vossy

cant have too many of these! you gonna put people on her?
 
chris
 

looks really beautiful. I ummed and arred about painting my riverboat hull I must say. I really like the natural timber color, but decided to paint as most of them were painted I believe, plus I have heaps of natural wood on the decks and as mine is a massive size I think the white hull breaks it up nicely. anyway back to yours, as I said, it looks fantastic. are her deck structures going to be painted, or left natural like the hull? also, for what its worth, with your trial naming decals, I actually like the bottom one the best; yes, even the dice.
 
chris
 

Hi Michael, welcome aboard and I hope you enjoy your voyage! Any comments and/or criticisms will be appreciated; as I’ve mentioned before, this is a voyage of discovery and learning (much of which to date consists of the old adage of measure twice, cut once! I’d also add, if it looks wrong it probably is!)
 
I managed to find a few hours this week tidying things up and building some odd pieces - the pics attached show my progress with the main deck structures, the feeding troughs and the livestock bar supports (bit of a pain to make; for future builders, cut the 1.5mm first, then the 5mm - both of which create the slot to hold the retaining bars, then bevel the lower edge. I did the last first and it made holding the piece very awkward, though I only lost one due to breakage in the end).
 
I’ve now planked all the main deck structures and they’re ready for finishing. The African Walnut will be given a clear satin varnish; the planking will be stained/varnished in a standard light oak.
 
The 0.5mm planking, I’ve noticed, tends to fray across the edges at the top and bottom so, depending on final fit, I may need to add a finishing strip to hide those poor edges.
 
One final thing to add, which you’ll see in the 2nd pic below, is that I managed to get the tabs in the structures to fit in the slots without any repositioning. I have to say this took a little force (and trepidation on my part!) but they did fit, though I’ve noticed the front section of the front structure is now very slightly bowed out.
 
You can also see in the 1st pic where the door handles don’t line up correctly - they’re about 0.5mm off from each other. Would have been perfect if I’d kept the door pairs together lol. Also not too happy with the Sapele trim on the top of the front structure doors (which I’d cut in half lengthwise as the suggested measurement seemed too heavy) - it doesn’t match the curve on the doors, but too late to do anything with it now.
 
Next job is to finish the Sapele straight door surrounds on the rear structure (I’m two-thirds done), glue in the doors, final sanding to shape then put aside whilst I plank the hull.
 
Hugh
 
 

Holy!!! that boat is worth double my house! lol
 
Can you post a close up of your glue sometime so I can maybe get a similar version down here?
 
chris
 

looks really beautiful. I ummed and arred about painting my riverboat hull I must say. I really like the natural timber color, but decided to paint as most of them were painted I believe, plus I have heaps of natural wood on the decks and as mine is a massive size I think the white hull breaks it up nicely. anyway back to yours, as I said, it looks fantastic. are her deck structures going to be painted, or left natural like the hull? also, for what its worth, with your trial naming decals, I actually like the bottom one the best; yes, even the dice.
 
chris
 

looks really beautiful. I ummed and arred about painting my riverboat hull I must say. I really like the natural timber color, but decided to paint as most of them were painted I believe, plus I have heaps of natural wood on the decks and as mine is a massive size I think the white hull breaks it up nicely. anyway back to yours, as I said, it looks fantastic. are her deck structures going to be painted, or left natural like the hull? also, for what its worth, with your trial naming decals, I actually like the bottom one the best; yes, even the dice.
 
chris
 

I spent the afternoon on her today..........I'm so glad to see my vision paid off    as I mentioned earlier,  I made up another wood organizer.....not as elaborate as the one by the main table,  but it will serve the purpose.   

all household stuff......except the 1/4 plywood.   all the wood strips are separated.......as soon as I clear a space,  I can move it out of the way  

the underside of the main deck has been painted with Billing's flat pale gray.  I noticed that I forgot to paint across the paddle opening......I'll do that later.

the counter was marked out and the holes were drilled for the rudders.   I'm gonna hold off on installing them,  until I get the main deck and the bottom assembled,  so I can better assess the depth of the shafts.  I also did some more sanding.....it is ready  

into the paint booth it went.......and got the first coat of gloss lacquer.  it was like 'pop city'!


it was still wet at this point.......needs to dry now.  I went to work on the Norden and browse MSW.....    a while later,  I took it out of the booth.....I was amazed with how it came out.


the grain came out nicely.........and then I heard the admiral.   she was asking me about the mahogany for the Nordkap........I haven't even told her that I'm using it on this project and that I want to order blonde planking {basswood or obechi} for 'ole Nordie.   well boys......I think I been found out.....time to fess up.   it must have sounded like jargon,  that is......until she saw the bottom.  I flat refuse to paint over wood like this.....this is what it's meant for.  the bottom is a little rough,  and there are some shadows,  from where the lacquer literally sucked into the wood.  but,  the shine is there......and I am so pleased.

I gave it more time to dry.   usually I will wipe my hulls down with a clean soft cloth...this is more than enough to knock down the roughness and raised wood fibers.  if I wanted to wait a day,  then I would have used either steel wool,  or some fine sandpaper and do a light sanding.  I actually rubbed it down with my bare hands......trust me,  my hands were never intended to give back rubs.   it's in there now........it got a second coat......it won't need another.   the shadows are gone.......and there are no runs,  considering I used a rattle can.  I am thoroughly impressed with how it came out.   I have a picture of it tomorrow.....I want to see what happens to the sheen when it's fully cured.   the rudders will match the keel,  which sets off the mahogany nicely.   see you folks tomorrow   

Chris:
 
Better -- here is the Bob Smith Industries (BSI) website address.
 
http://www.bsi-inc.com/index.html
 
If you click on the Industrial/Hobby link at the top, and then adhesives, look for the purple bottle called "insta cure".  I use the 2oz size.  It's not watery like their blue bottle (or like many CA glues that are hard to manage), and while the website promotes it as gap filling, I like it because it just stays where you put it and you don't have to join things right away (you have maybe 60 seconds).  Usually sets in a minute or so.
 
On the same website, there is a dealer locator with instructions for how to search outside the US, and I tried it and saw two Australia distributors on the first two pages.  I get mine through Amazon.
 
Hope this helps.
 
Regards,
David

cant have too many of these! you gonna put people on her?
 
chris
 

cant have too many of these! you gonna put people on her?
 
chris
 

cant have too many of these! you gonna put people on her?
 
chris
 

hey, really cool. yes I would have definitely don't the keel first as well. so, above and below the current planking strips; does this get planked or covered as well? what sort of glue are you using to attach the wooden planks to the fibreglass hull? really looking super dave!
 
chris
 

I have completed the planking on the port side of the hull.  See pictures below.  The laser cut planks are shaped to fit the hull curve perfectly, and create a really even look to the planking, even for someone as ham-handed as me.  They also make for a fairly quick and easy planking.
 
I'm not worried about the glue spots, as all of this is painted white.  I have sanded for fit the bow, stern, and lower portion where it meets the hull, but haven't done any pre-painting finish sanding.
 
It doesn't show well in the pictures, but the lighter lines between the planks are 1x1 mm strips, which gives even separation between the planks.
 
Because this is a really rigid fiberglass hull, I didn't have to worry about alternating the planking on both sides.  I also wanted to finish one side with the 1x1 mm strips I have left (they are really delicate, and I broke some unwrapping the bundle.  More coming next week).
 
So I'm out of 1x1 strips, which means I'm going to have to find something else to work on while I wait for the strips to come.
 
Regards,
David
 

I have done three hull planking strakes on one side, and the laser cut planks work really well.  There is a 2x2 mm wale at the top that follows set measurements from the top of the hull, then a plank, then a 1x1 mm spacer, then a plank, and so forth.  There are 10 planks on a side, down to the mid-point of the hull, where the hull line turns under, and then it's smooth from there to the keel.  When it's sanded and painted white it should look really nice. 
 
While the manual says "birch" for the laser cut planking sheets, there's no way this isn't walnut.  It's 1.5 mm thick, so really nice quality.  It kills me to paint over it (I love varnished hardwood), but the boat would look terrible if I just varnished it.
 
The manual calls for the planking first, and then the keel, but I wanted good butt-joins between the planks and the keel, so I did the keel first.
 
Regards,
David

cant have too many of these! you gonna put people on her?
 
chris
 

cant have too many of these! you gonna put people on her?
 
chris
 

hi there Chris.....glad to have ya look'in in { I had an urge to say 'Ya'll.......stems from the five years I spent down south}.   that's one thing the admiral does want....I can't seen to get any leverage talk'in her into other things.  I might do something with the windows......Britannia metal is not my idea of a window.  I hope she doesn't hang over my shoulder,  like she did with the M&M boat.   I'll try and sneak a few thing in there    you and Hugh are having too much fun......I couldn't resist!  hope ya follow along for the rest of the ride

cant have too many of these! you gonna put people on her?
 
chris
 

I got this kit as a Christmas gift.  I thought....cool!.....there have been quite a few of these models done here on the site.  I will have plenty of info to follow when I get around to building it.   we have two builds going on at the moment.....the Sergal Mississippi Riverboat being built by Vossy,  and the King of the Mississippi,  another A.L. kit,  being built by oldbritabroad.  there was another A.L. kit being built,  but I think it's finished.......it was a combination of that build and Hugh's,  that really got me thinking.   the issues that were discovered,  enticed me even more.  I hadn't looked in the box.......not intending to start it any time soon........and I did........sorry    I didn't do a parts inventory so to speak........I hardly ever do.  what ain't there....I don't care........I always make do or improvise.......I'm just silly like that.   I see things that I normally see in most kits......metal parts,  that really should be wood......windows {really?!?!?!}.......there are other thing too.   there are no decals......hence no name,  so I gave it one.   Tumbl'in Dice came to mind from the Rolling Stone's song {not the Keith Urban song}......funny,  all I hear in my mind is the song 'Mixed Emotions'.....anyway.....there will be decals......I also have plenty of lattice work decals from the Susan A. build  {are you kidding.....I have decals left over from all of my builds}.   this won't be a quick project......I have so many ideas and so many modifications to make {beats my dream of a hillbilly PT boat  }   {that was a nightmare.......woke me right the heck up!}  I started this a couple of weeks ago.......so far,  all I have is the bottom of the hull pretty much done.   I plan to make this as a show piece,  rather than an actual boat.......I have been hampered though by the admiral.   she doesn't want any lighting,  or interior decorating....already ran things by her....no carpeting or chandeliers {pity}..........but you never know,  I might be able to sneak something by her.   I hope anyone who follows,  will enjoy what I'm gonna do to this model. 

hey cool, that ready made to fit planking is a bonus (assuming it fits like the stock photo)??? this appears to be an extremely well constructed kit however so I'd imagine you should have no problems. are you going to run the same color scheme as the stock pic? I must say I really like the blue. I will definitely get this kit one day! I reckon it looks fantastic does it have a name plate on the stern area? could you maybe give it one if it doesn't? this is really coming along a treat dave!
 
cheers
 
chris 

hey pop, all the window/door openings have to be framed then the windows and doors are placed in place. on the kit instructions the openings here are supposed to be doors with handles on each one. on my boat however they are going to be windows with small curtains. here you can see 3 examples of the windows dry fitted for you to get the general idea. the openings here have only been framed in the vertical plane atm. on the outside of each frame there are louvre shutters either side which I am yet to make up. at the front of the structure is the main doorway to the entrance of the structure. once all the windows and doors have been glued into place I will be able to see just how much of the interior of this space is visible once the deck is fitted on top of the structure. if it is too dark and one cant really see inside I will leave it as is. if, however it is still fairly visible, I will put in a false floor (easy to do), and try to create a scene inside the compartment.
 
chris 
 
 

hey pop, all the window/door openings have to be framed then the windows and doors are placed in place. on the kit instructions the openings here are supposed to be doors with handles on each one. on my boat however they are going to be windows with small curtains. here you can see 3 examples of the windows dry fitted for you to get the general idea. the openings here have only been framed in the vertical plane atm. on the outside of each frame there are louvre shutters either side which I am yet to make up. at the front of the structure is the main doorway to the entrance of the structure. once all the windows and doors have been glued into place I will be able to see just how much of the interior of this space is visible once the deck is fitted on top of the structure. if it is too dark and one cant really see inside I will leave it as is. if, however it is still fairly visible, I will put in a false floor (easy to do), and try to create a scene inside the compartment.
 
chris 
 
 

hey pop, all the window/door openings have to be framed then the windows and doors are placed in place. on the kit instructions the openings here are supposed to be doors with handles on each one. on my boat however they are going to be windows with small curtains. here you can see 3 examples of the windows dry fitted for you to get the general idea. the openings here have only been framed in the vertical plane atm. on the outside of each frame there are louvre shutters either side which I am yet to make up. at the front of the structure is the main doorway to the entrance of the structure. once all the windows and doors have been glued into place I will be able to see just how much of the interior of this space is visible once the deck is fitted on top of the structure. if it is too dark and one cant really see inside I will leave it as is. if, however it is still fairly visible, I will put in a false floor (easy to do), and try to create a scene inside the compartment.
 
chris 
 
 

hey cool, that ready made to fit planking is a bonus (assuming it fits like the stock photo)??? this appears to be an extremely well constructed kit however so I'd imagine you should have no problems. are you going to run the same color scheme as the stock pic? I must say I really like the blue. I will definitely get this kit one day! I reckon it looks fantastic does it have a name plate on the stern area? could you maybe give it one if it doesn't? this is really coming along a treat dave!
 
cheers
 
chris 

I haven't finished all of the detail work on the superstructure, but the manual wants me to turn to the hull now.  
 
It gets planked and painted.  Interestingly, the hull planking is laser cut to fit.  See picture below.  I think they did this because if you look at the Amati stock photo that follows it, the plank lines are meant to stand out after painting and be smooth and even, so that requires precise plank shapes.  So no sideways plank bending!!!  
 
Now I just need to not screw it up.
 
Regards,
David