Keith Black

Thank you, Ken. it could have had a wooden handler maybe one of those door springs that allow a door to be opened from either side with a push and keep the door in a closed position. They're most often seen on restaurant kitchen doors.

Thank you for the likes and your comments. I'm almost done with the pilothouse. All that remains is the roof and the mystery object on top. On the inside I added the ship's wheel, my signature control arm, and a spittoon. Sorry, Bob, no whisky barrel. The windows are glazed and the floor I almost forgot is in. Which left the door. Looking at the press photo the PH door is the most elaborate piece of woodwork on Billy. It's pretty danged fancy for a sternwheeler especially Billy. I'm sure it was from one of the buildings Engel salvaged to build Billy. It had fancy trim, panel, and appears to have bene painted/stained two different colors. The doors in my other builds have been simple utilitarian and left open where one could see inside. I choose to keep the door closed as it is in the photo. I used one of my spare windows for the trim by removing stiles and rails and narrowing to fit the door. I painted it in two colors and the jury is out. After living with this a couple of hours I think it would look better if was just the single brown color. What the door in the photo lacked was a doorknob which I thought strange but then I realized. this is Billy. Thank you for your support and for following along. Keith

That planking looks so nice, Jacques. 👍

A great way to make bits, I've tucked that away for future reference. The lines for the wire rope look terrific as does the rest of your updated work, Paul.

Thank you, Pat. I'm glad to have you looking over my shoulder.

And me too!

Bruce, should you come up dry at Michaels......... https://www.ebay.com/itm/204584823974

Bogdan, I forgot to mention the supplier Cornwall Model Boats (link provided below) they have a great selection of models and fittings. I believe they have a 50 pound min and shipping cost are okay. They provide two types of shipping, Royal Mail for 17+ pounds and UPS Express for 27+ pounds. Up till my last order I have always chosen Royal Mail but it took 10 days plus for my orders to reach me here in the States. This time I paid the extra 10 pounds and choose UPS Express and my order arrived 3 days after the order was placed. Incredible! Please take note, I have no financial incentive in mentioning them. https://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20303646385&gbraid=0AAAAADCl8FfzKOMKjRE2G3kHWu5506oGp&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIusbg3o_tkAMV40l_AB26iR6EEAAYASAAEgK7APD_BwE

Her finished shape is starting to emerge and is looking great, Roel. 👍

Wow, congratulations, Glen! That's long over due in my opinion. I do hope they won't mind if you do a build log?

There is nothing wrong with your model, Bogdan. Beautiful work thus far and I look forward to following along till its completion. During the course of our builds everyone of us is forced to make compromises due to the lack of preferred material or our lack of skills to perform a given task and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. We are after all, only human. I am glad that you chose to start a build log, 👍 Keith

Bogdan. welcome to MSW. Glad to have you aboard. Myself and others have taken to modeling common everyday work boats from 1750 to present. There are a vast array of nondescript but worthy subjects to model that require little rigging whose beauty is found in the quirkiness of their design. Keith

Thank you for posting the video, Eric. I wish it was early summer and I was riding that ferry! I had a question regarding what that was aft of the wheels. I thought it was a monkey rudder but the video confirmed, it's a bit strange in comparison to others but none the less it is a monkey rudder.

Brian, welcome to MSW. Glad to have you aboard.

James, very impressive work considering that this is your first.The hull with it's deck furniture look very nice. 👍

Jasen, welcome to MSW. Wising you all the best with your modeling journey, glad to have you aboard.

Thank you, Paul.

Thank you, mcb. Yes, Billy has a lot of colors (Rainbow Billy ) including some raw wood at the stern between the wheels. Thank you, John. Yes, I think I was able to capture the look of the PH pretty accurately. Hopefully I'll be able to say that when finished with Billy. Thank you, James. Me and you both! Thank you, Geordie. Tichy Train Group windows are the best (IMHO) and they have a great selection. The coin is a US Penny and has a 0,70 inch diameter.

Thank you, mcb. I enjoyed having you along for the journey.

Thank you, Steve,........."Heigh-Ho, heigh-ho, it's off the work we go" Thank you, Bob. I may put a barrel in there just for you. I hope the brown grows on me.

I have missed building. I know that research and kicking ideas back and forth with you guys is the necessary first step but when I find a subject that grabs me I wanna jump right into building it. I think what I like best is building a thing in my head. Figuring out the sequential order/steps necessary to reach a successful conclusion. It's figuring out the puzzle that keeps me coming back again and again. Well, Billy is off and running! I've got the four walls of the pilothouse made, windows (from Tichy Train Group) installed, and the first bit of paint applied. I wish I could have made the PH two feet (0.20) longer but I was restricted by the size of the windows and trying to replicate the photo. I originally thought Billy was 40 feet in length but after placing the PH on my deck card I've adjusted Billy's length to 35 feet meaning when completed Billy will only be 3.5 inches long. As I said, Billy is going to be the Matchbox of sternwheelers. To complete the PH I still have to add the window glazing, make the door, add the roof, and make that round air vent or fire alarm bell that sits of top. I couldn't use stain as it wouldn't have covered the windows so I used craft acrylic paint. I'm not necessarily in love with this brown color, maybe it'll grow on me? Thank you to everyone for the likes and for helping get Billy off the ground. Your support and following along mean the world to me. Keith

Well, if that don't beat all. Congratulations on completing another unique SiB, Glen. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey. 👍

Eric, that is so cool that you rode the ferry and I can't thank you enough for posting your experience and the link. I thoroughly enjoyed going through the Millersburg Ferry site. I've picked up so many sternwheeler images, it's nice to be able to put a name to a face and the fact that you were on it makes it that much more incredible! I've attached your post in the Susquehanna's Hard Coal Navy build log because of the Susquehanna connection. Thank you again.

This is from a post by Eric, @Cathead regarding a photo (below) of a ferry I posted in my Billy build log. Because it's a ferry that operated on the Susquehanna I thought it should also be posted here because of the Susquehanna connection. Eric's post. Late to this side theme because I've been away, but that looks like the Millersburg PA ferry that ran (and still operates) across the Susquehanna. I rode it many times growing up and it's still a going concern: https://www.visitcumberlandvalley.com/listing/the-millersburg-ferry/1818/ My memory is that it's a gas engine with some kind of chain drive to the wheels. It's a fascinating ride, the river is extremely wide there but also very shallow, most of the time you could walk across it without getting your head wet. Most of the crossing you can see the bottom of the river just a few feet below the ferry deck. It's a cobbled-together contraption out of a whimsical nightmare, and there are actually two different ferries, both similar but each their own.

Impressive work, Karen.