Keith Black

 Welcome to MSW. Glad to have you aboard. 

 What a monumental accomplishment, Roel. 

 The deck looks much better, Ian. 👍

 Welcome to MSW. Glad to have you aboard. 

54 minutes ago, KeithAug said:

Have you tried doing joined up writing with one of those pen things recently. It is really hard.

 I'm sure it is.    I quit writing in cursive many many years ago, I strictly print.

58 minutes ago, KeithAug said:

They both fit together very nicely. Great job.

 Thank you, Keith.  

19 minutes ago, Paul Le Wol said:

The first visitor I get that looks at it more than once is taking it home with them. 🙂

 And your address is? ......... no way, Paul. She's way too nice a model to be adopted out. 

Nice case, plans for the Sharpie?

 Paul, do you have a place where you can display this lovely beast when finished?

17 hours ago, wefalck said:

Makes sense! Thinking about it, it would be also more stable during pushing, as there is less of a cantilever on the rig, than if it was pushed the other way around. I also didn't realise that there was a 'bow' end.

 Eberhard, thank you for taking the time to question and comment.  

16 hours ago, clearway said:

😁

 Thank you, Keith. It makes me feel good knowing Lula gives folks a reason to smile.

16 hours ago, petervisser said:

Great job on your project Keith. They look fantastic together.

 Thank you, Peter. 

9 hours ago, Glen McGuire said:

Lula and the pile driver look better together than chips and queso!  Superb work, Keith!

 Thank you, Glen. 

8 hours ago, Knocklouder said:

Like Peanut butter and Jelly, and that's all I got to stay about that. 

Amazing work Keith, are we getting ready for the river yet?

 Thank you, Bob. Lord willing I would think we'll see a launch date by sometime in early June. 

6 hours ago, mtaylor said:

Super nice work, Keith. The tug and pile driver look great together.   

 Thank you, Mark.

4 hours ago, Jim Lad said:

Just catching up after some time away. They're looking great, Keith.

 Thank you, John. Glad to have you back home with us. 

 Mark, the planking looks great.

 Jacques, I missed this build till just now. I look forward to following along. 

5 hours ago, wefalck said:

Would the pile-driver actually pushed from the side of the rig? I would have expected the tug to be tied up to the other side, also so that the driver can be manoeuvred into position.

 Eberhard, the way the pile driver barges were push towed does seem somewhat counterintuitive but it makes sense to have the most awkward part of the barge lashed firmly to the tender. That way any unseen obstruction is first encountered by the engine room bow. I built the pile driver to the plans below and the pile driver's  bow is clearly indicated in the drawing.  Once the pile driver was delivered to the building site the barge could be easily turned and nudged into position. 

2 hours ago, Cathead said:

Oh wow, those two look so good together.

 Thank you, Eric. I enjoy seeing the two of them together. 

2 hours ago, JacquesCousteau said:

Great job, it's turning out very well.

 Thank you, Jacques. 

1 hour ago, FriedClams said:

Excellent work, Keith!  The crane turned out very nice and the two models look great together.

 Thank you, Gary.

Such grace and beauty. Just wonderful, Siggi. 

Eric, I like the grain elevator a lot. It will be a perfect piece with in the overall layout. 

On 3/14/2025 at 8:04 AM, Glen McGuire said:

Nice work on that crane, Keith!

 Thank you, Glen.

 Thank you to all for the comments and likes. 

 Lula's bow is finished with the exception of weathering the deck. I plan on doing that tomorrow during daylight hours. 

 Lula and the pile driver lashed in tow is 14.5 inches in length. Once Lula is finished I'm pretty certain I'll display them together in tow.   

 Thank you for your support and for being part of the journey. 

   Keith

 IMHO, navy ships in peace time should not be weathered but during war years weathering is acceptable. Privateers, commercial vessels whaling ships, fishing boats, and workboats when weathered add more realism, again, IMHO.  

 A thumbs up project, Bryan. 

14 minutes ago, Knocklouder said:

I started using a white pencil to mark the ratlines

 Great tip, Bob. The Astrolabe is looking really really sharp and those ratlines are fantastic. 294 clove hitches in five hours? Clove Hitch Bob doesn't have the same ring to it as Deadeye Bob does but dang! I can't even count to 294 in five hours. 

 Beautiful build, Bruce. To rub it in a bit, it was 24C here in Michigan today. 

On 3/11/2025 at 9:05 PM, TBlack said:

Yah, but we're classy!

 Thank you, Tom. You are but me, not so much.

On 3/12/2025 at 3:23 PM, clearway said:

That makes more sense Keith- my mum god rest her soul called them 'senior moments'!

 My senior moments are starting to flock like starling. 

 Thank you everybody for the kind and helpful comments and the likes. 

 I combined the following two diagrams of derrick cranes to make Lula's crane. I feel I'm on sound footing.

 It's been so long since I stropped blocks and did any rigging that I had to send my fingers out to be retrained. 

 I have 12 inch single and double blocks but not a 12 inch triple that's used on the topping lift attached to the mast. I could have used a double and a single but after mulling it over I went with the 18 inch blocks and have triples in that size. The 18's look a little large but for this application I'd much rather be too large than too small.    

 I've got the topping lift line, boom tackle lines, preventer guy, and hook tag line rigged. All four blocks are made for the guy pendents but ran out of time getting them rigged tonight. 

 None of the lines are secured though the boom is at its correct angle not making contact with the pile driver. 

 Please don't expect to see neatly coiled lines, Lula's lines are going to be a bit messy but safe. i still need to run chain stays for the mast. There are ten cleats forward of the coal bin. 

 Thank you for your support and for being part of the journey.

   Keith

 Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. I have done almost the exact same thing. Ian. 

Well if that ain't the cat's pajamas. You're doing such a fantastic job, Glen. 

 Ian, it does appear to be too dark. How difficult would it be to lighten? 

40 minutes ago, wefalck said:

I admire your tenacy in such difficult times 👍🏻

 Amen to  that, Eberhard. 

Lovely build, Jacques.