Keith Black

3 hours ago, berhard said:

Hi Keith, I've been quietly following your build and enjoying watching all the details you have added. Sorry to hear about you issue, I hope all goes well and wish you a speedy recovery.

 Thank you, Bob. 

2 hours ago, TBlack said:

Keith, dear brother, I’m going to read into the fact that the CT scan isn’t until 4/30 means we’ve got some swingin’ room. Stay positive. It’s the not knowing that’s the worst part. We’re all with you!

 Thank you, Tom. 

12 minutes ago, Jim Lad said:

Hang in there, Keith. remember, if it does come to surgery, the surgeons have had another five years' experience to make them even better!

 Thank you, John. 

51 minutes ago, tmj said:

Best wishes and prayers to ya Keith! 

 Thank you, Tom.

2 hours ago, JacquesCousteau said:

Very nice work on the pilot house. Sorry to hear about the medical issues, hope all goes well!

 Thank you, Jacques.

2 hours ago, Canute said:

You're both on my prayer list Keith. I'm in a similar boat with wife being the sick one right now. I'm under a watchful waiting period with my leaky aortic heat valve, too.

 Thank you, Ken. I'm praying for both you and your wife. How long has your aortic heart valve been leaking and are you going to have surgery?

46 minutes ago, kurtvd19 said:

Best wishes for a speedy recovery from Mary and me.

 Thank you, Kurt and please tell Mary "thank you". 

41 minutes ago, kurtvd19 said:

Regarding the jogging.  If anybody sees me out jogging, PLEASE kill whatever is chasing me!

 As long as it's not Mary I'd be happy to oblige.  

16 minutes ago, Knocklouder said:

Back on the list you go, both of you with a note do not remove from list. Thoughts and prayers my friend,  you have made my journey easier and I hope HE make your journey easier as well. All the best my friend.

 Thank you so very much, Bob. 

8 minutes ago, Paul Le Wol said:

Keith, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Thank you, Paul.  

14 hours ago, BANYAN said:

Really looking good Keith.  Agree with Eric re the 'wooding' of the view forward - still looks ()no pun intended) great though

 Thank you, Pat.

13 hours ago, vossiewulf said:

Sorry to hear that Keith. Hang in there.

  Thank you, Vossie

12 hours ago, Cathead said:

Keith, thanks for the update. I know it can be hard to share stuff like that and it's thoughtful of you to worry about US! Certainly the "it's your model" rule applies and no comments were intended as criticism, just ongoing discussion of the modeling process. It is and will be a fantastic model! I know it'll be extra hard on you trying to prepare for Maggie's welfare while you're under the knife, so hang in there. We're all pulling for you.

 Thank you, Eric.

12 hours ago, Glen McGuire said:

Dang, Keith.  Prayers for you and Maggie.

 Thank you, Glen.

6 hours ago, wefalck said:

Keeping fingers crossed ...

 Thank you, Eberhard.

3 hours ago, LJP said:

You are in my thoughts.  Your health and your wife's welfare is what is really important.

 Thank you. LJP

1 hour ago, FriedClams said:

Stay positive and strong, Keith.  You're in my thoughts and wishing for the best possible results of your upcoming scan.

 Thank you, Gary.

 Thank you guys for you kind comments and thoughts. 

The pilot house is ready for trim which I hope to get added today leaving the lettering transfer and hanging the rear PH door. 

  Thank you to everyone for your support.

    Keith 

 It's good to see you back, John.

Wowie kazowie, Glen. That looks fantastic!

On 4/17/2025 at 1:13 PM, Keith Black said:

More later regarding that at a later time.   

 I may as well get into this....... five years ago I had a stent put in my abdominal aorta while undergoing an operation repair an aneurysm that at the time measured 6.4 cm. I've been going for Ultrasound testing annually since the operation with the aorta measuring 5.9 cm every year till my last visit on Tuesday. They think and I stress thy think I've developed an endoleak and the sack is currently measuring 6.4 cm, so we're back to where we were five years ago. 

 I have a CT scan scheduled for April 30th to verify the above. I might not have a leak or I could be about to blow? They almost lost me on the operating table five years ago and now, here we are five years later and I'm five years older and I sure don't heal any faster now.  If I do in fact have a endoleak I will require surgery, when that surgery takes place is anyone's guess but I would hope it would be sooner than later. I won't know anything for sure till the 30th. 

 Having said the above, I've put Lula on a fast track to get as much done as possible prior to the 30th and that's while doing things around the house to help ensure Maggie's current and future welfare. I wouldn't have said anything but future actions regarding Lula might lead some of you to scratch your heads wondering about my motives behind certain decisions.  

  Keith

10 hours ago, Cathead said:

Regardless, it's really fun to see her superstructure move toward its final shape!

 Thank you, Eric. Yes, it's a milestone I've looked forward to reaching for what seems like a long time.

10 hours ago, Cathead said:

I have a question: do you have a photo of Lula from the front? The only one I can recall is the one from the starboard rear quarter, but you of course have far greater knowledge of the resources you're working from.

10 hours ago, Cathead said:

The reason I ask, is that I'm interested in the idea that Lula had separate windows (whether three or four) on the forward wall of the pilothouse. Typical riverboat practice (which I'll openly acknowledge does not preclude any other practice) was to leave the forward "window" as either a full open area or with a bare minimum of visual interference (for example, no posts between windows). For obvious reasons of visibility. To my eye, when I look at your rear-quarter image, looking through the side windows, it kind of looks to me like Lula has the standard wide-open forward pilothouse. Like these examples on two other river ferries:

 I only have the one photo of Lula. The view through the starboard side windows suggest to me they were individual windows and the spacing between the windows suggest that there were only three. That's my interpretation, I could be dead wrong but this is what we're gonna roll with as I need to jump into overdrive on this build. More later regarding that at a later time.   

10 minutes ago, Lecrenb said:

If it was water for flushing how would the crew keep it from freezing? Another conundrum to add to the list!

 Bruce, it could be that the toilet was used often enough that the water never had a chance to freeze? Hey, praying your surgery goes well and that you recover quickly.  

 Thank you to everyone for the comments and likes.

 Speaking of comments, you guys sure were worried about Captain Bill. If any of you had figured out who his famous uncle was you wouldn't be so worried about his ability to withstand the rigors of ship life. 

 It was time get some walls up.

I was trying to build the pilot house where it could be lifted free but alas it wasn't to be. The walls are glued to one another but not glued to the floor plates as of yet. 

 I won't glue the pilothouse down till all the trim, roof, door, and Lula's name have been added 

 I think Lula the car ferry only had three windows on the forward wall. If I had only put in three windows there would have been a lot of blind spots so I put in four, what the heck. 

 I've added some curve to the top plates but I think a little more is required, 

Captain Bill is gonna be snug as a bug. 

 Thank you for the support and for following along.

   Keith

 What could be better, you're a lucky man, Mr Bob. 

1 hour ago, Sonofagun said:

think someone is trying to tell me that I have to leave shipmodeling. I had a stroke 2 years ago. Now numbness on my left side and an intentional tremor with my left arm.

 I'm sorry to hear about your stroke, Bryan. I pray you recover fully but at the very least regain some of what you've lost. I had a stroke in 2017 and my left hand was completely paralyzed but through prayer and the grace of God plus dogged determination I've regained about 95% usage of my left hand.Don't give up the ship, there is hope and light at the end of this dark tunnel.  

  Keith

 Beautiful work, Paul. 

I pray you heal up quickly, Mark. 

 Jack, for cutting out windows I use x-Acto chisel blades, #17 and #18. I use the #18 for lengthy straight cuts. i use them when cutting thin plywood, I've not used styrene but have used card stock. I can't imagine styrene being any different as far as cutting. The #17 is a bit flimsy but it's smaller blade lets one get into tighter places. 

 The below Amazon links are only examples, there are many online and craft/hobby shops to purchase the chisel blades. 

 I work at 1:120 scale.

https://www.amazon.com/SMB-Precision-Chisel-Hobby-Blades/dp/B08TT18QQ8/ref=asc_df_B08TT18QQ8?mcid=27ffb4ea70bc39b5af1acc1ce8e7da8d&hvocijid=13814306576539214645-B08TT18QQ8-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13814306576539214645&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1019476&hvtargid=pla-2281435176898&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/Excel-Blades-Chisel-American-Replacement/dp/B0006O5JSI/ref=asc_df_B0006O5JSI?mcid=dda5604c2df03aa0b76cae351291c2de&hvocijid=17397267249205664909-B0006O5JSI-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17397267249205664909&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1019476&hvtargid=pla-2281435177898&psc=1

 Jon, welcome to MSW. Congratulations on completing your Sherbourne build, nice looking model. Glad to have you aboard.

 Nice work, Ferrus. Great visual interest, now all it needs is a cane pole. 

 I think there's a new movie in the works titled....... King Ratline 

 Roel, is there cheese at the end of that maze?   That's some mind numbing detail, hats off!

 She's really taking shape, Glen. I'm glad that you found the MWP plywood beneficial. For small scale structures and bits it's the cat's meow. 

22 minutes ago, Glen McGuire said:

I think it's starting to snow again outside

 Too funny. 

17 minutes ago, Greg Davis said:

If so 10 min of run time should be quite sufficient! But again - all conjectural!

 This is why I'm having trouble with a water pump being thrown into the mix, early water pumps were sketchy at best. I know those 16 cylinders are going to produce heat but the designer is adding a sketchy pump for a ten minute ride? As long as there was enough external water and room for expansion ten minutes is nothing. It's a whole other kettle of fish if we're talking hours but ten minutes? I just can't see trying to invent the wheel for ten minutes. I've seen guys run V-8's without any water (testing after a rebuild not wanting to add coolant in case they had to pull the heads etc etc) for almost ten minutes. You guys say water pump, okay, but I gotta tell ya I'm a bit skeptical. 

The darker gray looks much better, Ian. 👍