ccoyle

The main fuselage sections are done now. Next I'll need to go back and mount all the little lumpy-bumpy parts.

Thanks for this nostalgic build!

😂

Yes, yes, I know -- this will be yet a third concurrently running project. And actually, this project will not really begin for at least another week to ten days, because I just ordered the kit today, and it has to wing its way over here from Poland. So, first question is: Why this project? For several reasons: I have long been wanting to try my hand at a card sailing vessel. This looks like a great kit for that purpose. The rig is super simple. It is hot off the presses. I want to be among the very first to build one of these (the urge to be an 'early adopter') -- hence the slightly premature rush to start this log. I will do a deep dive into the kit contents once it gets here, but for now here's a shot of the kit cover: And a contemporary drawing of the subject by Willem van de Velde. I ordered the discounted set for the model, which includes the kit, laser-cut parts, mast dowels, and printed sails. In total, this set me back a whopping US$30.62, including shipping, which is about half what it would cost to acquire a single Halinski kit along with its bells and whistles. I have remarked before on the value of ordering directly from Tomek at his website. And now . . . we wait. In the meantime, I will try to get as much done on the Salmson as I can before the next project arrives. That's it for now!

Wonderful finish! It's rather amazing to think that only eight years elapsed between the last Holland boat and the launch of U9.

Nice finish, Eric!

Two more sections added to the fuselage.

I'm not an expert by any stretch on smallcraft rigs, but a cursory internet search of the terms 'cat-ketch' and 'cat-yawl' turns up a lot of images with rigs that are essentially identical, so maybe we're not the only ones who are confused.

It may take some digging, but it is generally possible to find out who designed a particular kit, even if that info is not available at the publisher's website.

Zipped up . . . . . . and skinned.

I love the lines on this little boat. Seeing one being built here always makes me wish I had a real one.

The observer's position is complete. These are the last views anyone will see before it gets zipped up. After this, anyone wanting to get a good closeup look will need to use an endoscope. 😑

Wonderfully done! Congratulations!

How can those of us who aren't piping engineers know for certain that all that piping wasn't just added to the ship in random patterns? 🤔😉

That'll work.

Welcome aboard, Max!

Gradually the fuselage lengthens.

Midwest kits are now manufactured by Model Expo. They may provide you with a copy of the instructions if you make an inquiry with them.

Welcome aboard, Brent!

I call this next one the "last time you'll ever have a clear view of this cockpit" shot. And here's the cockpit section all closed up and mated to the forward fuselage. The butt joint did not turn out as nicely this time. A simple fuselage slice is next, followed by construction of the observer's position. Cheers!

Looks great! Congratulations!

All the cockpit bulkheads have been prepped.

I missed the conclusion of this one. That's quite the display you have assembled!

When this kit first arrived, I noticed that it is designed to use butt joints. I really dislike butt joints. Because it uses butt joints, no joiner strips are provided -- not even the sort that are typically used to close rings. Hmph. Work proceeded on the first fuselage section. Regardless of what the kit designer intended, I simply made myself a joiner strip to close up the ring, which, as you can see in this first photo, is not entirely ring-shaped. It's a ring where it joins the cowl, but then flares to a flat bottom along the rest of the fuselage. The forward-most bulkhead is a simple circle, but the aft bulkhead has a cutout where cockpit elements will be located. I stiffened the entire flimsy-looking bulkhead with thin CA. I also painted the interior a sort-of canvas-colored tan, because I don't know how much of it will be visible once the fuselage and cockpit are assembled. (BTW, that's just an old, dried glue blob in the lower left corner.) Both bulkheads required some sanding to get them to slip easily into the ring. Here's the completed fuselage section, now mated to the cowl assembly. The cowl has numerous blisters, which I will add later to avoid smooshing them while working on the fuselage. That first butt joint turned out well. I'll be very happy if the rest turn out as nice. Moving to the next fuselage section, construction of the forward cockpit begins, so there will be a lot more elements. Cheers!