aliluke

Hi Brian

The kit itself is less than half the total material cost if you want to do it justice. Welcome to our madness!

That said there are a lot of "out of the box" AVS's that look perfectly fine. It is about how much you feel you need to improve it and which improvements really count. Ropes and blocks get a big tick as does the decking. Aside from that the kit serves very well in all its bits.

With your after market parts you'll make a great model. I enjoy looking at mine every day! And I'll enjoy seeing yours come about.

Thanks Chuck

Hear what you are saying. I can get access to a laser cutter but I'm kind of opposed, in my own workshop, to anything except hand tools (well it is my wife that is...). That said, getting a scroll saw seems to be about a base line for scratch building so I may have to invest and hide it somewhere. Then there's the drill press...and...

Good to see the prospect is filled out with turned gunnades. However you furnish it and package it, it is looking really tempting. I'll wait for your decisions on that and just keep watching for the time being.

Thanks

Hi Dave

Just found your log and looked through it. Fantastic work - I don't have a patch on you! Now that I've penned in I will follow.

That looks seriously good. With your access to plywood and a laser cutter will you be offering pre-cut bulkheads and a centre keel with the plans as part of a package? I realise that heads you towards a full kit supply as I'd guess gun, rope and blocks from you could be packaged in as well. I'd certainly be interested in a bigger package combined with Jeff Hayes timbers. But that might be an expansion path that you don't want to go down...

In any case looking forward to more as this unfolds!

That is looking great Joe. Working the strakes to that extent is well worth the effort. Fantastic work.

Yep she is a well made kit. Mine was plywood rather than MDF and I had some warping issues but once they were corrected she fit together like a glove. You are looking good - racing along. Keep enjoying!

I'm another who has been looking forward to this one. Seems like we won't have to wait long for progress. Great!

It looks superb to my eye Bob. Not sure you need that grumpy face if I'd made those head works I'd .

Very nice work. The rudder looks spot on. A very clever idea for bending the stern decoration - I wish I'd thought of that!

Hi Mike

Wow that is seriously nice work. We all know how hard some of these wee parts are. You have done an amazing job. The interior of the stern is a stand out. Thanks for sharing and I look forward to more.

Smart work there Brian. Similar to what I did but you are probably more thorough than I was. You are on your way to a very good hull foundation.

Superb work on those anchors. That is dedication to craft and art of the highest order!

Brian

All that is typical of this kit. You just have to gently work each piece for a fit. All the char should be removed and then you shape, shim and fair until you get the right flow for the planking. It is common to many kits and particularly common for this one. Even the Amati/Victory models are not perfect in this respect but are better than most. You just have to suck it up and work those pieces. It'll be fine if you take your time.

P.S Russ jumped in while I was posting. Sure get another set from ME but I doubt it will make any difference. You just have to work it. Make sure you get these parts resolved - the entire model depends on its frame. I went back and forth on this stuff but when you get there it works...Yes, a good laser cutter with good plans would be nice but I think ME might be a bit lazy in this department. Just work it and you'll be fine.

Very nice work on the rigging Ken. You are on the home straight now.

Worth the wait in my opinion!!

Hi Brian

I get all my replacement timber strips from Jeff Hayes at Hobbymill. A great guy to deal with and a great product.

Hi Brian

I used the kit supplied deadeyes and eyes but replaced all the other blocks. If Chuck's blocks had been around at the time I would have used them but I got mine from Warner Woods West.

I used the kit supplied false deck but replaced the decking with "Japanese Cedar" which I found in a local hobby shop. It is very similar to holly. I definitely would not use the kit supplied decking as it is too soft and furry. However I can't see any reason to replace the false deck plywood.

Hope that helps.

Great planking Frank. A sweet hull is in your hands.

As always I look forward to another AVS build. She is a beauty and she builds into a fantastic model. I had no real problems with the kit at all except for the usual adjustments. Enjoy it!

Hi Bill

The few wales I've done are layered over the planking rather than being thicker planks. It is more correct for them to be thick planks but it is very hard to do this and my results with overlaying have always worked out just fine. Depending on your finishes - paint or natural - setting the curve of overlaid wales is important. If you are painting  - who cares (see my AVS log)? If leaving natural you do need to care (see my Fly log).

Hi Bill

Good to see you back again!

I agree with Harvey but I'm not so sure about your ship, as in I don't know it or know the kit. Is it designed as a single planked hull? If it is, I reckon the main issues, as Harvey suggests, will be at the stem, keel and stern post. I'd be less worried about the thickness of the hull. You can control this.

That said, if it is a single plank designed kit I'd tend to stick with that. I'd rather turn a double-planked design into a single than the other way around. There are all sorts of issues that might bite you later. For a first up I'd stick with the kit as designed.

That must be a relief - well done. Now the fun part - planking!

Very, very nice Vitus. I'm not looking forward to these parts and that is an admirable lead.

Hi Mike

This is very passionate work. I guess these are trials...bulkhead extension 6 is removed from my memory, bulkhead 5 might go as well - can't remember. Anyway I enjoy your commitment to paint without paint and I'm very intrigued to see how your approach unfolds. Paint is my friend for this complex build!

Superb work. Will be looking back at your head works when my turn to make them comes = very soon .