michael mott

Hi Patrick, it is tough keeping up with the speed at which you build these tiny mega yachts. I'm wondering if this one would look even more stunning if the hull was painted with a lower sheen, The only reason I say that is because we can scale down the model but we often do not scale down the high gloss at the same time. I know we cannot scale nature but we can scale our perception of it. Super model as always. Michael

Another miniature masterpiece Javier. What I love about this tiny ships that you build is the integrity of the work, all the framing and detail in areas that will never be seen and that the model has a story that most will never know. I do so enjoy watching these jewels come to life. Michael

Hi Vaddoc just a bit of catching up, you are making great progress. I was just thinking about your comments on the shrouds and the sorting out of the ends I spent some time with this exact issue as well and i found that I got great results by beginning with some shrink tubing like this Regards Michael

Mike , your planking looks superb! Very clean. Michael

Good evening Ed Just finished reviewing the last few bits of work. Thank you for an amazing journey, I have not only learned a great deal about the YA but also about your approach to solving some of the challenges that this model presented. Congratulations on the completion of a Masterpiece of Model Shipbuilding ! Michael

Looking at the photographs of the excavation site, it never ceases to amaze me how much silt is transported by the River and in such a short period of time. Michael

Ah Yes Druxey, they are first cousins so they would, wouldn't they... Michael

Hello Keith, the hull decking looks superb. Your Granddaughter looks peaceful and resting well after her journey out to join us all. Michael

Mark I could not agree with you more. And for those of us who have enough of a challenge building a simple single masted model watching your progress and diligence in solving those puzzles is most rewarding. Michael

Hello everyone, Yes I am still in model engineering mode, I have also had a very busy non modeling summer. The model is like all of the work I do, well it seems that a good deal of it, is make things for replenishing the scrap box. I have been working on the frames cylinders and valves which included making a few tools along the way to achieve what I wanted. Afew pictures to show that I was not just sitting around drinking Pina Coladas😀 A rebuild of the boiler Silver soldering the fire tubes to the smokebox plate and the firebox plate Mr Brown checking the progress on the frames The hornblocks for the wheel bearings The wheel bearings as per the originals are split so as to facilitate removal because the wheel will be fixed to the steel axles. the brass ones are just temporary keepers. Beginning work on the cylinders these eventually graced the scrap box A new set of cylinders was begun from some blanks of 2 inch diameter bronze faced to thickness then rough shaped on the bandsaw. The assemblies of the cylinders with the first set of front cylinder covers, more fodder for the box. Making steel hex 1x72 machine screws Fitting the cylinder guide bars, it was at this point that I decided to remake the front cylinder covers to better reflect the actual cylinders. the next set follows. Now a new cutter was needed to make curved recesses After shaping the teeth and hardening the cutter then touching up the cutting edges a test to see how it worked Next the new covers were addressed with the new cutter after a lot of fettling with some rat tail files and slips of emery stuck to thin strips of brass I am happy with the result The top of the cylinders will get a joining plate that will include the inlet and exhaust pipes the valve chamber is common to both cylinders, the motion for the valves is Allen straight valve gear. that is in the future. I will get back to the Bristol Cutter when my fingers get tired of metal I promise. Michael

Nice work on the general so far Denis it will be a great display when you are finished. It also crossed my mind that locomotives and ships are closer sometimes than people think. Erebus and terror had locomotive boilers in them. Michael

Hi Druxey, Yes overall it is being good, weather could improve it has been cool and wet. Well the Hand of God need to get in there sometimes. Some health challenges in the family but things are improving on that front. Michael

I did a second video with the loco pulling Lord Montague's luxury coach Michael

Hi everyone I am still in railway mode..... it will pass eventually and I will be back at the boats. working on a new live steam boiler at the moment. Shaping the base of the steam dome with some 220 stuck to the same diameter copper tube 2.875" diameter next picture shows the smokebox and boiler in line the flanged front tube plate will act as a register for the smokebox. here is a line drawing of the boiler And the running gear This is the locomotive Michael

Sweet Keith!! very nice work on the removal from the build board and a lovely looking hull now that all the extra wood is gone. nice scroll work too. Michael

Hi Mark, Yes it is the new place in the city, building the planter and fence last spring was a great deal of work. Michael

Mark, What an exquisite model! It is a pity that I live so far away, I would certainly enjoy seeing the model up close. Michael

Valeriy, you have done a great job on the deck. michael

Hi Dennis, I purchased the loco from Accucraft and then modified it to a larger scale from 7/8th scale to 1/10scale Michael

Hi Druxey the locomotive is actually modeled after Sipat this an 18 inch gauge loco by Bagnall like these Michael

I have been absent from the forum for a little while because I have been caught up with summer model railway stuff. I have to squeeze past the boat models as i go back and forth to the bench. The garden railway needed some maintenance and well you all know where that leads. I have also needed to spend time in the house with Judy so took up a kitchen table work spot to work on a couple of sculpy figures for the 1/8th scale Montague's Carriage . Carriage and railway. Which led to trying the live steam loco for the first time, it ran very fast and so i needed to build an inertial wagon to give it something to work against which led to a load of work. This was the final version of the gear train. and then it needed to be tested. It worked very well and so then needed to be dressed up a bit. Here is a Mars on a test run So even though I have not been active here I have been busy with model work all the same. Michael

I remember that Model Dennis, I wanted to build a live steam version at one time in my earlier crazy modelbuilding habits. Michael

A masterful job indeed Keith. The hull really does look spectacular. michael

Ed looking at you photographs, give me pause, And you are only showing the lines! to think that sails had to be set amongst all that boggles my mind. beautiful work as usual. Michael

Keith, superb work on both the binnacle and the rudder. I always enjoy seeing how you tackle and solve the little details that mark your background knowledge and skills. Also I am thinking that the hull would look absolutely stunning with the right white above the waterline with the varnished mahogany below. But that is only my opinion. Michael