aliluke

Good luck on your journey , and have a Happy New Year, all the best my friend.  

I have made a small start on the trabaccola by Maris Stella. Also known as a a trabakul, it is a coastal trading ship from the Adriatic - specifically Croatia. Maris Stella are based in Split, Croatia and I bought the kit directly from them. The support  from Zoran at Maris Stella has already been amazing.
 
I chose this ship for its likeable and unusual shape and for being, well, different. Plus being a freighter there are no cannons - yay! It is also a ship type rather than a specific vessel so I can paint it whatever colour I like and they came in many colours. There are existing trabakul, so plenty of photos online. The kit set looks beautifully made and comes with pre-sewn sails - whether I install these remains to be seen. Its not a common subject here with one log for the kit by Don Robinson, who did an amazing job, and one scratch build by Mfelinger (Matija from Croatia). There are lots of photos of the real thing on Matija's log. At 1/32 it is a large scale and a big model at 876mm long. It has plenty of challenges including a fully lined interior and single planking for a very bluff, rounded bow and stern. Nothing is as normal...
 
To start, I examined the need for building the ships boat from a balsa wood plug which you have to carve. I was not really up for that, so I bought a Quay Craft resin 1/32 boat through Cornwall Models. It is almost exactly the same size as the kit version but with a slightly different seat configuration. It is also clinker built which I like. The Quay Craft kit comes with a huge number of parts i.e. four - one hull and three seats. The casting is a bit rough but cleaned up okay. You detect more roughness when you paint and it is hard to get a really good finish and even lines. I added oars, a rudder and bolts. I'll also add an anchor and rope at some point. I like to start with a smaller kit part to get my head around the scale and this is really big! It also gives me a chance to play with my basic colour scheme which will deviate from the box lid. In my case a pale blue grey with very dark blue trims but mostly natural timber (the boat seats and floor is just painted resin made to look like timber).
 
I haven't given up on HMS Fly - I just got bored with it for the time being.
 
 
The box - big!

Inside the box - there are plenty of descriptions of content on the Maris Stella website.

Inside the box 

The plug for the boat - no thanks...

The Quay Craft alternative - more or less completed.



Size comparison with the Vanguard Models launch and pinnace at 1/64.

I have made a small start on the trabaccola by Maris Stella. Also known as a a trabakul, it is a coastal trading ship from the Adriatic - specifically Croatia. Maris Stella are based in Split, Croatia and I bought the kit directly from them. The support  from Zoran at Maris Stella has already been amazing.
 
I chose this ship for its likeable and unusual shape and for being, well, different. Plus being a freighter there are no cannons - yay! It is also a ship type rather than a specific vessel so I can paint it whatever colour I like and they came in many colours. There are existing trabakul, so plenty of photos online. The kit set looks beautifully made and comes with pre-sewn sails - whether I install these remains to be seen. Its not a common subject here with one log for the kit by Don Robinson, who did an amazing job, and one scratch build by Mfelinger (Matija from Croatia). There are lots of photos of the real thing on Matija's log. At 1/32 it is a large scale and a big model at 876mm long. It has plenty of challenges including a fully lined interior and single planking for a very bluff, rounded bow and stern. Nothing is as normal...
 
To start, I examined the need for building the ships boat from a balsa wood plug which you have to carve. I was not really up for that, so I bought a Quay Craft resin 1/32 boat through Cornwall Models. It is almost exactly the same size as the kit version but with a slightly different seat configuration. It is also clinker built which I like. The Quay Craft kit comes with a huge number of parts i.e. four - one hull and three seats. The casting is a bit rough but cleaned up okay. You detect more roughness when you paint and it is hard to get a really good finish and even lines. I added oars, a rudder and bolts. I'll also add an anchor and rope at some point. I like to start with a smaller kit part to get my head around the scale and this is really big! It also gives me a chance to play with my basic colour scheme which will deviate from the box lid. In my case a pale blue grey with very dark blue trims but mostly natural timber (the boat seats and floor is just painted resin made to look like timber).
 
I haven't given up on HMS Fly - I just got bored with it for the time being.
 
 
The box - big!

Inside the box - there are plenty of descriptions of content on the Maris Stella website.

Inside the box 

The plug for the boat - no thanks...

The Quay Craft alternative - more or less completed.



Size comparison with the Vanguard Models launch and pinnace at 1/64.

I have made a small start on the trabaccola by Maris Stella. Also known as a a trabakul, it is a coastal trading ship from the Adriatic - specifically Croatia. Maris Stella are based in Split, Croatia and I bought the kit directly from them. The support  from Zoran at Maris Stella has already been amazing.
 
I chose this ship for its likeable and unusual shape and for being, well, different. Plus being a freighter there are no cannons - yay! It is also a ship type rather than a specific vessel so I can paint it whatever colour I like and they came in many colours. There are existing trabakul, so plenty of photos online. The kit set looks beautifully made and comes with pre-sewn sails - whether I install these remains to be seen. Its not a common subject here with one log for the kit by Don Robinson, who did an amazing job, and one scratch build by Mfelinger (Matija from Croatia). There are lots of photos of the real thing on Matija's log. At 1/32 it is a large scale and a big model at 876mm long. It has plenty of challenges including a fully lined interior and single planking for a very bluff, rounded bow and stern. Nothing is as normal...
 
To start, I examined the need for building the ships boat from a balsa wood plug which you have to carve. I was not really up for that, so I bought a Quay Craft resin 1/32 boat through Cornwall Models. It is almost exactly the same size as the kit version but with a slightly different seat configuration. It is also clinker built which I like. The Quay Craft kit comes with a huge number of parts i.e. four - one hull and three seats. The casting is a bit rough but cleaned up okay. You detect more roughness when you paint and it is hard to get a really good finish and even lines. I added oars, a rudder and bolts. I'll also add an anchor and rope at some point. I like to start with a smaller kit part to get my head around the scale and this is really big! It also gives me a chance to play with my basic colour scheme which will deviate from the box lid. In my case a pale blue grey with very dark blue trims but mostly natural timber (the boat seats and floor is just painted resin made to look like timber).
 
I haven't given up on HMS Fly - I just got bored with it for the time being.
 
 
The box - big!

Inside the box - there are plenty of descriptions of content on the Maris Stella website.

Inside the box 

The plug for the boat - no thanks...

The Quay Craft alternative - more or less completed.



Size comparison with the Vanguard Models launch and pinnace at 1/64.

I have made a small start on the trabaccola by Maris Stella. Also known as a a trabakul, it is a coastal trading ship from the Adriatic - specifically Croatia. Maris Stella are based in Split, Croatia and I bought the kit directly from them. The support  from Zoran at Maris Stella has already been amazing.
 
I chose this ship for its likeable and unusual shape and for being, well, different. Plus being a freighter there are no cannons - yay! It is also a ship type rather than a specific vessel so I can paint it whatever colour I like and they came in many colours. There are existing trabakul, so plenty of photos online. The kit set looks beautifully made and comes with pre-sewn sails - whether I install these remains to be seen. Its not a common subject here with one log for the kit by Don Robinson, who did an amazing job, and one scratch build by Mfelinger (Matija from Croatia). There are lots of photos of the real thing on Matija's log. At 1/32 it is a large scale and a big model at 876mm long. It has plenty of challenges including a fully lined interior and single planking for a very bluff, rounded bow and stern. Nothing is as normal...
 
To start, I examined the need for building the ships boat from a balsa wood plug which you have to carve. I was not really up for that, so I bought a Quay Craft resin 1/32 boat through Cornwall Models. It is almost exactly the same size as the kit version but with a slightly different seat configuration. It is also clinker built which I like. The Quay Craft kit comes with a huge number of parts i.e. four - one hull and three seats. The casting is a bit rough but cleaned up okay. You detect more roughness when you paint and it is hard to get a really good finish and even lines. I added oars, a rudder and bolts. I'll also add an anchor and rope at some point. I like to start with a smaller kit part to get my head around the scale and this is really big! It also gives me a chance to play with my basic colour scheme which will deviate from the box lid. In my case a pale blue grey with very dark blue trims but mostly natural timber (the boat seats and floor is just painted resin made to look like timber).
 
I haven't given up on HMS Fly - I just got bored with it for the time being.
 
 
The box - big!

Inside the box - there are plenty of descriptions of content on the Maris Stella website.

Inside the box 

The plug for the boat - no thanks...

The Quay Craft alternative - more or less completed.



Size comparison with the Vanguard Models launch and pinnace at 1/64.

I have made a small start on the trabaccola by Maris Stella. Also known as a a trabakul, it is a coastal trading ship from the Adriatic - specifically Croatia. Maris Stella are based in Split, Croatia and I bought the kit directly from them. The support  from Zoran at Maris Stella has already been amazing.
 
I chose this ship for its likeable and unusual shape and for being, well, different. Plus being a freighter there are no cannons - yay! It is also a ship type rather than a specific vessel so I can paint it whatever colour I like and they came in many colours. There are existing trabakul, so plenty of photos online. The kit set looks beautifully made and comes with pre-sewn sails - whether I install these remains to be seen. Its not a common subject here with one log for the kit by Don Robinson, who did an amazing job, and one scratch build by Mfelinger (Matija from Croatia). There are lots of photos of the real thing on Matija's log. At 1/32 it is a large scale and a big model at 876mm long. It has plenty of challenges including a fully lined interior and single planking for a very bluff, rounded bow and stern. Nothing is as normal...
 
To start, I examined the need for building the ships boat from a balsa wood plug which you have to carve. I was not really up for that, so I bought a Quay Craft resin 1/32 boat through Cornwall Models. It is almost exactly the same size as the kit version but with a slightly different seat configuration. It is also clinker built which I like. The Quay Craft kit comes with a huge number of parts i.e. four - one hull and three seats. The casting is a bit rough but cleaned up okay. You detect more roughness when you paint and it is hard to get a really good finish and even lines. I added oars, a rudder and bolts. I'll also add an anchor and rope at some point. I like to start with a smaller kit part to get my head around the scale and this is really big! It also gives me a chance to play with my basic colour scheme which will deviate from the box lid. In my case a pale blue grey with very dark blue trims but mostly natural timber (the boat seats and floor is just painted resin made to look like timber).
 
I haven't given up on HMS Fly - I just got bored with it for the time being.
 
 
The box - big!

Inside the box - there are plenty of descriptions of content on the Maris Stella website.

Inside the box 

The plug for the boat - no thanks...

The Quay Craft alternative - more or less completed.



Size comparison with the Vanguard Models launch and pinnace at 1/64.

I have made a small start on the trabaccola by Maris Stella. Also known as a a trabakul, it is a coastal trading ship from the Adriatic - specifically Croatia. Maris Stella are based in Split, Croatia and I bought the kit directly from them. The support  from Zoran at Maris Stella has already been amazing.
 
I chose this ship for its likeable and unusual shape and for being, well, different. Plus being a freighter there are no cannons - yay! It is also a ship type rather than a specific vessel so I can paint it whatever colour I like and they came in many colours. There are existing trabakul, so plenty of photos online. The kit set looks beautifully made and comes with pre-sewn sails - whether I install these remains to be seen. Its not a common subject here with one log for the kit by Don Robinson, who did an amazing job, and one scratch build by Mfelinger (Matija from Croatia). There are lots of photos of the real thing on Matija's log. At 1/32 it is a large scale and a big model at 876mm long. It has plenty of challenges including a fully lined interior and single planking for a very bluff, rounded bow and stern. Nothing is as normal...
 
To start, I examined the need for building the ships boat from a balsa wood plug which you have to carve. I was not really up for that, so I bought a Quay Craft resin 1/32 boat through Cornwall Models. It is almost exactly the same size as the kit version but with a slightly different seat configuration. It is also clinker built which I like. The Quay Craft kit comes with a huge number of parts i.e. four - one hull and three seats. The casting is a bit rough but cleaned up okay. You detect more roughness when you paint and it is hard to get a really good finish and even lines. I added oars, a rudder and bolts. I'll also add an anchor and rope at some point. I like to start with a smaller kit part to get my head around the scale and this is really big! It also gives me a chance to play with my basic colour scheme which will deviate from the box lid. In my case a pale blue grey with very dark blue trims but mostly natural timber (the boat seats and floor is just painted resin made to look like timber).
 
I haven't given up on HMS Fly - I just got bored with it for the time being.
 
 
The box - big!

Inside the box - there are plenty of descriptions of content on the Maris Stella website.

Inside the box 

The plug for the boat - no thanks...

The Quay Craft alternative - more or less completed.



Size comparison with the Vanguard Models launch and pinnace at 1/64.

Keen to watch this one. MK has long been on my list of intriguing kits. 17 years though...not sure if I have that many left in the tank.😁

Keen to watch this one. MK has long been on my list of intriguing kits. 17 years though...not sure if I have that many left in the tank.😁

Post One Hundred and Twenty-four
 
Back to the Bow
 … and several things to attend to.
 Areas of paintwork that I needed to tidy up particularly around the mouldings.
 This is a tiresome task with touch-ins on touch ins, ad nauseum.

1684a
The Decoration is added to the Trail boards
 
Fit of the Figure/ Bowsprit.
Left naturally the stive of the Bowsprit was insufficient to clear the top of the figure.
Whether this is specific to my build due to moving the Bowsprit stop aft to its proper position between the foc’sle bitts, I don’t know, but we are where we are.

1667a

1673b
I didn’t wish to change the figure so a little inventive jiggery pokery was required on the Bowsprit.

1654a
The heel of the Bowsprit is visible below the Foc’sle deck, and the aim is to fool the eye of the observer.

1673a
I intend to fit stump masts; for these I use Ramin my favourite dowel type. Light in colour, it provides an excellent match to Boxwood and other light wood types.
 

1685a
My only use for Walnut is for yards where the colouring is black. I’ve probably got several lifetimes worth of walnut dowel in my wood stock.

8778
Not that I have an interest in yards on this build, but the stump masts will be kitted out with those fittings applicable, as shown here on my Sphinx build.
 
B.E.
30/12/2023

 
 

Keen to watch this one. MK has long been on my list of intriguing kits. 17 years though...not sure if I have that many left in the tank.😁

Brilliant! Congratulations!

Keen to watch this one. MK has long been on my list of intriguing kits. 17 years though...not sure if I have that many left in the tank.😁

Keen to watch this one. MK has long been on my list of intriguing kits. 17 years though...not sure if I have that many left in the tank.😁

Brilliant! Congratulations!

Post One hundred and Twenty-three
 
Naming the ship.
The kit provides a water-slide decal for the name with a spare just in case you mess it up.

001
An issue for me is that the lettering colour, fine for the kit indicated scheme, is a little bright for my scheme.
I decided to create my own version on word incorporating a curve to match the counter.
I chose Baskerville old face at 36pts which equates with the kit provided version.

3155a

3155b
I created two types as above.

3153
The solid background version was tested for fit on the model.
The background match to the stern paint looks pretty good to my eye.
 
Previously I have used Letraset dry rub transfers, a method I like, but I can’t seem to find the correct size or font in this medium.
Maybe just as well, with a name of thirteen letters, accurate positioning could prove a trial.
 
I have decided to go old school and use the printed version applied over the counter.
I did this for Sphinx, after Chuck’s ‘Winnie’ build, and that turned out well.

3160
The print was sprayed with fixative before cutting out using a template from the plan.

3170
I used spray mount applied to the back of the cut-out to fix into place.
 

3163
I think I could have imparted slightly more curve to the first and last two letters but overall, I like the look.

3168
The important thing is that I have proven the system to myself, and I can re-visit at any time.
 
B.E.
28/12/2023
 
 
 

Thank you guys for all the likes and good feedback!
 
Gregory the wood is Holly.  My aim is to make a white "bone-like" ship.  As Aliluke says. 
 
But in my rush to move on to the next step, finally, I flew too high and messed up.  I was sanding juuuuust a little more...
 
and sanded through the stern planking.  Its the dark smudge midway up the stern planking right where it inserts onto the sternpost.

I couldn't leave it this way so I attempted some fixes.  First, I tried painting it.  Holly is white, so maybe I could hide it with white/yellow paint.  Here I put a first layer of primer on and it looked awful. 

I also worried that even if I could get a good match the holly would yellow over time and make the paint more obvious.
 
My buddy Jason (JLong) who was over last weekend wondered about a covering patch made of white glue and holly sawdust, but based on how bad the paint looked I didn't think this would work either.
 
Next I tried cutting a semi-circular patch with one of my chisels.  I couldn't get a tight fit and gave that up too.

Then I tried a butt-joint repair on a scrap of holly.  Thats the slightly "V" shaped piece of wood above the semicircular patch above.  I found a butt joint was still visible but a mitered butt joint became almost invisible (below).

So maybe a save.  I cut out the sanded-through section.  Notice this forms a wedge/trapezoid shape, not a nice rectangle.  You can't easily tell but the top portion and to a lesser extent the bottom of the trapezoid piece is curved, not straight.

I made my patch but couldn't get a tight it on all 4 sides.  Make one side fit and it changed the other 3 sides.  I especially couldn't form a tight butt/miter so the patch stood out.  Which is exactly what I didn't want.

So. 
 
Nothing for it but tear out the entire plank.  The plank above it was also pretty thin, and I figured I'd sand through it while leveling the replacement plank, so it went too.

Above pic I had removed the 2 old planks and roughly shaped the replacements.  These were slowly sanded down until they fit as best I was able.
 
Then I glued first the top plank, then after it dried final fitted the lower plank and glued it in.  Here they are after the clamps came off.  The blue tape is to minimize glue squeezeout.

And here they are after sanding.

I need to make the repaired sternpost/plank junction a slight amount wider so it matches better, but otherwise I call that good enough.
 
So a long entry to get exactly back to where I started
 
have a great Week between Christmas and New Years.   Don't oversand like I did
 
Cisco

Post One Hundred and Twenty
 
Lights and Frames
I always view this job with a degree of trepidation.
I started by using ‘Future’ (now Klear)
Applied with a brush to the glazing surface the frame was placed on top and allowed to set. Once dry a bead of Future was painted around the reverse edge.
 
I had mixed success with this.
 
The Qtr gallery lights were more stubborn and I resorted to applying tiny spots of odourless ca to the back of the frame, and carefully placing the glazing.

3095
I removed the protective covering from the front side, and partly peeled the aft side which I used to hold the glazing for positioning. This ideally needs to be done as a one-shot effort, to reduce the risk of ca spread.
 
I did have to replace the glazing on several lights due to marring, cut from the glazing fret.
 
Fitting the frame/glaze combo by comparison is easy, the merest pass along the edges with a file, and they do indeed ‘pop into place.’
 
I started with the Qtr lights, and once they’re fitted it makes a significant difference to the look. This is Chris’s best Qtr Gallery innovation to date, the seat of ease is clearly visible and with the Gallery door left open the light flows thro’ enhancing the realism.

3103

3105
Addition of the fluted pillars completes the effect.
 
For the stern I opted to have only two of the sashes open as  per Jim’s prototype build, I thought this gave the  most balanced and aesthetically pleasing effect.

3101
All the stern light glazing pieces were attached to the frames using ‘Future’ prior to fitting. The Upper sash frames were attached to the frames using odourless ca.

1620a
Onto the decoration.
 
B.E.
22/12/2023

 

Superb!

Grecian is finished and in her display case. Rope coils fitted. A few final pics. 

The case is from DSC Showcases who if you’re in the UK I highly recommend. I have one of their cases for Alert. Despite being handmade from wood and glass they’re much cheaper than the acrylic alternatives. 
 
DSC usually make the cases bespoke, but in this case they had this one already made and offered it at a big discount so I bought it. It’s the perfect length, but with hindsight a bit too wide and a bit too tall. Grecian looks a little lost in it, partly due to that huge bowsprit. I suspect that when I eventually build Sphinx I’ll eventually put her in it, her overall dimensions are similar but she’d fill the case better. 
 
I’ll probably need some anti-UV film on the case or window to protect against fading. 
 
Thanks again for all the advice, encouragement and support on this log, it’s been invaluable! Thanks to Vanguard for yet another wonderful, extremely high quality kit. 

Got a little more work done on the longboat since my last post.  Finished up the seats in the cockpit along with the locker.  Also got all of the knees installed along with the windlass and handles.  I also installed the oar holder pins and eye let rings for lifting the boat in and out of the water.
 
After a little break, I began work on the rudder.  I still have to get the top gudgeon installed and painted on the rudder, then I can install the pintles on the transom and stern post and hang the rudder.  
 
I also made the display base for the longboat.  The boat is not yet permanently attached to the base, I will do that just before I install the masts and rig the boat.

Hi Bob
Key point, you're enjoying yourself!!! That's all that counts! I enjoy your log for you having a laugh, at times, at yourself, and always look forward to your posts. 
 
You asked me to be free about pointing out errors - these are for future reference rather than change what is now:
- Your anchor stocks are the wrong way around. The tapered sides should face the flukes, the straight side should be on top. Yours are the other way around.
- The Amati anchors have the wood grain running in the wrong direction on the stocks. It should be along the stock, not up and down - which makes logical sense. An up and down grain is going to see the stock snap. Blue Ensign captures this       in his Pegasus log.
- Your wheel rig is incorrect and the rope size is better, to my eye, in photo "One" than the next. The right rope size is about 0.4 mm. I'm amazed that you re-rigged this as, blimey, that must of been hard.
 
Plus sides, and lots of them, your model all comes together and the details mesh. Your anchor cables are of fit size to my eyes and lots of people underestimate their scale. From TFFM, I reckon them at 1.4 mm.
 
If you're going full hog on rigging I urge you to look at Blue Ensign's log. There is a hell of lot of stuff going on around the main mast that is going to be really fiddly later but can addressed now to simplify.
 
Look it doesn't really matter, there are things you can improve and there is always someone out there who knows more than you do. I'm only halfway there and I get pulled up on things that I didn't know - planking widths on ship boats - who would know? Someone does. The trick is enjoying it and you are motoring through this and clearly enjoying it!
 

Thank you Nils.👍
 
Post One Hundred and Nineteen.
 
 Back to the blunt end
Time to attend to the unfinished stern.
 I had figured out on the bow area how to finish the Pearwood mouldings and pilasters to be used on the stern.

3088
Vallejo Ochre Brown over the Pear followed by a coating of the water-based wood stain I used on the Boxwood hull timbers. This gives a fair match to the varnish hull finish.

3086
The stern is otherwise painted in Vallejo Black/grey.

3085

3084

3091

3093

3094
When it comes to the frames for the lights I have seen examples of white frames which look quite attractive. However, they would be the only white elements on the model so I am sticking with Ochre Brown.

3080
The frames are prepared on the fret, priming with Metal prep 4K, followed by two coats of Ochre brown.
 
The trickiest part of this exercise will be fitting the frames without marring the  ‘glass’ with glue smears.
 
Tomorrow’s interesting little exercise. 🫤
 
 
B.E.
18/12/2023
 
 
 
 
 
 

Superb!

Fantastic - looks like it is made of bone.