Bob Fraser

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

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

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

Thanks for the advice, I will look into the furniture place. Started planking the rooms this weekend, it will be stained the same color as the deck is. 2 coats of golden pecan. Using my trusty plank cutter has really made this process much smoother. 

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 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

Part two (the lower rails) of the aft railing is done and part three (the upper stanchions) is under way:

I actually did come across that, but given the scale of the model, my slight obsession for the “clean” look, and that most likely, and that likely no one who will see this model in person will know that I skipped a few holes haha. 
 
I do agree there is a place for authenticity, but, from my limits experience, it’s not on AL models as they are typically built more for a “good build” rather than authenticity. 
 
made a little more progress today, got the hull planking 3/4 finished, popped out the first floor room walls and fitted/glued together. 
 
my original plan of putting a small “casino” on the first floor may be hindered now as all of the dollhouse casino stuff I could find is about twice as tall as the rooms. So I may be making my own card table and we’ll see what I can come up with. 
 
Overall the fit of the rooms was good except once it was assembled it required some force to get it back into the deck slots.

Hi Kenneth.
If you do a search in the search box for President and tick "titles only" you'll find 13 results. About half are for this model.
I have one of these started as far as the hull planking, but am doing some research to kit bash into a real ship a distant relative was a lieutenant on.
As said, Carronade didn't come into use until 1774, so cannon would be the correct item if you wanted some accuracy.
The instructions are a little"sparse" shall we say 🤬.  Have a look on here for the planking tutorials which are really good if you haven't already got past that stage.
And as has been suggested, create a build log - so much help you won't get disheartened!
Best wishes, stay safe,
Bob
 

Got the holes poked, sanded with a 220 sanding block and put a coat of cherry stain on it. I think it turned out pretty good. This will be the second coat of stain so far. 
 
there is a good chance I’ll put a few layer of tung oil on it when it’s all said and done.

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
 

Glad to hear you're keeping safe.
There are a few odd anomalies with sizes. Be aware when you come to the upper deck houses the plywood is so thin it can, and sometimes does, seperate when soaked to allow for bending the curves.
Before you plank the hull or shape the bottom look at how the planks will fit - it's a job and a half if you curve the edges (at least it was for me😄!) Also the stem needs quite a bit of fettling to fit.
Take good care, stay safe,
Bob

Glad to hear you're keeping safe.
There are a few odd anomalies with sizes. Be aware when you come to the upper deck houses the plywood is so thin it can, and sometimes does, seperate when soaked to allow for bending the curves.
Before you plank the hull or shape the bottom look at how the planks will fit - it's a job and a half if you curve the edges (at least it was for me😄!) Also the stem needs quite a bit of fettling to fit.
Take good care, stay safe,
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
 

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
 

Well with the current state of this covid nonsense, I have essentially been living in the hospital and haven’t had much time to work until recently.
 
the pictures of my progress are pretty self explanatory, I haven’t done anything special to it yet. 
 
Once the deck gets glued to the hull it’ll be more interesting, I am tossing around the idea of adding a casino to the inside of the first level room and lighting it. We’ll see. 
 
hope everyone is staying safe

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

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

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

Hello everyone here is a small update that has required a lot of patience and 2½ meter anchor chain 1½mm thickness. There are a few stays and backstays missing before I move on to the main mast but it vill com .
 
Cheers
 
Jens.
 
 

"not a mistake it's a customized job",,,  I like that....  I will remember that next time I "customize" a portion of a model   🙂
 
Now time to install the forward crane and gang plank.   This is why I have not attempted any ship with rigging.   My hands are just not nimble enough to string rigging and make it look good.   Having said that I have installed the gang plank with some of the guide wires (stings)...   It took awhile, but with patience I was able to eventually feed the string through the blocks and complete the guidelines and and halyard.    The plans call for the crane halyard to go outside the forward railing.   That seemed strange to me so see the halyard rubbing on the railing.  As such I drilled a hole in the 2nd deck at the base of the crane and fed the halyard through it.   You can see the hole and halyard in the next picture.   I think it looks better - to me anyway.
 
 
And below is the final picture with the crane and gang plank assembled.   I did not put in all the guidelines (strings) as to me adding them would look to "stringie".   Let's call it "customization"....  As noted before, I also skipped the forward, center, and aft masts.  Again with all those guidelines, to me it would look too "stringie".   Obviously I am on my own on this one as most others have included the three masts and guidelines.
At this point I am about 98% complete.  As mentioned earlier, I ran out of 1mm x 3mm wood for the railings.   I have some on order, so just waiting for it to show up and then I will be all to "call it"
 

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

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

finally I have a new PC. spent most of this morning reinstalling all the protections and getting it set up.
unfortunately my camera connection is broke so can't download the pics I have on the card. will have to buy a card reader.
below are what pictures I had on the mobile. cheap phone so quality is not great.
I don't like to see bare wood, so I am painting the model. Looking on the web at these boats most where painted all white.
But some had some nice colour schemes. the windows are a bit bright but I like them. Building the spiral staircases at present.
Paul.
 

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