vossy

I've added the top deck now on top of the cabins.  A couple of notes.
 
Inexplicably, the instructions say to mount the deck on the ship before planking, which would just make everything harder in terms of trimming at the edges and for the ladder holes.
 
This is the first large deck that will actually be visible, so while I just used full-length planks on the earlier ones, on this one I decided to add some staggered planking.  But the center of the deck is covered, so I measured that (Picture 1) and then used full length in the center, moving to 40mm staggered on the outer edges.  (Pics 2 & 3).  The uneven parts near the center actually won't show because I erred on the conservative side for the center area -- it took me some time to figure out how best to do this.  I started with 40mm pre-cut pieces, which didn't work very well.  I then changed to gluing on full length planks and scoring them against measured lines, which worked better.
 
Pic 4 is the full model so far.
 
Regards,
David

I had a fight with a carving knife and a leg of lamb! Nearly cut my thumb off! Its why I haven't updated for a while. Should be good to go again pretty soon though. You keep up the good work.
 
Cheers
 
Chris
 

I did the same thing about 20 years ago when a hobby shop that I frequently visited in Door County was going out of business.  I guess that I spent close to a grand there when we luckily happened be vacationing up there and found the owner in the process of a clearance sale.  I picked up six wooden sailing ship model kits.  I bought every hand tool, clamp, piece of literature that he had left, and his whole remaining stock of paint.  I even bought his entire stock of milled basswood including the display case. (That I recently modified for my handicap accessible model shop.)  Boy, was he happy to see me come in!  I bought so much stuff that we had trouble packing the car to go back home.

I just caught up with/found this build thread and began looking through your latest progress photos. All I can say is wow...beautiful! 
Now I'll be going back to look through the entire thread. She's a beauty, Dennis.
 
My wife and I stayed a few days at the Rising Star casino in Indiana. Their casino is built upon one of these riverboats. Your model reminds me of our stay there. By the way, they had a gorgeous model of the Rising Star casino boat in their showcase. I thought I had taken photos of the model, but can't see to put my hands on it at this time.

Really nice update Pop. Hoping to get back to mine again soon once my hand has healed. With the door knobs, I find simple things like dressmakers pins are more to scale, or even old, bent used planking nails. That's what I used for my paddle wheel fake nails on my build.
 
Cheers
 
Chris
 

I had a fight with a carving knife and a leg of lamb! Nearly cut my thumb off! Its why I haven't updated for a while. Should be good to go again pretty soon though. You keep up the good work.
 
Cheers
 
Chris
 

Really nice update Pop. Hoping to get back to mine again soon once my hand has healed. With the door knobs, I find simple things like dressmakers pins are more to scale, or even old, bent used planking nails. That's what I used for my paddle wheel fake nails on my build.
 
Cheers
 
Chris
 

Not sure what you mean by "black rather than blue". As others have noted, content is added rapidly to this site, and your posts, which were made in quick succession, may have gotten lost in the shuffle. I assure you that no one was deliberately ignoring you. However, deciding after less than 24 hours that the site is unsupportive and unencouraging seems like a bit of a rush to judgment.

I had a fight with a carving knife and a leg of lamb! Nearly cut my thumb off! Its why I haven't updated for a while. Should be good to go again pretty soon though. You keep up the good work.
 
Cheers
 
Chris
 

Really nice update Pop. Hoping to get back to mine again soon once my hand has healed. With the door knobs, I find simple things like dressmakers pins are more to scale, or even old, bent used planking nails. That's what I used for my paddle wheel fake nails on my build.
 
Cheers
 
Chris
 

Really nice update Pop. Hoping to get back to mine again soon once my hand has healed. With the door knobs, I find simple things like dressmakers pins are more to scale, or even old, bent used planking nails. That's what I used for my paddle wheel fake nails on my build.
 
Cheers
 
Chris
 

thanks for the likes...I apologize for the slow pace of the updates.   I was a bit crowded at the table.........I keep say'in I need a longer table.   now that I moved the obstruction to it's own temporary table {of sorts},  I can get something done on the dice.  the doors and the vent covers were painted and cemented in place.  much as I didn't want to {'cuz they look corny},  I added the door knobs using those black beads supplied in the kit.

I gave them a backing,  so they would be recessed into the door openings.......I'll paint or stain the backing inside,  so they won't be seen through the windows.  I'm thinking of using that tinted cello,  so it may cut down on the visibility.   as for the fore and aft doors,  I couldn't recess them...the openings were a bit shallow.

I also added the actuator rods on the paddle wheel....finishes it off.


once the windows are ready and added to the structure,  the third level can be added.   still more to do on the first level too.   I'll get to more on that soon........perhaps even the next update.      thanks for look'in in......enjoy  

Thanks Eric, it sure does look sensational. I was initially thinking of staining the Chaperon deck a redish color instead of using a more solid paint type color. My only concern is that the Chaperon deck is one piece of etched in lines for planks and thus wont have the nice uneven grain effect you get from using separate planks. Anyway, still a ways off.
 
Cheers
 
Chris
 

This looks great Eric. What color did you stain the deck? Maybe I could go with this on Chaperon?
 
Cheers
 
Chris
 

this is so great eric! I wish I had the tools, space, and knowhow to scratch build some of our early Australian rivercraft!
 
cheers
 
chris
 

Hey Eric and Kurt, would it be possible for either of you guys to post some largish pics from the museum when you visit? Given I'm downunder its a bit of a stretch for me to get there personally!
 
Chris
 

Really looking forward to following this new project of yours Eric. Just love the picture of her at the beginning of the thread.
 
Chris
 

Next deck cabins built and decorated.
 
Regards,
David

Hey thanks David. Yes that is exactly what I wanted to know. Does it say anything in the instructions about gluing on and then later removing those paper guides? This is a quite expensive model that probably is bought by mainly experienced builders like yourself who wouldn't get caught out at this stage, but if a novice did buy it and glue the paper on too well it could turn nasty. I reckon, just like the dodgy false bulkheads you had to fix, this is another stage Amati needs to address.
 
Cheers
 
Chris
 

Looks really great! Congratulations on your work! Couple of questions if I may?
 
1. What glue do you use to attach the PE parts?
2. How do you actually cut out, pick up, and attach the PE parts?
3. Would/could/can you do an instructional short video or more detailed photo explanation pertaining to points 1 and 2?
 
Cheers
 
Chris
 

I bounce back and forth between PVA (elmer's) and CA (thin, regular, and thick); usually PVA for the very small parts and CA for stuff that needs a little more strength. Afterwards I prime/paint it with an airbrush... on less detailed sections like PE bulkheads I'll prime it with Tamiya rattle-can. 
 
I like to cut PE from the fret with those rectangular single edge "safety razors" because PE messes up blades fairly quickly and they are cheap yet still fairly exact in cutting. I cut the PE on a little square of clear plastic sheet that I buy at the big-box home improvement store. Getting parts on is done with tweezers of various shapes or if I get lazy, a tantric monkish telekinesis chant that I learned in the Himalayas a few years back. 
 
Seriously though, the secret is just using magnification (I use an optivisor), as little glue as you can get away with, doing good, clean prepwork before you start gluing and practice, practice, practice... plus checking and adjusting parts as necessary after you get everything glued on.  It's easy to knock stuff off that's only held by a small amount of PVA but once you get the paint on, it helps "lock" the parts in place so they won't go anywhere unless you butter-finger the finished part. 
 
Sorry, no instructional video; it would suck anyway because I'd have to hold my phone in my mouth while I filmed, half of the video would be of my butt in the air as I searched the carpet for the pieces I drop and there would be A LOT of cussing. 
 
Anyway, I did some more puttering yesterday... more cleanup, finished up the wing bridges and made an attempt at painting "wood" on the PE deck plates around the bridge:
 

 

 
Now I am turning my attention the back half of the main superstructure and getting deep into miniature demolition:
 


Just for kicks, here's more or less what a section of the superstructure looks like OOTB (although I've already began drilling and cutting out vent holes):
 

 
The Pontos advanced set goes a long way towards improving the details of the kit! 
 
 

Looks really great! Congratulations on your work! Couple of questions if I may?
 
1. What glue do you use to attach the PE parts?
2. How do you actually cut out, pick up, and attach the PE parts?
3. Would/could/can you do an instructional short video or more detailed photo explanation pertaining to points 1 and 2?
 
Cheers
 
Chris
 

Looks really great! Congratulations on your work! Couple of questions if I may?
 
1. What glue do you use to attach the PE parts?
2. How do you actually cut out, pick up, and attach the PE parts?
3. Would/could/can you do an instructional short video or more detailed photo explanation pertaining to points 1 and 2?
 
Cheers
 
Chris
 

Looks really great! Congratulations on your work! Couple of questions if I may?
 
1. What glue do you use to attach the PE parts?
2. How do you actually cut out, pick up, and attach the PE parts?
3. Would/could/can you do an instructional short video or more detailed photo explanation pertaining to points 1 and 2?
 
Cheers
 
Chris
 

Looks really great! Congratulations on your work! Couple of questions if I may?
 
1. What glue do you use to attach the PE parts?
2. How do you actually cut out, pick up, and attach the PE parts?
3. Would/could/can you do an instructional short video or more detailed photo explanation pertaining to points 1 and 2?
 
Cheers
 
Chris