deckape

Ahoy modelWQrights

                                     A Build I Been working On Off An On Like Many Others.  When I Was in the Navy I Purchased This kit Through The Ships Store Now It Is Time to Finish This the Project Will Be A RC Build As Of the Construction Thus Far I am completing The Super Structure Decks And Fitting Out with the fittings.  Should Have Everything topside finished By The end Of This week Then I Will Resume on the Hull thanks for you views and comments I am Honored  Frankie Day

Ahoy Shipwrights

                                  Okay long time no see but still here okay fellas here is the final reveal of the Isabella she is finally completed now for Norske Love I will post update pictures of the build I started on her about a month ago so I will start another build thread on her The Love is a older kit 1970s issue like that of Isabella everything has to be cut out by hand I would not have it any other way old school kit verses old school dude.

Frankie Day

Ahoy Model Shipwrights

                                           Okay Isabella is almost done I have all of the sails done I got them back from my personal seamstress they all fit to size as per sail patterns. Okay all of the sails have been installed next will be the rigging of the sails this will be easy because all sail blocks have been previously rigged during the running rigging.  This Sunday she will be completed I will take some nice final reveal so stay tuned for that, Here are the pictures

Frankie day

Ahoy Shipwrights

                             Here is another build report on Isabella, Glad memorial day weekend is over with it took me away from the building bench now its back to ships work.  In this build report I have installed and rigged all of the fore yards the blocks that haven't been rigged yet are the sail rigging still waiting for the sails to come in I should have this build finished by this week end I am doing the main yards and the two spencer yards when done they will be rigged adding rope coils as go along.  not much to the running rigging it went faster then the standing rigging did,

Frankie Day

Thanks Guys

                     Okay here is another update build report on the Isabella, Thus far all of the standing rigging is finished next is to lay down the ratlines on the upper platforms and she is ready for the running rigging and the installation of the yards. I went to a seamstress and have my sails made for the Isabella using the kits sail templates and sail cloth that was included in the kit a nice touch to say the least. Now Days fully sewn sails are included in the kits it makes life a little sweeter. Okay I uploaded a slew full of pictures apposed from the last posting.

Frankie Day

Ahoy Shipwrights

                              Thanks guys for your comments I am honored, Here is another update build report thus far all of the lower shrouds have been rigged.  Next will be the stopping of the ratlines and the upper shrouds will follow,  After all shrouds have been rigged and ratlines attached its time for the preparation of the yards and running rigging lastly will be the rope coils and she is done I assume I will have anywhere from two to three weeks and she is launched into the gallery.

Frankie Day

Ahoy Steve

                     Superbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb job buddy she is a Beauty I be getting the keel together on the Norske love she will be my next huge build a lot more to that kit then Isabella. Hardy Well Done Steve

Frankie Day

Ahoy Shipwrights

                                 Here is another update build report on the Isabella, The standing rigging has been underway working on the shrouds once the shrouds are completed the ratlines will follow next.  After all standing rigging is completed the yards will be prepared and installed along with the running rigging.  she is coming along very well I should havethis kit completed in three more weeks working at a pace of 10 to 14 hours a day gives the impression of a fast build ion the norm this would take three to 6 months to build at a pace of 1 to two hours a day or every other day. I have the next Billing boat build the Norske Love will be next something to look forward to.

Frankie Day

Ahoy Shipwrights

                              Okay a while since the last posting, Here I am starting the standing rigging  following the old English rigging.  Starting from the bowspirit fore stays have been rigged all back stays on the fore mast have been rigged one more top side on the main to the forte top stay will be rigged next then I will proceed aft and the shrouds will follow, The build will slow down no worry to spend 16 hours a day on the build she is beyond any more drying out and crumbling away in a box.  Thus far a very enjoyable build I am hooked on this old kit as if I was hipnotised LOllllllllllllllllllllll As of now I will go back and review the model for any inperfections that I missed I found four and they were corrected. For more details on the build go to my you tube channel you will see 11 video of thye build that will show you more in depth of the build then just pictures. Having a ball on the build next will be the Billing boats Norske Love a rea treat for me and you too,

Frankie Day.l

Ahoy Shipwrights

                                Okay guys the nightmare is over with all structure and important assemblies have been completed and detoured from anymore wood to deteriorate. the kit is in its complete state of construction all is left is a little tune up here and there and the installation of the cannons. I am constructing these as of now got three installed the kit gives you 12 cannons of turned shiny brass, opeong of the shutter bays were easy I thought I would run into trouble cutting these out but no soap they were cutted out with no problem as I swipe the sweat from forehead.  By this evening she will be ready for the standing rigging this when the real fun begins and the hard p[art is long over with saved from decay of dried out dead wood.  Again cant stress anymore then I possibly can. anyone who has these old Billing kits from the 60s and 70s need to be built if not you will have a kit full of dried up wood that is in the process of turning into sawdust. The Ramon and mahogany wood used in their earlier kits have a tendency to dry our quicker then the usual.  So builds those old Billing kits now is the time. I been working on this kit everyday for 31 days straight 12 to 17u hours a day this the reason why a lot of your great modelers out there say I build fast. Being retired and working a job still allows me to work all these hours on the kit a must build for my I saved ISABELLA  from decay it goes to show you can polish an old tuird

Frankie Day

                                                                                                            MAST CONSTRUCTION

Ahoy Gents

                         Here is another update video of the build thus far the entire hull has been completed the installation of the rudder has been completed the fitting set to the kit gives you a set of brass gudgeons or rudder hinges.  I will save the opening of the shutter bats will be done last next thing to do is the construction of the 4 mast, again taking care when cutting out the disc for the mast platforms they had a recess ring that fits on top of the mast platform that will except the green crows nest wind shields.  In turn these assemblies were a treat to behold, no difficulty on these parts you have to form the acetate shield by rolling a cylinder object adding pressure while you roll the the object over the green shields this process makes the installation more easier then cementing a little at a time until completed and save time.  I have two mast completed two more to go they will be a fast assembly not much there as that of the fore main mast assemblies.  Some fellas out there mentiomn the ship is to glossy I made it glossy on purpose the wood in this kit was so dried out from time and elements  this was done once the mast are all completed I will airbrush on a couple coats of matt to tone it down a tad don't want it looking flat just enough to take out the sheen of the polyurethane.  A lot of you guys think I built this quick the answer is no I spend anywhere from 9 to 16 hours a day on this project like a dog with a bone I am not letting go until this is completed.  I assumed I will have about there more hours to completed the remainder two mast the mizzen and the spencer mast they don't have that many parts posed to the fore man mainmast.  If the good Lord is willing and the rivers don't rise I should start the standing rigging tomorrow evening the real fun will begin. Here are the update comnstruction of the Isabella.

Ahoy Steve

                        Beautiful job buddy the build is very clean  the windless looks Superb the arrangements of the channels and dead eyes are spot on.  Hardy well done buddy

Frankie Day  Thumbs up buddy

17 hours ago, Steve 12345 said:

Looking good frankie just caught your recent vid on utube also thumbs up buddy 

Thanks Steve I got to check out your Bounty  Thumbs up buddy

Ahoy

            Here is another update build report the entire hull is now complete with the exception of the opening of the shutter bays and installation of the rudder.  The hard part of the build is behind me and the fun parts will begin the deck furniture will follow and the cannons too. Not to much on the deck fittings I will start with the gratings and make a set of ladder ways a lot to do to make this relic come back to life.  A very difficult kit to build mostly the dried and splitting of the wood made this kit a issue to build. A word of caution I would love to share here on the forum anyone who has these ancient Billing kits they must be built on the fly other words if you let it idol longer then the kit will allow you will face the problem I had on Isabella. If the remainder of the construction of this kit it will build quicker now since the hull has been completed.  right before I shot these pictures I gave the ship one more good coat of polyurethane and let dry only thing to do now is prepare and make the deck furniture. 

Frankie Day

21 hours ago, Dilbert55 said:

Note: I prefer the old finishing scheme (yours) more than the current kit (matches the real re-build ship). Find it difficult to put paint over wood, whether it be on ships or whatever.

 

Apologies to Messis for using his build log for this chatter.  

 

 

Yep I have the same kit I got mine two weeks ago it came with the dvd I never constructed a ship model in my like with a dvd its going to be hard to take measurements off a dvd but they give you the dimentions on the dvd all metric like everything else nowdays no complaints a matter of taste from this company. Hardy well done tghus far in the contruction build on my friend your doing exceptionally well

Frankie Day

Ahoy Popeye

                     The old Thermopylae is looking Superb buddy, Looks to be the same scale of my old 1971 Scientific kit which is the best kit they ever produced very accurate to say the least great job on the chain plates and installation of the dead eyes they look the business not certain if my eyes are playing any tricks the dead eyes look a tad oversized, But they do look great from my view keep building buddy your doing very well on this old classic clipper of a bygone age of sail never forgotten .

Frankie Day

Ahoy Gents

                        Okay Gents here is another update build report on the old Isabella.  Thus far in the construction all channels and knees have been installed to the vessel doing the mail top course rails when finished the front and aft parts of the super structures need to be stained and planked as follows basically the entire hull has been planked.  I should have the hull completed by this evening and the opening of the shutter bays will follow the deck furniture gratings cannons and lots more and lastly the construction of the four mast and another challenge when it comes to the cutting of the rings that make up the crows nest. A difficult kit to say the least not a kit for the Novis at heart.  I cant stress anymore then what I have experienced in these old Billing kits the wood they give you in the kits dry out to fast specially in hot and humid climates kits from the 1060s and 70s need to be built on the fly if not and left idol until the day you decide to build it you will pay penalty the weood will crumble away leaving you a set of plans and whats left of the wood not good. Okay fellows here are the update pix.

Frankie Day

Ahoy Gents

                   Another update build report thus far in the construction finishing up the planking and adding channels and knees should have the hull wrapped up by this evening and the real fun will begin. The wood in the kit is starting to cooperate  no more splitting it goes to show the dead wood needs moisture.  I have 7 other old Billing Boats kits in my stash pile I went bqack and checked them out to see if the wood is like that of Isabella but I lucked out the wood is still fresh. The wood Billings use in their kits are differ then the usual mostly Ramon and Mohogany these woods in time will dry out very fast and its better to store these old kits ion a cool and dry place no humidity.  I mixed me up some green and red stain for the upper courses this will be applied later when everything is buttoned down.  Thus far not a bad kit last night I tried on the internet to get some reference on this old kit to my surprise there is none I am the only reference that is available to this kit/ Mr. Einar Billings stated in the instruction book the origin in unknown and the plans don't exist, Makes you wonder if this kit is fictional But I know for one its a typical Spanish galleon of the Spanish main still in search for reference to this vessel I will keep looking perhaps I will get lucky. Okay guys the next set of update build report pictures the hull will be completed.

Frankie Day

Ahoy Gents

                     Okay guys the Isabella is getting there I spent some time going back tuning up the build every time I finish a sequence in the build I stand back and marvel at the progress anything that don't look right or I over looked I tear it out and start all over again.  Tomorrow I should have the entire hull complete the opening of the gun shutter bays will be next along with the red and green stain  then the deck furniture will follow and add the fittings

Frankie Day

On ‎4‎/‎13‎/‎2017 at 8:17 PM, Steve 12345 said:

Ahoy frankie love your work thanks for the pics on the bounty

Looking Great Steve The Bounty Looks Superb She is one of Billings best produced kits Thumbs up at ya buddy

Frankie Day

3 hours ago, popeye the sailor said:

look'in really good Frank  

Thanks buddy I am honored

Frankie Day

Ahoy Gents

                 thanks Steve and Philo for the comments I am honored Beautiful job on the Wasa Philo, Yep same thing on my Isabella the first coat it soaked it up like a thirsty drunk. about 5 coats of poly to get the life sprung back in to the wood, Here is another update build report on the Isabella. Thus far I done some tidying up on the build I let dry over night and ponmder over the build and look for mistakes I found a couple and got them squared away ship shape.  The hardest part of the build is over and the rest will be a piece of cake. after I do some moire tidying up I will go and plank the remainder of the decks and finish up the planking on the hull resume to the deck furniture and some color staining

Frankie Day

Ahoy Steve

                   Beautiful job buddy on the Bounty a great kit your kit more up to date then mine I bought mine in 1980 when it was first released. All parts had to be cutted out using a jig saw or just a No.11 blade I ordered the fittings to the kit with the cost kit and fittings $75.00 back then now I find Billings includes theyr fitting with the kit instead of ordering them  separate  Love the color schedule I include a couple of shots of my kit that is now completed.  Hardy Well Done Steve keep building her love to see this build grow,

Frankie Day

Ahoy Gents

                      Okay update for today more will follow, Having a lot of fun building this old kit thus far no problem with the breakage of the wood its pretty well saturated with polyurethane it slowly bringing life back in to the wood.  Building this randomly to complete the hull and the deck furniture will follow I should have this pretty well planked off by tomorrow sometime.  all wales and rubbing strakes are completed the after decks will have to be planked before I move onward.  The kit in general is a difficult kit to construct not only because it foreign made the splitting of the wood parts makes it difficult to cut without splitting into pieces . to prevent this I used masking tape and taped the back side of the printed sheets this way if the wood starts split it will be in its entirety  on the box top and instruction booklet calls out for green and red stain on the upper works of the hull this will be done when hull is completed. The plans in the kit typical Billing boat is very helpful and easy to understand in the construction then the booklet key is that you got to keep looking at the plans and plan your attack on the build.  Once I get the hull fully planked the aft end of the fore castle superstructure will have to be planked like did on the front view of same.  These period ships make very beautiful subjects they reveal the beauty of the evolution of ship building. As a technical note anyone who has these old billing kits in their stash that were produced in the 60s and 70s these kits need to be built if not and lay idol for more years to come the kit will crumble in to saw dust and it will be a lost kit.

                       Okay guys I have a little more to go and I need to catch up on some more builds I got started

Frankie Day

Ahoy Philo

                   she is getting there my man glad I decided to build this if this thing was to be left idol for another 5 to 10 years it would crumble into wood dust polyurethane saved my bacon stay tuned for the next update should have another here by this evening.

Frankie Day