russ

The deck planking can be stained or clear coated after installation. I would not try to stain each plank and then install it. Better to deal with it after it is installed. I would recommend a clear coat and leave the wood a natural color unless you are going to paint the deck. In that case, a thin wash of grey.

Russ

The metal work is very good. It looks like it has some age on it. Nicely done.

Russ

Those collars look very good. Excellent work.

Russ

Looks good. Down here in Mississippi, we did not have that kind of protection for the deck. Our dredge winders were up on blocks to keep them off the deck, but not a large platform like that. Interesting detail.

Russ

Check with Model Expo. They have wood wheels in several sizes.

Russ

So far it looks pretty good. So long as you are having fun, all is well.

Russ

I have always heard that sort of piece referred to as a splash rail, but I am not sure if that applies to larger vessels like this. Nice work though.

Russ

Ron:

Paint is definitely an option.

As for the bulwarks, it looks like there has been some separation there, but I think if you replace the cap rail and make sure the forward ends of the rail meet at the bow, all will be well. By the time you remount the bowsprit, that separation will not be noticeable.

Russ

That waterline is pretty close. These vessels trimmed by the stern, which your waterline depicts. So far so good.

Russ

Those look very nicely finish.

It has been a while since I looked at these plans, but did not recall seeing that style of pump on these boats. I figured they would use the lower Edson diaphragm pump. I will have to revisit the plans and get caught up.

Russ

Chuck:

I have not heard it put that way, but as I said, it is an individual thing. I have never put the garboard on first. It all depends on what you are used to doing and comfortable with. I plank the upper belt, then do the lower belt and finish in the middle. Some like to go from the wales down or from the garboard up. So long as you can make sure that the garboard does not creep upwards too much along the stem rabbet, it makes planking the rest of that area a lot easier.

Russ

I think that is a matter of personal taste. The run of the planks is guided by the wales and he can start with the upper belt or the lower belt. I would do the upper belt first, but that is just one way to do it.

Russ

Nice soldering. The hard soldered joint on the spout looks very solid. Good work.

Russ

That looks better. You want the strakes to run along the curve created by the wales. That means that you do not want to have the planks at the bow sweeping upward too much. What you have seem to be better.

Russ

I am sure you will get a few fellow Niagara builders to help out with your materials issue.

It could that the plans called for a dimension that is not readily available for the kit or they substituted some planking in your kit because they were temporarily out of a given dimension. I would also call Model Expo and see if they have an answer. If the kit is missing material they will supply it at no cost. Call and email. That is the best way to get their attention.

Russ

The badges look great. I like the overall "weight" of the structures. Not too heavy. Very good work.

Russ

Wow. It looks fantastic. Well done.

Russ

The paint job looks very good. Nice detail with the ice sheathing. I am not sure I have seen that done before. It is a great detail though.

Russ

Mark:

I do not mean to hijack John's log. But yes, I get those questions as well. Now back to John's log.

Russ

This is actually quite common in model building. We all go through it. You are doing really nice work on this model. Have fun.

Russ

The deck framing looks good. Very neat and clean work.

Russ

John:

I hear ya. I have done this before at the annual wooden boat festival. Not many questions about the toilets then, but I have gotten my share of comments about patience, balsa wood, and standard time length of build. The answer to the latter is, "as long as it takes."

Russ

I am sure it will be okay. But, each of us has to decide what is good enough on our models and what must be changed. I would think on it a bit before I made a decision.

Russ

I am hoping to have one of those days this coming Saturday at our new Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum here in Biloxi. No chores, just me sitting working on a few models at the museum.

Russ

Ron:

The model looks like it just needs a little TLC. One thing you can look at is to get the gaffs peaked up at a higher angle. That will look better and be more like how they were actually rigged. Have fun.

Russ