lmagna

Thought it was time to do a little update on this log. I have not been doing anything over the last couple of weeks as I have not really been myself and I was kind of unable to deal with much in the way of a normal life, or really concentrate on anything for more than a short time. Pretty much just wandering around like a zombie most of the time. Of course real time life has a way of forcing its way to the forefront and imposing real time needs whether you are ready or not. So in addition to chores, bills, and other everyday necessities I forced myself to get back on the bench and get some modeling work done as well. I am still only doing short sessions so progress is a bit slow but it is progress and is also helping mentally. I found that posting and following others on the forum has also helped so here I am. On my last update I told Denis that I would wait to do follow ups until there was more to show, as all that seemed to be going on was little adjustments here and there that didn’t even show up in pictures so why bother? Well almost immediately my little adjustments here and there became a “What on earth did I do to myself!” When I started what I thought was the next step of fairing the bulkheads in preparation for the dreaded planking to come, it became apparent almost immediately that I had made a BIG mistake when I shortened the hull by cutting off ½” of the bow rather than cut out ½” from the amidships area like I should have. I knew better so that made it even worse! By moving the first two bulkheads I altered the hull lines so much that there was not going to be any way to maintain hull lines from the wales down! After getting over the OH NO! I determined that the only way to recover without having to start all over would be to fill the first three spaces with balsa wood and sand the whole thing down as if I was working with a solid hull. When I begin this build I was shocked at how much the kit looked like an enlarged MS Sultana so I took the station forming templates from my Sultana kit and enlarged them by 22% and made two templates that would allow me to properly form the new bow and keep it even on both sides. The work has gone fairly quickly and now is at the stage where all I need to do are some fill in places and fine tuning of the shape side to side. Still a little ways to go but it looks like I shouldn’t need to start over at least. It has been so long since I did any work though I had to chase off some local livestock that had wandered in before I could start. There is still some more shaping to go and it is still hard to do full sessions at building, but I will try and keep at it and be back soon with hopefully some more progress. Thanks for stopping in and looking.

It's either well made or you have your camera well trained to make things look really good. My camera doesn't do that with my stuff.

Just remember dropped parts OK, dropped paint, no no!

I am still amazed at how clean and precise your work is.

Struts, or prop shaft struts. I think your English is better than mine by a long shot!

Pretty bad when you get tossed by both the Admiral and the lord of the manor! Next you will be on dog food and water rations! Carl It sounds like you have one of those dogs that occasionally sell used masters.

I don't know why you say that John. You obviously not only finished it but did an excellent job as well. if you were to make it smaller next time I think you would run into a whole new set of problems. The carvings would be much smaller and harder as would everything else. You have done a very interesting and unique build well researched and executed.

Carl That's his dog house, he keeps it close so that if the admiral gets cross at him for spilling or making another mess he does not have far to go!

Never tried honey on popcorn. Love it on peanut butter sandwiches and pancakes though........... That reminds me, I'ts breakfast time!

Hi Sam Did you remember to steal some of the popcorn from all those chair hogs down below?

It would take them a while to get there Denis. Dealing with me and my hoard would take them a while! I like the pattern on the carpet.

Looks like a full house and all the seats are taken up, at least the ones with a view. I do think that I found a place in the rafters though. I only had to chase a few spiders out of the way. Great view from up here though, looks like I'm right there, on ALL THREE continents! Must be some kind of space warp up here.

Just like a broken clock, I guess i can be right once in a while. Pure luck that you were looking when I was.

For a diorama you could kill two birds with one stone, or three. If you built a translucent blue display case on all sides except the back and bottom making them opaque instead. Then place a ripple blue sheet a few inches below the top of the case. Then you could put the periscope through the 'ocean surface' layer and have the sub at periscope depth, then you could use your blue/green LEDs behind the opaque back panel to diffuse the light and make it a kind of shadow box effect. If you placed the light above the 'waterline' and possibly painted vertical streaks on the outside of the back panel you would get a very nice shadowing effect under the 'surface' that would get darker the further down you go. These subs were designed to spend as much time under water as possible and only surfaced when necessary. I believe i read somewhere that using red lights at night for instrumentation was a British idea and was considered secret in WWII. The story that carrots improved vision was invented as a cover story. Seems a little far fetched, but I have heard stranger things and know for a fact that they were true.

Better you than me! If I was to try to get my foot into the sink I would end up on my back on the floor with all four paws in the air calling for help! I would probably end up hopping out to the back yard and getting hosed down, then she would put me on a chain until I dried out! Hope you have enough left to get the painting done at least!

Or possibly swivel guns

Sorry double entry

I believe Smith was the co-pilot of the British PBY and was on board "training" the British pilot after being the ferry pilot from the US. He received the DFC for his actions against the Bismarck. Lt. Johnson and Ensign Rinehart serving the same role in two other PBYs also sighted and reported the Bismark later in the day. He was also a neighbor of you and I Jim. Living in Friday Harbor.

Congratulations Rodger Finishing a book like that and getting it published are not all that easy these days. I wish you great success for your efforts.

Two steps forward and one back................. But then I am sure you will be happier in the end.

Hello Mark, I hope you don't mind me calling you Mark for short, but I have a friend here who already goes by the name Mark and I don't want to get the two names confused! I certainly am in no position to offer much help to virtually anyone, as I am not only fairly new to this kind of modeling, but I am pretty much a dunce as well and only tend to learn by my own mistakes anyway. As my wife is fond of reminding me though, I can always be used as a bad example. I do feel that as long as you are excited to build this ship then you will do well and that your excitement will carry you through the many challenges to come. Welcome to the world of expensive boxes of sticks!

You mus be constantly on the alert for old kits. It will be interesting to see what the new one is and what you do with it. It is my understanding that in most cases the furthest forward gun port looking opening was almost never an actual gun port, but a port for handling lines and such and had a gun port lid to keep heavy seas out. I always wondered if the port design also served another purpose as a location where a cannon could be moved and used as a bow chaser when needed, and as camouflage to confuse the enemy as to the number of guns on board, a fairly common occurrence it seems in the accounts of some of the engagements I have read about.

Either way the build has very sharp and crisp details while still being smooth, if that makes any sense. Are you going to leave the two midships and aft gun ports empty?

VERY sharp and clean build. Looks more like a scratch build with hand picked lumber than a kit.

Parts of the frame are steel as are the required USCG WT bulkheads. The rest is described as composite/fiberglass. The deck is wood. She was conceived by John Millar and designed and built by Don Gilkison and naval architect Charles Wittholz. A number of changes were made from the "Historic ideal" due to both modern day USCG requirements and the desires of the original developers, but the same would have to be said about the Le Hermione or any other historical replica ship built in modern times.