BobG

Wonderful progress, Don, and such a beautiful model!

First of all, this has to be one of the best build logs of any model I have ever read. Great work and thanks for thoroughly documented the details. Regarding the locator pin: Is it necessary to melt the pin? Wouldn't the glue be enough to hold it strongly?

My first model was a little fishing dory. I bought lots of small clamps for the planking because that's what I had seen on most of the various build logs I had read here on MSW. I resorted to all sorts of complicated arrangements of clamps and rubber bands using PVA to plank the dory. It worked but it was tedious and slow and I hated waiting so long for the glue to dry before I could move on to another plank. On my second model, the Batelina by MarisStella, I discovered how to use medium viscosity CA for planking and have never looked back again. I spend a little more time getting the planks to fit well before gluing them and then I just add a very small dab of CA on the frames or bulkheads as I move along laying down the plank. I will occasionally add a tiny bit of CA to an edge to help a plank fit tighter also. The medium viscosity CA gives me enough time to do quick adjustments if necessary too. The planking goes along so much faster and the CA forms a strong bond as well. For me, it makes the planking process so much more enjoyable.

That would be a beauty and a very welcome model. Do it, Chris!

There's room for much improvement in these models and I would be all over them if Chris ever decided to offer any models of these beautiful boats.

This is a very interesting conversation and it's exciting to see you pondering the development of your next models. I'm sure I'm going to be an outlier in this discussion since my interests in ship modeling is very broad and eclectic. I'm only a couple of years into the hobby and so far I've built a New England dory, a small Croation fishing boat, the Medway Longboat and I'm currently working on a racing sailboat, the Pen Duick. My next build and first ship with guns will be the Flirt and I have the Lady Isabella in my queue. So, as you can see, I don't specialize in a certain era or history like many modelers do especially those who are deep into the great, warships of the Age of Sail. I enjoy exploring many different styles of ships and maritime history. That said, I'd be cautious of building too many ships that are very similar except for their history per se. At least for me, I would be less interested in another brig that, at least in appearance, was very similar to the Flirt even if it was importantly different in its naval history. Others, however, who are aficionados of the particular era of these ships, would probably love to add another brig to their fleet of models. Again, for me, I appreciate the variety that you currently offer including the fifi and zulu along with the Speedy and the Flirt and the upcoming Dutchess of Kingston. Another example of offering a variety of models that has been very successful is what Chuck has done with his Syren models: a longboat (Medway Longboat), a royal barge (Queen Anne Barge), a cutter (Cheerful) and a 32 gun frigate (the Winchelsea). He is also considering a cross section of the Winnie as a possible new model next in his lineup. I was pleasantly surprised and happy to see that you decided to add the Lady Eleanor and the Lady Isabella to your selection of models. They're not everyone's cup of tea but my guess is that they have been fairly popular and we are seeing quite a few build logs of them here of MSW. I would love to see you continue to venture outside of your primary interests in the great warships in the development of your models. I think there is a market for variety of high quality models with excellent materials and instructions in many categories of ship modeling. I also think that there is a place for simply making a better, high quality, more historically accurate model of some of the favorite, famous warships that are already offered by other companies. I have noticed that the builders of these popular models often encounter the same frustrating problems with some aspects of the kits including parts that do not fit right, errors in the instructions and plans, and historical inaccuracies that are rarely ever corrected by the ship modeling company. Experienced modelers generally find ways to overcome these problems but it would be nice to have kits of some of these classic models that are very much improved over what is currently offered. As I mentioned to Chuck in another post, I think that Syren and Vanguard are pushing the envelope of excellence in the development of model ship kits today and CAF Models seems to be up and coming also. This is a breath of fresh air to this hobby and wish you all much success. Just my rather inexperienced, "outlier" 2 cents worth....

Looking forward to all of these builds!

Thanks ir3. Are there other kits available by Marten, Howes & Bayless? I saw some photos of some their other steam powered boats but I only see your model for sale. Are their other models out of production?

That's a lesson we all need to learn at some point and don't ask me how I know either!

The planking looks great. This is going to be a very special diorama!

I think my faculties are still good enough that I wouldn't do that...not so sure 10 years from now!

This is a very interesting model with a gorgeous steam plant. I'm following along. Who knows, I may have to build a RC steam model someday too!

Sounds messy, Mike. Is that fiberglass stuff toxic?

Well, I've really enjoyed reading through your rebuild of this incredible ship. It's wonderful to see you giving her a complete refitting in your drydock! My goodness, she looks massive too. I'll come along for the ride as well.

Everything you do that adds details and authenticity to the model will contribute to it being very special when it's done. The details bring ship models to life. Without them the models just mimic the real vessels.

Just read through your build log. What a gorgeous sailboat you've built. Super well done!

I just got caught up on your beautiful build, Kevin. I do love these gorgeous sailboats!

You're moving along at warp speed, Devildog36! These clipper ships have beautiful lines and it's great to see a model of the Thermopylae currently being build. I'll take a seat and enjoy the show. You can get a great base for the second planking with filler and sanding. I do see that you have some gaps between the planks. That won't be a problem with the first planking since you will be using filler but, on the second planking, you will want to try and achieve a tighter fit. Be sure to read some planking tutorials about tapering the planks and beveling the top edge when necessary to help obtain a tight fit. Glenn Barlow recently posted this excellent, brief tutorial on how he goes about planking the hull: Good luck on your build. You're off to a great start.

Welcome to the tribe of us mere ship modeling mortals! 😎

Exciting news about this gorgeous model, Tom! I'm anxiously awaiting the build log by James and anyone else for that matter. Could you possibly post a couple of photos of the instructions and the plans? If not, no problem, I can wait for the build log by James. Thanks!

Hi Harry, I glad I stumbled across your new build. This is a cool little boat and I've thought about buying it on eBay several times. I've been stalled a bit on my Pen Duick with other home related projects and getting out for so long road rides on my bike. My son's coming for a visit too so it will be a while before I make any more progress. By the way, what exactly is contact glue? Best!

It would be great if you could document the steps of installing all the necessary RC gear. I love to see how it's done.

Amazing photos, Yves! You certainly wouldn't want to be down in the observation chamber in shallow waters when there was a risk of going aground!

It's great to see another build of this historic ship! I'll be following along. Will you be making it fully RC or a static display model? Jacques Cousteau was a hero of mine. Someone I looked up to because of his fantastic documentaries that educated millions of people about world beneath the seas and our need to preserve it. During part of my 4 years in the US Coast Guard as a young man, I was stationed at the Captain of the Port Los Angeles/ Long Beach Station for a 2 1/2 year period from the fall of 1967 to my discharge in January, 1970. At one point the Calypso was docked in the Los Angeles/Long Beach Harbor and I was lucky to get to personally go aboard her and speak with Jacques and his son about some important issues involving a worldwide LORAN program. We met on the mess deck and had a great discussion about the LORAN system and the Calypso in general. His son then gave me a tour of the boat. I was a recreational SCUBA diver at the time also and I was in awe of the amazing, futuristic diving equipment they had. They encouraged me to keep diving and I left with grand visions of maybe joining them someday but, of course, that never happened. Cousteau was a visionary, ocean environmentalist and he did so much to enlighten the world about the importance of preserving our oceans. Unfortunately, if he were still alive today he would be appalled at the pollution and degradation of our oceans and sea life he loved so much.

I thought that the Tung Oil needs to be able to penetrate the wood. How does it do that if the wood is sealed? Is the Tung Oil more like a polish and does not need to penetrate the wood?