Cathead

I'll kick in with my $.02 (US) for what it's worth.   Kits are basically either something someone wants to build for their mantel or maybe some they just like doing.   For other, they are a starting point to rework the kit into something realist to the actual ship.  Nothing with either reason.  As far as kits go... for example, the Vasa... or Victory.  Lots of them around from different manufacturers.   Accuracy.... is kind of "meh" for almost all of them but are a few that are really detailed and accurate.   Two of the kit makers (Syren and Vanguard) pride themselves on accuracy.   The key is that you get what you pay for and accuracy is one of the variables along with materials.

That's essentially what I did with my Dusek Viking longship. Used the model as a base and made lots of changes to improve the accuracy and appearance. The kit still saved me a lot of effort over scratchbuilding but the result was much better than the out-of-the-box version.

These aren't the only ones, I can point to lots of model kits that are laughably, cartoonishly, unrealistic even when it wouldn't be hard to make them at least reasonably accurate. But my guess is that it isn't felt to pay off to put the extra work into making a model good. Same answer for improved materials.

"Tunnel vision" is an English idiom meaning you focus narrowly on one thing. So the idea here is that you focus only on making this model and don't worry about broader concerns. So it's like your model is in a tunnel and you only look at that, and the tunnel walls block out all the other worries beyond the model. I speak some German but am not sure what the equivalent idiom would be.

Sorry for lack of progress, haven't touched the model since my last update. But I did have a pretty cool model-viewing experience recently, getting to see a fantastic scratchbuilt Missouri River rail ferry from ~1870 at a model railroad convention. I wrote a full post about it in the Steamboats and Other Rivercraft General Discussion thread so as not to clog up this one, but here's a teaser image to encourage you to go over there and check the whole thing out. This is at the same scale as my Peerless (1:87).
 

 
Hoping to get back to Peerless soon, but other commitments have had to take priority lately. Thanks for your patience!

That's essentially what I did with my Dusek Viking longship. Used the model as a base and made lots of changes to improve the accuracy and appearance. The kit still saved me a lot of effort over scratchbuilding but the result was much better than the out-of-the-box version.

That's essentially what I did with my Dusek Viking longship. Used the model as a base and made lots of changes to improve the accuracy and appearance. The kit still saved me a lot of effort over scratchbuilding but the result was much better than the out-of-the-box version.

That's essentially what I did with my Dusek Viking longship. Used the model as a base and made lots of changes to improve the accuracy and appearance. The kit still saved me a lot of effort over scratchbuilding but the result was much better than the out-of-the-box version.

That's essentially what I did with my Dusek Viking longship. Used the model as a base and made lots of changes to improve the accuracy and appearance. The kit still saved me a lot of effort over scratchbuilding but the result was much better than the out-of-the-box version.

These aren't the only ones, I can point to lots of model kits that are laughably, cartoonishly, unrealistic even when it wouldn't be hard to make them at least reasonably accurate. But my guess is that it isn't felt to pay off to put the extra work into making a model good. Same answer for improved materials.

These aren't the only ones, I can point to lots of model kits that are laughably, cartoonishly, unrealistic even when it wouldn't be hard to make them at least reasonably accurate. But my guess is that it isn't felt to pay off to put the extra work into making a model good. Same answer for improved materials.

These aren't the only ones, I can point to lots of model kits that are laughably, cartoonishly, unrealistic even when it wouldn't be hard to make them at least reasonably accurate. But my guess is that it isn't felt to pay off to put the extra work into making a model good. Same answer for improved materials.

Sorry for lack of progress, haven't touched the model since my last update. But I did have a pretty cool model-viewing experience recently, getting to see a fantastic scratchbuilt Missouri River rail ferry from ~1870 at a model railroad convention. I wrote a full post about it in the Steamboats and Other Rivercraft General Discussion thread so as not to clog up this one, but here's a teaser image to encourage you to go over there and check the whole thing out. This is at the same scale as my Peerless (1:87).
 

 
Hoping to get back to Peerless soon, but other commitments have had to take priority lately. Thanks for your patience!

While I've enjoyed this discussion as a novice in this area, I think Steven nails it at one point in observing that some small details that may or may not be in error act as discussion points for the knowledgeable and will not be noticed by the casual viewer. I certainly have a few on my models and it's actually a thrill when someone notices one in person and it sparks an informed discussion. Well done Steven and carry on!

The GErman equivalent would be "Tunnelblick" and I knew what it means but not explicit in this situation, but now I think I know it. That I shouldn´t think about any future build but only the one I´m building right now. At the moment I don´t think about any new build lol just the Roar Ege.
That´s a lie, I still have in mind about the next model, what kind of ship. But I´m not even sure if the next model would be a plastic or wooden kit. I´m waiting for a 1959 Revell Cutty Sark kit but I would prefer a wooden kit though... so yes,
 
I should focus on the current build, not an anything else at the moment.
 
Micha

Gute Besserung, Micha. 

"Tunnel vision" is an English idiom meaning you focus narrowly on one thing. So the idea here is that you focus only on making this model and don't worry about broader concerns. So it's like your model is in a tunnel and you only look at that, and the tunnel walls block out all the other worries beyond the model. I speak some German but am not sure what the equivalent idiom would be.

Very nice job on the railing John!
 
For the stack tops I used some thin copper sheeting that I had on hand. For the ones that look like crowns I cut the copper to where it allowed enough space to secure it to the top of the stack and stick up enough to clip the each point with flush cuts. Once they were all cut, I gave them a slight bend outward to give them their finished look.

 
For the stacks that were capped I used the same copper sheeting and formed the caps. I then used thin brass strips for the supports. The ends of the brass strips I bent to the angle of the caps and glued them on the concave side of the caps and the straight sides were secured to the tops of the stacks. 


I ran out of copper sheeting on my last build, but I found that an aluminum can works just as well. Hope this will give you some helpful ideas. 
 
-Brian

Started on the railing that go around the ship.... I was not looking forward to this as I was sure the hull (do to my poor building skills) was not going to match the curve in the etched brass railings.   To my surprise the railings were pretty close to the curve in the etched brass railings.   Some of the square stationaries were not exactly 3/32" high so they had to be filled down some, but for the most part the railings on the hurricane deck went on pretty well.
 
 
 

 

 

 

 
As designed in the kit the railings looks a little thin and and do not have any type of place for you hand to rest.   Just one skinny railing.   I decided to a strip of wood on to of the railing to make them look a little more finished.   I decided to use 1/16" x 1/16" strips on top of the railings.  In order to pre-bend for the curves it runs out a laundry detergent cup is very close to the curve in the railing.   A little soaking and a few clamps and drying over night, and the wood was very close to the actual curve in the railing.
 
Below there are two strips being bent.  One already painted the the other to be painted

 
The old saying is try,,,,,, it is not possible to ever have too many clamps
 

 
While waiting for those strips to dry and be painted, I decided to add some planking to the inside of the pilot house....   I just seemed a little stark with plan walls.
 



 
On to the six rear smoke stacks.   I started out using the supplied dowel rods and attempted to make the paper tops as described in the directions...  I used stiff paper, but it was not as stiff as card stock.   That may be my issue as i just could not make those stack tops look very good.   They looked mis-shaped.  At that point I decided to skip the paper tops, but then I could not use the dowel rods as stacks,,,,  as they would look like dowel rods.    Thus I cut some 5/32" and 1/4" copper tubing to simulate the stacks.   They would not have the tops, but at least they would look more like smoke stacks than dowel rods.
 
Below are the smoke stacks ready  to be attached to the hull...   I have since found some firmer card stock, so I will make a few more attempts at the stack tops, but I am no optimistic of the outcome....  Besides, the copper tubing painted black look pretty good as smoke stacks,,,, we will see what happens with my attempt at tops with card stock.
 

 

A pleasure to be-hold, is it not? (Sorry, couldn't resist that.)

Gute Besserung, Micha. 

Thank you, Roel 
 
 
 Tom, let it suffice to say since taking over cooking duties I've lost 14 pounds. I don't like cooking, it's just not my thing and yes, I much relieved that Maggie is at the point that she's getting where she can move back into the chief cooking role. 
 
 
 Thank you, Bob. She don't need no stuffed penguin and chocolates to make her smile, she has me! 
 
 
 Thank you, Keith. I consider knitting one those womanly mysteries I best left be. 
 
 
 Thank you, Brian. 
 
 
 Thank you, Gary. An easy rhythm to life is a good life. 
 
 
 Thank you, Glen. As soon as I hit the send button I'm making my way upstairs for some ole finger retraining. 
 
 Thank you to all for the likes and for following along. You guys bless my heart in so many ways, thank you for being you. 

Great Maggie update Keith, so thankful that things are progressing in the right direction. I look forward to these updates as much as I do Tennessee updates. We’ll continue to pull for her recovery over here. 
 
-Brian

Really glad to see this response as I know from experience that getting any sort of recovery is dependant on a combination of good fortune and hard work. 
 
Good to see you are going to get some sea time for yourself. 

Keith, are you happy with your cooking, or are you relieved that you now have help?
Tom