kurtvd19

They have had this promo going for a long time. I think it is a great promo and should encourage more builds. Kurt

I would recommend centering the stack as well as the wheel. The Capt would stand to one side or the other and operate the wheel from directly behind the handles on the spokes. Some wheels were quite tall and it was much easier to operate the wheel from one side or the other. Being offset to steer makes the issue of seeing around the stack unimportant. These boats and especially if pushing a barge required the Capt. to be looking way out in front of the boat or the Boat/Barge tow. The throttle and whistle controls were offset to one side or the other or provided on both sides of the wheel thus making the operation of the wheel from behind the spoke handles. This has carried over to this day. Kurt

Nigel: We have some meetings where we bring our favorite tools to discuss. The Loom A Line (LoL) has never once been brought to a meeting as a favorite tool. In fact one meeting night I added a sub topic "Bring a tool that should never have been made or purchased. Three (3) brought Loom A Lines! For a very good reason - it is useless. Better to set up a jig to hold the mast with space below for the dead eyes and aligned as per the plans. They are most of the time at angles - at the most only one shroud will be directly line up with the dead eye's position per the plans using the LoL. There is one other jig for doing what the LoL is supposed to do and that is the jig available from Model Expo that has adjustments for the dead eyes as well as height adjustment. I stick with doing the rigging off the model but using the actual mast and locating the dead eyes below per the plan. Kurt

I definitely back up this recommendation highly and further suggest you skip the plastic lens versions & get glass lenses - a bit more $ but later when you really need them you will be glad you spent the extra $. I am at the stage now that I am going to hang them next to my shop door so they are the first thing I grab and the last thing I put away. Kurt

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

Saturday July 13, 2024 BUILDING OKESA By Dr. Bob Jenkins The model of OKESA is an example of boatbuilding in the US in the WWI era. Ships were critically needed to transport goods and troops and with steel being used for weapons and Navy ships it was decided that wooden ships could fill the need. The presentation on July 13 will be Part One of a multi part series on the building of this model. Part One will cover the history of the ship, the research necessary to obtain plans and other reference materials, and the construction of the model starting with the keel frames and building jig up to the point where the ship would have gone down the slipway to floating. Part Two will cover the details of the building and detailing the model from the weather decks and up. This will include deck houses, rigging, the wheelhouse interior details etc. The interior includes the triple expansion steam engine and the boiler among other details. A second steam engine and boiler were constructed to be mounted on the display board as shown in the lower right of the photograph. Part Two has not been scheduled. Build Log on MSW The Virtual Workshop is open to all NRG members to attend the ZOOM event on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at 10:30 AM CDS time. 11:30 AM – Eastern 10:30 AM – Central 9:30 AM – Mountain 8:30 AM – Pacific 4:30 PM – Greenwich

The video was uploaded today 6-23-24. NRG members can now view it at their convenience.

The kit has not increased in price since it was introduced. Shipping,which we have absolutely no control over is another situation entirely. Take care, Kurt

I have used a similar drafting chair for years. Many 8 hour days spent on it.

The half-hull kits are still available. Use the link on the MSW home page - The black line of topics immediately under the Model Ship World name - click on NRG Home Page - 4th to the right - and check out the NRG store to find the kit and ordering information.

The sign fix is nicely done. Neat project. Kurt