ccoyle

Welcome aboard, Blaine. Marine Models has been out of business for quite some time, so it's little wonder that they don't turn up on the forum very often. In fact, we have only six build logs that have been tagged with that company name -- you can see them here. Your Dapper Tom model may be nearly as old if it is one of the old 'yellow box' kits.

Cheers!

7 hours ago, MTC said:

it is summer here in the PNW

Sometimes, when I dying in the sweltering heat and humidity of the Deep South, I look up the weather data for my hometown in Humboldt County and dream longingly of summertime highs in the upper 60s. 🥵

All done! I'd tell you what all the extra added doohickeys are, but I don't know what they are myself -- I just followed the reference photo. As a matter of curiosity, there are, of course, multiple variants of the Twin Wasp. I didn't find any sources that could tell me which variant(s) was(were) used in the dash-four, so if you know, don't tell me now, cuz it's too late! 😅

I don't think the MK kits look bad when finished bright -- they use good-quality wood, and the combination of wood tone and brass is attractive. But you can't go wrong with adding a touch of paint, either. I've seen them both ways and like them equally well.

Congratulations, David, on a grand achievement!

Congratulations! She looks great on the water!

Now we're getting down to details that are difficult for a cellphone camera to capture. Cylinders #3 and #13 have hoses that connect to the distribution ring. In addition to these, I did a test run of the spark plug 'wires', which are simply black thread. The hoses and wires have couplings that I believe were probably brass on the original or some other brown-toned metal; these I have simulated with dark tan paint. Overall, I like the effect and think we're good to go for the remaining thirteen sets of wires.

BTW, the kit provided a template for making the distribution ring from wire, but since the original is rectangular in cross-section, not round, I chose to  make one from scratch from scrap 'beer mat'. This was a good move, because it is infinitely easier to glue the thread ends to card rather than to metal.

Have now added the second bank of cylinders and distribution ring.

10 hours ago, realworkingsailor said:

So…. For your next card airplane build you’ll be doing something with an in-line engine? 😜

They do seem to follow one of these radial-engined birds for some reason. 🤔

Push rods added.

Our friend, Tomek @0Seahorse , has published a new kit. This charming US revenue cutter -- including all of its accessories -- can be had for under US$40 at WAK (the kit by itself is only US$7.16). Tempting!

More engine progress. I have added the rear bank of cylinders to the crankcase (BTW, I'm not a mechanic nor mechanically inclined, so my engine terminology is limited). To see what extra detailing I have added so far, you can compare the detailed cylinders to the basic kit cylinder on the left. The front cover on the crankcase and all of the bolt heads are extras, as is the little blue daub of paint, which represents the Pratt & Whitney badge (no, I'm not gonna super-detail the badge -- don't be insane!!). Next step will be adding the push rods to the rear cylinders.

Oh, the irony!

Welcome aboard! If you'd care to read about my experience with building a CLC boat, you can find my build log here.

I have actually crossed the River Lerma numerous times on the way in and out of Temascalcingo.

Beautiful! But these should be posted in the gallery.

2 hours ago, Der Alte Rentner said:

So, may I ask?  What techniques and products did you use on the FLY?

To be honest, it's been so long since I did that part of the project that I can't remember exactly what I used. I probably used a water-based stain, and I'm fairly certain, but not 100%, that I used an off-white from Model Shipways, also water-based, for below the waterline.

BTW, I hope my next project doesn't take me 17 years, too!

Finished

So, first of all, if anyone is interested in why this model is finished without having any masts or rigging, allow me to refer you back to post #25.

I ordered resin swivel guns from Chris at Vanguard Models. These are very nicely done and far superior to the off-the-shelf metal ones from Amati. I was surprised, though, to discover that the guns did not come with any mounts. I don't blame Chris for this at all -- I never asked about the mounts and he never said anything about whether they were included. The lesson here is it pays to ask! I tried several methods to create mounts: wire (fail), cobbling something together from leftover PE parts (fail), and finally hit upon yokes made from scrap black construction paper. These look fine as long as one doesn't view them from head-on, otherwise they look impossibly thin.

The final shots:

So, that brings this seventeen-year-long, on-again off-again journey to a close. I do have another wooden subject waiting in the wings, but I'll divulge that project at the proper time.

Cheers!

Excellent result!

2 hours ago, Papa said:

I just started fitting the keel.

You are aware the kit is designed to be planked first before installing the keel? It's not a deal-breaker if you don't (I did mine that way by accident), but that was the designers' intent.

I missed the finish of this, but wow what a great diorama! It really invites the viewer in to explore all the little details. Very fine job!

I missed the post that revealed her home port as Sausalito. I grew up in the Bay Area until I was nine, first in Campbell and later in Santa Rosa.

Congrats on the finish!

5 hours ago, Buckstrong said:

(I'm guessing in the Finished section).

That'd be the gallery. Welcome aboard!

2 hours ago, Isaiah said:

And yes, I broke the belfry.

Congratulations, you have now 'arrived'! All modelers break something somewhere along the way. Maybe even multiple somethings.