rafine

Remco, your skill is exceeded only by your commitment to perfection. Simply wonderful.

Bob

If not perfect, Chris, it's hard to see how they're not.

Bob

I'm blown away by those carriages, Robert . Great.

Bob

Thanks Thomas. The positive side of aging is that I have plenty of time to do the things that I enjoy.

Bob

Very nicely done detail Wes.

Bob

Really nice work on those catheads, Thomas.

Bob

I join the chorus Grant -- Beautiful work all around. 

Bob

Thanks so much Hamilton. However, judging by what I've seen of your work on Blandford, you're selling yourself very short.

Bob

Thanks guys. You're all great and much appreciated.

Eamonn, I hoped that it would turn out well, but there were sure times when I had my doubts.

Rusty and Grant, the dental work didn't increase my modeling time as much as it cut down my golf time. 

Bob

Ken, uneveness of planks, at the ends or even along their edges, should be be no problem. That's why sandpaper was created. Use a block or stick and go at it. It's hard to sand too much.

Bob

Thanks, Wes. One of the joys of retirement is that you really do have the time to just do something if you want to. That and having a couple of teeth extracted which kept me housebound for a couple of days.

Thanks, Augie. You're really not so hard to please, but I'm happy that you're happy. 

Thanks, Sam. I haven't heard from you in a while. How is it going with the kit? 

Bob

A big step forward. The lower hull planking on the port side has been done. This was the big test for the success of the trial and error correction process on the hull framing. With no more than a couple of the usual very slight adjustments to the framing, the planking went on smoothly. A big sigh of relief.

I did change my plans somewhat. For a variety of reasons, I decided not to do the area below the wales and above the copper in natural boxwood. That area will now be painted black. As a result, I did the entire lower hull with basswood planking. I also concluded that my only goals were to finish with a well faired hull with a smooth surface. This led  me to cover the framing with what can only be described as a patch work of crazy quilt planking, rather than following strict prototype planking patterns. This allowed me to cover the area rather quickly and easily.

After a lot of sanding (sandpaper is your good friend) and even some use of filler (ugh!), I was quite pleased with the result and see no reason to do the other side any differently. The starboard planking will be the next step.

Bob

Beautiful work Ben. Congrats on completion. I too wish you had gone further, but I can readily understand your desire to move on to the complete build.I look forward to that.

Bob

I'll join the welcoming chorus, Russ. It's always a pleasure to follow your work.

Bob

Wonderful job on the ratlines, Hamilton. Never anyone's favorite part of a build.

Bob

Nice looking work on the deck planking, Ken. You might try drilling and filling in sections to break the monotony of all that drilling.

Bob

Thanks B.E. Your Pegasus is a tough act to follow.

Bob

Thanks Mark, Sport and Alistair.

It's funny Alistair, but I always get the same feeling looking at your work. Thanks again.

Bob

Thanks, Nils, Augie and Scott.

Scott, only the completion of the planking will tell if the framing issues were successfully overcome. With regard to the Pollyscale, I foresee a lot of paint testing in the future.

Bob.

I've now done the starboard wale and also some of the stern planking. I planked the counters and a portion of the transom area, but not around the stern windows. I'm not going to do that portion for a while yet (until I figure out what I'm doing). 

I then painted the wales. In order to simplify the masking and painting, I had painted the upper edge of the top strake planks before installing them.  I used Pollyscale engine black, which unfortunately is no longer going to be available as the line has been discontinued. I'll miss the paints and need to start thinking about alternatives. 

Time now to do the lower hull planking.

Bob

Beautifully done Wes. Really neat and precise.

Bob

Lovely work, Mark. Now it's time to spend some serious post-retirement time on her.

Bob

Thanks to all for the nice thoughts. The planking has gone pretty smoothly -- so far.

Bob

Thanks, guys. This is one on which all of your encouragement has really helped to push me along.

Bob

Simply great looking. Fantastic precision.

Bob