BobG

I can be perfectionistic in my endeavors also and the degree of my perfectionism can vary depending on the project and the circumstances. I know that, for me personally, I could not spend 10 years trying to build a "perfect model." There have been times when I kept redoing a task trying to make it better only to eventually make it worse. I do want to improve and to get better but, I know that if I chase perfection endlessly, I will never arrive at the finish line. I believe that perfectionism can serve me well in that it motivates me to consistently try and improve but it can also weight me down and take the satisfaction away from something that I have worked hard at and actually done quite well. It's something that I struggle with at times and I believe that it's up to each of us to find the balance that best fits us personally.

Sounds awesome, Dave. My brother and sister-in-law have a house on a lake in northern Wisconsin and their are lots of Bald Eagles there. Some of the nests are enormous. I guess they just keep adding to them year after year until they get too heavy and fall down.

This is the wise advice I keep hearing from experienced modelers. My patience wears thin after spending hours and hours trying to accomplish learn and execute a new task especially when the finish line is in sight. Sometimes I just need to get up and step back from working on my boat for a day or two and so I don't get too frustrated and start rushing things. I spent many years involved in rock climbing and mountaineering and the finish line, like the summit, has a strong pull for me. I'm pretty goal oriented and slowing down and enjoying the process can be taxing for me but, I will say, that I am finding the process of learning about ship modeling very gratifying...within some reasonable time limitation!

I love the small fishing vessels of the Mediterranean, Britain and the USA. There are quite a few models of these boats that some of the older model companies have produced over the years but, unfortunately, they are often plagued with poor quality materials and instructions and are not very historically accurate. Vanguard Models by Chris Watton will be releasing two fine examples pretty soon that will be very high quality: https://modelshipworld.com/topic/20737-chris-watton-and-vanguard-models-news-and-updates/?do=findComment&comment=690037

I just purchased some small glass jars with metal lids so I can have a small container available when I need it without opening the quart can every time. I read where the way to tell if your shellac is getting too old is when the drying time keeps getting longer and longer.

That's good to hear since the quart I just bought will out live me!

The level of detail and accuracy that Johann is able to achieve on a small scale is almost beyond belief to me. I've been feeling a bit overwhelmed as I have been fumbling my way through trying to learn some very basic rigging and making things like hooks, eyebolts and thimbles on a small scale. Now I know what the state-of-the-art is and it makes my humble attempts at rigging look like kid's play but I still reserve my right to whine about it!

I just discovered your build log. The extremely high level of detail and craftsmanship you have achieved is astonishing. To someone like me who has only begun ship modeling fairly recently, it is almost beyond imagination that you can achieve this level of accuracy on such a small scale. Simply fantastic!

I hope so. You've done a really nice job on yours so far. Should be no problem since you only have 5 builds going right now... 😎

Nice clean work, Dave. What kind of wood is that in the decking? It looks like you live on a lake...??

You'll have fun building this canoe and you got an incredible deal on it!

I got some clear shellac to try and a quart was the smallest size I could find locally. That should be more than enough for a lifetime of sealing knots. However, I see where lots of woodworkers say that shellac has a short shelf life. Some say the shelf life is as short as 6 months. Does anyone know if this is true from their experience?

The lighting looks great! I'm loving your build.

Ain't that the truth!

Another stunningly beautiful miniature model. You are a master ship modeler!

Awesome! I'll be one of the first in line for this kit.

I couldn't agree more and there are not that many really good, high quality kits out there of these vessels. I hope he will be successful with these models and that that will encourage him to continue to find interesting, models of fishing boats and other interesting smaller models to offer in his line of kits.

Chris, even though you are making these kits to appeal primarily to beginners, the more detail that you can add that make these boats as realistic and interesting as possible would, in my opinion, make them even more attractive to beginners and even experienced modelers as well. I think most less experienced modelers can accomplish quite a bit when they are given accurate, detailed and thorough instructions that have good, step-by-step photos instead of the all too common brief, often poorly translated instructions with poor photos that are maddeningly confusing and too often just plain wrong. One of the most attractive things about models that are simpler in overall design compared to large, complex models with lots of rigging is that there isn't so much going on all at once. The beauty of these boats lies in the more simple, uncluttered lines that they have and one can more easily see the details very clearly. They can be very beautiful when done well but, as you have said, you have to have good, high quality materials to begin with.

I'll be following along on this build too. The Calypso and the Beagle are two really interesting subjects. I'm interested in both of them. I dearly wish that there was a high quality kit of Shackleton's Endurance. It appears that I will have to learn to scratch build if I'm ever to build her though.

Another big affirmative vote from me too. You're doing such a nice job and it would and another fine detail to the model. It got old simulating nearly 700 nails on my Medway Longboat but it sure was worth it in the end.

I'd like to know this also.

This is absolutely true! Thank you so much for realizing this and deciding to make these high quality "beginner boats." It is the right decision and I hope it pays off grandly for you. I consider myself a relative beginner having completed the Midwest Indian Canoe and the the Batelina by MarisStella. I am currently working on the Medway Longboat by Syren and I'm learning a lot. High quality materials, excellent instructions and historical accuracy are important to me but those qualities are not often easy to find in beginner and intermediate kits. As we all know, the majority of those models do more to discourage success with poor materials, confusing instructions and fantasy accuracy. I think these poor quality kits probably do more to discourage beginning modelers than inspire them to continue in the hobby. Models like your Fifie and Zulu are a breath of fresh air and will give beginners and experienced modelers alike a chance to build a high quality, smaller model that they are proud of. Nothing breeds success like success! I hope that you will continue to design more models of the smaller, working boats like these and even working vessels on a larger scale like the Amati Fifie. I'm very interested in these types of boats from the Mediterranean, Britain and the USA. They were the backbone of many small, coastal communities and have an important place in seafaring history. I think they are beautiful in their own right and high quality kits of these boats are not easy to find. Do you have any idea when these models will be available to the public?

She just keeps looking better and better. I would think that brushing would be preferred when you are trying to do weathering since it can give you a rougher paint job than spraying. These look excellent. Where will do you plan to hide the coin battery and switch? I was wondering if wood could be used for thing like the table even though this is a plastic model or is it just better to stay with plastic for everything?

She's a beauty!

I think that's a smart decision and it looks good to me. Learning how to do the rigging on my Medway Longboat build has slowed my progress down to a snail's pace. My patience is being severely tested but I'm determined to hang in there as I fumble my way forward.