Mike the Maxx

Brilliant!

Ooh-Rah! I still go catatonic when I see a sand flea... And thank you for your well wishes...your right about the wheels coming off...the only thing I got left that is not OEM is my hair it seems...

Well said...you got the better part than I. Unfortunately being a medic up there was quite depressing....out Bethel way and in the remote villages it can be heartbreaking and rough and tumble. As my training officer told me... “Out here, especially in the dark months all there is to do for some is sit and think about all the dark things in life”...add alcohol and drugs and it made for a rough job. Lots of highs and lows. So for me, Alaska was bittersweet. Sorry if I overshared, but I am a pretty straightforward kind of person....and I think I am going to like it here quite a bit. Off to Lowes for a few supplies and then to start on this kit! Cheers, M

Thank you John..always wanted to visit.. I have some friends that live there and they love it... Thanks for the kind welcoming! M

Wow, nine years there is a good while, did ya like it? You couldn’t pay me enough to go back...these old bones are crying out for Florida! I was in Fairbanks at UAF when I first then moved to Alaska. Then a couple years later went back as a Flight Medic and lived in Anchorage...I worked out in Bethel...we covered an area roughly the size of Utah...the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta area...but we also had quarters at the airport in Anchorage. Hooper Bay was getting to the farthest parts north and Eek was about as south west as we went while in Bethel. Working out of Anchorage we had a Lear and went all over, even a flight or two over to Whitehorse in Yukon Territory...down to Juneau (hated flying in that place...always tightens the britches) and back then most head injuries and other medical certain conditions would take us down to Seattle...also we went down the Aleutians too.

Semper -Fi MOS 1371 84-88

Oh man, thanks so much...I will go ahead and start a log there...It may turn out to be a train wreck but I think it will be a great way to learn with feedback. M

Thanks, On my third read through of the instructions and also wondering if I should post a build log also....since it is my first one and also not sure which sub-forum I should use.

I tried several search methods but all I could come up with was how to make plexiglass cases for finished models...of course I am not real computer savvy...so I will try again using different terminology. Thanks so much!! M

Thank you Jeff!

I was curious if anyone uses a sheet of plexiglass over their plans? Is this a good idea or will make things harder? I have a shop helper, Willow the cat, who I am afraid would wreak havoc on the plans laid out without some protection, or should I just roll them back up and store till the next session? Any suggestions would be very welcomed. Thanks, M

Hi, My name is Michael and I am a complete newbie at building wooden ships. In the past I was a woodworker in several furniture shops and made Welsh Stick chairs and even made my own traditional joiners bench. I became enamored with hand tool woodworking and hand traditional joinery. When the time came I could no longer do this I sold off the shop and started learning antique clock restoration, which I still dabble in. Due to some injuries and illness I am no longer able to work with larger material, so I decided to combine my love of nautical history and woodworking and start building model ships. It will be good therapy and help with improving some hand dexterity and fine motor skills as well as an enjoyable way to spend some time which I seem to have a surplus of. I am a former Marine and then worked in EMS as a Paramedic eventually going to Alaska and working as a Bush Medic till a career ending injury happened there. I came back and went to finish my degree until I had to stop and take care of my dad who had Alzheimers. I then went to work for an Industrial supply company for fifteen years till they outsourced my job, but was getting to the point where I was physically unable to do so anyway and am now going on disability. I have already received my first kit. After a great conversation with Model Expo I am starting with their “Shipwright” series beginning with the Lowell Grand Banks Dory. I just about have the work space finished and am going to dive in in head first in the next few days. I have so enjoyed reading through many threads here and have already learned much, now is the time to put it into practice. I am looking forward to contributing here and maybe even making some new friends. I am sure I will have a lot of questions and it seems like folks here are more than happy to help a new builder. One caveat...as a former English Major I have a tendency to be rather wordy...so my apologies for that! 🤓 Anyway that is my introduction, I hope everyone has a great weekend, M

Hi, I will have to take the time to do so. I have my first kit ordered Monday en-route and was going to start becoming more involved with posting after I got things underway. Sorry for the thread derail. Have a great evening all, M

Hi, My first post here...I was a hand tool woodworker for many years till injury prevented me from doing heavy work...hence stepping into wooden ships. Anyway, I started with the usual European style dovetail saw for joinery and then moved to a Japanese style saws and joinery techniques a little later on. As it was first explained to me to understand the difference between the two styles as someone mentioned above is the pulling towards you. I was told to think of a blade of grass held between two fingers with just a little pressure from your fingers, try pushing the blade of grass through and it will bunch up and you will be unable to do it. Now with a Japanese style reverse this process and pull towards you. The blade of grass will actually straighten out and tension itself as you pull towards you. This allows for much thinner blades to be used and finer joinery such as done with shoji screen. Japanese woodworking is a very contemplative and unique way of working with wood, but thats another story. Most common Japanese joinery saws have two sides, one for ripping and the other for cross cutting. There are many woodworking supply stores that sell them and you need not spend a ton of money. Another nice feature is some of the better ones you are able to buy replacement blades that unscrew from the handle instead of the hassle of sharpening a saw but Japanese steel is notorious for holding their cutting abilities especially in softer woods...they look different, they work different and with practice you will make very very fine cuts as they are especially useful in soft materials. Hope this helps, M