Richvee

Unless I hear differently, that's the action I'm going to take. I posted the same question in the Framing and Planking forum and got the same answer there...Sand away at the bottom.

I have cut and dry fitted the bulkheads for my pride of Baltimore 2 MS kit. They all fit nice and snug with minimal sanding. They will all sit flush to the top of the center keel once the char is removed, and all the reference lines line up nice. That said, I have 3 bulkheads, D, E and F that end well below the bearding line. Is sanding and fairing the bottom of these three bulkheads more than the rest of them what should be done? Or should I shim the center keel slot, raising the bottom of the bulkhead to align more with the bearding line, and then trim the top of the bulkhead level with the keel center?

That’s a nice looking boat. I could live with that if I could make my kit supplied boat look similar. If shortening is needed, I guess one would shim the center keel slot, and sand the top at deck level?

Thanks for looking in everyone. I'll be sure to check out some other options when the time comes for the ship's boat. Appreciate the pics and link. Right now, I have a novice question I could use some help with. I've cut out and dry fitted the bulkheads. They all slid into their slots nice and snug with very little sanding. All are seated completely in their notches, and all line up nice and level at the deck and all my reference lines. However, bulkheads D,E and F fall below the bearding line. (Same port and starboard) As you can see, my reference lines line up, as do the tops of the bulkheads at the deck Is this just a matter of fairing the bottom of these 3 bulkheads to fall in line with the bearding line, or do I have some deeper issues.. Like I cut the rabbet too wide? And if that's the case, is there a remedy?

Thanks David. I'll try my best. It's only my 3rd ship. We'll see how it goes.

I've decided on the POB2 as my next build. I'll save the rigging of the Medway Longboat for that inevitable time when I get a little tired of this ship. I've chose this model for a few reasons. Lots of interesting deck work Lots of available resources Love the lines of this ship, and really like the way it looks under sail. That's the plan going in...To make this my first attempt at sails. ..And last but not least, while I was contemplating what to make next, the POB2 showed up in a MS email for 50% off. 🤑 I've been looking at the first chapter of Robert Hunt's practicum that is available on line, and I'm torn about ordering the package. It's a bit pricey, IMO, and there's a wealth of free info here in the MSW forums. That said, I really like the idea of step by step instruction, since I'm still quite the novice. Reading through the instruction manual that comes with the kit, I can pretty much say they're almost useless. The plans, on the other hand, look good and very detailed. I've got plenty to do before I would need chapter two of the practicum, since I tend to move at a snail's pace with this hobby. And I'm sure this build won't go any faster. The kit arrived and the parts all seem to be in order. The dowels for the masts resemble the letter "U" and will certainly not be used. Maybe I'll try rounding off square stock, or at least get some kind of hardwood dowels that are better than the horrible pine dowels supplied. Rigging and blocks will have to upgraded as well, as I've already been spoiled after using Siren line and blocks on the Kate Cory. I'll decide as I go how many of the cast metal fittings will be used. Either because they are out of scale, or because I'm going to leave some of the modern touches off this model, such as propellers, or just because they're just plain horrible. Anyway, the project has begun. Bearding line drawn in using a template that I cut from cardstock, followed by cutting a rabbet. Stern, keel, and bow glued into position and drying. reference lines have been drawn on the center keel, Next up will be cutting out, marking up, and fitting the bulkheads.

A little irony. I started mine in 1989. Worked only it for about year. It was just about at the same point as yours when you took a break. I had the deck, bulwarks, and rails done, topsides painted, and just about ready to start competing when I got married, bought a house, and raised 2 kids. It sat for about 27 years until 2016. Glad you didn’t take 27 years to get back😁

Thanks for the kind words. The copper looks great. Glad you’re back in the boatyard!

LOL I actually have the last post on you build log... 2 1/2 years ago...No worries. Mine sat on the workbench for 27 years while I raised a family. Ironically I was at almost the same spot as you when it went into hibernation, except I had finished the rails and bulwarks. When I got back at it coppering was the first task.

Mike, You're so right about all the things one can add. I had trouble figuring where to stop on adding to the whaleboats. Mine are missing so many things, but I think there's enough in there to catch your eye, then give it another look and notice a few more items. Like I've said, not only was this a real enjoyable build, I learned a ton about how a ship works, and more than a ton about whaling and the whaling industry of the 1800's.

Thanks for the kind words. I agree about the lines, and color scheme of the KC. Do you have a build log for your KC? I'd love to follow along.

Thanks Mike. I'm not sure why it's not a more popular model. I guess it's the solid hull and the lure of the Morgan if you're going to build a whaler.

Thanks for the likes.. I put the KC in it's case today. Amazing how the case gives it that extra something.. I think it looks pretty good!

I have the Model Shipways Pride of Baltimore due to arrive in the mail any day. I’ve also ordered the rigging package for the Medway Longboat from Syren. I’ll probably start the POB, and somewhere in the middle take a break and rig the longboat. That should take me through the next 4-5 years. 😃 I also have a vintage ( early1980’s) version of the 1/8” scale Essex. That is one daunting model and will require a ton of scratch building. That will stay the shelf for now. Thanks for looking in.

If I’m following correctly, your peak halyard has a take up end and a hauling end, both belayed at the deck. My 1856 whaler , Kate Cory has a similar setup with 2 single blocks on the gaff and one triple on the mast. I was confused on how this functioned. Michaelmys gave me a very good explanation on how this works. In this thread

Instead of flooding your inbox with likes, I’ll just say I’m really enjoying following this build. Amazing work.

Glad you followed, @jablackwell. It was your build log that lead me to this site, and it was a great source of information and inspiration for me.

Well, that about wraps it up. The following pictures were taken by my daughter with a better camera than I have, so I'll use them even though there's a few odds and ends that need to be finished when these shots were taken. Namely the barrels need to be lashed and rope coils needed on a few davits. I purchased a case, for what I though was a reasonable price, from a gentleman who runs a site called Grandpa's cabinets. You can customize size, wood choice, and finish, and it comes complete with high quality plexiglass. Assembly is simple. I also purchased a nice, unfinished table that will serve as the display table. I'll post some final pictures when the table and case are set up. Right now I need to finish the new base, and I'm waiting on a nameplate that I ordered. Anyway, I really enjoyed this build. I think it's a sharp looking vessel, and I'm a little surprised how few KC's are on this site. So it's my first completed ship build. (I'm not going to count the Taurus, and Benjamin W Latham I built almost 50 years ago as an early teen. I think the Taurus is still sitting around my mom's house, but the Latham is nowhere to be found. I learned a ton about model building, and whaling. It's been a great journey. Not only did this build lead me to this site, it lead me to a great club, The ship Model Society of New Jersey. I've taken advantage of Model Shipways end of season sale and picked up the Pride of Baltimore 2 for a50% off, so that's on it's way and will be the next project. Thanks to everybody who checked in, and for all the likes along the way. Special thanks to this site, as I would have never been able to complete some things without the help and knowledge of the members here. This place is a wealth of information and the contributors are great. .

Thanks for the likes and looking in. Closing in on the finish line. The boats are loaded, and hung from the davits. The spare boat is also lashed to the tailfeathers. All that remains is the rope coils on the davits, and lashing those barrels to the rail.....If I decide to use those barrels. About those barrels...I picked them up from an "S" scale website years ago when I ordered the brick for the tryworks. I've painted them, re painted them, tried drybrushing some "age" onto them, added a coat of dullcoat.... I'm not sure I like them. My wife says I need to make them look "worn". I said how much more worn can they look? I don't know. Maybe I've been staring at them too long. Maybe they do look horrible. I need some honest opinions. My daughter will be visiting tomorrow. I hope she remembers her camera. I hope she can take some decent pictures for me. Happy holidays to everyone and thanks for checking in. The final product is real close now!!

Good to see you back in the shop. I've found throughout this year that getting in the shop brings a little sense of normalcy in these otherwise "not normal" times.

I actually have this kit. Machine carved hull. The plans and instruction booklet are real nice. I purchased it back in the mid '80's. My Kate Cory is nearing completion and I've dug out the kit and started poking around here for some Essex logs. I'm not sure I'm up to the challenge of this 1/8" scale kit. It's going to require a lot of scratch building, as there's no way I'd use many these old metal fittings for grates, bitts, barricades, etc. There sure is no lack of info here about these ships, and @rafine's Essex log is an inspiration, and it also reminds me just how much I have to master to get decent results on such a model.

I'm a little late, but I'll be following along. My Kate Cory is getting close to complete and I'm looking for my next build. I have an old Model Shipways 1/8" scale Essex kit from the mid '80's in the closet...The machine carved hull and the plans and instructions are probably all that's left that's useful. The rest would be scratch. I'm not sure I'm ready for such a build, but I'll be following here looking for tips and inspiration.

More whalecraft.... Here's some loaded in a boat. I still need the second line tub for each boat, and it looks like I have enough room under the forward 3 thwarts for a waif, and maybe a boat hook, and boat spade.

Looking at the plans on the Kate Cory. Off the main mast hangs the pennant. It says "halyard to main topmast shrouds". Can someone explain to me how this was "belayed"? Was it simply tied off around a shroud? Where/how was the excess rope coiled?

Tryworks tools and lances. I made the handles using a drawplate and running bamboo through it to about .03" or about 3" diameter. The strainer is made out of a thin brass ring and the base is a piece of styrene filed to fit. The holes are #78 drill bit. The lances are 32 gauge steel wire. The tips are just punched flat om an anvil and shaped a little with files. The bucket is also a piece of brass tube, and the "poker" laying across the cooper's bench was made out of a thin needle, with the eye cut opened and turned a bit to look like the tool in one of the above posts from New Bedford.