documenting model work and intended this to be a relatively quick, relaxing build). Overall, I enjoyed building this kit, though there were a few things future builders might consider.

Above is my finished model, built and named for my mother, who has long loved Maine, especially the Schoodic Peninsula. The number boards commemorate this year's birthday, when she'll receive this model. It's finished in the same green and white color as my current house.
 
Positives:
Good-quality materials. All the wood was solid and easy to work with, and the castings were clean and straightforward. Clear and accurate plans. These matched the kit’s parts and were helpful as a reference. I could have used them to scratchbuild this without the instructions or materials. Not too complicated. The kit might be tough for a complete beginner as it assumes a bit of knowledge, but almost anyone could figure these bits out and it’s pretty straightforward overall. It doesn’t have a lot of detail, which I think is good as it keeps the cost down and lets you choose whether you want to invest the time and money into creating a more detailed custom version. Concerns:
The written instruction booklet is less than ideal. The black-and-white photos are very grainy and make it difficult to see any useful detail. For example, I was essentially unable to determine the planking pattern used because the photo was so blurry. Also, the text is presented in a long, linear block that could really use better organization and editing. Photos and drawings are often placed nowhere near their relevant text, resulting in lots of flipping back and forth trying to make sense of a given step. There is some "curse of knowledge" in places, where the instructions refer to a given part without defining what that is in real life or providing a clear diagram or label for the model. Bow design. The kit’s default is to use a large carved block at the bow, rather than planking all the way to the stem.  With no experience, I had a very hard time carving and shaping this properly and finally gave up and reverted to planking the whole hull, something I have more experience in. That may just be my own problem, but it’s something a beginner should consider. Also, the added material needed to plank the whole hull (rather than just up to the bow block) meant that I exhausted the kit material and had to use a few pieces of my own scrap to complete the work. Beware of this potential if you decide to fully plank the hull rather than carving the bow. A few oddities in the proper fit and size of pieces. For example, several of the hull frames really didn’t line up with the others, requiring me to add a 1/8” strip along the frame to match the flow of the planking or to carve/sand away material. Some of the cabin pieces also needed significant sanding or additions to form up properly. None of this was particularly difficult, but did mean that builders should be careful to check everything before gluing. For example, see the following two photos:
In the photo above, note that the run of lower planking really bows upward at the third frame from the stern. I somehow missed this when checking my fairing and planking run. It isn't really noticeable on the finished model because both the paint and position hide it from clear view, but this clearly needed extra material added to the frame.

In the photo above, you can see the thickness of extra material I needed to add to both sides of the second frame from the bow to match the natural flow of the planks. It's more obvious on the right side due to the shadow effect, but it's the same for both. The fourth frame from the bow has similar material attached to widen it, while other frames needed to be sanded down by a similar margin. Getting a smooth run of planking was more work than I expected, though not particularly difficult.
 
Here are two more photos of the completed model from various perspectives:


Overall, I certainly recommend this model as a fun build. True beginners should be cautious and would benefit from carefully thinking through every step, test-fitting everything, and doing some research on the side to understand certain aspects of kit-building that are taken for granted by the instructions. Although I mildly criticize the instructions and a few parts above, they were still far better than those of the Corel Ranger that I built before this. Overall, the concerns were minor and easily dealt with by common sense and careful work, and the result is a quite attractive model (in my humble opinion). It has a lot of potential for adding extra detail if you really want a realistic appearance; for my mother, I was happy with a representative model that captures the feel of these iconic American work boats without much fuss. This was my first BlueJacket kit and I would definitely purchase another.

so i took the plunge and finally ordered a kit - the Venetian Polacca (sp?) by Amati - it hasn't landed here yet but i'm already panicking as it doesn't seem like anyone - anywhere - has built this kit. 
 
This is my first ship, but i have built dollhouses & furniture (kits and scratch) so I think i will be able to fuddle it out with some of ya'lls help.
 
Thanks for having me!

Hello everybody, I will start to introduce myself although I have been on this forum for some time. I live in the city of Braila on the Danube at 150 km from the Black Sea, my grandfather was a sailor, my father captain, my cousin is a heller, my brother is a mechanic on the ship, and myself a mechanic and a sailor on a river ship. I am passionate about building ships since I was in gymnasium and until now I am a member of Galati University Club and participate  national and international competitions. My works are on the Romanian shipmodels forums.
 
Adrian ,

Welcome aboard Steve.
 
It's a great little kit too. Chucks instructions are outstanding. As much as I like the warships I really like small boats. I have had the Model Shipways New Bedford Whale Boat on the shelf 10 years waiting for me to get up the nerve to start it. I plan to display it on davits.

I have been working on my MS Glad Tidings and enjoying it but I have had an itch to start the Longboat that's been sit ting in my stash for a couple of years. I read throughbthe instruction book last night started buildding this morning. The instructions are superb. They are the best I have had the pleasure of using so far. The laser cut sheets are nice and clean with not too much burning to clean up. I also remembered that when I bought this kit I also bought boxwood strips to upgrade it. Since I want to get the feel of using better woods I will use it. 
All ready to start.

Rabbit cut. This went really well. It was easier than I expected it to be. I used a scapel and sanding sticks.

I weighted things down so the keel would be nice and straight. The wood is really nice and it went together perfectly. 

Here is the complete keel assembly ready for fitting the frames.

I had to fit each frame with a bit of filing. The frames would not seat without some fitting. 

Here is the glued up keel assembly with frames installed. They needed a bit of squaring up but it went very well. Next I will install some battens on top of the break out bulkheads for some rigidity during sanding.

So far I am loving this kit. I can't wait to get back to it. 
 

Spent some time making a base.  Testing how to display the sweeps.   Still only one sweep completed.   Wont get to the others until next week.   Even so,  this project is in the home stretch.  At least the model is.   I still have to carve the decorations for the port side too!!  The sweeps will be displayed 5 per side on laser cut racks.  I just taped them to the base for this test but I like how it will look.  
 
Then I have to finalize the plans,  write the instructions,  think about packaging and start manufacturing.  So still lots to do before these are shelf-ready.  But at least now the long to-do list is shorter and more manageable.
 

 

 

 

 
Chuck

Prototyping the sweeps for the barge.....
 
One down and nine more to go.   Each sweep is made from four pieces.  Each piece is shaped accordingly.  It is either turned and rounded off or tapered and steamed bent.   I will of course elaborate more in the instructions.  But they seem to go together well enough and are pretty straight forward.
 

I am glad you found them....
 
The flags and ensigns are now complete.   The dowels were tapered and painted red.   Then I added the trucks.   The flags are made just like on Cheerful.  They are printed on tissue paper and shaped on the staff.  The ensigns are the English flag from 1710 and Queen Anne's royal standard from the same time period. Next up will be the oars.
 

 

 
Chuck

Thanks Mike and Ian! Phantom sits on my work desk.

I just beat kids in Monopoly game two days in a row,!!!!

Some of the reasons I didn`t continue my work. (Un)fortunately vacation is over, so I`ll continue one of this days
 
Kustendorf

Famous bridge on Drina river 

From boat in Drina Canyon
 

This is REAL colour of water !
 
Tornik, ski centre
 

 

Stopića Cave
 

 
Waterfall near cave
 

 
Podpecka Cave
 

 
All near Zlatibor mountain
 

Next step
 

Oars, testing
Toothpick
Too short
 

From some reason, unknown to me, last couple of days some ghosts moved in my cellphone and in my PC, so I wouldn't post text in comments from cellphone, and I wouldn't enter to my log from PC ...
Also, from some reason, also unknown to me, now I can !
So, at first I want to thank you all for more than nice words, undeserved compliments, and generous support to my efforts
 
Jolly boat is finished, left to make oars, rudder and some more small content, and to move to Captains Gig and two lifeboats
 
And here rise one question. Please see attached picture on which is represented position of each boat on C-plans and in present stage
 
 

My idea is to place boats on such a way that interior of boats can be seen, also to allow clinker planks to be seen (if, accidentally, anybody can be so mad to watch under magnifier :D). With Captains Gig, i decide (for now) to turn it as on present stage, not as on C-plans. And there is aesthetic dilema with another three. Ok, Jolly boat can be easily turned as Captains Gig, and one lifeboat can be turned upside down. But it looks ugly ! Or, to turn all as Captains Gig and Jolly boat ( and then clinker planking can not be seen!) ?

Any idea how to solve this aesthetic  dilemma ?

Very kind words. Thank you very much
 
And final look and color of upper side of Jolly boat
 

 

Thank you to you all who support my efforts, and hit like button
One step more with Jolly Boat

This time I am not worried about relative messy and untidy work. Jolly Boat is only 6,5 cm long and 1,8 cm wide ( external dimensions), there are plates on edges and benches to be put over, couple of paddles, little mast, etc etc, and covering with half open canvas ... so, inner ribs (which are less than 1 mm width each) and grates on floor of boar will  not be really visible so much. Idea was just to sign presence of ribs
 
Ribs are made of regular copy paper, grates from the narrowest strips of veneer I was able to cut ( veneer less than 0,5 mm thick)

Stage 2 - digging - done
 

Hi Nenad,
 
nice start on the boat production...
 
Nils

Stage 1. Done
 

Stage 2. (digging) starts
First done (almost)
 

Dimensions
 

Thanks all of you, my friends for your supporting and kind words
 
"... History becomes legend and legend becomes myth..."
 
On my way, again, by all means
 
I successful ruined my first boat trying to put inner vertical planks, so, once more from beginning
 

 
This time, I learned exactly what I have to do, on which way and how, and what is the line of the moves. This time, more precise and clean
 
She enlarge her, yes ?
 

So, let it be ...

Another side done
 
 

Time to continue ... Captain's Gig, stage No 1
 
All boat lines are here.