reklein

To Druxey: Oh yes, I use individually laid strips on all places with planking for many years. I like this clean work with self-adhesive foils that imitate wooden grain. 

Today I finished the last deck and now I am working on quarter galerries. It is really difficult task, but I believe in a nice result. In the pics bellow I tried to imitate the possible view of quarter gallery I would like to achieve.

Dear friends, 
I am pleased you like my work on RK. 
To achieve the satin tan color of the planking I use Tamiya acrylic colours - matt shades of brown, white and black.... strongly thinned by original acrylic thinner and paint retarder (both Tamiya). I apply a very thin layer of color and after drying I overspray the surface using flat clear varnish TS-80 also from Tamiya.
 
Now I am finishing with decks planking:

…Now sorted a space in the garage so things are looking up but still too cold in there.
Last time I mentioned I had cut the rabbet so here is a picture. Note also the ply pieces for captivating the mounting nuts and the temporary M3 studding with saw cut (thanks SpyGlass)
 

 
I’ve been quiet for a while but I have been busy doing a lot of plank testing over the last few weeks for the decking.
The tests I did:
Material - supplied Tanganyika (0.5 x 3mm) vs Boxwood (0.6 x 3.4mm)
Caulking - pencil vs permanent marker vs 0.05mm (0.002”) gap
Treenails - None vs drilled (with pencil) vs drilled (with Hobbylite filler)
Treenail size - 0.3mm (3\4”) vs 0.35mm (7/8”) vs 0.4mm (1”)
Finish - Scraping vs sanding vs synthetic wire wool
Varnish - Polyurethane vs Acrylic
 
Here are just a few of the samples

 

 
It took me ages to decide on which one to go for. Here is my final choice and reasoning:
Material - Although I like the look of the Tanganyika , I’ve decided on the boxwood as its harder and easier to cut cleanly without splintering, which maybe important if I try a bit of scarfing. Also the boxwood stock I have has nice smooth edges and give better caulking lines.
 
Caulking - The marker pen was too black and bled into the end cuts. I know I could seal the ends 1st but didn’t fancy the extra work. The 0.5mm gap looked the best but trying to maintain a uniform gap between every single joint would be too much. So I’m going for the 2B pencil on both side of each join.
 
Treenails - I’ve decided not to do any on this build as none of my attempts on the samples were consistent enough so therefore I wasn’t happy with the results. I will probably do treenails on a future model but I need to play around with using actual treenails and different fillers.
 
Varnish/Finish - The boxwood I have is pretty consistent thickness wise so I may not need to scrape or sand. I don’t know if anyone else has had this issue but the Acrylic varnish seemed to make the pencil dust bleed into the wood grain (below right) so I’ve opted for the matt polyurethane varnish (Nelsons) which does actually give more of a satin finish so I will follow with a light rub down with very fine synthetic wire wool to remove the shine (below left).
 

 
Decision made.
 
I have also added the infill pieces and additionally added balsa between the fore and aft bulkheads as others have done.
 
Pinned and roughed out

 
 

 
Glued in together with additional balsa

 
Now needs sanding but didn’t fancy going into the cold garage so looked for something else to do and decided to do the capstans.

Instructions say use 8mm dowel but 10mm should be used to match the laser cut parts. I’ve deviated slightly from the instructions and referred to the FFM books which show the lower Capstan with 5 whelps and the upper capstan with 6. Not sure if this is correct for the Fly but decided to go with it. The whelps seemed too thin and out of scale so I thickened them up a bit with some strip (didn’t fancy making from scratch)

 
 
Next I marked the whelp positions on the dowel.
That maths lesson did come in handy after all  - PI x 10 / 5 for the lower one.
 

 

 

 
Added 2 sets of cross pieces (in TFFM book but not in instructions). Top ones are convex and bottom one should be concave but I settled for straight.
 

 
The FFM book show an inset metal ring on the top but my attempt using card wasn’t good enough so I decided to remove them.
 
With

 
After removal and repaint

 
 
I intend to add the capstan partners and pawls after planking as shown in the FFM books and yes I have checked the beam height for the lower capstan and we’re ok for clearance.
Next job is the bulkhead fairing and planking the small area that is visible from above through the fore hatch (with ladder)
 

This is the first I've looked in on this thread. I'm GOBSMACKED ! !. Incomparable modeling. You've take model building to a new height. Can't say enough. Thank you for your contribution.

Looking at this made me wonder at first where North Africans got their wood? Then I remembered that one of the things they wanted for their  ransom payments was timber from North America. I suppose they traded with other European countries in the same way. Beautiful work Nils. Where do you get your motivation?

Noted riverboat modeler Glenn Hensley - 1919-2018 – passed away recently and was buried with full military honors on February 16 at Jefferson Barracks, MO.  Glenn was a WWII Combat Photographer in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations.
Several of Glenn’s riverboat models are exhibited at the University of Missouri-St. Louis' Mercantile Library.  His models also reside in the Smithsonian Institution and Mystic Seaport Museum.

It was reported by the St. Louis Admirals R/C Model Boat Club Commodore Jane Benefield, that Glenn was laid to rest down by the river under the shade of trees.
Glenn had been a member of the St. Louis Admirals R/C Model Boat Club for many years but had not been active for several years.
I had the opportunity to get to know Glenn back in the 80's and to see his models prior to their going into the Mercantile Library and after they were moved there into very nice settings.  If you are in St. Louis and interested in riverboats the Mercantile Library has many models as well as extensive research materials on just about everything you might want to know about riverboats. 
Kurt

Looking at this made me wonder at first where North Africans got their wood? Then I remembered that one of the things they wanted for their  ransom payments was timber from North America. I suppose they traded with other European countries in the same way. Beautiful work Nils. Where do you get your motivation?

Looking at this made me wonder at first where North Africans got their wood? Then I remembered that one of the things they wanted for their  ransom payments was timber from North America. I suppose they traded with other European countries in the same way. Beautiful work Nils. Where do you get your motivation?

Looking at this made me wonder at first where North Africans got their wood? Then I remembered that one of the things they wanted for their  ransom payments was timber from North America. I suppose they traded with other European countries in the same way. Beautiful work Nils. Where do you get your motivation?

Looking at this made me wonder at first where North Africans got their wood? Then I remembered that one of the things they wanted for their  ransom payments was timber from North America. I suppose they traded with other European countries in the same way. Beautiful work Nils. Where do you get your motivation?

I love it, I love it I LOOOOOOVE IT.  Nice touch with the sheik standing in the doorway inviting us down for a feast.  Talking about a feast, your work is a feast to the eye.
 
Cheers,

I have mulled this over from time to time and especially of late with the Atlantis I am finishing for a client. If you follow the thread on this model under RC models you will see it isn't a terribly complex model but has required some "yankee ingenuity" and lots of time. I am only doing it because I really like the people I am working for. Its certainly not the money as I think when it is done I will have earned about $3/hr!
 
Now here is the other end of the spectrum. I know of 2 professional modelers and one has told me his commissions for the museum quality models he turns out range in the 10's of thousands. His clients are business owners and private collectors of means. He is well known to many of us and has been doing this since I first met him in the early 80's. I have to assume he has continued to do so because he can support himself. But those pay checks are such a long way in between.
 
Create these models for the love of it, not the money! Just my opinion.
 
 
Joe

Hi Mates,
 Andre: Thanks – much appreciated – it has been a challenge getting a Vasa sort of looking correct.
 
 Ferit: Well the time that it has taken to almost finish this build I would imagine that some children have become teenagers.
Some builders whom I happily follow have completed three amazing ships in the time it has taken me to do this one – that is still not finished. Thanks so much for following along since I joined as well as some excellent advice that you have offered.
 Zappto:  thanks for your very nice thoughts
 
 Denis: Thanks, Yes, I am very happy with how the base came-out. Also thanks for your continued support.
 
All of the outer lines and pin rails have been installed and looped with coils. Now focusing on the last bits of the weather deck rigging. The “inner” bits that attach to knighthead rails.
 
PS: The mainmast rail is MUCH to close to the mast. My mistake I did not consider the stern leaning angle of the main mast. Still badly placed. Grrr. Installed - way back -before I new very much. 
 
Well these last ropes are challenging indeed. These fiddly bits are very hard to reach and “set” without disturbing/stretching already pre- attached and glued lines. Not a complaint – but it’s slow going - as you all know rigging is.
Foremast ropes will be easier to get to. 
 
Thanks for the likes & just dropping by…..
 
A few more pics.
 
Regards,
 

According to F Kershner, Shapeways now makes a carronade for the Syren in 1/64. $12.50 for 8. His pics looked good.

'Oronsay' cruising off Alaska with orcas 
11" X 9"
Jim

Based on Blakley Saw Mills Near Seatle On Puget Sound
acrylic 30 X 11 inches.
jim

Barrels are painted (mid grey) and fitted. I made some Boots for the barrels from manilla folder. It took a couple of tries to get the right shape :



 
Fitted to the barrels. I'm happy :


 
I painted them a shade of olive brown :

 
Ready to fit to the deck :

 
  Danny

here you go. sadly, it's the only photo I have:
 

 
I remember, the worst thing while building it was cutting all of the gluing flaps. there were thousands of little triangles to be cut out. it was such a mind numbing job, I could actually watch a movie while doing it on auto pilot. something like treenailing a 3d model...  and yes, front mudflap is turned backwards...

Hello
Albert, Carl, Nils, Paul, Micheal,
thank you for always checking my report, and all others for the LIKES too.
The guide blocks are now on the model at the place at the main mast and the foremast.
Here are a few pictures.
Before I work on the standing rigging, I have to make a few blocks for the backstays. These are fixed on the channels.

@JOUFF
@cog
Thanks for the kind words.
 
It continues with the construction of the steering gear.
The previous version was also not satisfactory.

Here I show the trial assembly. Only when it can be ensured that everything fits, then the steering gear comes on the ship model.

 

Bill,
 
All of us I consider it the MSW crank Club all over 55 I hit 70 in a couple weeks, I got cranky when my bank called me when I turned 55 and said I am eligible for senior citizen silver checking, and when I entered a restaurant or store back then and they said your eligible for a seniors discount.
 
I'd show my righteous indignation I'm not a senior I'll pay full price. Stayed cranky ever after but now I enjoy receiving those perks even 10 bucks off my 5th hair cut.
I'll exempt you just do not look like you could ever be cranky.

WHO you calling old an cranky John??

WHO you calling old an cranky John??

The guns and the railings are in. Actually I have 2 railings left to glue but I feel like caca so I stopped for now. 

Hakan,
 
the clinker planking looks great, I love the bow view in the second last picture....
 
Nils