kurtvd19

I vote for either one over the Tennessee. Surely somebody has built the Tennessee before - I don't remember a garbage scow though. Kurt

I think you are going to enjoy this build. Kurt

This is the correct place for the item. I don't need another Zona saw but I like this and will most likely purchase one.

Call Donna Byrnes and ask if she has any motors for the saws. If she has any she will probably sell you one. Kurt

Check the Model Machines ad here on the right side. Click on the 4 inch disc sander and order the number of discs and the grit you want. Donna is still selling supplies for the machines just not the machines yet. Call if you want to confirm this but I just spoke to her last Thursday.

For what it is worth there is a motor upgrade for the Preac saw that uses a motor very similar to the Byrnes saw motor. Even has the same box with the capacitor inside. It is sold by Ship Ahoy Models in Saugus, MA. Phone is 781-231-0212. The owner's first name is Bob and he's a member of the Boston club. If you call him and get the information about the motor please let us know here.

First check the switch. The switch is the first thing to go and you mentioned two connectors to the switch have burnt shrink wrap. The rocker switches were the weak point. I replaced my rocker switch as a temporary fix until I could get a replacement rocker switch and I got the rocker switch and it is still in the drawer. I know of several older saws that had this problem. Some time ago Jim said that capacitor goes out and can be replaced. If replacing the switch does not work send an email to Model Machines and ask about the availability of a new capacitor or a new motor and capacitor. There is stock and Donna is filling orders for what they have on hand. Kurt

Their catalog- pdf downloadable - has some photos of the models. Do a search on MSW to see about build logs - I believe there will be some to be found. I have personally seen many models of these kits built over the years and I did some restorations of the Lucia Simpson model by a couple of builders for clients and can say the kits can produce nice models. I have seen several of their Challenge and Lucia A Simpson kits as well as a couple of the Edna G tug entered in competition at the WI Maritime Museum contest over the years - one model of the Simpson from their plans just recently got a Gold Medal - It was not this year but recent. Check this URL for some info on a very good model of the Simpson as well as historic photos of the boat. https://www.hrsms.org/Content/model/lucia-a-simpson/ BTW all Great Lakes Vessels are referred to as Boats, even the 1,000 ft ore carriers. BTW the model shown below from the 2024 contest is the Lottie Cooper and the wreck I mentioned in my first post is the Lottie Cooper not the Lucia A Simpson as I mistakenly ID the wreck. Photo of Lottie Cooper a three master lumber schooner by Rocky Groh won a gold medal in class as well as Best Great Lakes Vessel Award in the 2024 contest.

AJ Fisher has several kits - (Advertises in the NRG's Nautical Research Journal) has kits and plans for the following Great Lakes boats. http://ajfisher.com/kits/challenge.htm CHALLENGE Great Lakes Schooner - 1852 - Built in Manitowoc, WI 1/8" = 1' CHAMPION Great Lakes Tug - 1868 1/8" = 1' EDNA G. Great Lakes Tug - 1896 1/8" = 1' LUCIA A. SIMPSON - 3 MAST LAKE SCHOONER - 1875 3/4" = 1' The remaining wreck of the Lucia A. Simpson is on exhibit on the shore of Lake Michigan in Deland Park in Sheboygan, WI (26 miles S of Manitowoc). Shows the construction of the keel, center board and centerboard well and one side of the hull from the keel to about 4-6 ft high. A must visit for anybody researching or building models of Great Lakes sailing boats of the later 1800's.

Bob: I think they are virtually identical from Midwest to Model Shipways. Have compared one of the newer kits manual against one of the older manuals and while I didn't read every word a quick scan shows they look identical. I wrote a series of articles in Ships in Scale magazine starting in mid 2000 through mid 2006 meant to be a how to get started and progress to being an accomplished modeler (Series was done at the request of Clay Feldman the owner and publisher of Ships in Scale). I found the instructions in this series of Midwest kits to be very good especially compared to anything imported at that time. The older series of kits from Midwest have a feature that I hope Model Shipways will add back in is a ranking of the kit's difficulty. They ranked the various kits as Levels 1, 2, 3 and 4 and the rankings in my opinion were right on. Take care, Kurt

As long as you have adequate free board go for it!

Towboats do not pay the road use taxes (at least in IL) so the price is less than diesel at the gas station. I don't remember how much less as the last time I was onboard when being fueled was several years ago and my memory isn't what it once was. It is still a heft sum though.

VIRTUAL WORKSHOP VIDEO RECORDINGS The video recording of the last Virtual Workshop Building OKESSA - Part 1 from July 13 is now available on the NRG website – in the EVENTS section. The recordings are in the Member’s Only area, so you must sign in to access these recordings. Once signed in go to https://thenrg.org/page-1075419 to access the video. Members can access the recordings as a member benefit as many times as desired. There are now 20 videos posted for members to view. Previous Workshops Building Okesa (Part 1) presented by Dr. Bob Jenkins Creating Realistic and Working Furled Sails presented by Ron Neilson and Tom Ruggiero How to Airbrush presented by Kurt Van Dahm The Origins of the 18th Century Sloop of War presented by Ian McLaughlin Strategic Detailing Part Three presented by Chuck Bauer Online Research Sources presented by Paul Fontenoy Diorama Water Crafting presented by Ron Neilson Paper Ship Models (Part 2a & 2b) presented by Ian McLaughlan Paper Ship Models (Part 1) presented by Ian McLaughlan Strategic Detailing Part Two presented by Chuck Bauer Strategic Detailing presented by Chuck Bauer From Slide Deck to Presentation presented by Robert Chenoweth Sharpening Slitting Saw Blades presented by Bob Filipowsk Painting a Waterline presented by Kurt Van Dahm Using the Table Saw Safely presented by Kurt Van Dahm The Ship Modeler's Ten Step Program, or How to Transform Your Kit Model from "Out of the Box" to "Out of this World" presented by Toni Levine Photography for Ship Models presented by Kurt Van Dahm

Welcome aboard.

I agree 100% with Eric on the pulling off a pier by attaching forward and then reversing. Kurt