dgbot

Elijah, solid hull models have been planked all the time.  On my model of the Benjamin W Latham, I planked the hull.  In fact the planking was easier since I had a solid surface to glue to.

 
Here is the waterline marker I told you about to give you an idea of what to do.

 
David B
 

Why do you apologize?
 
The styrene kits are some times better than wooden kits. It's not the material, it#s the model builder who makes the model.
 
I'll follow your log with great interest

The basic kit is fairly simple but a good start. A simple google search will find heaps of other renditions of this kit and the other manufacturers, but no one else has done one on our closed forum. There is a heap of aftermarket, none of them with a complete set. I don't think I could complte the kit without the AOTS book.
 
The kit I got from Ebay from Russia which was the cheapest place in the world to buy it.
 
The aftermarket stuff was from everywhere, each of them having bits and pieces I need, including perfect 12pdrs and winches.

I have a great a deal of faith in your machining skills Gerhard, from what I have seen so far.  Go for it.
David B

Thanks Patrick and Pat,
 
Cathead, yes the trusses and camber would have made things a lot more difficult. I wonder how much problem Heroine would have had with water on deck with the flat beams. Although, we have evidence that her beam ends were sagging outboard -- would have shed a little water. I'm also amazed at how her upper structure was supported only by rows of 5 or 6 inch square posts. I can't wait to put them in place. It is going to look like it is supported with toothpicks. Thanks for the good luck wishes!

I am always amazed at people who can tell if the hull of a model is correct. Several years ago at Manitowc a guy brought in a great model of the Prinz Nuegen.  Another modeler was impressed but informed me that the lines were wrong.  I could not see what was wrong.
David B

I am always amazed at people who can tell if the hull of a model is correct. Several years ago at Manitowc a guy brought in a great model of the Prinz Nuegen.  Another modeler was impressed but informed me that the lines were wrong.  I could not see what was wrong.
David B

Hello everyone
 
By searching for more infos to the engines I found again, what I believed to be lost, the videos from a guy named himself DealtaAPmech. He built an sternwheeler engine by himself, a beautiful piece of metal work.

You`ll find more at his Google+ site, think I`ll go close with his Engine, but even smaller than that......
 
Regards
Gerhard

Wow, I'm jealous. Bertrand had hog trusses, sheer, AND camber to her main & boiler decks. I eliminated the camber on the boiler deck for sanity's sake, but still felt I had to build it in place. I cannot wait to see how your deck drops in. Having the CAD skills is a really nice piece of your toolkit. Good luck, if that's the right phrase!

Hello Everybody,
 
I didn't get a chance to post last week.  I took a few days off to take the family to the beach before the Memorial day weekend.  We had a great time but returned to Tornadoes and floods in College Station. 
 
Since my last post, I spent three days framing the boiler deck and two days tearing it apart and rebuilding it.  One incorrect measurement threw several of the beams out of location.  I think everything is finally correct and I should be able to drop the deck on the model in the coming week.
 
The deck before the rebuild.

 
After rebuild.  The shifting of the deck beams is difficult to see but, I also found it necessary to extend the overhang of the walkway by a few inches.  The notch in the doubled beam amidships will fit around the two posts supporting the feedwater pump lever.

 

 
I've been putting off securing the paddle wheels in place -- it's easier to move the model with the wheels off.  Now that the boiler deck is going on, it's time to assemble the clutch mechanism for the paddle wheels.
 
Milling the pocket for the shaft end.

 
Before and after milling.

 
The final contour was hand filed.

 
Test fitting one of the throw-out bearings.

 
The original throw-out bearing weighed over 300 pounds.  Amazingly, when we reassembled the the original pieces, the heavy bearing slid easily and smoothly along the shaft end with only the moderate pressure of one finger on each side.

 
 
 

Thanks Yves. I hope the model is taken well at the 'New Blades' show in London. I am showcasing some of my other architectural work alongside. The interesting part now is travelling with it. 
 
 
Cheers David. The CD/Pan? 
 
 
Thank you Michael. It's been a pleasure learning how to construct models this way. Being my first time using a CNC and any fabric work I feel I've learned many new techniques. 
 
 
The custom crate is finished, measuring quite a size to accommodate for the mast. Had some minor problems with the thin board as it was bowing in, however that's been resolved with a few wood braces now. I'm in the process of arranging some packing to lock the hull in place and I may put some fabric on the inside of the box just incase it rubs. 
 

 

 
 

Two more steps complete this update.
 
I've made and fitted the Quarterdeck section :
 

 

 
And also shaped and fitted the Entry Steps and the various molded rails, Planksheers and Hances :
 

 
  Danny

Where are you going to find the room for the case?
David B

Interesting News article about the saving of an ancient ship.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/30/nyregion/seaworthy-and-ready-for-an-early-unveiling.html
 

 
David B
 
 

From the article She will be carried on the back of a heavy lift ship.  That would be interesting to see.
David B

Ian, I have to agree with the upper statement.  You could use your CD/Pan for your portfolio.
David B

Thank you all.
Nils, assuming that you're referring to thimbles, it might be another presentation for this...
Thx
 
The ruler in in cm.

Hi all.
In my last model (is coming soon) I've been challenged to make some more metal work.
So I decided among others to deal also with the shackles. You know, the nautical item shaped as the Greek alphabetical character "Ω”...
I didn't want to spoil my lazy way of making models, so I made relatively reasoning...
Perhaps someone has also found an "easy" way to make shackles but I'm happy with my way.
Consider, I managed to make 12 pieces in 40 minutes, with minimal failure...and there are over 30 shackles in my model.
Just give me a few days time, to set up a presentation.
 
Thx
 
 The ruler is in cm.
 
 

I just bought a kit of this Billing Calypso from the owner of Model Expo (Mr Mosko) off Ebay.
Really looking forward to getting my hands on the kit and start building it.

There is probably nothing to follow, as I have no time to restore it, nor the desire to do that yet.
 
I managed to find a small chopper at the scale of 1/48th which i believe will be more detailed than the one provided by Billing Boats.
The ship would need to be thoroughly cleaned, sanded in some places, re-painted and lots of detail could be added.
This was done with 30 years ago technology and paints and details are much better today than they used to be in the early 80's.
 
If the urge to fix it sparks in my heart, then I will have a place to report the progress.
 
Thank you for your interest.
Yves

Thanks, Carl. Let me know if I am going too far astray.
Druxey, I am mainly concerned in producing realistic seam lines on the sail. Some illustrations show just longitudinal seams but many show a cross-hatched appearance. I like your idea of using dilute acrylic paint to stiffen the silk which may also be able to reproduce this appearance. I dont really want to print pictures on the sails  although this would be good for flags.
 


Dick

Where are you going to find the room for the case?
David B

Not that I am getting involved with the topic of kit subject matter but I do feel compelled to respond to this as it was a direct request of sorts...so please excuse the interruption.
 
HSM wrote
 
Oh, one more thing that I would like to see (from Syren specifically) is an option for bulk-orders of blocks. If you could offer a package of blocks to replace all of the kit blocks in the MS Rattlesnake (for example) builders could order that for the MS kit or any similar ship.
 
It is impossible to offer such a package for every kit, but a few generic 20 gun, 50 gun, 100 gun packages at 2 or 3 different scales could be doable...
 
It's amazing how easy something is to suggest when SOMEONE ELSE has to do the actual work ;-)
 
Sadly,  this will never happen but please allow me to explain why.   The answer is three fold.  Just so everyone knows.
 
- First...I would need to double if not triple my output of block/rope production so I could stock enough of these packages for individual kits or ship types.
 
- Second...the amount of time needed to just package up these blocks and rope now is enormous.   So to package by hand different amounts of different sizes included labeled packages and then sort them would take hiring another person to do that almost full time.  And when they were done....they could sit on the shelf for months or even years before someone might be willing to buy such an upgrade package so specific.
 
-Third...It would take weeks...months or even years to research so many specific ships....research that really should be done by the builder.   Especially if I have never built the ship before.  This is a question I get all the time....I got this one just a few days ago.  I think some folks just want the work all done and spoon fed like it was a fast food restaurant.
 
"I am building the Vasa and would like to replace all of the blocks and rope in the kit with yours.   Can you tell me how many blocks and what sizes I would need?   I also need to know how much rope to buy.   The kit isn't very good in this regard so sizes and quantities are unknown to me.  Is there some hard and fast rules that would tell me what sizes to use in the different areas of the rig?  Any help would be appreciated.  I have just finished the hull and I am anxious to get started on the rigging as quickly as possible.  Do have expedited shipping?"
 
I could spend several months writing what would amount to be a treatise on this subject for this customer.....while gathering the quantities and lengths....but seriously...who is building this model.  There are usually many books readily available to help the model builder figure all of this stuff out....as much as I want to be everyone's shortcut and help them out....it is an impossible task.  So please dont get mad if I respond in the usual manner if you should ask this question...
 
​I never built it...but there are several books on the subject.  Please refer to the parts list in your kit as a starting point.  Everything is in stock and ready when you gather up all the information.   You may consider signing up on Model Ship World to ask those questions.   I am sure you will find many people who have built that kit.      
 
Many ask for this because they also believe as a bulk package it will be cheaper.  But in reality because of the work involved as mentioned....I would have to charge a whole lot more.  Its cheaper if you guys do the math up front.  A lot less work for me too!!!
 
 
Oh and if I can slip this in....Wasp is on my short list already.   

Hi David
 
Thank you!
 
 
And many thanks also to Glenn (ggrieco) who sent me a link to a very good book about this engines, I`ve downloaded it today page per page from HathiTrust because of its good infos. Took some hours to do this, but its worth every single minute!
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89071911150;view=1up;seq=1
 
And many thanks also to everyone for your interest
 
Regards
Gerhard

Where are you going to find the room for the case?
David B