petervisser

Hiya gents and thanks for the warm welcome back. In answer to your question Popeye, there was nothing serious happening to keep me from the workshop. Just an overabundance of work during my last year with the coast guard. We have been short of personnel and I was filling in here and there to help make up the numbers. It was worth it in the end however, and now I can scale it back in a big way and finish my time on leave. Once work ceased in September, my wife and I took some well deserved holidays (road trip to Oregon and a Panama Canal cruise) and I am now settling into semi retirement. I say semi, because I have taken on another job here in Victoria, as launch master aboard our pilot boats here. It is part time relief work so I should manage a decent amount of time in the workshop. I am looking forward to completing the Cutty Sark and there are a number of models on this site that are giving me inspiration. However today is "putting up the X-mas lights" so I better get to it...

Here is a picture of my new rides.

Boy, it's been a while since I last added to this build log. Not much has been happening in the mean time, but I have finally resumed work on the Cutty Sark, all be it slowly. Suffice it to say, it's been a bit hectic and the hobbying was way down on the to-do list. However, I always meant to get back to it and that time has finally arrived.

I resumed work, laying down the deck planking. I am using cherry strips that Lee Valley used to sell and black thread to simulate the chalking and wood glue. It's a slow process which pretty much describes every phase of every process involved in building a model ship.... Initially I was using magnets from Lee Valley to hold down the strips while the glue dried. But they are agressive little suckers and in the end the wood battens and clothes pins proved easier.

Here are a couple of photos of the initial stages...

Hi Dave,

You have started a very interesting build log so far. It has everything. Lots of great photos, good description of your process, and an animal act!

Just wondering where you source all your great looking wood from. I'll follow along, as I have this kit too.

Cheers,

Peter

I built the Billing version years ago, pre-laser. It turned into a very nice model and I can recommend it. You're right in that it has very nice lines, which is why I decided to build it. I opted to change the name of the model and named it after my wife whose first and middle name is Cheryl, Anne. She has been much more tolerant of my subsequent modeling purchases ever since...

Cheers,

Peter

Fantastic model Dan and she looks amazing from every angle. Well done!

Peter

Beautiful planking job Mark, on such a curvy girl, ships being she's and all...

Peter

Hi Mark,

Boy, not much of a breather between models. And we're talking "monsters". Anyhoo, all the best with your new project and I'll happily follow along.

Peter

Congratulations on a very fine ship indeed. Time to splice the main brace, sit back and admire your very fine work!

Peter

Hi Ron and welcome from a guy just a few "houses" over...

I wish you well with this interesting hobby and your new model. I'm sure you'll find it rewarding. I have the Norske Love as well and think you made a wise decision by starting off "easy".

Peter

Hiya Rob,

Welcome to the site from a fellow Victorian. As it happens I am currently building a Billing Cuty Sark. What are the odds?... Anyway, I take it that you'll be building your model in sunnier climes. This happens to be my building season, precisely because of the weather. It keeps me inside out of the rain.

Good luck with your Bluenose. It's a good model to get into the hobby with. If you have questions, just drop me a line.

Peter

Hi JP,

I have built the Billing version of this boat years ago. It is a very shapely vessel and I built it because of its fine lines. And I agree with Robin. It does have a holiday feel. Years ago while surfing the internet, I came across a Japanese ship model website that featured numerous builds of this model. They showed lots of imagination and painted the hull in all sorts of colours. They were awesome!

I named my model after my wife, which was an instant "point getter"!

Have fun with your build!

Peter

Hi Glen,

You have a great looking model so far. I used muslin cloth for the sails on my E'toile, which seemed to me to be a satisfactory weight. It's tough to get a good substitute for canvas at this scale. Muslin cloth is used by seamstresses for pattern templates and is readily available at fabric shops. It has a similar colour to canvas as well. I use it on all my models with sails and it looks and feels ok.

As for another topsail schooner, Billing also produces the Lilla Dan which is still in production I believe. The lines are not as fine as E'toile, but still, it's a nice model. Brigs are a nice substitute to topsail schooners if you're still looking...

Happy modelling!

Peter

Hiya Eric and welcome to the site.

Sounds like you have a good perspective on what you want to achieve and a healthy respect for this intricate hobby. If I can offer one piece of advice, chose a model that appeals to your eye the most. One you could stare at for a good long while when it's complete. Oh, and take your time. I guess that's two pieces of advice...

Anyhow, you're off on the right foot, having found this site. I wish you many happy hours of building!

Peter

Aloha g,

I have built a newer version zeeschouw which Billing produced. There is a build log here on the site. It may not be the same model, but chances are the assembly of the model is similar. Check it out if you like.

https://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/gallery/album/722-zeeschouw-by-petervisser/

Cheers,

Peter

Hi Steve,

Another awesome little project on the go I see. I think it's great that you're resurrecting an old kit that was unappreciated at some point, only to be brought to back to life and given the care and attention it deserves. It's a great little kit and you're going above and beyond in making it a stunner. It will look good and anyone's mantle!

Happy building!

Peter

Looks like model heaven in your shop Keith. Model trains, model planes and of course your beautiful Victory. Living the dream my friend...

Peter

That might have been me...

By trial and error, I tried setting up my drill press so as to drill the holes in the deck to accept the masts. I should point out that the masts on my model are not stepped to the keel as a proper ship. There are simply small blocks of wood glued to the underside of the deck. A Billing design that works and they were installed when I acquired this second hand model.

In a nut shell, I set up the table of the drill press at the correct angle which was taken from Nepean's book concerning the Cutty Sark. I used a digital adjustable square to do so which I picked up at the hardware store for about $35. Then I gingerly clamped the model to the table and positioned it using the laser guide. Then I crossed my fingers, turned on the drill and, you guessed it, drilled.

Here are some pic's of the process. It turned our fairly well, although foremast hole did not go to plan. Hence the toothpick for you eagle eyed observers...

Hi Steve,

Great windlass! And the rest of the deck furniture is looking mighty fine too. I worked from John McKay's book as well and it was a great resource as there was no real internet yet when I built the Bounty. It is possible to write him and order large scale drawings at a reasonable price. I ordered a number of drawings to help me with the rigging. The drawings in the book are a tad small to work from. It won't be long before you get to that stage at the rate you're going!

Happy building!

Peter

Handsome looking tourists Steve.  The one gal going down the companionway looks like a go-er!

Peter

Wow, what a great looking model Scott. I think I just might put this on my "to do" list. Talk about a "full figured girl"!

Peter

Hi Gil,

It's good to see you back modelling. Boats that is....

I did a small sailing yacht myself after the Unicorn, and it was the "funnest" build I ever did. It's refreshing to do a simple kit after a major build and the experience is equally rewarding. Have fun with your Dragon, and I'll follow along.

Cheers,

Peter

Hi Steve,

You're making a middle aged guy like me feel old when you refer to the 1984 film Mutiny on the Bounty, as old and original. The actual original film was made in 1935, and starred Charles Laughton and Clarke Gable. The second film Mutiny on the Bounty was made in 1962, and starred Trevor Howard and Marlon Brando. The last film Mutiny on the Bounty was made in 1984.

Heck of a story though.

Peter

Hi Steve,

Nice job on the cannons, even though they're wood...

Peter

Hi Steve,

I'm not a slave to scale, but the bits and pieces have to look the part. The guns the Bounty carried were 4 pounders. More for "bark" than for "bite" really. The shot they fired were about the size of a tennis ball. That said, the Caldercraft cannon look a tad large to my eyes. Especially when you show one of them positioned at one of the gun ports. I vote for the Billing guns, since you're asking. As for the plastic bits, I'm not adverse to that either. A coat of suitably coloured paint hides the material from the squeamish... The Billing gun barrels are also more pleasing, to my eyes anyway.

Peter

Hi Popeye,

I bought this model from Kip (Sawdust) a few years ago for $200. I know it sounds like alot, but he also threw in Longridge's book and a set of Campbell drawings. He purchased the kit which was in the very early stages of construction from a former neighbour for two bottles of wine. Hey, wait a minute, maybe I did pay too much! But not really. When I think of the many many happy hours I will spend putting this kit together means that the money was well spent. And it keeps me off the streets...

Peter