Keith Simmons

Hi all,
         After finishing the cabin framing I ripped down some more pine and Bubinga for siding , trim and deck. I decided to work from the top down since each section will be removable ( I hope ). After cog noticed the height problem overall, I took a second look and eliminated the top pilothouse, then rebuilt the third story into the wheel house. Thanks cog for the input, it made for a better proportioned look...
 
        The plan now is to finish up exterior details and start on interiors such as theater which will have a carpet insert surrounded by Bubinga aisles with seating and a stage. Already started on the engine room and trying to figure out what to do with the warehouse section.
 
        Anyway, this is what I have done so far, Hopefully I can stay on track and keep this build going as intended....
 
         Thanks again for looking in and your comments,   Keith
 
 
 
          
 
         

Hi guys,
 
            Thanks you all for the comments and likes.....  I was having a hard time with the reason why the starboard side was unfinished then it occurred to me " it is still under construction ". So I went ahead and built some saw horses and now it makes sense to me...
 
  Thanks again for looking in,
 
               Keith

As there are few build logs for this kit, I'd like to make this one as useful as possible for others who might follow it later. So I'm going to attempt to match my posts to each stage of the instructions, offering my own interpretation of the intended work. I hope to provide a clear depiction of this kit's progress.
 
First a quick look at the parts.
 


 
The frames are pre-cut, unlike the laser-cut parts left in sheets that I've encountered in previous kits, meaning there isn't any spare material to work with if you break something. No parts list was provided, meaning I just have to hope everything is here. The wood seems of reasonable quality to my amateur eye. The fittings are bagged, but again with no parts list, so I'll just hope for the best. I have them all divided up into my handy organizer. Many of the castings seem coarse with a lot of flashing and other mess, and I'm going to be tempted to replace or rebuild many of them, but that's a later discussion.
 
Stage 1 - Structure of the hull
 

 
I glued the proper walnut lath onto the bottom of the keel. Each precut frame is numbered and corresponds to a numbered slot on the false keel. While the plywood seems nice and solid, the slots weren't cleanly cut and many needed significant filing to widen them enough to allow the parts to fit together properly.
 
Once they all fit, I test-fit the plywood deck to ensure that everything seemed square. The instructions don't suggest this, but it's a good idea, as filing the slots wider can make some frames off-kilter without correction. Another suggestion: test-fit the masts through the deck into the holes in the keel; these holes don't line up quite right and some extra sanding needs to be done. It was much easier to do now than later. See photo above for testing of deck and masts with frames (note that the deck hasn't been bent into its final camber yet). Only when I was sure of everything did I glue the frames in place.
 
Oh, one other note: carefully check the deck's fit over frames 8 and 10, which stick up through and beyond the deck to form walls of the small deckhouse. I found that I needed to file down the edges of these walls, at an angle, to match the angle of the deck's precut hole. Only by doing this could I get a proper fit.
 
Next up: properly fitting the plywood deck.

HI ALL
 
WORK CONTINUES ON THE THICK STUFF AND INTERMIDIATE PLANKING......NEARLY FINISHED JUST THE UPPER STRAKE OF THICK STUFF TO GO ON.
 
ONCE THIS IS DONE ITS TIME TO FINALLY FAIR THE OUTSIDE.
 
JUST A QUICK UPDATE FOR NOW.
 
CHEERS....MICK

Nice deck furniture, Keith. In style I may say ...

Hi Keith
 
I love the addition of the sawhorses and the partially completed cabins. She's looking more and more realistic with each addition that you make.
 
Cheers
 
Patrick

Hi guys,
 
            Thanks you all for the comments and likes.....  I was having a hard time with the reason why the starboard side was unfinished then it occurred to me " it is still under construction ". So I went ahead and built some saw horses and now it makes sense to me...
 
  Thanks again for looking in,
 
               Keith

Hi guys,
 
            Thanks you all for the comments and likes.....  I was having a hard time with the reason why the starboard side was unfinished then it occurred to me " it is still under construction ". So I went ahead and built some saw horses and now it makes sense to me...
 
  Thanks again for looking in,
 
               Keith

Hi guys,
 
            Thanks you all for the comments and likes.....  I was having a hard time with the reason why the starboard side was unfinished then it occurred to me " it is still under construction ". So I went ahead and built some saw horses and now it makes sense to me...
 
  Thanks again for looking in,
 
               Keith

Hi guys,
 
            Thanks you all for the comments and likes.....  I was having a hard time with the reason why the starboard side was unfinished then it occurred to me " it is still under construction ". So I went ahead and built some saw horses and now it makes sense to me...
 
  Thanks again for looking in,
 
               Keith

Hi all,
         After finishing the cabin framing I ripped down some more pine and Bubinga for siding , trim and deck. I decided to work from the top down since each section will be removable ( I hope ). After cog noticed the height problem overall, I took a second look and eliminated the top pilothouse, then rebuilt the third story into the wheel house. Thanks cog for the input, it made for a better proportioned look...
 
        The plan now is to finish up exterior details and start on interiors such as theater which will have a carpet insert surrounded by Bubinga aisles with seating and a stage. Already started on the engine room and trying to figure out what to do with the warehouse section.
 
        Anyway, this is what I have done so far, Hopefully I can stay on track and keep this build going as intended....
 
         Thanks again for looking in and your comments,   Keith
 
 
 
          
 
         

Hi guys,
 
            Thanks you all for the comments and likes.....  I was having a hard time with the reason why the starboard side was unfinished then it occurred to me " it is still under construction ". So I went ahead and built some saw horses and now it makes sense to me...
 
  Thanks again for looking in,
 
               Keith

Hi guys,
 
            Thanks you all for the comments and likes.....  I was having a hard time with the reason why the starboard side was unfinished then it occurred to me " it is still under construction ". So I went ahead and built some saw horses and now it makes sense to me...
 
  Thanks again for looking in,
 
               Keith

Hi all,
         After finishing the cabin framing I ripped down some more pine and Bubinga for siding , trim and deck. I decided to work from the top down since each section will be removable ( I hope ). After cog noticed the height problem overall, I took a second look and eliminated the top pilothouse, then rebuilt the third story into the wheel house. Thanks cog for the input, it made for a better proportioned look...
 
        The plan now is to finish up exterior details and start on interiors such as theater which will have a carpet insert surrounded by Bubinga aisles with seating and a stage. Already started on the engine room and trying to figure out what to do with the warehouse section.
 
        Anyway, this is what I have done so far, Hopefully I can stay on track and keep this build going as intended....
 
         Thanks again for looking in and your comments,   Keith
 
 
 
          
 
         

Hi Keith
 
Wow! Looking mighty fine; especially the engine room.
 
Cheers
 
Patrick

Great progress, Keith. I really do like the realisation of the open sides, as you wrote about earlier.

Hi all,
         After finishing the cabin framing I ripped down some more pine and Bubinga for siding , trim and deck. I decided to work from the top down since each section will be removable ( I hope ). After cog noticed the height problem overall, I took a second look and eliminated the top pilothouse, then rebuilt the third story into the wheel house. Thanks cog for the input, it made for a better proportioned look...
 
        The plan now is to finish up exterior details and start on interiors such as theater which will have a carpet insert surrounded by Bubinga aisles with seating and a stage. Already started on the engine room and trying to figure out what to do with the warehouse section.
 
        Anyway, this is what I have done so far, Hopefully I can stay on track and keep this build going as intended....
 
         Thanks again for looking in and your comments,   Keith
 
 
 
          
 
         

Hi all,
         After finishing the cabin framing I ripped down some more pine and Bubinga for siding , trim and deck. I decided to work from the top down since each section will be removable ( I hope ). After cog noticed the height problem overall, I took a second look and eliminated the top pilothouse, then rebuilt the third story into the wheel house. Thanks cog for the input, it made for a better proportioned look...
 
        The plan now is to finish up exterior details and start on interiors such as theater which will have a carpet insert surrounded by Bubinga aisles with seating and a stage. Already started on the engine room and trying to figure out what to do with the warehouse section.
 
        Anyway, this is what I have done so far, Hopefully I can stay on track and keep this build going as intended....
 
         Thanks again for looking in and your comments,   Keith
 
 
 
          
 
         

Hi guys,
             Patrick, I hadn't planned on showing the framing, but I think the window sizes on the second story will allow a view of the frame. I am considering your idea but afraid I would have to do some interior work. Leave it to you to make me do furniture...
 
              Popeye, I plan on a 2 stacker at this point. The plan for the main stairway is to mock up a wall system and laminate the desired curves for a grand staircase. Have done many of these in real life, just not sure if the technique will work on such a small scale. We will see what happens....
 
 
              Yes Mike, my design is based on the idea of a " showboat ".   The fact that I design on the fly usually means anything can change at anytime. But, at this point I'm pushing on with the original idea.....
 
              Today is going to be the make or break day. The rail system will determine where I go from here.
 
  Thanks for the likes and comments guys, I really appreciate you looking in  !
                                                    
                                                                                                                Keith

Hi all,
 
         Almost done with the cabin framing, guess it is time to start the hull. At least I can work on siding the cabins and trim while the hull is clamped up....
    
 
         Thanks for looking in,      Keith
 
 
     

Hi everyone,
                    After seeing all the great paddle boats some folks are building out there, I decided to attempt one myself. Not sure if this build log will help anyone, but I hope it inspires someone to just build what they see in their head. I am a firm believer that the skills we all possess ( being Model Ship Builders ) should allow us to think out of the box and let our imagination run amok.....  Anyway, enough sermonizing....
 
       Once I decided on the scale, I ripped some red oak on the table saw for the perimeter frame of my deck, Then I ran a bunch of southern yellow pine for all the joists and cabin framing. Having spent my 20's and 30's as a custom home framer this project looks like a no-brainer. We shall see...  I guess I am still looking for that masterpiece as I'm sure we all are...
 
       Now for the details so far. The hull will be 36" long by 8" wide ( not sure what style it will be yet ) but at least I know what I want the cabin structure to look like.So started to go ahead and build the walls. At this point, nothing will be attached to the deck so best to plank the deck and work on the cabins separately ( that piece worker mentality again,,,lol ).
        
       As you can see the coping saw sitting there, I also have decided the the only power tool I will use on the boat is the table saw ( why make it easy.... ) Hope you follow long, it could be a wild ride....
 
    Thanks for looking in,  Keith

Hi Piet,
 
            I am giving your diorama an enthusiastic 2 thumbs up. Very nice work....
 
 
        Will be watching for your next project,   
 
 
         Keith

Hi all,
         After finishing the cabin framing I ripped down some more pine and Bubinga for siding , trim and deck. I decided to work from the top down since each section will be removable ( I hope ). After cog noticed the height problem overall, I took a second look and eliminated the top pilothouse, then rebuilt the third story into the wheel house. Thanks cog for the input, it made for a better proportioned look...
 
        The plan now is to finish up exterior details and start on interiors such as theater which will have a carpet insert surrounded by Bubinga aisles with seating and a stage. Already started on the engine room and trying to figure out what to do with the warehouse section.
 
        Anyway, this is what I have done so far, Hopefully I can stay on track and keep this build going as intended....
 
         Thanks again for looking in and your comments,   Keith
 
 
 
          
 
         

Hi Keith,
               I use Aleene's Tacky Glue for all my model applications. Dries clear and has real good initial grab, Available at Walmart. worth a try.....
 
 
 
 
      regards, Keith

Keith,
 
Your a visionary.
 
I still believe a group of leprechauns arrive at night and build whilst you sleep. Would you be having a wee bit of Irish blood?
 
Like whats lurking in that head of yours.