Bob Fraser

Finished planking the first floor rooms, just getting started on the trim and I’m also jumping ahead and planking the second deck. I have a feeling I’m going to move extremely slow on the second level deck due to the 45 degree angles, or as the directions call it a “herringbone” pattern.
 
i am using the same push pin technique that I used on the first deck planking on the room wall planking and also the upper decks. 

Here's one image of the poster board lined and finished templates for lining out the painted sails when their dry. I first had to do paper templates which are shown in the upper images, then copy to a stronger poster board so I can trace out the lines along with individual patterns for the finished sails. I'll simply tape these down and lay the painted sails over each pattern. Then trace all the correct lines on each one and add the outer bands with the  rope and tie downs.
 
Basically it's been prep, prep ,prep and then build them, so that;s coming next.
 

 
 

Work is progressing well. There are a few mistakes to the model. The spiral staircase did not fit too well, but is mostly hidden so not too bothered.
I measured the distance of the posts using the rails. This worked fine, but when I glued them all in place I was out by just 1mm or so. This of course meant that the posts are not a perfect fit by the third deck. Also I glued the top and bottom stiffeners that hold the rails incorrectly. I have put them width up on the second deck by mistake. this has been corrected on the third deck. I was left with a choice of stripping the whole lot down and starting again or excepting that it is wrong. As it does not really show that much I can live with it and will keep as is.
Paul
 

Finally,,,,, final pieces of wood arrived and last sections of the upper railing complete.   Here is where I am going to "call it".   It is done, granted it is not museum quality work, main thing is that I had fun along the way...  To anyone wanting to build the King, I would say be prepared for a long haul.   There a many pieces to this beauty.   Only real difficult part of this build was the circular stairs.   They take some time to get them right.  Everything else in the model is pretty straight forward, just a lot of it.   Especially those 2nd and 3rd floor railings.    Building them really got old after a while.
 
Anyway, below are some of my final pictures along with the King in it's final home.   The final home shows my cardboard as a background.  Kind of have to ignore that.   In reality, behind the case is a mirror.   Without the cardboard, the picture ends of me taking a picture of me.
 
On to the next model 🙂
 

thanks all for your suggestions and comments.  a flashlight is standard equipment at my desk     per our conversation Lou,  I gave it some thought.....while I was doing that,  I was browsing through ScaleHobbist,  when I saw a set of wheels.   I figured the heck with it,  so I ordered them.   I can't understand where the part is........rectifying that problem,  I suffered a second problem.....you got it,  another part.   I was painting the part for the top turret......the part that I had to trim the bejeezus out of,  when it went flying off into the same abyss that the wheel hub went through.   I am convinced that there is a black hole directly in front of me!
  my desk was totally torn down.......a chance to clean my computer out,  as well as my printer...been a couple of years since I last did it.   the bass guitar no longer sits in the corner either........it has been cleaned and put back in it's git bag,  and my amp was put in the spare room.  the part in question,  has so far,  not been located.......I have absolutely no idea where it could have gone.   the computer room has been searched......neither part has turned up.
 
I stand corrected 
 
I just picked up a piece of paper towel to wipe a cap out {to prevent frozen cap syndrome},  and I felt a lump.........it was the turret part!   belay that last lament........we're back to square 1,  which has been remedied    I'm not sure if that paper towel was here when I lost it...interesting that during the search,  it wasn't thrown away.   I guess I can be glad that I didn't.  I do have a few assembly pictures.....but most are of painted parts,  just to show you that I have still been dabbling with the model.

I didn't bother to paint the stripe on the bombs......just glued them in place.  it can be seen that I removed the paint off of the circular part under the nose platform.   I did some assembling of the engines....just the parts that the same on all engines.......there are parts that will denote inboard and outboard engines.

the top turret bucket is pictures above.....I was in the process of assembling it when I lost the part.  the cockpit and navigator's glass turned out well.....better than the other turret glass.

the tail wheel was painted and cemented onto the tail gear.....so aside from minor touch up,  it's done.    the dome was added to the circular piece under the nose platform,  since it won't be in the way.

the props and the turbos were painted earlier.......I finished the painting and added the green centers in the turbos.
  
ammo boxes for the top turret.......there is a pair for the waste gunner's positions that were painted too.

the bombsight got it's initial paint color.....there more to do on it.  other parts were painted.......the ailerons and rudder were painted with bomber tan.   the circular parts are for the cowl...they are done in aluminum and the manifolds for the turbos were done in bomber tan.

still up in the air if I'm gonna use the waste gunner's windows...there was no masking for them.   I've seen some models with the guns sticking out of them,  the F model didn't have them like that......they were removable.

What I do when I drop a small part is turn the lights out,lay on the floor,& shine a flashlight across the floor.  I usually find my part (along with reminding my I need to sweep a little more often).  Doesn`t work well,though,if you have carpet.
 
Mark

Cheers guys!
Some more progress.  Help from Cooper the cat again

Eventually got them done
The black paint is Revell Aqua Colour. It's gone a bit thick but it represents the thick bitumastic paint used on iron. That's my story and I'm sticking to it! 😁
 
Added the second handrail to the stairs, fitted the second deck doors and shutters.

Made some chains for the "Crew Only" areas and fitted them with a notice.

Did a bit of research on the use of the capstan in the bow. Turns out it's steam powered and used to tighten up the main mooring rope so the bow is tight to the dock.
Where the instructions show a hawse hole there are rollers or a fairlead, another at the end of the bow plank, and bitts to the side (behind the 3 guys to the left) for other ropes.
This is the steamer "Lookout".

Here's the capstan AL provided, and the one I'm replacing it with. Brass band is from the scrap off the bridge deck scallops.

Works almost at a halt now as it's been decided not to fit the spiral staircase, but to make a straight wide one. I've got to order in the sheet wood for this.
More when I can, Look after yourselves,
Bob

Thanks for the likes!
Slow progress, but some!
Added the brass scallops to the steering deck, and the fencing around the deck below.
Since access to the steam pipe are would be crew only I fenced that off too, and added steps.
To the steps I've added brass handrail made from 0.8mm beading wire. Not sure yet if the cabin stairs will remain one rail or to add the second.

Cheers,
Bob

Cheers guys!
Some more progress.  Help from Cooper the cat again

Eventually got them done
The black paint is Revell Aqua Colour. It's gone a bit thick but it represents the thick bitumastic paint used on iron. That's my story and I'm sticking to it! 😁
 
Added the second handrail to the stairs, fitted the second deck doors and shutters.

Made some chains for the "Crew Only" areas and fitted them with a notice.

Did a bit of research on the use of the capstan in the bow. Turns out it's steam powered and used to tighten up the main mooring rope so the bow is tight to the dock.
Where the instructions show a hawse hole there are rollers or a fairlead, another at the end of the bow plank, and bitts to the side (behind the 3 guys to the left) for other ropes.
This is the steamer "Lookout".

Here's the capstan AL provided, and the one I'm replacing it with. Brass band is from the scrap off the bridge deck scallops.

Works almost at a halt now as it's been decided not to fit the spiral staircase, but to make a straight wide one. I've got to order in the sheet wood for this.
More when I can, Look after yourselves,
Bob

Second planking finished! (well, except for the little bit at the stern). 
Now for some fun.

Here's a quick update:
Have the fifteen taped and ready for a light coat of paint.  I'll be working on them today and tomorrow then get some images. I have also dug out my old portable drafting table to line the sails out. This compact rascal has gotten me out of some on the fly work and it's good to see it again. Not sure if they sell these anymore, they really come in handy.
 

 


 
Couple more addition's were given to me ,,,,, I think they are early fathers day presents. Guess I'll have to make another work station table, along with some more finished model wall space. 
 
1936 Comet USS Perch submarine model:

 
Then this oldie, not sure about the name. Did a basic search and very little info on her:

Looks like I'll be on MSW for a long time.  
 

Thanks for the likes!
Slow progress, but some!
Added the brass scallops to the steering deck, and the fencing around the deck below.
Since access to the steam pipe are would be crew only I fenced that off too, and added steps.
To the steps I've added brass handrail made from 0.8mm beading wire. Not sure yet if the cabin stairs will remain one rail or to add the second.

Cheers,
Bob

Thanks for the likes!
Slow progress, but some!
Added the brass scallops to the steering deck, and the fencing around the deck below.
Since access to the steam pipe are would be crew only I fenced that off too, and added steps.
To the steps I've added brass handrail made from 0.8mm beading wire. Not sure yet if the cabin stairs will remain one rail or to add the second.

Cheers,
Bob

Thanks for the likes!
Slow progress, but some!
Added the brass scallops to the steering deck, and the fencing around the deck below.
Since access to the steam pipe are would be crew only I fenced that off too, and added steps.
To the steps I've added brass handrail made from 0.8mm beading wire. Not sure yet if the cabin stairs will remain one rail or to add the second.

Cheers,
Bob

Quick update - sorry it's been a while. Life gets in the way sometimes.
Almost done with the top deck and wheelhouse.  Still got the brasswork and fences to install.
Stair measurements given by AL don't match up to the actual real life sizes. One stair too few 🙁 when trying out the first one for size with the base at the same  pictured plank distance in the instructions.  Ladderway to the cabin house was still too short for the angle required at 9 steps, so had to put in an "under walkway strengthener" for it to rest on.

Also noticed, missing in the written instructions but in the picture instructions and not labelled, stanchions under the forward end of the roof. Pics 54 and 55.
This doesn't appear anywhere else thoroughout the booklet in any photos.  There are photo's of this model with them installed out there, and there's also a version of this (old!) that has two gangways and a straight (not spiral) staircase. Dan Vadas did a re-build of this one a few years ago. KotM by Dan Vadas 
Cheers for now,
Bob

Some progress over the last few days.
Captains cabin almost finished. Fitted the stove, roof and rail. Added edging boards to the roof.


Added the ventilation gap to the upper deck. Remembered to drill and countersink the holes for the pins this time! 😼

That's all for now,
Stay safe, stay well,
Bob

Some progress over the last week.  Syrprising how small bits seem to take hours to do.
Upper deck almost finished.

Wheelhouse.  As I'm adding a captain figure there's now a step and a paperwork  / coffee / whisky shelf

Didn't like the original plywood door, so had a play around and cut / carved this one. First time carving. Even managed to get the door to open and close on hidden hinges. using pins.

Still got to fil a sill to the lower window edges to finsih them off.

As usual, close ups show all the rough bits and small flaws 🙁
 
Stay safe, stay well
Bob
 

Decided to leave the spiral staircase for now, and do some of the long repetetive process of planking the large areas.
Fair bit of progress, but not much to show for it.
Fitted the second deck house and planked it. Remembered I'd got some photo-etched saws.

Used the long thin one to saw the tops off the planking. Fitted the livestock arches.

The pic shows it befor sanding.
Planked the 3rd and 4th Decks, and made the 3rd deck house. Also made the wheelhouse.
As she stands now

And then the captain came to visit - "Big door handles!" he says.

I'll have to look at changing them for something smaller.
He then goes aft and wants to know where the paddlewheel is!

Think I'll have to get a move on - he seems a bit impatient.
That's all for now,
Cheers,
Bob

Thanks for the comments and likes.
Another day creating sawdust. This is for the Admiral and she would like as much as possible in "proper" wood where it is visible, not ply.
The livestock arches come in ply. Had a play around and managed to get these done. Edge glued to 10mm planks together and hand cut these. My skills aren't great, but they've been given the OK.

Next sone is to figure out the spiral staircase!
Cheers,
Bob

So, thought it time to make the rudders before getting too far ahead of the build.
Picture in the book shows this - looks like mahogany, same shade as the dowel

What you actually get is this - plywood

One of my helpers thought this of them

Found some scrap of the same depth and made these

Some progress over the last few days.  Small things, but lots of time taken to do them.
Deck house and engine house doors fitted.

Animal area bar holders fitted and adjusted - they were far too big for scale.

Roof fitted after planking and edged, all deck houses edged top and bottom to hide the gaps.


Decided not to go with the metal windows provided for the second deck.
I glued plastic sheet over these and painted curtains with tie-backs. On the curved ends I cut out a depression and glued the painted plastic so it's flush with the curve.

Not sure yet what I'm going to do with the doors.
Cheers for now,
Bob
 

Thanks kpnuts!
Today I've fitted the arched doors. While they look reasonable at a viewing distance, the photos close up really show all the imperfections.
Anyway, hinges work, and fitted a latch to each to stop them opening when under way.
Doors closed.

Doors open

Hopefully once fitted to the deck these will look ok.
Cheers
Bob

Thanks Chris, thanks for looking in. Cooper is a "he" and was still chasing bits around ater they were packed away.
Bit more progress - after a couple of hours soaking managed to get the curved ends fitted to the top two cabins.
Lots of pins to hold the curves, not yet glued in place. Going to give them another 24 hrs to dry and keep the curve.

Even after several hours soak the plywood still cracked! Still, this will eventually be covered by the planking, so nothing that can't be sorted.
Cheers for now,
Bob

Had this started 9 years ago, as usual life got in the way but managed to put a bit together here and there. Not worth starting a build log just to have it seem abandoned.
Just started again the other day with a bit more time available.
Building this for my Admiral who would love to travel on one, but because of her own issues barely leaves the house.
Likeley to be a slow build so please bear with me.
 
Progress so far.
 
Hull built and planked

Livestock area. I added tie rings to both side. You don't want animals fighting over the hay or running wild on deck!

Hooks for the livestock area.  Rounded tops so no animal injuries!
 

Barn doors and hinge. Looks better from a normal viewing distance 🙂 

And where would I be without my helper!

 
Cheers for now,
Bob
 
 

Thanks for the likes!
Slow progress, but some!
Added the brass scallops to the steering deck, and the fencing around the deck below.
Since access to the steam pipe are would be crew only I fenced that off too, and added steps.
To the steps I've added brass handrail made from 0.8mm beading wire. Not sure yet if the cabin stairs will remain one rail or to add the second.

Cheers,
Bob